Organic Gas Or Liquid Particle Sorbed (e.g., Vapor, Mist, Etc.) Patents (Class 95/141)
  • Patent number: 6447576
    Abstract: A cleaning agent and a cleaning process for cleaning a harmful gas containing, as a harmful component, an organometallic compound represented by the general formula: Rm—M—Hn wherein R is alkyl; M is As, P, S, Se or Te; and m and n are each positive integer satisfying the relation: m+n=valence of M are described. The cleaning agent contains, as an effective component, copper (II) oxide or a mixture of copper (II) oxide and manganese dioxide. The copper (II) oxide has a BET specific surface area of 10 m2/g or greater which is extremely larger than that of copper (II) oxide conventionally used as the effective component of known cleaning agents. With such an extremely large BET specific surface area, the cleaning agent strongly and stably adsorbs the harmful organometallic compound, thereby efficiently cleaning the harmful gas without causing desorption of the adsorbed organometallic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Pionics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Otsuka, Yutaka Amijima, Ryuji Hasemi, Youji Nawa
  • Patent number: 6444013
    Abstract: A process for purifying methylsilane is described. Methylsilane containing impurities such as carbon dioxide, chlorosilane and atmospheric gases is fed from a source container unit to an adsorption unit at −40° C. The adsorption unit is connected to a collection unit at −190° C. where the purified methylsilane is transported and can be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Boc Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Helly, Masud Akhtar
  • Publication number: 20020112607
    Abstract: A process for the removal of contaminants from a gas, using a gas cleaning agent, which contamination is selected from the group comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and (poly)halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. For the removal of the contaminant a detergent is added as gas cleaning agent. The detergent is selected from a group formed by an anionic detergent, non-ionic detergent and a mixture thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: CORNELIS DE VRIES
  • Patent number: 6428608
    Abstract: A robust, relatively simple air quality control system that can control the air quality in buildings during both the heating and cooling seasons. In one illustrative embodiment, a first air stream is directed through an air treatment module and back into the inside space. A desiccant in the air treatment module adsorbs water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material from the first air stream. A second air stream is then directed through the air treatment module to a location outside of the inside space. The second air stream is preferably heated relative to the first air stream so that at least a portion of the adsorbed water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material are desorbed from the desiccant into the second air stream. The second air stream carries the desorbed water, volatile organic compounds and/or particulate material to a location outside the inside space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dipak J. Shah, Chin-Hsiung Chang, John D. Howard, III, Ronald P. Rohrbach, Peter D. Unger, Stephen F. Yates, Brian C. Krafthefer, Russell W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020081230
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treatment of liquid or semi-liquid animal waste using porosive particulate matter to remove malodorous materials, and to an organic fertilizer composition comprising organic substances derived from animal waste, said organic substance being held in pores of porosive, nutritionally inert particulate matter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Innovative Material Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Dov Ingman, Vladimir M. Ogenko
  • Publication number: 20020078825
    Abstract: Trace impurities such as organic compounds and carbon monoxide are reduced to sub-ppb levels in gases such as nitrogen, helium and argon, by gas purifying systems that contain an ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon material. Ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon materials can be made from commercially available carbon materials in the form of pellets, extrudates and beads and is capable of removing impurities from a gas stream down to parts-per-billion (ppb) and sub-ppb levels without concurrently emitting other impurities such as moisture or carbon dioxide to the purified gas stream. The carbon material is superactivated by heating the carbon to temperatures from 300° to about 800° degrees C. in an ultra-dry, inert gas stream. The ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon material is handled and stored in an environment that minimizes contamination from moisture and other oxygenated species in order to maintain its ppb and sub-ppb impurity removal and low emission properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Hans H. Funke, Dan Fraenkel, Virginia Houlding
  • Patent number: 6402813
    Abstract: The gas stream containing one or more gaseous impurities from the group formed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, H2S, alcohols, SO2 and C1-C8 saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons is brought into contact with several different porous carbon adsorbents, that is to say active carbons having different properties and characteristics. The gas is air, nitrogen, hydrogen produced by the reforming or cracking of ammonia or the combustion gas or fermentation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire ét Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau
  • Patent number: 6387160
