Patents by Inventor John A. Bain

John A. Bain has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6117408
    Abstract: A method for producing zinc bromide from zinc hydroxide contaminated with iron and manganese compounds. The method comprises the step of mixing zinc hydroxide feedstock containing metal impurities with a hydrobromic acid comprising elemental bromine in the presence of a reducing agent to produce an impure zinc bromide solution. The metal impurities are removed from the zinc bromide solution in a two-stage process: the first stage comprises the steps of precipitating iron by maintaining the pH within a range of from about 3.6 to 4.15 and filtering out the insoluble iron compounds. The second stage comprises the steps of acidifying the zinc hydroxide solution and adjusting the pH to a range of 3.8 to 4.3 with a alkalinity source from metal oxide, hydroxide or carbonate to precipitate the manganese compounds. The resulting mixture is filtered and concentrated to form a solution comprising zinc bromide essentially free of iron and manganese compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Tetra Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle H. Howard, John A. Bain