Patents by Inventor Thomas Fenderson

Thomas Fenderson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240101908
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and composition for treating tailings from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings comprise an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method comprises addition of a flocculating agent comprising polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which comprise solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition comprises a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas FENDERSON, Lasse KYLLONEN, Alistair KING, Evangelos SKLAVOUNOS, Frances FOURNIER, Sukhjit AUJLA
  • Patent number: 11845899
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and composition for treating tailings from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings comprise an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method comprises addition of a flocculating agent comprising polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which comprise solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition comprises a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Lasse Kyllonen, Alistair King, Evangelos Sklavounos, Frances Fournier, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Patent number: 11560323
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Duane C. Wilson, Thomas Fenderson, Igal Maasen, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Patent number: 11242492
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to methods for the treatment of tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, including methods comprising the use of one or more flocculants, one or more coagulants and one or more oxidants to treat said tailings and/or to improve the performance of said one or more flocculants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Miguel Pelaez, Thomas Fenderson
  • Publication number: 20210300803
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Duane C. Wilson, Thomas Fenderson, Igal Maasen, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Publication number: 20210284914
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and composition for treating tailings from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings comprise an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method comprises addition of a flocculating agent comprising polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which comprise solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition comprises a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas FENDERSON, Lasse KYLLONEN, Alistair KING, Evangelos SKLAVOUNOS, Frances FOURNIER, Sukhjit AUJLA
  • Patent number: 11111162
    Abstract: A method for treating tailings substrate from mining or oil sands separation process, the tailings substrate comprising an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material. In the method, a flocculating agent is added to the tailings substrate, flocs are allowed to form and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The flocculating agent comprises a degraded polyacrylamide comprising at least anionic units and having a process water viscosity reduced by 25-99%, preferably 50-99%, compared to a substantially similar polyacrylamide that has not been degraded by a degradation agent, measured at a shear rate 1 s?1 as a 0.4-0.8 weight-% solution of polymer in process water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Miguel Pelaez, Igal Maasen, Yuping Luo
  • Publication number: 20210238482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surfactant composition comprising an ionic liquid prepared from an unsubstituted or substituted primary, secondary or tertiary amine, or from an unsubstituted or substituted pyridine, amidine or guanidine with at least one fatty acid and/or resin acid. The invention also relates to a method for treating bitumen froth from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. The method comprises addition of said surfactant composition to the diluent and/or to the froth before phase separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Lasse Kyllonen, Sukhjit Aujla, Frances Fournier, Thomas Fenderson, Alistair King, Evangelos Sklavounos
  • Patent number: 11001513
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Duane C. Wilson, Thomas Fenderson, Igal Maasen, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Patent number: 11001761
    Abstract: A method and a composition for treating tailings from a separation process are disclosed, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings include an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method includes addition of a flocculating agent including polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent including ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which include solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition in a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Lasse Kyllönen, Alistair King, Evangelos Sklavounos, Frances Fournier, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Patent number: 10920149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surfactant composition comprising an ionic liquid prepared from an unsubsituted or substituted primary, secondary or tertiary amine, or from an unsubstituted or substituted pyridine, amidine or guanidine with at least one fatty acid and/or resin acid. The invention also relates to a method for treating bitumen froth from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. The method comprises addition of said surfactant composition to the diluent and/or to the froth before phase separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Lasse Kyllönen, Sukhjit Aujla, Frances Fournier, Thomas Fenderson, Alistair King, Evangelos Sklavounos
  • Publication number: 20210024385