    Abstract: In using partially alkali metal exchanged forms of FAU zeolite as selective adsorbents for use in insulated glass windows, particularly for use in a matrix in insulated glass windows, it has been discovered that significant reduction in the nitrogen loading on the zeolite results when the alkali metal content is maintained at a low level. For example, such FAU zeolites, particularly zeolite X which has been ion-exchanged with potassium ions to a level of between about 5 and about 75 equivalent mole percent indicate a nitrogen adsorption loading of between about 400 and 600 percent lower than unexchanged zeolite X and about 200 percent less than fully potassium exchanged zeolite X. The adsorbent is particularly useful in a sealant matrix for insulated glass windows and may be used in combination with zeolite A to reduce out-gassing problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dangieri, Nanette Greenlay
  • Patent number: 6383259
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved apparatus for thermal management in a gas purification process. As known in the prior art, a gas purification apparatus includes a two-section unitary vessel, wherein the primary section includes an impure gas inlet and a heating assembly and the secondary section includes a cooling device and an outlet for purified gas. Within the primary and secondary sections of the vessels are gas sorbing materials such as getters for removing impurities from the gas to be purified. A feature of the present invention is the continuous, serpentine shape of the gas purification vessel which allows for a longer residence time of the gas and a more efficient purification process. Another feature of the invention is a Joule-Thomson cooling device which divides the primary section of the vessel from the secondary section. The Joule-Thomson cooling device cools the secondary section of the vessel and the gas contained within it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: C&M Incorporated
    Inventors: Kye-Jin Lim, Dan Weber, Gwon Sagong
  • Patent number: 6364934
    Abstract: A method of decreasing the amount of cosmetic defects in contact lenses made from hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers. By filtering the monomer mixture with a filter, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic components are finely dispersed throughout the mixture. Dissolved gases contained within the mixture are also finely dispersed. Contact lenses produced from this method have improved optical quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Mahendra Nandu, Dharmendra M. Jani
  • Publication number: 20010017080
    Abstract: A TEOS trap for controlling TEOS polymerization from reaction furnace effluent in a vacuum pump line a SiO2 CVD process includes a molecular species-selective flow impeding medium that adsorbs and retains TEOS and water molecules from the effluent long enough to consume substantially all the water molecules in TEOS hydrolysis reactions while allowing non-hydrolyzed TEOS, ethylene, and other gaseous byproducts to pass through the trap and retaining solid and liquid phase SiO2-rich TEOS polymers formed by the hydrolysis reactions in the trap for subsequent removal and disposal. The molecular species-selective flow impeding medium has a plurality of adsorption surfaces to make a surface density that performs the TEOS and water flow impeding function and solid and liquid phase TEOS polymer trapping function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Paul Dozoretz, Youfan Gu
  • Publication number: 20010009125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of a gas stream containing one or more gaseous impurities from the group formed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, H2S, alcohols, S02 and C1-C8 saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbons. The gas stream is brought into contact with several different porous carbon adsorbents, that is to say active carbons having different properties and characteristics. The gas is air, nitrogen, hydrogen produced by the reforming or cracking of ammonia or the cracking of alcohols or hydrocarbons, natural gas, combustion gas or fermentation gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Applicant: L' Air Liquide, societe Anonyme,
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Serge Moreau
  • Publication number: 20010002656
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing mono-disperse adsorber resin gels by polymerizing monomer droplets to give monodisperse polymers, followed by haloalkylating and crosslinking the resultant polymers, and also relates to the use of these resins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Inventors: Ulrich Schnegg, Georg Martin, Lothar Feistel, Werner Struver, Michael Holzbrecher
  • Patent number: 6212882
    Abstract: An assembly, a method and a motor vehicle for cleaning ambient air in the vicinity of an internal combustion engine (102) having combustion air inlet means (103) and energy emitting means (104)are disclosed. The assembly (101) further includes adsorbent means (105) for adsorbing at least one pollutant when in a first mode of operation and for desorbing the pollutant when in a second mode of operation. The adsorbent means have an inlet (106) for polluted ambient air (107, 107′) and an outlet (108) for cleaned ambient air (109, 109′). Furthermore, the assembly (101) includes a pollutant conduit (110) through which the desorbed pollutant is transferred from the adsorbent means (105) to the combustion air inlet means (103) when in the second mode of operation, and the adsorbent means (105) are arranged for being brought into the second mode of operation by means of energy supplied from the energy emitting means (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB & Engelhard Corp.
