Patents by Inventor Roger N. Henry

Roger N. Henry 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).

  • METHODS OF PRODUCING AND RECOVERING PLUTONIUM-238
    Publication number: 20110265605
    Abstract: Methods of producing plutonium-238 are disclosed. One method includes dissolving neptunium-237 in a nitric acid solution to produce a neptunium target solution, subjecting the neptunium target solution to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, and removing the plutonium-238 from the neptunium target solution. A second method includes exposing a solution of neptunium-237 to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, complexing the plutonium-238 with an organophosphorus compound, and separating the plutonium-238/organophosphorus compound complex from the solution of neptunium-237. A third method includes dissolving neptunium-237 to form a neptunium-237 target solution, exposing the neptunium-237 to thermal neutrons to produce plutonium-238, utilizing an organophosphorus compound to complex the plutonium-238 and the organophosphorus compound, extracting the plutonium-238/organophosphorus compound complex from the irradiated neptunium target solution, and recovering the plutonium-238.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Meikrantz, James E. Werner, Roger N. Henry, Leigh R. Martin, Bruce J. Mincher, John D. Bess