    Abstract: A method for treating tailings substrate from mining or oil sands separation process, the tailings substrate comprising an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material. In the method, a flocculating agent is added to the tailings substrate, flocs are allowed to form and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The flocculating agent comprises a degraded polyacrylamide comprising at least anionic units and having a process water viscosity reduced by 25-99%, preferably 50-99%, compared to a substantially similar polyacrylamide that has not been degraded by a degradation agent, measured at a shear rate 1 s?1 as a 0.4-0.8 weight-% solution of polymer in process water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Miguel Pelaez, Igal Maasen, Yuping Luo
  • Patent number: 10773977
    Abstract: A method for treating tailings substrate from mining or oil sands separation process, the tailings substrate comprising an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material. In the method, a flocculating agent is added to the tailings substrate, flocs are allowed to form and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The flocculating agent comprises a degraded polyacrylamide comprising at least anionic units and having a process water viscosity reduced by 25-99%, preferably 50-99%, compared to a substantially similar polyacrylamide that has not been degraded by a degradation agent, measured at a shear rate 1 s?1 as a 0.4-0.8 weight-% solution of polymer in process water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Miguel Pelaez, Igal Maasen, Yuping Luo
  • Publication number: 20190375994
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to methods for the treatment of tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, including methods comprising the use of one or more flocculants, one or more coagulants and one or more oxidants to treat said tailings and/or to improve the performance of said one or more flocculants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Miguel Pelaez, Thomas Fenderson
  • Publication number: 20190367389
    Abstract: A method for treating tailings substrate from mining or oil sands separation process, the tailings substrate comprising an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material. In the method, a flocculating agent is added to the tailings substrate, flocs are allowed to form and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The flocculating agent comprises a degraded polyacrylamide comprising at least anionic units and having a process water viscosity reduced by 25-99%, preferably 50-99%, compared to a substantially similar polyacrylamide that has not been degraded by a degradation agent, measured at a shear rate 1 s?1 as a 0.4-0.8 weight-% solution of polymer in process water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Thomas Fenderson, Miguel Pelaez, Igal Maasen, Yuping Luo
  • Publication number: 20190284478
    Abstract: A method and a composition for treating tailings from a separation process are disclosed, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. Tailings include an aqueous phase with suspended solid particulate material and residual bitumen and have a dry solids content <25 weight-%. The method includes addition of a flocculating agent including polyacrylamide to the tailings, as well as addition of an auxiliary agent including ionic liquid to tailings in conjunction with the flocculating agent. Flocs, which include solid particulate material, are formed and the formed flocs are separated from the aqueous phase. The composition in a copolymer of (meth)acrylamide and an auxiliary agent comprising ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas FENDERSON, Lasse KYLLÖNEN, Alistair KING, Evangelos SKLAVOUNOS, Frances FOURNIER, Sukhjit AUJLA
  • Publication number: 20180155628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surfactant composition comprising an ionic liquid prepared from an unsubsituted or substituted primary, secondary or tertiary amine, or from an unsubstituted or substituted pyridine, amidine or guanidine with at least one fatty acid and/or resin acid. The invention also relates to a method for treating bitumen froth from a separation process, where bitumen is separated from mineral solids. The method comprises addition of said surfactant composition to the diluent and/or to the froth before phase separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Lasse Kyllönen, Sukhjit Aujla, Frances Fournier, Thomas Fenderson, Alistair King, Evangelos Sklavounos
  • Publication number: 20180099883
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to the use of one or more polymers, e.g., one or more dry acid polymers and/or one or more dry acid polymers with salt, as flocculants, generally for treating tailings, e.g., oil sands tailings, in need of solid-liquid separation, e.g., in order to efficiently recycle water and/or to reduce the volume of tailings which may be transferred to a tailings pond and/or a dedicated disposal area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Duane C. Wilson, Thomas Fenderson, Igal Maasen, Sukhjit Aujla
  • Publication number: 20180002608
    Abstract: Provided are processes for treating a tailings stream which comprises water and solids, the process comprising: (i) adding one or more anionic polymer flocculants and one or more nonionic polymer flocculants to the tailings stream; (ii) allowing at least a portion of the solids to flocculate; and (iii) separating at least a portion of the flocculated solids from the tailings stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Krystle Stewart, Amir H. Mahmoudkhani, Thomas Fenderson
  • Publication number: 20150027929
    Abstract: Provided are processes for treating a tailings stream which comprises water and solids, the process comprising: (i) adding one or more anionic polymer flocculants and one or more nonionic polymer flocculants to the tailings stream; (ii) allowing at least a portion of the solids to flocculate; and (iii) separating at least a portion of the flocculated solids from the tailings stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Philip Watson, Krystle Stewart, Amir H. Mahmoudkhani, Thomas Fenderson