Treating With Steam Or Water Patents (Class 521/45)
  • Patent number: 11993683
    Abstract: Methods and systems for degradation of polymeric and non-polymeric substances is provided. An example method includes generating structurally altered gas molecules from water, where the structurally altered gas molecules have a higher probability of attraction of electrons into areas adjunct to the structurally altered gas molecules than molecules of the water. The method further includes infusing the structurally altered gas molecules into a matter containing the polymeric substances and the non-polymeric substances, where upon being infused, the structurally altered gas molecules cause a decrease in concentration of the polymeric substances and the non-polymeric substances in the matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: H2PLUS LLC, H2Plus Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Gene Dedick, Jared Roberts
  • Patent number: 11958944
    Abstract: A method for processing polyester-cotton blend textile waste includes adding polyester-cotton blend textile waste to a rotating drum of a rotary hydrolysis reactor. Water and a base are added to the rotary hydrolysis reactor and heated. The polyester-cotton blend textile waste is agitated with a plurality of ribs by rotating the inner drum relative to a housing of the rotary hydrolysis reactor to enable the hydrolysis of PET into a TPA and ethylene glycol solution with solid reclaimed cotton free of PET. The TPA and ethylene glycol solution is separated from the solid reclaimed cotton and directed to a hydrolysate recovery vessel. In the hydrolysate recovery vessel the TPA is precipitated and separated from the remaining liquid and the ethylene glycol is then recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hybridworks Chemical, LLC
    Inventors: James Honshell, Robert H. Fesmire
  • Patent number: 9593212
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a water absorbent resin particle, in high productivity, not only in a controlled manner of particle size but also enhancing fundamental property (absorption capacity or absorption capacity against pressure) of a water absorbent resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Sakamoto, Yoshio Irie, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Makoto Nagasawa, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Sayaka Machida
  • Patent number: 9296952
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber granulate conversion process comprising steps consisting in: a) pyrolysing the rubber granulates at a temperature between 400 and 500° C. in the presence of water, to obtain a carbonized substance and a gaseous phase; and b) recovering the carbonized substance obtained during the previous step. The invention also relates to the products resulting from the conversion process and to the use of said products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ALFYMA INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Stanislaw Budzyn, Victor Iwanicki, Andrzej Sumara, Wieslaw Zmuda, Christian D'Emal
  • Patent number: 8946309
    Abstract: Process to generate synthesis gas and/or liquid raw materials and/or energy materials from waste and/or biomass by performing the following steps: a) solvolysis of the organic components of waste and/or biomass in an alkaline solution or hydrate smelter at a temperature range of 150° to 250° C. and pressure between 3 and 12 bar, whereby the organic components are converted into at least one liquid phase and the inorganic components are sedimented; b) elimination of the inorganic components from the liquid phase by physical separation methods; c) transfer of the vapors generated during the solvolysis into a rectification column, where the organic components are separated from water; and d) further separation of the organic components by rectification, extraction and sorption and/or conversion by thermal gasification into synthesis gas or burnable gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventors: Wenzel Bergmann, Thomas Müller
  • Patent number: 8779015
    Abstract: Provided are a recycling method for industrially, simply and effectively recycling a phenolic body from a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization; and an olefin polymer obtained by this method. In a method for recycling a phenolic antioxidant wherein a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization is recycled to a phenolic body, a nitrogen gas comprising water and/or a proton donor at a volume ratio of 1.0×10?6 to 2.5×10?2 with respect to 1 volume of nitrogen is brought into contact with the olefin polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Adeka Corporation
    Inventors: Naoshi Kawamoto, Tsuyoshi Urushihara, Kohei Okamoto, Tetsuya Seguchi
  • Publication number: 20140148522
    Abstract: Vulcanized rubber, for example from used tires, can be devulcanized to provide a reaction product that has similar rheological properties to the original un-vulcanized rubber. The vulcanized rubber is processed at a temperature that is less than a critical temperature of a solvent, such as water or water and alcohol. The process is carried out at a pressure that is higher than the vapour pressure of the solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: BRIAN HARRISON, HURDON HOOPER
