Including External Recycle Loop Patents (Class 422/234)
  • Patent number: 5902559
    Abstract: A plant for producing hydrogen peroxide by autooxidation of an anthraquinone derivative, including a catalytic hydrogenation vessel (1) supplied with hydrogen; an oxidizing vessel (2) supplied with an oxygen-containing fluid, particularly air; an extractor (3) supplied with water; and elements (7,16,19) for successively feeding a working solution containing at least one anthraquinone derivative dissolved in at least one organic solvent through the hydrogenation vessel (1), the oxidizing vessel (2) and the extractor (3), then recirculating it to the hydrogenation vessel (1). Elements (9,26) are provided for diverting at least part of the working solution from the extractor (3) to the oxidizing vessel (2) so that it bypasses the hydrogenation vessel (1). The plant is useful for producing hydrogen peroxide in situ in a paper pulp bleaching plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Chemoxal SA
    Inventor: Henry Ledon
  • Patent number: 5885537
    Abstract: Method for decomposing thermally decomposable components such as organic compounds which are present in gases, whereby these gases are led through a heat exchange medium consisting of particles of a substance such as clay or aluminates which resist decomposing at the decomposition temperature of the decomposable of the decomposable components, and whereby these gases are heated in the heat exchange medium up to the decomposition temperature of the decomposable components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignees: Groep Danis, naamloze vennootschap, Norbert Druwel
    Inventor: Jose Omer Arnold De Muynck
  • Patent number: 5879639
    Abstract: A wet flue gas desulfurization system for removing sulfur dioxide present in flue gas by absorption into an absorbent slurry includes an absorption tower having at a bottom thereof a tank for holding an absorbent slurry; a circulating pump for feeding the absorbent slurry within the tank to a flue gas inlet section in an upper part of the absorption tower and bringing the absorbent slurry into contact with flue gas; and a slurry preparation compartment provided on one side of the tank of the absorption tower and separated from a flue gas passage section by a partition wall having its lower end submerged below a surface of the absorbent slurry, whereby an absorbent and water constituting the absorbent slurry are directly introduced into the slurry preparation compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyn Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tatani, Kiyoshi Okazoe, Yoshio Nakayama, Koichiro Iwashita
  • Patent number: 5846497
    Abstract: An apparatus for the molecular oxygen oxidation of a secondary alcohol such as isopropanol to hydrogen peroxide is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventor: John C. Jubin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5843386
    Abstract: A safe and efficient hydrothermal reaction apparatus is described herein. Decomposition or synthesis of object material is performed by the continuous passing of the material through a flow passage of multi-staged reactor units under turbulent flow conditions. The flow passage is formed by a curved or spiral piping. In each reactor unit, a hot plate block is included as a heating unit. The hot plate block and the curved piping are placed in an appropriate thermal contact relationship. A portion of the curved piping is freely supported, so as to accommodate stress caused in the piping under high-temperature/high-pressure conditions. A tank is provided for regulating or controlling the pressure fluctuation within the flow passage which may be caused by solids or powder present or occurring in the flow passage during high-pressure treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignees: Tohoku Electric Power Company, Inc., Ohei Developmental Industries Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hisaaki Makino, Takehiko Moriya, Yoshihisa Saito, Masazumi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 5840263
    Abstract: A flue gas treating system for removing sulfur dioxide and dust present in flue gas by gas-liquid contact with an absorbing fluid and has an inlet side absorption tower of the liquid column type and an outlet side absorption tower of the liquid column type, each of which has a uniform cross-section over the area of gas-liquid contact, and the cross-section of flue gas in the inlet side absorption tower is smaller than the cross section of flue gas in the outlet side absorption tower. The inlet side absorption tower is constructed in the form of a parallel-flow absorption tower wherein the flue gas flows downward for favorable collection of dust and absorption of sulfur dioxide. The outlet side absorption tower is constructed in the form of a counter-flow adsorption tower wherein the flue gas flows upward for favorable absorption of sulfur dioxide. The absorbing fluid within a tank is injected upward from a plurality of spray pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Shinoda, Tamotsu Higuchi, Shinichiro Kotake, Kiyoshi Okazoe, Tatsuto Nagayasu, Koichiro Iwashita, Kenichiro Kawamichi, Susumu Okino, Toru Takashina
