Patents by Inventor Massoud Ahghar

Massoud Ahghar 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: 20040025639
    Abstract: Novel electrically active ionic polymer metal composite materials and novel methods of manufacturing them by means of a series of innovative chemical processes of first chemically depositing none noble metal salt cations inside a cationic polymer molecular network followed by chemical reduction of the said none noble metal salt cations to generate reduced none noble metal particles deposited inside the polymeric molecular network followed by a second electro or chemo deposition and plating of a noble metal inside and on the surfaces of the reduced none noble metallic particles in the said polymer molecular network to protect the first said none noble metal particles from oxidation, corrosion and chemical degradation for prolonged sensing and actuation applications of the said novel ionic polymer metal composite material which generates an electrical signal with mechanical deformation and undergoes mechanical deformation if an electric field is imposed on it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicants: Environmental Robots Inc.
    Inventors: Mohsen Shahinpoor, Massoud Ahghar, Niculina Cristina Popa
  • Patent number: 6447738
    Abstract: A process for the extraction of alumina, iron oxide and titanium dioxide from bauxite ore and clays, and other ore bodies and feedstocks. The process starts by sulfuric acid leaching of the feedstocks in pressure autoclaves at about 200° C. and appropriate pressure. A leach liquor of sulfate salts of aluminum, iron and titanium is obtained. Any iron values are converted to a ferrous state. A recycled potassium sulfate helps produce double aluminum alkali sulfate crystals in the reduced leach liquor. The crystals are removed at about 20°-60° C. with the help of SO2 gases that reduce the ferric. Such double salt is hydrolyzed into a basic aluminum alkali precipitated sulfate salt. This is then dried and calcined at about 950° C. Any alkali sulfate is washed out and recycled. The remainder is alumina. The ferrous sulfate is crystallized out at about 10° C. It is dried and calcined at about 450° C. to produce an iron oxide mixed with other sulfate salts that can be washed out and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox, Fred A. Aiken
  • Patent number: 6056813
    Abstract: A process for making white pigment directly from constituent materials without byproducts. The process comprises the steps of inputting three material flows comprising a sulphate source, an alkali source, and an aluminum source. And, recycling and mixing into the three material flows a process return from a separation and wash stage and vapors from a pressure let-down stage. This is followed by heating and holding a mixture of recycled process returns and the three material flows at elevated pressure in a reactor for a minimum predetermined residence time. Afterwards, letting down pressure in a flow from the reactor to produce a pre-wash flow. Then, separating, classifying, and delaminating the pre-wash flow into a first and second pigment or filler that are differentiated by their respective average particle distribution sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox, Fred A. Aiken, III
  • Patent number: 5895523
    Abstract: A process is provided for making K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4S0.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O or Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.2 O where x is a number from 4 to 12, which is used as a pigment. Sulfuric acid, one of a sulfate salt or a hydroxide of either potassium or sodium and one of a sulfate of aluminum or a hydroxide of aluminum are inputted into a crystallizer and reacted to form either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A fluid flow containing either Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O or Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O is drawn off from the crystallizer and transferred into a pigment reactor where it is subjected to a temperature of about 200.degree. C. and a pressure ranging from 120 to 350 pounds per square inch so as to result in the production of either basic potassium aluminum sulfate K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 4SO.sub.3 +xH.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Jerry V. Fox
  • Patent number: 5871571
    Abstract: A process for making ink which begins with a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulfates that are introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O which is removed from the leach liquor. The leach liquor is then supplied with a mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 into a simple crystallization and evaporation unit to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or sodium/potassium aluminum sulfate and excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium. The excess sodium sulfate or sodium/potassium sulfate is returned to the simple crystallization and evaporation unit. The basic potassium aluminum sulfate (BKAS) and/or basic sodium aluminum sulfate (BNaAS) Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, 3Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 4SO.sub.3, 9H.sub.2 O is used as a filler in the making of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: SOLV-EX Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, David H. Fishman
  • Patent number: 5865952
    Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5846512