  • Patent number: 8653150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for decomposing, in the presence of subcritical water, a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester moiety and a crosslinking moiety therewith to provide a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, and collecting the compound in an efficient yield, specifically, which comprises steps of: (I) decomposing the thermosetting resin in the presence of subcritical water to provide a solid comprising a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester moiety and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, (II) subjecting the solid to an organic solvent to dissolve the compound into the organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent has a higher solubility which can dissolve the compound than that of water, and (III) collecting, separating or isolating the compound from the organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Takumi Izumitani, Takaharu Nakagawa, Masaru Hidaka, Keishi Shibata, Junko Matsui
  • Patent number: 8580124
    Abstract: A solvent that reversibly converts from a hydrophobic liquid form to hydrophilic liquid form upon contact with water and a selected trigger, e.g., contact with CO2, is described. The hydrophilic liquid form is readily converted back to the hydrophobic liquid form and water. The hydrophobic liquid is an amidine or amine. The hydrophilic liquid form comprises an amidinium salt or an ammonium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignees: Queen's University at Kingston, GreenCentre Canada
    Inventors: Philip G. Jessop, Lam N. Phan, Andrew J. Carrier, Rui Resendes, Dominik Wechsler
  • Patent number: 8530618
    Abstract: Process for recovering a polymer by injection of steam, and optionally liquid water, into a solution of this polymer comprising a polar aprotic organic solvent (PAOS) that has an azeotrope with water and an apolar organic compound that is miscible with the PAOS and immiscible with water and that acts as a phase separation agent (PSA), the boiling point of which is below that of the water/PAOS azeotrope, the amount of steam injected being sufficient to give rise to the substantial removal of the PSA via stripping and that of the PAOS via azeotropic distillation, and the total amount of water being sufficient to give rise to the precipitation of the polymer, this process being characterized in that the polymer solution also comprises an alcohol, at least during the precipitation of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solvay
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Lepers, Denis Geets, Jean-Raphael Caille
  • Patent number: 8436058
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for separating a product comprising a super absorbent polymer, a fiber and a plastic to separate the product into components thereof, the method comprising adding water to the product, and pressing the product in order to separate the product into components comprising a plastics component and a super absorbent polymer and fiber component. Other methods of the present disclosure include a method for producing a reusable plastic, reusable paper fiber stream and a reusable super absorbent polymer from the treatment of a product comprising a super absorbent polymer, a fiber and a plastic. Still other embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for the treatment of wet super absorbent polymer, comprising salt assisted dehydration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Knowaste International, LLC
    Inventor: David Grimes
  • Patent number: 8420702
    Abstract: Process for recycling a fiber reinforced polymer article, according to which the article, eventually cut in fragments, is dissolved in a solvent capable of dissolving the polymer but not the fibers and which is susceptible of forming an azeotrope with water, forming a solution; the fibers are recovered from the solution; the fibers are washed with solvent by putting them in the form of a slurry in the solvent and by agitating the slurry and/or by making the solvent circulate through it; the washed fibers are recovered from the slurry; and the recovered fibers are submitted to a stripping with steam in order to substantially remove the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Solvay S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Van Weynbergh, Stephane Noel
  • Patent number: 8404753
    Abstract: A method of degrading a water-soluble, synthetic polymeric film being at least partially covered with a paint material. The method includes placing the film in an extractor apparatus and separating the paint material from the film. The paint material is collected from a water-based solution with a filtration media. The film is degraded in the extractor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Hanlon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8338563
    Abstract: Method for purifying a solution of at least one plastic in a solvent, the said solution comprising insolubles, whereby the solution is purified using a centrifugal settler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Bernard Vandenhende
  • Patent number: 8304461
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making composite materials comprising combining particles of crosslinked rubber with coagulated aqueous polymer dispersions to form a mixture in aqueous dispersion, and subjecting the aqueous dispersion mixture to solid state shear pulverization to form materials that can be processed as thermoplastics at crosslinked rubber concentrations of from 10 to as high as 95 wt. %, based on the total solids of the material. The method may further comprise kneading the pulverized product to form useful articles, such as roofing membranes and shoe soles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Carlos A. Cruz, Willie Lau, Joseph M. Rokowski, Qi Wang
  • Patent number: 8304462
