Patents by Inventor Linda Atherton

Linda Atherton 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).

  • Method for beneficiation of low-rank coal
    Patent number: 5035721
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing moisture and improving the handling and storage characteristics or low-rank coal by demoisturizing the coal and rendering the coal surfaces hydrophobic, separating the fines and agglomerating the fines in a slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Linda Atherton
  • Process for nitrogen removal from hydrocarbonaceous materials
    Patent number: 4410421
    Abstract: Hydrocarbonaceous material is contacted with particulate coal to cause said coal to sorb a substantial portion of the basic nitrogen compounds contained in said hydrocarbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Linda Atherton, Conrad J. Kulik
  • Process for coal liquefaction employing a superior coal liquefaction process solvent
    Patent number: 4405437
    Abstract: A process for liquefying coal utilizing an indigenously derived solvent enriched in basic nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. Particulate coal is slurried with an aromatic hydrocarbon distillate start-up solvent. The slurry is reacted under predetermined conditions in a liquefaction reactor to form distillable and substantially nondistillable coal products. The distillables are removed and the nondistillable coal products are fractionated to produce a fraction enriched in basic nitrogen heterocyclic compounds. A portion of this fraction is recycled together with the distillable solvent to the coal liquefaction reactor. The blended solvent is slurried with coal and upon treatment in the liquefaction reactor converts the coal to distillate and soluble coal products in a higher yield than possible in a process not employing a solvent enriched in basic nitrogen heterocyclic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Conrad J. Kulik, Linda Atherton