Patents by Inventor John Burba

John Burba 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: 11498031
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: John Burba, Christina Borgese, Marc Privitera
  • Publication number: 20220219119
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species from input flows in a modular unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventor: John Burba
  • Patent number: 11229880
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species including, without limitation, lithium, specific lithium species, and/or other chemical compounds from input flows in a modular unit. The input flows may be raw materials in which lithium metal and/or lithium species are dissolved and/or extracted. The apparatuses and methods may include daisy chain flow through separate tanks, a column array, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: John Burba
  • Publication number: 20190292065
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species from input flows in a modular unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: John Burba, Christina Borgese, Marc Privitera
  • Publication number: 20190264301
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for extracting desired chemical species from input flows in a modular unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventor: John Burba
  • Patent number: 10190030
    Abstract: This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of lithium, iron and silica compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of lithium ranges from 0 to 200 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like arsenic, barium, and lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Alger Alternative Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Harrison, John Burba
  • Publication number: 20180251383
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the use of rare earth-containing additives, particularly rare earth-containing additives comprising rare earths of plural oxidation states, to remove non-metal-containing oxyanions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Patent number: 9644126
    Abstract: This invention relates to treated geothermal brine compositions containing reduced concentrations of iron, silica, and zinc compared to the untreated brines. Exemplary compositions contain concentration of zinc ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg, concentration of silica ranges from 0 to 30 mg/kg, concentration of iron ranges from 0 to 300 mg/kg. Exemplary compositions also contain reduced concentrations of elements like lithium, manganese, arsenic, barium, and lead. Exemplary compositions include Salton Sea brines containing a concentration of zinc less than 10 mg/kg, a concentration of silica ranging from less than 10 mg/kg, and a concentration of iron less than 10 mg/kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Simbol, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Harrison, John Burba
  • Patent number: 9233863
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing target materials in the form of hydroxides, carbonates, hydrates, or oxyhydroxyls from, a typically aqueous, liquid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Molycorp Minerals, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cable, Carl Hassler, John Burba
  • Patent number: 8557730
    Abstract: An aggregate composition and process for making the aggregate composition. The aggregate composition includes an insoluble rare earth-containing compound and a polymer binder. The insoluble rare earth-containing compound can include one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. A suitable insoluble cerium-containing compound can be derived from cerium carbonate or a cerium salt. In a specific embodiment, the aggregate composition consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, the polymer binder and optionally a flow aid. A process for making the composition includes mixing the insoluble rare earth-containing compound with a polymer binder to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to mechanical, chemical and/or thermal treatment to adhere the rare earth compound to the polymer binder. The aggregate composition can be used in a variety of fluid treatment applications to remove one or more chemical and biological contaminants in a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Molycorp Minerals, LLC
    Inventor: John Burba
  • Publication number: 20130001094
    Abstract: The application generally relates to a process for generating hydrogen, oxygen or both from water. More particularly, the application generally relates to a lanthanide-mediated electrochemical and/or photoelectrochemical process for generating hydrogen, oxygen or both from water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cable, Anthony J. Perrotta, Carl Hassler, John Burba
  • Publication number: 20120261345
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing target materials in the form of hydroxides, carbonates, hydrates, or oxyhydroxyls from, a typically aqueous, liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120261347
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the use of rare earth-containing additives, particularly rare earth-containing additives comprising rare earths of plural oxidation states, to remove non-metal-containing oxyanions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120261611
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing inorganic and organic phosphorus-containing target materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120238683
    Abstract: An aggregate composition and process for making the aggregate composition. The aggregate composition includes an insoluble rare earth-containing compound and a polymer binder. The insoluble rare earth-containing compound can include one or more of cerium, lanthanum, or praseodymium. A suitable insoluble cerium-containing compound can be derived from cerium carbonate or a cerium salt. In a specific embodiment, the aggregate composition consists essentially of one or more cerium oxides, the polymer binder and optionally a flow aid. A process for making the composition includes mixing the insoluble rare earth-containing compound with a polymer binder to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to mechanical, chemical and/or thermal treatment to adhere the rare earth compound to the polymer binder. The aggregate composition can be used in a variety of fluid treatment applications to remove one or more chemical and biological contaminants in a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventor: John Burba
  • Publication number: 20120223022
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the use of rare earth-containing additives, particularly rare earth-containing additives comprising rare earths of plural oxidation states, to remove, particularly from recreational waters, various target materials, such as disinfectant by-products and precursors thereof, phosphates, and organophosphates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120187047
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing target materials in the form of hydroxides, carbonates, hydrates, or oxyhydroxyls from, a typically aqueous, liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Cable, Carl Hassler, John Burba
  • Publication number: 20120187337
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and rare earth-containing additives for removing inorganic and organic phosphorus-containing target materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120103909
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and compositions for removing contaminants from streams and is particularly concerned with methods and compositions for removing contaminants from municipal wastewaters, municipal drinking waters and recreational waters. The present disclosure is to particulate cerium, more particularly to particulate cerium (IV) formed by an in situ oxidative process and to a method for removing target materials from a target material-containing stream using particulate cerium formed in situ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: John Burba, Carl Hassler, Robert Cable
  • Publication number: 20120074071
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an embodiment to a method for treating water and/or a water handling system to decrease deposit formation and/or to remove a deposit. More particularly, to a method for treating water and/or a water handling system with one or more rare earths to decrease deposit formation and/or to remove a deposit. Struvite is an example of deposit material that can be removed and/or deposition inhibited by treating a water and/or water handling system with one or more earths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Hassler, John Burba, Robert Cable