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making composite materials comprising combining particles of crosslinked rubber with one or more aqueous polymer dispersion of a suspension polymer to form a mixture in aqueous dispersion, and, optionally, subjecting the aqueous dispersion mixture to solid state shear pulverization to form materials that can be processed as thermoplastics at crosslinked rubber concentrations of from 10 to as high as 95 wt. %, based on the total solids of the material. The method may further comprise kneading and/or compression molding the pulverized product to form useful articles, such as roofing membranes and shoe soles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Willie Lau, Rachel Z. Pytel, Joseph M. Rokowski
  • Publication number: 20120184634
    Abstract: This invention proposes a method for thermal regeneration of waste rubber; add rough powder particle of waste rubber/environmental softener/powder material with weight ratio ranging among 100/8˜150/20˜1500 into mixing heater; first carry out oxygen-free heating and then divert into mixing cooler to cool below 100° C.; the discharge material is product; or set aside some or all powder material and then slowly add into mixing heater or/and add the same when the hot material has been diverted into mixing cooler; when the mixture has been cooled below 100° C., the discharged material is product; after initial mixing of the prepared material, directly divert the same into screw extruder and heat and get into mixing section; when the mixture has been cooled below 100° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Huihong Chen, Jiaqing Hu
  • Patent number: 8183337
    Abstract: Methods for the purification of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen D. Pacetti
  • Patent number: 8153699
    Abstract: A surfacing composition made of recycled paint, which requires no priming, has a non-reflective “flat” appearance, and is partially composed of dried paint. The composition provides a useful application for used or excess household paint, which would otherwise require special methods of disposal and potentially create future toxic cleanup problems. The composition is made of granular dried paint and a water-based sealer, which can be spread on a surface to repair imperfections. The surface can then be finished, and no priming is required. Due to the composition's flat appearance, the patch does not display any characteristic sheen where the repair has been made. The composition provides a simple means of recycling paint, and provides a simple and inexpensive means of repairing imperfections in walls and other surfaces while saving the step of priming the patch before painting or repainting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Larry Allen Holloway
  • Publication number: 20120035282
    Abstract: A process and a plant, even mobile, for the continuous cycle recycling of materials (2, 20) contained in products (1) coupled with other materials (V1 1?) by disintegration through water jets (5) at high flow ranging between 40-150 litre/minute and at high/ultra-high pressure ranging from 1700 to 6000 bar and products obtained from these.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Brunello Bernasconi, Vittorio Perregrini
  • Patent number: 8053550
    Abstract: Process for the purification of a vinyl chloride polymer (PVC) comprising at least one compound of a heavy metal, according to which: (a) the PVC is dissolved in a water-miscible polar organic solvent; (b) an aqueous solution comprising a reagent, which is either a base capable of reacting with the compound of the heavy metal (R1) or a dispersing agent capable of stabilizing the said compound (R2), is added to the organic solution, the water being introduced in an amount (Q) such that it brings about the formation of a two-phase medium, the continuous phase of which is the organic phase; (c) the two-phase medium is subjected to stirring for a time sufficient for the reagent to be able to interact with (exert its effect on) the compound of the heavy metal; (d) the precipitation of the PVC out of this two-phase medium is brought about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Eric Fassiau, Murielle Manin
  • Patent number: 7999012
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to mechanically destroy printer toner cartridges and reclaim their constituent materials under a water shielded environment while providing a safer and more environmentally friendly recycling system. The present invention is an economical system that provides greater protection from possible fire or explosion and releases less irritating or possibly harmful airborne contamination than the currently available systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Lacee Lamphere, Brian Ibarra, Donald Laffler, James Hardin
  • Patent number: 7985778
    Abstract: Synthetic resin containing ester bond is subjected to hydrolysis treatment to reclaim raw material component before polymerization. Method for decomposing and reclaiming synthetic resin having ester bond in composition structure thereof, by conducting hydrolysis treatment and then separation collection treatment. In the hydrolysis treatment, article containing synthetic resin to be decomposed and reclaimed is exposed to water vapor atmosphere filled under saturation water vapor pressure at treatment temperature at or below melting point of the synthetic resin. The synthetic resin in article to be treated is hydrolyzed by water vapor generated at the treatment temperature, to generate decomposition product before polymerizing to the synthetic resin containing an ester bond. The separation collection treatment is treatment in which the decomposition product generated by the hydrolysis treatment is separated into liquid component and solid component to be collected individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Koichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7981941
