Patents by Inventor Philip Ernest Grazier

Philip Ernest Grazier 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: 8273322
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Philip Ernest Grazier, Alan David Stuart
  • Patent number: 8021634
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes digestion and/or leach steps that form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4) from the solid titaniferous material. The process also includes hydrolysis and other steps that form titania from the titanyl sulfate in the process solution. The process is characterised by a ferric ion treatment step of treating the process solution and lowering the concentration of ferric ions from the process solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Philip Ernest Grazier, Alan David Stuart
  • Publication number: 20100028251
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material; such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from a process solution produced in the process. The titanyl sulfate precipitation step includes subjecting the precipitated titanyl sulfate to a shearing action during the course of precipitating titanyl sulfate from the process solution or after precipitation has been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Philip Ernest Grazier, Alan David Stuart
  • Publication number: 20090311153
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (such as an iron-containing titaniferous material such as ilmenite) is disclosed. The process includes digestion and/or leach steps that form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4) and iron sulfate (FeSO4) from the solid titaniferous material. The process also includes hydrolysis and other steps that form titania from the titanyl sulfate in the process solution. The process is characterised by a ferric ion treatment step of treating the process solution and lowering the concentration of ferric ions from the process solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Philip Ernest Grazier, Alan David Stuart
  • Patent number: 7485269
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching the titaniferous material and producing a leach liquor, separating titanyl sulfate from leach liquor, hydrolysis of the extracted titanyl sulfate, and thereafter calcining the solid phase produced in the hydrolysis step. The process is characterized by multiple stage leaching of the titaniferous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Alan David Stuart, Philip Ernest Grazier
  • Patent number: 7429364
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes leaching the titaniferous material and producing a leach liquor, precipitating iron sulfate from the leach liquor, solvent extraction of titanyl sulfate from leach liquor, hydrolysis of the extracted titanyl sulfate, and thereafter calcining the solid phase produced in the hydrolysis step. The process is characterised by using at least part of the raffinate from the solvent extraction step as at least part of the leach solution in the initial leach step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Alan David Stuart, Philip Ernest Grazier
  • Patent number: 7326390
    Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from titaniferous material is disclosed. The process includes precipitating titanyl sulfate from leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate. The process is characterised by: (a) multiple stage leaching to produce leach liquors containing acidic solutions of titanyl sulfate; (b) using depleted leach liquor from a titanyl sulfate precipitation reactor in the leach steps; and (c) controlling acid concentration in the leach steps to avoid premature hydrolysis and premature precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Girvan Roche, Alan David Stuart, Philip Ernest Grazier, Sarah Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6849172
    Abstract: A method of operating a cell for electrowinning of copper, the cell including a plurality of anodes and cathodes therein, the method including the steps of introducing fresh electrolyte and sparging gas to a manifold system in the cell, controlling flow of fresh electrolyte and sparging gas in the manifold system and providing outlet openings in the manifold system such that streams of fresh electrolyte and sparging gas from the outlet openings are directed relatively uniformly across the cathodes in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory David Rigby, Alan David Stuart, Philip Ernest Grazier
  • Publication number: 20040011664
    Abstract: A method of operating a cell for electrowinning of copper, the cell including a plurality of anodes and cathodes therein, the method including the steps of introducing fresh electrolyte and sparging gas to a manifold system in the cell, controlling flow of fresh electrolyte and sparging gas in the manifold system and providing outlet openings in the manifold system such that streams of fresh electrolyte and sparging gas from the outlet openings are directed relatively uniformly across the cathodes in the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: BHP BILLITON INNOVATION PTY. LTD.
    Inventors: Gregory David Rigby, Alan David Stuart, Philip Ernest Grazier