  • Patent number: 5824273
    Abstract: A gas refining system for adsorbing a reducing gas includes a reduced gas stream, a section for adsorbing and removing sulfur-containing compounds in the reducing gas, an adsorbent which contacts the reduced gas stream, an oxygen-gas containing stream which enters the adsorbing and removing section, a calcium-compound containing stream, and a reactor which receives the above streams and allows for the adsorption of sulfur dioxide and precipitation of a gypsum compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tatani, Makoto Susaki, Kazuaki Kimura, Taku Shimizu, Toshikuni Sera, Kenji Inoue
  • Patent number: 5820827
    Abstract: In the method for the chemical reaction of gaseous educts, the educts are brought to reaction in a phase contact apparatus 1 in the presence of a catalytically active corrosive liquid. This corrosive liquid is delivered hydropneumatically in an intermittent cycle in the circuit from a sump vessel 4 connected to the lower end of the phase contact apparatus 1 to a supply vessel 9, connected to the upper end of the phase contact apparatus (delivery cycle), from which the corrosive liquid drains through the phase contact apparatus 1 and a connecting line 11 connected at its lower end and then collects in the sump vessel 4 (drainage cycle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Dummersdorf, Helmut Waldmann, Helmut Harle, Franz-Rudolf Minz, Fritz Gestermann
  • Patent number: 5811066
    Abstract: In the method of scrubbing flue gases, the flue gases are wet-scrubbed in the presence of activated carbon. The activated carbon is separated from a suspension resulting from wet scrubbing. The activated carbon is then divided into a first and a second portion, and the first portion is thermally desorbed. The first portion of the activated carbon is returned to the second portion of the activated carbon. The first and second portions of the activated carbon are recirculated to the wet scrubbing step. The device for scrubbing flue gases includes a flue gas desulfurization scrubber with a flue gas inlet line, a flue gas outlet line, and an adsorption medium line. A treatment device for treating a suspension formed in the flue gas desulfurization scrubber is provided. A thermal desorption device for the activated carbon is provided. The treatment device includes a separator for separating solid material from the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Steag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Winkler, Marion Neumann
  • Patent number: 5800797
    Abstract: In the present invention, alumina is produced by a process comprising leading a starting aqueous slurry containing a seed alumina hydrate to a circulating system, the aqueous slurry being circulated and returned to the starting aqueous slurry, wherein an aqueous solution of an aluminum salt and an aqueous solution of a neutralizer are added to the aqueous slurry being circulated and mixed together at a pH value of 6 to 11 to thereby cause the aqueous slurry to contain formed alumina hydrate prior to the return to the starting aqueous slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Catalysts & Chemicals Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumoto, Hiroki Arao, Morio Fukuda
  • Patent number: 5788944
    Abstract: Exhaust gas from combustion equipment such as a boiler is brought into contact with an absorbing liquid to absorb sulfur oxide from the exhaust gas into the absorbing liquid. Limestone particles having larger diameters are selectively retained in a zone wherein the absorbing liquid that has absorbed the sulfur oxide from the exhaust gas is neutralized. The absorbing liquid containing water and the gypsum thereby formed, as main constituents, are selectively drained from the neutralizing zone and recycled for renewed contact with the exhaust gas. Because of the possibility of a large decrease of desulfurizing performance due to a variation in the load on the boiler, etc., at least one of the following is monitored: pressure drop across the neutralizing zone, torque of a stirring device, solids concentration in the absorbing liquid, specific gravity of the absorbing liquid and viscosity of the absorbing liquid. Responsive to the monitored parameters outlet SO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Babcock-Hitachi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kikkawa, Fumito Nakajima, Hiroyuki Kaku, Shigehito Takamoto, Hiroshi Ishizaka, Shigeru Nozawa, Masakatsu Nishimura, Takanori Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 5785933