    Inventors: Lars Greger, Göran Wirmark, Ingemar Gottberg, Ronald M. Heck, Jeffrey B. Hoke, Terence C. Poles, Wayne M. Rudy
  • Patent number: 6162363
    Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from fluids comprises contacting the fluid with an expanded material selected from popped corn, puffed rice and puffed wheat. The preferred expanded material is popped corn. The method is applicable to a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants. Examples of contaminants include aromatic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs), polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs), carbamates, sulphonamides, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), other compounds such as carbon disulphide, ethylene glycol and pesticides. Other examples include inorganic compounds or organo-metallic compounds, e.g. those containing aluminum, antimony, barium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Muhammad Fayed
  • Patent number: 6136071
    Abstract: A process for recovering volatile, generally bad smelling low molecular, low polar substances called VLC, contained in gas streams, by capturing the same by in contacting the gaseous environment with a calixarene or a resorcinol calixarene present in the form of particles, granules, as a coating or impregnation on or in a solid support, or as an organic or aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Transdiffusia S.A.
    Inventors: Roger Lamartine, Philippe Choquard, Philippe Goreloff, Yvon Martelin
  • Patent number: 6099619
    Abstract: Industrial grade carbon dioxide may contain unacceptable amounts of sulfur-containing materials, oxygen, and organic materials particularly detrimental to food-related uses of carbon dioxide. These can be effectively removed by a bed of silver-exchanged faujasite and an MFI-type molecular sieve. This permits an on-site, on-demand method of purifying carbon dioxide ranging from laboratory to tank car seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James R. Lansbarkis, Jon S. Ginrich
  • Patent number: 6068681
    Abstract: The invention discloses a filtering device (1) for neutralizing volatile bad smells present in the atmosphere or carried by a flow of gas (5). The device comprises at least a layer (3) of natural zeolite material of set thickness impregnated with an aqueous solution with, for 100 parts by weight of zeolite, about 5 to about 20 parts by weight of the aqueous solution. This aqueous solution comprises for 1000 parts by weight of water, between about 1 part and about 20 parts by weight of a composite mixture comprising, for one part of ammonium ions or equivalent, one part of at least of one perfuming and/or deodorising composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Deotech
    Inventor: Christiane Bourguignon
  • Patent number: 6051199
    Abstract: A method for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from an effluent or exhaust stream produced by an industrial or commercial process that allows for both adsorption and catalytic destruction of the VOCs. The method utilizes a bed containing both adsorbent material and catalytic material, either as an admixture or as separate layers of the two materials. During the preferred mode of operation, one section of the bed collects VOCs from the effluent while simultaneously, in another section of the bed, collected VOCs are destroyed and the bed material is regenerated. This process can continuously eliminate VOCs from an effluent without interruption by rotating the bed through the adsorption and regeneration zones or by rotary feeding of the effluent and an oxygen containing gas to different portions of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Regenerative Environmental Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron J. Teller
  • Patent number: 6010558
    Abstract: A rooftop grease containment system for absorbing the high viscosity grease carried by the gaseous effluent generated by cooking food and released through a rooftop exhaust vent, comprising 4-8 mm hydrophobic silica particles contained within porous pads, tubes and pillows placed in different positions in proximity to the rooftop exhaust vent is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Flame Gard, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip Ackland
  • Patent number: 6010557
    Abstract: The present specification discloses an apparatus for reducing contamination at the head-disc interface. The preferred embodiment of the invention involves a data storage system for use in an environment where gaseous contaminants are present. The gaseous contaminants have a vapor pressure and a chemical composition. The data storage system has a housing. To attract gaseous contaminants present within the housing interior, a material is disposed within the housing interior. This material creates a competitive absorption or adsorption site for the gaseous contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Ann Smoliar, Jing Gui
  • Patent number: 5948398