    Abstract: A method of making activated alumina including the steps of dissolving a double salt of aluminum in a solution of pure water at 85.degree. C., recrystalizing the double salt at a pressure about 250 psi and temperature ranging from 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C., precipitating out the purified basic double salt, drying the precipitated double salt to drive off water and roasting it at 850.degree. C. to 950.degree. C. to drive off the sulfate, washing to remove the potassium sulfate and then drying the remaining alumina to yield activated alumina for use as a high-grade catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Coporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5783280
    Abstract: An insulation material comprising the double salt of aluminum potassium sulphate and method of producing such. Aluminum sulphate materials and potassium sulphate materials are combined to form aluminum potassium sulphate which is then dehydrated to remove the water of hydration. Porous forms are made by mixing the hydrated aluminum potassium sulphate with a binder before dehydration. The resultant dehydrated sulphate expands greatly to provide an insulative material which is of lightweight and inorganic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5783163
    Abstract: A process in which a leach liquor of Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +Fe.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and other sulphates is introduced to a surface-cooled crystallizer that drops the Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +18H.sub.2 O. The leach liquor is pumped through a heat exchanger that keeps a temperature of 160.degree. F. and the surface temperature of the surface-cooled crystallizer is maintained at 60.degree. F. The temperature gradient within the leach liquor promotes crystal formation. These crystals are then supplied to mixture which includes K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in a simple crystallization and evaporation step that uses a vacuum of twenty inches of mercury and heat to drop Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3 +K.sub.2 SO.sub.4 +24H.sub.2 O. A pressure of 250 PSI and a temperature of 200.degree. C. are then applied in a discrete continuous process that yield a basic sodium or potassium aluminum sulphate and excess sodium sulphate or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5746932
    Abstract: A method of making low-density silica-alumina thermal insulation wherein sulfuric acid is used to leach clay fines from processed Athabasca oil sands. The treated fines are dried and roasted to produce a fine buff to white colored powder with particle sizes that range from forty microns to less than a micron. About 80% of these particles are less than twenty microns. The bulk density of this powder is about fifteen to thirty-five pounds to the cubic-foot (lb./ft.sup.3), compared to silica sand which has a bulk density of 150 lb./ft.sup.3, and alumina which is about 200 lb./ft.sup.3, depending on the grade and method of production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar
  • Patent number: 5720868
    Abstract: A method of making activated alumina includes beginning with a leach liquor of potassium and aluminum sulphates that is subjected to a surface-cooled crystallizer with a heat-exchanger input temperature of 160.degree. F. and a surface-chilled temperature of 60.degree. F. Crystals of aluminum sulphate are precipitated and recrystalized by evaporation in a vacuum and at an elevated temperature. Purified crystals of aluminum sulphate are then dried at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. The dried aluminum sulphate crystals are then dehydrated at 400.degree.-450.degree. C. after a rise rate of 50.degree.-60.degree. C. per minute to drive off most of the water. A roasting and recalcination step at 1000.degree. C.-1050.degree. C. after a rise rate of 50.degree.-60.degree. C. per minute is used drive off the sulphate. The remaining alumina is smelted by electrolysis for aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5662880
    Abstract: A method of making activated alumina includes beginning with a leach liquor of potassium and aluminum sulphates that is subjected to a surface-cooled crystallizer with a heat-exchanger input temperature of 160.degree. F. and a surface-chilled temperature of 60.degree. F. to 80.degree. F. Crystals of aluminum sulphate are precipitated and recrystalized by evaporation in a vacuum and at an elevated temperature. Purified crystals of aluminum sulphate are then dried at 50.degree.-60.degree. C. The dried aluminum sulphate crystals are then dehydrated at 400.degree.-450.degree. C. after a rise rate of 10.degree.-20.degree. C. per minute to drive off most of the water. A roasting and recalcination step at 900.degree. C.-950.degree. C. after a rise rate of 10.degree.-20.degree. C. per minute is used drive off the sulphate. The remaining alumina is useful as a high-grade catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar, Stephen J. Lane
  • Patent number: 5589023
    Abstract: An insulation material comprising the double salt of aluminum potassium sulphate and method of producing such. Aluminum sulphate materials and potassium sulphate materials are combined to form aluminum potassium sulphate which is then dehydrated to remove the water of hydration. Porous forms are made by mixing the hydrated aluminum potassium sulphate with a binder before dehydration. The resultant dehydrated sulphate expands greatly to provide an insulative material which is of lightweight and inorganic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Solv-Ex Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Rendall, Massoud Ahghar