Patents by Inventor Luis S. Portela

Luis S. Portela 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: 4668495
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for manufacture of potassium nitrate from potassium chloride and nitric acid. A source of potassium chloride may be screened and separated into fine and coarse fractions, or the screening may be eliminated and the source may be separated into equal coarse fractions. The coarse fraction, when screening has occurred, or one of the equal fractions, where no screening has occurred, is dissolved in a dilute solution of nitric acid prior to any reaction. Thereafter, either the fine fraction (if screening occurred) or the other equal fraction (if no screening occurred) reacts with the dilute nitric acid-potassium chloride solution and additional nitric acid having a concentration of about 60% at ambient temperature. The resulting solution may be crystallized with or without the prior separation of solid potassium nitrate. Nitric acid is recovered by solvents from a residual brine solution after crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Union Explosivos Rio Tinto, S.A.
    Inventor: Luis S. Portela