    Abstract: A sulfuric acid-catalyzed alkylation reactor system is provided for alkylating isoparaffins with olefins to produce hydrocarbon alkylates. The reactor vessel has a vertical cylindrical wall, a top, an inverted conical bottom portion, internal perforated baffles and multiple emulsion injection inlet pipes, disposed tangentially to and communicating with the interior of the reactor vessel. The emulsion injection inlet pipes have static mixers incorporated therein and tangential injection of the emulsion imparts a circular motion to the contents of the reactor vessel, resulting in partial phase separation of the reacted products. The reactor vessel communicates with a settling vessel through a transfer pipe having a vertical portion suspended within the central portion of the reactor vessel and a horizontal portion sealably extending through the cylindrical wall of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Brian A. Cunningham, Saverio G. Greco
  • Patent number: 5762883
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wet flue gas desulfurization apparatus including: an absorption tower having defined in the lower part thereof a tank for holding a calcium compound-containing slurry fed thereto; a circulating pump for delivering the slurry within the tank to the upper part of the absorption tower in order to bring it into contact with flue gas; air supply member for supplying air to the tank for purposes of oxidation; a withdrawal pump for withdrawing the slurry within the tank in order to recover gypsum formed as a by-product or discharge waste water; falling slurry withdrawal member for withdrawing part of the slurry delivered to the upper part of the absorption tower by the circulating pump and falling through the absorption tower at a position above the liquid surface of the tank; and mixing member for the slurry withdrawn by the falling slurry withdrawal member with the slurry withdrawn from the tank by the withdrawal pump, whereby oxidizing substances produced in the tank of the absorption
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okazoe, Eiji Ochi, Toru Takashina, Susumu Okino
  • Patent number: 5735331
    Abstract: A method of regulating the temperature in a chemical melt dissolving tank, where chemical melt produced in combustion of spent liquor of a cellulose pulp mill is dissolved in liquid, producing green liquor, provides excellent heat economy, while minimizing the amount of liquid needed to dissolve the melt to produce green liquor at a temperature below boiling. Green liquor produced in the dissolving tank is expanded (and thereby cooled) in a vacuum tank, and a least a significant part of the cooled liquor is returned to the dissolving tank, for regulating the temperature in the tank. The heat energy contained in the generated expansion steam may be used in many different ways, for example, for indirectly heating (e.g. in a heat exchanger acting as a condenser) water or other liquid to a sufficiently high temperature so that the liquid is useful elsewhere in the pulp mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ahlstrom Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Holger Engdahl, Jouni Jantti
  • Patent number: 5728353
    Abstract: Gas-phase process for the preparation of polymers and copolymers of olefins CH.sub.2 .dbd.CHR, carried out in at least 2 fluidized or mechanically agitated bed gas-phase reactors operating under different reaction conditions so as to obtain different polymers in the different reactors; the process is characterized in that the polymer is at least partially recycled among the different reactors by using ratios of the flow rate of circulation among the different reactors to the discharge flow rate comprised between 2 and 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Montell North America Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriele Govoni, Roberto Rinaldi, Massimo Covezzi
  • Patent number: 5723279
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for preparing a photographic emulsion.The device according to the invention comprises a plurality of external circulation loops disposed in parallel and in which the content of a vessel containing at least a stirred gelatin solution is circulated, the loops having an identical configuration, means being provided for adding in an identical manner, to each of the loops, reagents required for the formation and/or growth of silver halide grains, the output of the circulation loops being recycled continuously in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Pierre Henri Jezequel
  • Patent number: 5720929
    Abstract: A device for the catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic hydrocarbon charge is applicable to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Effluent coming from the dehydrogenation reactor and containing olefins and water is cooled in at least one heat exchanger (41), saturated with water in a column (3) and sent to a stripping column (10) where it is at least partly put in contact with a recycled aqueous liquid phase containing a solvent, preferably methanol. The compressed gaseous effluent in which the water is thereby inhibited from freezing by the methanol is cooled in a heat exchanger (13) then separated in separator (8) into olefins and into hydrogen. An aqueous liquid phase with methanol is decanted at (8) and recycled in column (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski, Joseph Larue
