Patents by Inventor Richard Donald Witham

Richard Donald Witham 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).

  • SINGLE PHASE YTTRIUM PHOSPHATE HAVING THE XENOTIME CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR ITS SYNTHESIS
    Publication number: 20140011662
    Abstract: Methods for producing substantially single phase yttrium phosphate which exhibits the xenotime crystal structure are disclosed. The methods can be practiced without the use of high temperatures (e.g., the methods can be practiced at temperatures less than 1000° C.). The resulting yttrium phosphate can be in the form of particles which comprise interwoven strands of crystals of yttrium phosphate and/or nanoparticles prepared from such particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sandra Lee Gray, Richard Donald Witham
  • Water purification device for arsenic removal
    Patent number: 8475658
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Molycorp Minerals, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Single phase yttrium phosphate having the xenotime crystal structure and method for its synthesis
    Patent number: 8425871
    Abstract: Methods for producing substantially single phase yttrium phosphate which exhibits the xenotime crystal structure are disclosed. The methods can be practiced without the use of high temperatures (e.g., the methods can be practiced at temperatures less than 1000° C.). The resulting yttrium phosphate can be in the form of particles which comprise interwoven strands of crystals of yttrium phosphate and/or nanoparticles prepared from such particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Sandra Lee Gray, Richard Donald Witham
  • Process for removing and sequestering contaminants from aqueous streams
    Publication number: 20100187178
    Abstract: Contaminants, including arsenic, are removed from water and other aqueous feeds preferably by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing a rare earth (e.g., cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide), to oxidize contaminants in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the contaminants in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with a rare earth-containing precipitating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Molycorp Minerals, LLC
    Inventors: John Leslie Burba, Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew
  • Composition for removing arsenic from aqueous streams
    Patent number: 7686976
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Molycorp Minerals, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • WATER PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR ARSENIC REMOVAL
    Publication number: 20100044317
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: MOLYCORP MINERALS, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • SINGLE PHASE YTTRIUM PHOSPHATE HAVING THE XENOTIME CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR ITS SYNTHESIS
    Publication number: 20090298672
    Abstract: Methods for producing substantially single phase yttrium phosphate which exhibits the xenotime crystal structure are disclosed. The methods can be practiced without the use of high temperatures (e.g., the methods can be practiced at temperatures less than 1000° C.). The resulting yttrium phosphate can be in the form of particles which comprise interwoven strands of crystals of yttrium phosphate and/or nanoparticles prepared from such particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Sandra Lee Gray, Richard Donald Witham
  • Process using rare earths to remove oxyanions from aqueous streams
    Patent number: 7338603
    Abstract: Oxyanions of various contaminant elements, such as chromium, antimony, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium and uranium, are removed from water and other aqueous feeds by treating the feed with (1) a sorbent comprising one or more rare earth compounds, usually mixed or supported on particulate solids having a cation exchange capacity less than 20 milliequivalents per 100 grams or (2) an aqueous solution of one or more soluble rare earth compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Molycorp, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Bayer McNew, Richard Donald Witham, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Process for removing arsenic from aqueous streams
    Patent number: 7300589
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Process for removing arsenic from drinking water
    Patent number: 7048853
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Process for removing arsenic from aqueous streams
    Patent number: 6863825
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Process for removing arsenic from aqueous streams
    Publication number: 20040144729
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba