Patents by Inventor Karl A. Romberger

Karl A. Romberger 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: 5023059
    Abstract: A metallurgical processing system for economically recovering metal values, such as columbium, tantalum, thorium, and uranium from dilute source solids, such as digestion sludges, by a series of steps including:1) slurrying the source solids with dilute hydrofluoric acid to produce a solid phase and a liquid phase containing dissolved tantalum and columbium, then extracting tantalum and/or columbium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid ion-exchange process and then, additionally;2) roasting the solid phase with sulfuric acid to recover and recycle hydrofluoric acid, leaching the roasted solids with dilute sulfuric acid to produce a disposable solid phase and a liquid phase containing thorium and uranium, and extracting thorium and uranium from the liquid phase by means of a liquid-liquid amine extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventors: Edwin J. Bielecki, Karl A. Romberger, Bart F. Bakke, Martin A. Hobin, Charles R. Clark
  • Patent number: 4663130
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for dissolving tantalum and/or columbium-containing materials contaminated with alkali metal impurities. The tantalum and columbium materials are digested in a solution comprising hydrofluoric acid and a fluosilicate-containing compound. The alkali metals are reacted to form precipitated fluosilicates, which then can readily be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Roger M. Bergman, Edwin J. Bielecki, Brian J. Higgins, Karl A. Romberger