  • Patent number: 5720926
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a contaminant from a gas effluent. The apparatus comprises an absorption tower in which is placed a suitable packing where the gas effluent and contaminant-absorbing liquid contact one another. A recirculation path transfers spent contaminant-absorbing liquid to the top of the tower allowing the liquid to effect a new contaminant-removal cycle. Reagent is introduced in the recirculation path to refresh the contaminant-absorbing liquid. A dual-controller system dynamically varies the amount of reagent introduced in the recirculation path in accordance with the amount of contaminant in the gas effluent. A master controller calculates a reagent concentration set-point. The set-point is communicated to a slave controller that meters reagent in the recirculation path according to the set-point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Environair S.I.P.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Whipp, Denis Chouinard, Josee Ethier, Benoit Roy, Veronique Roy, Belhocine Benallal
  • Patent number: 5711919
    Abstract: A device for catalytic dehydrogenation of a C.sub.2+ paraffinic cut with an improved system for cooling the effluent is applicable, for example, to the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether. Liquid charge 12 is evaporated in the calandria of a heat exchanger 13 in the optional presence of at least one part recycled hydrogen 15, then optionally compressed in a compressor 14 before being pre-heated in an exchanger 41 by effluent 1 and introduced into a dehydrogenation reactor 40. The effluent cooled in the tubes of exchanger 13 can be mixed with a cryogenic phase 17 resulting from the isentropic expansion of a hydrogen-rich phase separated in a separator 8, the hydrogen optionally being recycled to the calandria of the heat exchanger. The olefins recovered with the unconverted paraffins are stabilized in a column 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ari Minkkinen, Jean-Pierre Burzynski
  • Patent number: 5709990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for preparing a photographic emulsion.In the device of an external loop type of the invention, a solution of a first halide salt X.sub.1.sup.- is introduced at a point in the loop situated outside the reaction zone R within which the silver salt (Ag.sup.+) added to the loop precipitates almost entirely in order to produce silver halide grains or cause them to grow in said solution, the Ag.sup.+ solution being introduced into the reactor in the form of a "centered" jet within said reactor, the Reynolds number Re at the point of introduction of the Ag.sup.+ salt being between approximately 5000 and approximately 50,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Pierre Henri Jezequel, Christian Serge Emile Schmuckle
  • Patent number: 5707510
    Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Process Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Patrick Berry
  • Patent number: 5660810
    Abstract: In the method for the chemical reaction of gaseous educts the educts are brought to reaction in a phase contact apparatus 1 in the presence of a catalytically active corrosive liquid. This corrosive liquid is delivered hydropneumatically in an intermittent cycle in the circuit from a sump vessel 4 connected to the lower end of the phase contact apparatus 1 to a supply vessel 9, connected to the upper end of the phase contact apparatus (delivery cycle), from which the corrosive liquid drains through the phase contact apparatus 1 and a connecting line 11 connected at its lower end and then collects in the sump vessel 4 (drainage cycle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Dummersdorf, Helmut Waldmann, Helmut Harle, Franz-Rudolf Minz, Fritz Gestermann
  • Patent number: 5658535
    Abstract: A transverse flow uniform droplet generator and method for its use. The droplet generator, such as is used with a gas laser system, produces singlet oxygen from a flow of droplets of liquid basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) reacting with a transverse a flow of He/Cl.sub.2 gas mixture. The resulting flow of singlet oxygen travels in the same direction as the He/Cl.sub.2 gas mixture and the unreacted BHP is collected on the opposite of the reaction volume from which it enters. Very uniformly-size BEP droplets are formed by an injector which specific mechanical resonance characteristics and the flow of the BHP and the gas mixture in the generator volume is also carefully controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: STI Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Thayer, III
  • Patent number: 5641460
