Patents by Inventor Margarida Dias Catarino

Margarida Dias Catarino 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).

  • Publication number: 20220073345
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a low temperature method for the production of pure hydrogen using a methane rich stream as raw material, and to perform in-situ catalyst regeneration. The process involves the decomposition of methane into COx-free hydrogen in an electrochemical/chemical membrane/chemical reactor or chemical fluidised reactor. As the methane decomposition reaction progresses, carbon structures (whiskers) are accumulated at the catalyst surface leading eventually to its deactivation. The catalyst regeneration is achieved using a small fraction of the produced hydrogen to react with carbon formed at the catalyst surface provoking the carbon detachment, thus regenerating the catalyst. This is achieved either by chemical/electrochemical methanation of carbon at the catalyst interface with hydrogen/protons or by rising the temperature of the catalyst, ideally keeping the reactor temperature constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Adélio Miguel MAGALHÃES MENDES, Cecilia MATEOS PEDRERO, Margarida DIAS CATARINO
  • Patent number: 10689767
    Abstract: An electrodes/electrolyte assembly and a method for the direct amination of hydrocarbons, and a method for the preparation of said electrodes/electrolyte assembly is disclosed. The presented Solution allows the increase of conversion of said amination to above 60%, even at low temperatures. The electrodes/electrolyte assembly for direct amination of hydrocarbons has: an anode, electrons and protons conductor, that includes a composite porous matrix, containing a ceramic fraction and a catalyst for the amination at temperatures lower than 450° C.; a porous cathode, electrons and protons conductor, and electrocatalyst; an electrolyte, protons or ions conductor and electrically insulating, located between the anode and the cathode, made of a composite ceramic impermeable to reagents and products of the amination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BONDALTI CHEMICALS, S.A.
    Inventors: Adelio Miguel Magalhaes Mendes, Alejandro Franca Gomes Ribeiro, Margarida Dias Catarino, Ana Sofia Pimentel Felix, Mario Jorge De Oliveira Pinho
  • Publication number: 20190203366
    Abstract: An electrodes/electrolyte assembly and a method for the direct amination of hydrocarbons, and a method for the preparation of said electrodes/electrolyte assembly is disclosed. The presented Solution allows the increase of conversion of said amination to above 60%, even at low temperatures. The electrodes/electrolyte assembly for direct amination of hydrocarbons has: an anode, electrons and protons conductor, that includes a composite porous matrix, containing a ceramic fraction and a catalyst for the amination at temperatures lower than 450° C.; a porous cathode, electrons and protons conductor, and electrocatalyst; an electrolyte, protons or ions conductor and electrically insulating, located between the anode and the cathode, made of a composite ceramic impermeable to reagents and products of the amination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Adelio Miguel MAGALHAES MENDES, Alejandro FRANCA GOMES RIBEIRO, Margarida DIAS CATARINO, Ana Sofia PIMENTEL FELIX, Mario Jorge DE OLIVEIRA PINHO
  • Patent number: 10273589
    Abstract: An electrodes/electrolyte assembly—MEA, electrochemical membrane reactor—is described and a method for the direct amination of hydrocarbons, namely for the direct amination of benzene to aniline, and a method for the preparation of said electrodes/electrolyte assembly. The presented Solution allows the increase of conversion of said amination to above 60%, even at low temperatures, i.e., between 200° C. and 450° C.; preferably between 300° C. and 400° C. The electrodes/electrolyte assembly for direct amination of hydrocarbons comprises: an anode (1), electrons and protons conductor, that includes a composite porous matrix, comprised by a ceramic fraction and a catalyst for said amination at temperatures lower than 450° C.; a porous cathode (3), electrons and protons conductor, and electrocatalyst; an electrolyte (2), protons or ions conductor and electrically insulating, located between the anode (1) and the cathode (3), made of a composite ceramic impermeable to reagents and products of said amination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CUF—QUIMICOS INDUSTRIAIS S.A.
    Inventors: Adelio Miguel Magalhaes Mendes, Alejandro Franca Gomes Ribeiro, Margarida Dias Catarino, Ana Sofia Pimentel Felix, Mario Jorge De Oliveira Pinho
  • Publication number: 20160032469
    Abstract: An electrodes/electrolyte assembly—MEA, electrochemical membrane reactor—is described and a method for the direct amination of hydrocarbons, namely for the direct amination of benzene to aniline, and a method for the preparation of said electrodes/electrolyte assembly. The presented Solution allows the increase of conversion of said amination to above 60%, even at low temperatures, i.e., between 200° C. and 450° C.; preferably between 300° C. and 400° C. The electrodes/electrolyte assembly for direct amination of hydrocarbons comprises: an anode (1), electrons and protons conductor, that includes a composite porous matrix, comprised by a ceramic fraction and a catalyst for said amination at temperatures lower than 450° C.; a porous cathode (3), electrons and protons conductor, and electrocatalyst; an electrolyte (2), protons or ions conductor and electrically insulating, located between the anode (1) and the cathode (3), made of a composite ceramic impermeable to reagents and products of said amination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: CUF - Quimicos Industriais S.A.
    Inventors: Adelio Miguel MAGALHAES MENDES, Alejandro FRANCA GOMES RIBEIRO, Margarida DIAS CATARINO, Ana Sofia PIMENTEL FELIX, Mario Jorge DE OLIVEIRA PINHO
  • Publication number: 20100047422
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for enriching the aroma profile of beverages, especially beer and wine, by means of extraction, using pervaporation, of aromas from the original beverage and subsequent addition of the extracted aromas to the beverage, after total or partial dealcoholization. The original beverage (1) is fed to the membrane separation module (4) wherein the permeate side (5) is under vacuum, provided by a vacuum pump (12). The feed contacts with the membrane surface and the aromas are selectively permeated to the permeate side of the membrane, where they suffer evaporation. The vapor permeate stream (5) is condensed (10) at an appropriate temperature, which can be cryogenic. After the aroma extraction, the beverage (6) is fed to a dealcoholization unit (14) for obtaining a non-alcoholic drink (15), however depleted in aroma compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Adélio Miguel Magalhães Mendes, Luis Miguel Palma Madeira, Margarida Dias Catarino