    Abstract: A method for reprocessing used PET bottles having the step of shredding the bottles to form plastic flakes, sorting the plastic flakes according to at least one criterion into at least two partial quantities, and performing an individual processing treatment including a decontamination treatment. The device permits performing the method whereby it is possible to separate the plastic flakes produced from the threaded part of a PET bottle, these flakes being more difficult to purify, from the lighter plastic flakes from the wall of the bottle, which have a thin wall and are easier to purify, and treating them further in separate reprocessing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Friedlaender, Maren Hofferbert, Timm Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 7973092
    Abstract: A method for reprocessing used PET bottles having the steps of shredding the bottles to form plastic flakes, sorting the plastic flakes according to at least one criterion into at least two partial quantities, and performing an individual processing treatment including a decontamination treatment. The device permits performing the method whereby it is possible to separate the plastic flakes produced from the threaded part of a PET bottle, these flakes being more difficult to purify, from the lighter plastic flakes from the wall of the bottle, which have a thin wall and are easier to purify, and treating them further in separate reprocessing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Friedlaender, Maren Hofferbert, Timm Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 7893120
    Abstract: A pulverized thermoplastic resin product such as a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a black pigment, a mixture of a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment and a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment, or a pulverized thermoplastic product containing two or more different colored pigments can be converted into colored reclaimed resin particles by a method comprising the steps of mixing the pulverized resin product with a white pigment and a black pigment, melting the resulting mixture, and converting the molten mixture into solid particles. The colored reclaimed resin products can be utilized in various field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: UBE Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Suzuki, Tatsushi Ako, Yukimasa Tanaka, Saburou Hinenoya, Yasuo Kita
  • Patent number: 7846986
    Abstract: Process for recovering at least one polymer in solution in a solvent by precipitation by means of a non-solvent introduced gradually into the solution to form the precipitation medium, whereby: in the course of the introduction of the non-solvent into the precipitation medium, there is first a phase separation (into a continuous phase rich in solvent, in which the polymer is dissolved, and into a disperse phase, consisting of droplets rich in non-solvent) and then there is a phase inversion (the continuous phase then becoming the phase rich in non-solvent, and the disperse phase becoming the phase rich in solvent containing the dissolved polymer) the non-solvent is initially introduced into the precipitation medium in liquid form only and in a quantity (Q?) which is not zero but is less than the quantity (Q) required to bring about the phase inversion, and is subsequently introduced into the precipitation medium at least partly in vapour form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Solvay S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Fassiau, Denis Geets
  • Patent number: 7829604
    Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball composed of a hot-molded material obtained by vulcanizing a rubber composition made primarily of a base rubber and an unsaturated carboxylic acid or salt thereof, wherein the rubber composition additionally includes a vulcanized rubber powder from which soluble ingredients have been removed by liquid washing. The golf ball of the invention is able to increase the hardness (deflection) of the core and has an excellent durability, in addition to which it effectively re-uses vulcanized rubber powder that is a waste material and so is industrially beneficial by lowering manufacturing costs and reducing the burden on the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Wachi
  • Patent number: 7713502
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recycling fuel cell components containing fluorine-containing and precious metal-containing constituents: in this process, the fluorine-containing constituents are separated off from the precious metal-containing constituents by treatment with a medium present in the supercritical state. Preference is given to using water as supercritical medium. After the fluorine-containing constituents have been separated off, the precious metal-containing residues can be recovered in a recycling process without harmful fluorine or hydrogen fluoride emissions. The fluorine-containing constituents can likewise be recovered. The process is used in the recovery of precious metals and/or fluorine-containing constituents from membrane fuel cells, electrolysis cells, batteries, sensors and other electrochemical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Koehler, Ralf Zuber, Matthias Binder, Volker Baenisch, Marco Lopez
  • Patent number: 7654477
    Abstract: A process for producing a rubber powder from a vulcanized rubber material by the steps of: a) feeding a grinding device with the vulcanized rubber material; b) contacting the vulcanized rubber material with at least one liquid coolant; c) introducing at least one grinding aid additive into the grinding device; d) operating the grinding device so as to grind the vulcanized rubber material to form a rubber powder, and e) discharging the rubber powder from the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Pirelli & C. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Diego Tirelli, Michele Galbusera, Franco Peruzzotti, Cristiano Puppi, Stefano Testi, Antonio Monterosso, Matteo Di Biase