    Abstract: This invention relates to a gas-liquid contacting device for efficiently bringing a gas into contact with a slurry solution, and a wet flue-gas desulfurization system using the contacting device. The contacting device incorporated in the system comprises a tank to be supplied with a slurry solution, a set of agitator bars held above the bottom of the tank to be horizontally rotatable, a plurality of gas supply pipes for supplying a gas to the vicinity of the agitator bars, nozzles directed to the region through which the agitator bars rotate or to its vicinity, and a plurality of liquid supply pipes for supplying a liquid to the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okazoe, Yoshio Nakayama, Yoichi Shiga, Masakazu Onizuka
  • Patent number: 5637502
    Abstract: A process for converting cellulosic materials, such as waste paper, into fuels and chemicals, such as sugars and ethanol, utilizing enzymatic hydrolysis of the major carbohydrate of paper: cellulose. A waste paper slurry is contacted by cellulase in an agitated hydrolyzer. An attritor and a cellobiase reactor are coupled to the agitated hydrolyzer to improve reaction efficiency. Additionally, microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis steps are included to further increase reaction efficiency. The resulting sugars are converted to a dilute product in a fluidized-bed bioreactor utilizing a biocatalyst, such as microorganisms. The dilute product is then concentrated and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Scott, Charles D. Scott, Brendlyn D. Faison, Brian H. Davison, Jonathan Woodward
  • Patent number: 5620670
    Abstract: A process of converting a feed of hydrocarbon-containing gases into liquid hydrocarbon products including a first reaction of converting the feed into one to 2.5 parts of hydrogen to one part carbon monoxide in the presence of carbon dioxide and then secondly reacting the hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor using a promoted iron oxide catalyst slurry to form liquid hydrocarbon products, wherein the carbon dioxide from the first and second reactions is separated from the product streams and at least a portion of the separated carbon dioxide is recycled into the first reaction feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Benham, Mark S. Bohn, Dennis L. Yakobson
  • Patent number: 5620667
    Abstract: The invention discloses a wet process flue gas desulfurization apparatus and method for use with a tank oxidation system. The apparatus comprises: an absorption tower having a slurry containing a calcium compound which is supplied to the bottom tank, a circulation pump for feeding the slurry in the tank into a flue gas inlet in an upper part of the absorption tank to be in contact with flue gas, and air feed means for feeding air for oxidizing into the tank, thereby absorbing and oxidizing sulfur dioxide in the flue gas by the slurry to obtain gypsum as a byproduct, wherein a vacuum type belt filter is disposed along an outer surface of a side wall of the absorption tower, and part of the slurry that is discharged from the circulation pump is led into the belt filter to be dehydrated, thereby separating and recovering gypsum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nemoto, Kiyoshi Okazoe, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 5580236
    Abstract: A process is described for the industrial synthesis of urea, making the ammonia (NH3) and the carbon dioxide (CO2) react, in at least one reaction space, at high pressures and temperatures and recycling at least in part the unreacted products obtained in a recycle section, characterized by: a) a synthesis reaction between reactants of high purity; and b) a synthesis reaction between less pure reactants, substantially recycled by the so-called recycle section.The corresponding new plant includes a reactor (R1) of high yield "once through"), a reactor (R2) of lower yield and a section of recovery and recycle.The application of the process to preexisting plants requires the simple addition of a reactor of high yield and of pumping devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Urea Casale, S.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Pagani
  • Patent number: 5578278
    Abstract: Direct fluorination of organics such as 1,8-dichlorooctane in tubular reactor. Inert liquid containing organic feed is circulated through tubular reactor with fluorine gas for a time and at a temperature sufficient to yield fluorinated organic. Preferably, liquid and gas phases are separated from reactor product stream containing inert liquid, fluorinated organic, and any unreacted organic is recycled to turbulent mixing zone upstream of reactor in which fresh organic feed is added; and fluorine is added to recycle stream at end of mixing zone. Flow in tubular reactor is turbulent. Rate of organic feed and fluorine addition to process are independent of each other. Among process advantages are: Freon solvents not required; good control of reaction exotherm; and HF scavengers not required. Process useful for partial or complete fluorination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David J. Fall, Miguel A. Guerra
  • Patent number: 5565178
