Patents by Inventor Rick Q. Honaker

Rick Q. Honaker 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).

  • LOW-COST SELECTIVE PRECIPITATION CIRCUIT FOR RECOVERY OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FROM ACID LEACHATE OF COAL WASTE
    Publication number: 20220064759
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process of selective precipitation for the purpose of recovering rare earth elements from acidic media derived from coal and coal byproducts via two main steps of sequential precipitation and selective precipitation. An intermediary step of re-precipitation can be included to further increase RRE concentrations, as well as improve contaminant metal removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Wencai Zhang, Rick Q. Honaker
  • Continuous solvent extraction process for generation of high grade rare earth oxides from leachates generated from coal sources
    Patent number: 11186895
    Abstract: A continuous solvent extract process is provided for concentrating rare earth elements from leachates generated from coal sources. The process involves solvent extraction which utilizes an organic extractant mixed into an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Werner, Alind Chandra, Rick Q. Honaker
  • Low-cost selective precipitation circuit for recovery of rare earth elements from acid leachate of coal waste
    Patent number: 11155897
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process of selective precipitation for the purpose of recovering rare earth elements from acidic media derived from coal and coal byproducts via two main steps of sequential precipitation and selective precipitation. An intermediary step of re-precipitation can be included to further increase RRE concentrations, as well as improve contaminant metal removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Wencai Zhang, Rick Q. Honaker
  • CONTINUOUS SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESS FOR GENERATION OF HIGH GRADE RARE EARTH OXIDES FROM LEACHATES GENERATED FROM COAL SOURCES
    Publication number: 20200048737
    Abstract: A continuous solvent extract process is provided for concentrating rare earth elements from leachates generated from coal sources. The process involves solvent extraction which utilizes an organic extractant mixed into an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua Michael Werner, Alind Chandra, Rick Q. Honaker
  • LOW-COST SELECTIVE PRECIPITATION CIRCUIT FOR RECOVERY OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FROM ACID LEACHATE OF COAL WASTE
    Publication number: 20190136344
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process of selective precipitation for the purpose of recovering rare earth elements from acidic media derived from coal and coal byproducts via two main steps of sequential precipitation and selective precipitation. An intermediary step of re-precipitation can be included to further increase RRE concentrations, as well as improve contaminant metal removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Wencai Zhang, Rick Q. Honaker
  • Methods and systems for treating a gasification slag product
    Patent number: 9074149
    Abstract: The current invention discloses a novel process and system to improve the quality of the slag product from a gasification process, thereby producing low-carbon marketable aggregate product. The inventive processes and systems employ a hindered-bed settler in conjunction with optional disengager and de-watering devices. A slag slurry stream from a gasification process is de-watered and the solids content is increased from less than 5% to greater than 30% via the de-waterer before being conveyed to a hindered-bed settler, wherein the carbon content is reduced from as much as 70% to less than 5%. Particles with a high carbon content are conveyed to a gravity settler, whereby they are concentrated and then recycled to the gasification reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Albert C. Tsang, Max W. Thompson, Rick Q. Honaker