  • Patent number: 7601760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic so as to recycle useful substances therefrom as raw materials for a similar plastic. In particular, the present invention provides a method for decomposing a plastic, comprising the step of treating a thermosetting resin comprising a polyester and its crosslinking moiety, with subcritical water of a temperature lower than the thermal decomposition temperature of the thermosetting resin. According to the present invention, the thermosetting resin can be decomposed into a polyhydric alcohol, a polybasic acid and a compound comprising an acid residue derived from the polyester and a residue derived from the crosslinking moiety, without causing a random decomposition of the thermosetting resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Masaru Hidaka, Takaharu Nakagawa, Toyoyuki Urabe, Tetsuya Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7547734
    Abstract: Recycled resin is produced by a method including a dismantling/recovery step of dismantling products containing resin moldings and recovering the resin moldings, a removal step of removing unwanted matter including metal components from the resin moldings, a sorting step of discriminating the materials of the resin moldings, and a crushing step of crushing the resin moldings. The method further includes, prior to the crushing step, detecting the metal components, and, after the crushing step, separating out and thus removing metal remaining in crushed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Kimura, Takamitsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7166658
    Abstract: A method of reducing vulcanized rubber is provided. The method comprises the steps of heating the rubber, wherein the rubber includes synthetic rubber, in the presence of a solvent, wherein the solvent includes water to a temperature below a critical temperature of the solvent, providing a pressure that is at least equal to a saturated vapour pressure of the solvent at the temperature and maintaining the temperature and the pressure for a time sufficient to devulcanize the rubber and produce a reaction product that is primarily a solid phase and includes rubber hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignees: Sorbecon Consultants Inc., OPW Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Harrison, Hurdon Hooper
  • Patent number: 7148262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reusing waste material generated during the manufacturing of golf ball cores. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying the waste material in order lower its moisture content. In addition, the present invention relates to golf balls and golf ball components that utilize waste material, and in particular swarf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Richard S. Danner, Richard K. Brown, Samuel A. Pasqua, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7087655
    Abstract: A method of separating at least one polymer from a mixture of polymers. The method includes adjusting the temperature of the mixture, either by heating or cooling, to bring the temperature to a temperature at which decombination of the polymer mixture occurs. Mechanical energy is also imparted to the mixture, before, during or after temperature adjustment. The temperature adjustment and application of mechanical energy enable at least one polymer to be separated from the other polymers in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: J. David Tucker, David Lewis Myers
  • Patent number: 7084181
    Abstract: The present invention treats crushed pieces of a nonmetallic honeycomb panel together with a process water under high-temperature and high-pressure for a predetermined time so as to separate components. Water or alkali-added water is used as process water. The method comprises a first process for treating the crushed pieces for a predetermined time with the water heated and pressurized to a subcritical range to hydrolyze aromatic polyamide, and a second process for treating the same with the water heated and pressurized to a supercritical range, wherein the aromatic polyamide is hydrolyzed and separated in the first process, and dehalogenation is carried out in the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Jamco Corporation, Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Kasai, Shuntaro Kuriyama, Masatada Yamashita, Keiichi Miwa
  • Patent number: 7056956
    Abstract: Process for recycling a plastic, according to which the plastic is brought into contact with a solvent capable of dissolving the same and the plastic dissolved in the solvent is precipitated using a non-solvent in the presence of a phase-separating agent, in which the phase-separating agent is compatible with the solvent and incompatible with the non-solvent, and is also present when the plastic is brought into contact with the solvent, and improves the dissolution of the plastic by the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: SOLVAY (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Bernard Vandenhende, Jean-Philippe Dumont
  • Patent number: 6815510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to elastomeric compositions and methods including compositions and methods involving the use of aromatic alcohols. The present invention further relates to elastomeric compositions that can include ground reclaimed elastomeric particles. Compositions of the present invention are usable in numerous elastomeric applications including interior and exterior vehicle parts, roofing, asphalt, and any other applications that employ an elastomer as an ingredient thereof, particularly those utilizing rubber or a similar elastomer. The present invention further is directed to asphalt compositions and their methods of manufacture and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Inventors: Michael W. Rouse, Victor M. Deeb, Morgan L. White, Magdy Abdelrahman