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing fumigation gasses from fumigated structures is provided. Air is directed from a structure through an adsorption unit and then recirculated back into the structure. A fan directs air through the adsorption unit. The adsorption unit contains an annularly shaped adsorption bed and an inner passage way and outer passage way through which fumigation gasses are directed. A lower adsorption efficiency per pass through the adsorption bed is used in conjunction with multiple passes with the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Degesch America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Dove, Donald G. Shaheen
  • Patent number: 5547637
    Abstract: 35% to 45% by weight concentrated aqueous solutions of ferric chloride, directly useful as flocculating agents in a variety of water treatments, are prepared by (a) digesting iron with a dilute aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid until such acid has essentially been consumed and thereby producing an aqueous solution of ferrous chloride; (b) reacting chlorine with such aqueous solution of ferrous chloride, in the presence of a recycled aqueous solution of ferric chloride; (c) decompressing the step (b) reaction product solution to vaporize water therefrom, thereby concentrating same; and (d) recycling a fraction of the decompressed liquid phase to step (b) and recovering remaining fraction as final product aqueous solution of ferric chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Atochem
    Inventors: Rene Clair, Alain Gallet
  • Patent number: 5527515
    Abstract: 35% to 45% by weight concentrated aqueous solutions of ferric chloride, directly useful as flocculating agents in a variety of water treatments, are prepared by (a) reacting chlorine with an aqueous solution of ferrous chloride, in the presence of a recycled aqueous solution of ferric chloride; (b) decompressing the step (a) reaction product solution to vaporize water therefrom, thereby concentrating same; and (c) recycling a fraction of the decompressed liquid phase to step (a) and recovering remaining fraction as final product aqueous solution of ferric chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Atochem
    Inventors: Rene Clair, Alain Gallet
  • Patent number: 5508183
    Abstract: A process for converting cellulosic materials, such as waste paper, into fuels and chemicals, such as sugars and ethanol, utilizing enzymatic hydrolysis of the major carbohydrate of paper: cellulose. A waste paper slurry is contacted by cellulase in an agitated hydrolyzer. An attritor and a cellobiase reactor are coupled to the agitated hydrolyzer to improve reaction efficiency. Additionally, microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis steps are included to further increase reaction efficiency. The resulting sugars are converted to a dilute product in a fluidized-bed bioreactor utilizing a biocatalyst, such as microorganisms. The dilute product is then concentrated and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Scott, Charles D. Scott, Brendlyn D. Faison, Brian H. Davison, Jonathan Woodward
  • Patent number: 5478536
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing sulphide(s) from sour gas comprising contacting sour gas with a treatment agent comprised of make-up triazine. The treatment agent extracts sulphide(s) from the sour gas to sweeten the gas and form a residual solution comprised of a sulphinated component and an alkanolamine component. The sulphinated component of the solution is substantially separated from the alkanolamine component of the solution by decanting. Dithiazine and trithiane is crystallized out of the spent sulphinated component and removed from the process. Aldehyde is added to the remaining alkanolamine component to form a sulphide reactive agent. The sulphide reactive agent is combined with make-up triazine to produce the treatment agent for contacting with the sour gas. The present invention also includes a system for completing the above steps comprising feed means for supplying the treatment agent, H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Galtec Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Galloway
  • Patent number: 5468462
    Abstract: A geographically distributed apparatus and process for detritiating heavy water is provided. The apparatus and process provide a remote site enrichment plant for producing an enriched stream of DT/D.sub.2 gas and a hydriding unit for forming a hydride of the DT/D.sub.2 gas for transportation. Pure tritium gas is produced at a local tritium extraction plant by reforming DT/D.sub.2 in a de-hydriding unit and passing the gas mixture through a chain of cryogenic distillation columns. The invention provides a safe and cost-effective method of detritiating heavy water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Alistair I. Miller, Dino A. Spagnolo
  • Patent number: 5458858
    Abstract: The present invention uses a new approach to generating chlorine dioxide. This approach is the use of two vessel system in which the first vessel is of a structure which enables operation to create substantially isothermal incomplete reaction conditions and in which the second vessel is of a structure to enable operation to generate a continuous decreasing temperature gradient from bottom to top thereof for substantially-completing that reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Vulcan Chemicals
    Inventor: John L. Dawkins
  • Patent number: 5451376
    Abstract: In a fine comminution apparatus arranged downstream of a coarse comminution apparatus, polyurethane foam wastes can be comminuted to the desired particle size for recycling as an additive in the production of polyurethane, in a low-dust and energy-saving manner, by carrying out the fine comminution preferably by repeatedly forcing a mixture of the coarsely comminuted material and one of the reaction components through a nozzle or through a plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen, Jurgen Wirth, Reiner Raffel
  • Patent number: 5403556
    Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for improved additive systems for polymerization processes, which improved systems comprise a slurry additive system having a high shear mixer for mixing a carrier fluid and the solid additives and maintaining them in a suspension slurry prior to injecting them into a polymerization system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose M. Sosa, Stan Beisert
  • Patent number: 5399320
    Abstract: A method of terminating, under emergency conditions, an olefin polymerization reaction conducted in the presence of a transitioned metal based catalyst in a gas phase reactor by using a recycle gas from the reactor or a feed stream to the reactor to operate an expander associated with a circulator which maintains fluidized conditions in the reactor while introducing a kill gas into the reactor to terminate the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventors: Roy E. Craddock, III, John M. Jenkins, III, Michael T. Tighe
  • Patent number: 5376284
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of an effluent containing an organic chlorine compound in the presence of a porous iron type metallic article and hydrogen peroxide thereby effecting oxidizing decomposition of the organic chlorine compound, operated by a procedure which comprises causing the organic chlorine compound having hydrogen peroxide incorporated preparatorily therein to be circulated through a closed vessel having the porous iron type metallic article disposed therein thereby effecting oxidizing decomposition of the organic chlorine compound and then simultaneously circulating and aerating the effluent containing the organic chlorine compound under the condition of keeping the upper part of the closed vessel in an opened state thereby effecting oxidizing decomposition of the organic chlorine compound or causing the gaseous phase stagnating in the upper part of the vessel to be introduced into the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yozo Takemura, Kengo Senco, Atsushi Mori, Osamu Takamori, Kenji Watanabe, Masao Yashiro, Futoshi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5362373
    Abstract: A system for producing oxygen and methane. This system comprises a methanation reactor for reacting carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane and water, a reforming reactor for reforming the water and methane to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, a condenser for separating the methane and water, and an electrolyzer for electrolyzing the water to hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Karen E. Murdoch, Philip J. Birbara
  • Patent number: 5356600
    Abstract: In systems in which air is introduced into a liquid as a source of oxygen, additional oxygen added independent of the feed air enhances the oxygen content of the liquid source significantly than if the same amount of additional oxygen were combined with the feed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Kiyonaga, Lawrence M. Litz, Thomas J. Bergman
  • Patent number: 5352415
    Abstract: A novel control system is provided to control the liquid levels in a reactor-flasher combination used particularly for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid. Liquid level control is achieved by proportional controllers or other controllers which do not continuously seek zero off-set from the desired level and which proportionally change the liquid flow rates from the respective reactor and flasher. An adjustment can be made to the level controllers to change the liquid flow rates by a function generator which adjusts the flow rate, according to an empirically derived function which correlates changes in methanol feed rate to liquid flow rates from the reactor and flasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Hoechst Celanese Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Ochiai
  • Patent number: 5348871
