Patents by Inventor Ralph W. M. Lai

Ralph W. M. Lai 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: 4339348
    Abstract: Dioxime extractants having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' may be any of a variety of organic hydrocarbon radicals such as aliphatic, alkyl and aryl radicals. R and R' may also be hydrogen. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 3 to 20 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is a difference of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms between R and R' resulting in dissymmetry of the resulting dioxime molecule. Preferably, the dioximes also contain a total of about 5 to 32 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are methyl octyl dioxime and methyl hexyl dioxime.Organic preparations containing such dioximes are useful for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt metal values from acid or basic aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Kennecott Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. M. Lai, John K. Litchfield
  • Patent number: 4301973
    Abstract: Isostearic acid, a liquid isomer of stearic acid, is used as an agent in a froth flotation process to concentrate the iron oxide in iron ores. By use of this flotation agent, the iron oxide in the ground ore is directly floated away from the remainder of the ore. The process enables a high amount of iron oxide to be concentrated from low grade ores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Kennecott Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph W. M. Lai
  • Patent number: 4301124
    Abstract: Dioxime extractants having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' may be any of a variety of organic hydrocarbon radicals such as aliphatic, alkyl and aryl radicals. R and R' may also be hydrogen. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 3 to 20 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is a difference of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms between R and R' resulting in dissymmetry of the resulting dioxime molecule. Preferably, the dioximes also contain a total of about 5 to 32 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are methyl octyl dioxime and methyl hexyl dioxime.Organic preparations containing such dioximes are useful for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt metal values from acid or basic aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Kennecott Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. M. Lai, John K. Litchfield
  • Patent number: 4274866
    Abstract: A process in which manganese is recovered from manganese nodules after the nodules have been treated to recover base metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum. The process includes the steps of reacting the manganese in the nodules to yield a carbonate and subjecting the manganese carbonate to flotation. The manganese carbonate froth is collected from the top of a flotation cell, is dried to produce a manganese concentrate, and is sintered to produce a synthetic manganese oxide. Sintering of such concentrates at 1000.degree. C. yields a product containing greater than 50% manganese.The effect of reagent dosage, pH control, and temperature control on the yield of the synthetic manganese oxide is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: Kennecott Copper Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. M. Lai, Edwin L. Owen
  • Patent number: 4248837
    Abstract: Dioxime extractants having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R and R' may be any of a variety of organic hydrocarbon radicals such as aliphatic, alkyl and aryl radicals. R and R' may also be hydrogen. Preferably R is an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 3 to 20 carbon atoms and R' is hydrogen or an unsaturated hydrocarbon or branch chain alkyl group containing from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Preferably, there is a difference of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms between R and R' resulting in dissymmetry of the resulting dioxime molecule. Preferably, the dioximes also contain a total of about 5 to 32 carbon atoms. Representative compounds are methyl octyl dioxime and methyl hexyl dioxime.Organic preparations containing such dioximes are useful for the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt metal values from acid or basic aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Kennecott Copper Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. M. Lai, John K. Litchfield