Patents by Inventor Malcolm John Atherton

Malcolm John 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).

  • Patent number: 6747178
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of carrying out a chemical reaction between at least two fluids, the method comprising providing respective flow paths for the at least two fluids, said flow paths communicating with each other in a region in which the at least two fluids may contact each other, and flowing the at least two fluids along said flow paths such that in said region the at least two fluids contact each other and a chemical reaction occurs between them, said region having a width perpendicular to the direction of flow in the range 10-10,000 micrometers. It has been found that using a so-called “microreactor”, that is a reactor having dimensions perpendicular to the flow direction of less than 10,000 micrometers, according to the present method, improved control over a fluid chemical reaction can be achieved, which can result in significant improvements in reaction product yield and/or purity, as well as other benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: British Nuclear Fuels plc
    Inventors: Paul Harston, Malcolm John Atherton, Robert G. Holmes, Richard Dickinson Chambers, Robert Spink
  • Patent number: 5734073
    Abstract: A method of halogenating an aromatic compound which comprises the steps of reacting an halogenating agent with the aromatic compound in the presence of fluorine and an acid, wherein the halogenating agent is at least one of an iodinating agent, a brominating agent and an chlorinating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: BNFL Fluorochemicals Ltd
    Inventors: Richard Dickinson Chambers, Christopher John Skinner, Malcolm John Atherton, John Stewart Moilliet