  • Patent number: 6777453
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of reclaiming crosslinked rubber wherein a reduction of qualities due to generation of decomposed products hardly occurs, and a molding of reclaimed rubber. In a reclamation step of reclaiming crosslinked rubber 10 by applying shear stress thereto and/or in a subsequent step in the present invention, a degasification carrier is introduced and decomposed products in the crosslinked rubber 10 are removed together with the degasification carrier. Also the disclosed is a molding of reclaimed rubber prepared by re-crosslinking reclaimed rubber obtained by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenyusho, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Matsushita, Makoto Mouri, Hirotaka Okamoto, Kenzo Fukumori, Norio Sato, Toru Yoshida, Masahito Fukuta, Hidenobu Honda, Katsumi Nakashima, Tamotsu Watanabe, Yasuyuki Suzuki, Masao Owaki
  • Patent number: 6583211
    Abstract: A moldable heterogeneous composite material has a continuous plastic phase (30) and a discrete phase of unground rubber (20) dispersed in the continuous phase. The composite material can be formed from thermoplastic or thermosetting materials and pieces of rubber from used tires. The composite material of the present invention can be molded in a process having the steps of providing a flowable melt of plastic material (50), providing unground rubber pieces (70), mixing the plastic material with the rubber pieces to form a composite material, and molding the composite material into an article (10) having a desired shape. Molded articles formed from the composite of the present invention have high rigidity and good durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas A. Wayts
  • Patent number: 6462230
    Abstract: A method of decomposing wastes containing target compounds having one or more of hydrolyzable bonds of ether bond, ester bond, amide bond and isocyanate bond wherein the method comprises continuously supplying the wastes in a molten state or liquid state to a reactor, continuously supplying super-critical water or high pressure/high temperature water to the reactor, bringing the water into contact with the wastes, thereby decomposing the target compounds and then recovering them as raw material compounds or derivatives thereof for the target compounds. Target compounds contained in wastes in chemical plants which could not be utilized but merely incinerated or discarded so far are continuously decomposed into raw material compounds or derivatives thereof for the aimed compound and can be reutilized effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nagase, Ryuichi Fukuzato
  • Patent number: 6362241
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes and apparatus for the production of a virgin polymer substitute from cured scrap rubber, such as automobile tires, which does not involve the use of solvents or other chemicals and which substantially maintains the physical properties of the virgin material in the substitute. The process and apparatus may perform an initial analysis of the scrap material to be treated and determination of the process parameters for that particular material. Actual treatment of the material comprises grinding of the scrap rubber and preconditioning the ground material by subjecting it to warm dry air prior to subsequent treatment in a high temperature and pressure environment. The high temperature and pressure environment is created by means of a pressure vessel into which the preconditioned material is introduced, thereafter exposing the material to a variable high pressure and temperature environment which is controlled to optimize devulcanization of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: TRC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce O. Bowers, Donald F. Teets
  • Patent number: 6255529
    Abstract: A method of decomposing wastes containing target compounds having one or more of hydrolyzable bonds of ether bond, ester bond, amide bond and isocyanate bond wherein the method comprises continuously supplying the wastes in a molten state or liquid state to a reactor, continuously supplying super-critical water or high pressure/high temperature water to the reactor, bringing the water into contact with the wastes, thereby decomposing the target compounds and then recovering them as raw material compounds or derivatives thereof for the target compounds. Target compounds contained in wastes in chemical plants which could not be utilized but merely incinerated or discarded so far are continuously decomposed into raw material compounds or derivatives thereof for the aimed compound and can be reutilized effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nagase, Ryuichi Fukuzato
  • Patent number: 6187901
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the removal of lactide from polylactide and recovery of lactide from a lactide-containing gas by cooling the hot lactide-containing gas, wherein a polymer melt traveling through a nozzle forms thin threads the surface area of which is so large that in a normal-pressure or vacuum evaporator the lactide evaporates from the polymer rapidly into a hot carrier-gas flow and the polymer settles under gravity onto a collecting device. A hot lactide-containing gas is cooled rapidly to a temperature below 100° C., whereupon the lactide crystallizes from gas, forming lactide crystals, which are separated from the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Fortum Oil and Gas Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Koskinen, Johan-Fredrik Selin, Nikitas Katsaras, Kari Kaariainen