    Abstract: A process for converting cellulosic materials, such as waste paper, into fuels and chemicals utilizing enzymatic hydrolysis of the major constituent of paper, cellulose. A waste paper slurry is contacted by cellulase in an agitated hydrolyzer. The cellulase is produced from a continuous, columnar, fluidized-bed bioreactor utilizing immobilized microorganisms. An attritor and a cellobiase reactor are coupled to the agitated hydrolyzer to improve reaction efficiency. The cellulase is recycled by an adsorption process. The resulting crude sugars are converted to dilute product in a fluidized-bed bioreactor utilizing microorganisms. The dilute product is concentrated and purified by utilizing distillation and/or a biparticle fluidized-bed bioreactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Scott, Brendlyn D. Faison, Brian H. Davison, Jonathan Woodward
  • Patent number: 5336473
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing cobalt values from the crude product of a cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction wherein an overhead stripper-reactor reflux product is recycled to a location on the stripper-reactor which is capable of forming a stripping zone in the upper portion of the stripper-reactor and a reaction zone in the lower portion of the stripper-reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk C. Nadler, Thomas R. Broussard, Joseph K. Pitre
  • Patent number: 5334359
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing sparingly water-soluble salt crystal grains, including a mixing vessel in which a cationic component solution and an anionic component solution are mixed to form a precipitation process solution in which sparingly water-soluble salt grains are produced, wherein the mixing vessel is connected to a reaction chamber through a one-way valve, and the precipitation process solution is injected into the crystal growth process solution through the one-way valve immediately after mixing while stirring the crystal growth process solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Masutomi, Hirofumi Ohtani, Naoko Uchida, Chikao Mamiya
  • Patent number: 5328668
    Abstract: Semiconductor grade tungsten hexafluoride (WF.sub.6) is produced by reacting tungsten metal with a recirculating flow of gaseous WF.sub.6 containing a small concentration of fluorine in a heated reactor. The high purity WF.sub.6 produced is useful for deposition of tungsten metallization in fabricating VLSI integrated circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Bandgap Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Sabacky, Robert E. Doane
  • Patent number: 5324497
    Abstract: A novel continuous process and system are provided for the production of chlorine dioxide at favorable economics and high efficiency. The process involves effecting electrolysis of an aqueous solution of alkali metal chloride, in an electrolysis zone, to form an aqueous solution of alkali metal chlorate having a chlorate ion concentration of about 400 to about 1,200 g/L, and a chloride ion concentration of about 90 to about 120 g/L, gaseous hydrogen and water vapor. Hydrogen is conducted to a hydrogen chloride synthesis system where it reacts with chlorine gas, (recycled, as well as make-up,) to yield hydrogen chloride gas which is quenched with water to provide hydrochloric acid. A solution of alkali metal chlorate is conducted from the electrolysis zone to the chlorine dioxide generating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: G. Oscar Westerlund
  • Patent number: 5308509
    Abstract: A flue gas desulfurization process wherein the liquid bottoms product from the scrubber tower is subject to forced oxidation in a reaction/oxidation tank. Afterwards, this oxidized bottoms product is delivered to hydroclone means for separation into an overflow stream containing an aqueous slurry of mostly fines, fly ash, and unused reagent and an underflow stream containing predominately a gypsum slurry. The overflow stream is initially recycled back to the tank with another stream being subsequently returned or recycled back to the scrubber tower while the underflow stream is dewatered for the removal of the gypsum therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Pervaje A. Bhat, Dennis W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5277878
    Abstract: A reactor for carrying out heterogeneous-phase reactions, in particular gas/liquid reactions with a continuous liquid phase and a dispersed (discontinuous) gas phase, is described, in which, in a horizontal plane, a substantially vertically upward-directed flow of the reaction medium takes place in a first region of the reactor cross-section and a substantially vertically downward-directed flow takes place in another region of the reactor having a device for dispersing the discontinuous phase such as a dispersing screen, substantially only in the regions with upward-directed flow. The reactor is here designed in such a way that free flow of the reaction medium from regions with downward-directed flow to regions with upward-directed flow is possible in the region of the dispersing device. The preferred use of the proposed reactor is the exothermic oxidation of p-xylene and monomethyl p-toluate with air in the so-called Witten DMT process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Huels Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Piotrowski, Hermann-Josef Korte