  • Patent number: 6140378
    Abstract: A method for recycling a photographic film is provided. The method comprises shredding the photographic film into a plurality of fragments to be processed; swelling the fragments to be processed formed in the shredding step by dipping each of these fragments to be processed into hot water; and drying the fragments to be processed swollen in the swelling step by applying an impact frictional striking force to each of these fragments to be processed, peeling layers other than a resin material base of the photographic film, i.e., a protective coat, an emulsion layer, and a base coat layer, from each fragment to be processed and classifying these layers, and grading the resin material base so as to be resin material to be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Ein Kohsan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sadao Nishibori
  • Patent number: 5866678
    Abstract: A method for the production of an absorbent resin having a very small residual monomer content either by adding to an absorbent resin powder a substance capable of reacting with the residual monomer in the absorbent resin powder thereby forming an absorbent resin composition having a water content in the range of 10 to 70% by weight and heat-treating the absorbent resin composition at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 200 .degree. C. while retaining the water content of the absorbent resin or by adding to an absorbent resin powder a substance capable of reacting with the residual monomer in the absorbent resin powder thereby forming an absorbent resin composition having a water content in the range of 25 to 55% by weight, heat-treating the absorbent resin composition at a temperature in the range of 120.degree. to 200 .degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kajikawa, Kinya Nagasuna, Yoshihiko Masuda
  • Patent number: 5824196
    Abstract: Organic contaminants are removed from RPET flakes by a process that includes steam-stripping the contaminants out from the matrix of the RPET flakes. In an alternative embodiment, the RPET flakes are first comminuted to prepare RPET particles, and the RPET particles are thereafter steam-stripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Plastic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis M. Schloss
  • Patent number: 5780518
    Abstract: The invention relates to the technology of reprocessing industrial and domestic waste. The problem addressed is reducing energy consumption and the quantity of toxic waste which enters the environment when rubber waste is reprocessed. This problem is solved by the use of superheated steam for the pyrolysis of the waste material. Superheated steam, amounting to between 18 and 110 percent of the mass of the rubber waste, is used as the heat carrier. The gaseous products of pyrolysis are condensed together with the steam, and the condensate thus obtained is mixed with the solid residue which has first undergone preliminary grinding to produce particles of between 0.001 and 0.210 mm in size. The quantity of solid residue in the mixture is set at between 23 and 55.8 percent of the total mass of the mixture. This process results in the production of a liquid fuel with improved environmental characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Science-Technical and Product-Innovative Center "Tokema"
    Inventors: Valery Vladimirovich Mulyarchik, Vladimir Nikolaevich Drozdov, Anatoly Shzoresovich Grebenkov, Gennady Ivanovich Shzuravsky, Leonid Michailovich Vinogradov, Valery Grigorjevich Konstantinov, Anatoly Vasiljevich Kuharev
  • Patent number: 5731358
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of devulcanized rubbers from a base material composed of scrap rubber products is provided which produces high grade, low viscosity rubber products. The process is carried out in at least two stages, the first stage comprising mixing a polymeric additive to the base material at elevated temperatures and the second stage comprising mixing unvulcanized virgin rubber with the mixture of base material and polymeric additive at elevated temperatures. The process also may comprise a preliminary stage in which a chemically modified epoxidized natural rubber is mixed with the base material at ambient temperature prior to the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Chandrasekaran Ramayya Pillai
  • Patent number: 5716996
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recovery of secondary polyols from paint sludge coagulate, formed from paint overspray which has first been dewatered by mass action, by chemical treatment in a manner such that the recovered product can be reused in the manufacture of paints. According to the recovery method, the organic components contained in the paint coagulate are glycolytically split at an elevated temperature into reusable polyols. Preferably, a mixture of different glycols is used, preferably in an amount of about 20 to 50% by weight based on the dewatered paint coagulate. The addition of glycol dilutes the paint coagulate and makes it flowable. The water contained in the paint coagulate is evaporated and removed during the glycolytic splitting because of the increase in temperature. The impurities contained in the paint coagulate, such as pigments, coagulants or flocculants, can be comminuted and finely dispersed by intensive shearing of the paint coagulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Bernd-Uwe Kettemann, Michele Melchiorre