    Abstract: A metal oxide-carrying activated carbon having an oxidation catalytic activity comprises a treated activated carbon obtained by carbonizing a carbon material, activating the obtained carbon with an activating gas comprising carbon dioxide and water vapor, said activating gas containing not more than 15% by volume of water vapor, and then cooling the activated carbon down to a temperature of not more than 300.degree. C. under the same atmosphere; and, carried thereon, 0.1 to 20% by weight as converted into metal of an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, copper, magnesium and calcium. A deodorant is obtained by adding 1 to 50 parts by weight of a plastic powder having an average particle diameter of 1 to 50 .mu.m to 100 parts by weight of the above metal oxide-carrying activated carbon. The above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hanamoto, Yukihito Ohta, Eiji Tanaka, Hong Sang Eui, Park Young Min, Choi Yong Bok, Lee Chang Woo
  • Patent number: 5944873
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for removing one or more undesirable or dangerous substances for the human race from a gas or vapour mixture, the device comprising: a predetermined amount of adsorbent for adsorbing the substances and an odourant for releasing an odour in order to alarm a person, wherein the odourant is arranged in such a manner that the odourant is displaceable by the substances, following a predetermined level of saturation of the adsorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepastnatuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Hein Jager, Martin Jozef Van de Voorde
  • Patent number: 5922108
    Abstract: A method of removing or recovering a volatile organopolysiloxane such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D.sub.4) from a fluid stream such as air, containing the volatile organopolysiloxane and a hydrocarbon, for example, by adsorbing the volatile organopolysiloxane on dry soil contained in a column, and allowing the remainder of the fluid stream including the hydrocarbon to pass through the column. The dry soil containing the adsorbed volatile organopolysiloxane and any degradation product(s) is then wetted by passing moist air, water, or steam, through the column to desorb, vaporize, and remove the volatile organopolysiloxane from the column. The column containing the wet soil can then be regenerated by air drying the wet soil, and the separating cycle is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Gearey Lehmann, Shihe Xu
  • Patent number: 5906429
    Abstract: An optical illumination device reflects and condenses light from a mercury-arc lamp by a light reflecting and condensing member and then reflects and deflects the light, thereafter the reflected and deflected light is transferred to a relay-lens system through a collimator lens or input lens, band-pass filter and fly-eye lens. Gas from which impurities are removed by a filter is flown around optical elements to separate the optical elements from air containing material causing clouding of the optical elements to thereby restrain clouding of the optical elements. On the other hand, or in addition, the reflectance of the light reflecting and condensing member and/or miller for the light of the absorption band of sulfur dioxide is made small to prevent the optical elements from clouding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Mori, Jin Yamada, Jun Nagatsuka, Shinichi Hasegawa, Shigeru Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 5893946
    Abstract: A combustible carbonaceous composition and method of making a charcoal briquette wherein a finely divided carbonaceous material is combined with an activated carbon and/or an activated graphite (which may be formed in-situ during pyrolysis of the composition by reacting a humic-containing ore with a low VOC-containing carbon and/or graphite). The combustible carbonaceous composition is present in the briquette composition in an amount of about 65% to about 99.9% by weight; a binder is included in the composition in an amount of about 1% to about 15% by weight when forming a charcoal briquette or an igniter log; and the activated carbon and/or activated graphite is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight. The activated carbon and/or activated graphite absorbs most of the VOCs entitled from the combustible carbonaceous material, thereby preventing the VOCs from escaping to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Amcol International Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Landis
  • Patent number: 5851403
    Abstract: Conductive and/or chemically absorptive ceramic fibers are woven with optional non-conductive/non-absorptive ceramic fibers to create a fiber reinforcement which is impregnated with a ceramic-material-producing (pre-ceramic polymer) binder and heated to create the ceramic honeycomb with controlled ohmic loss and/or chemical absorption properties. The desired properties of the honeycomb material can be provided by the conductive and/absorptive ceramic fibers alone or in combination with non-fibrous or fibrous conductive and/or absorptive ceramic material provided by the binder, typically a preceramic polymer which may or may not contain dispersed ceramic materials; after the honeycomb is formed, the non-fibrous or fibrous conductive and/or absorptive ceramic material is interspersed throughout the honeycomb. By heating the impregnated fiber reinforcement in the absence of oxygen, carbon from any carbon-containing materials within the binder remain as a part of the honeycomb material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Petrisko, Gary Lee Stark, Daniel R. Petrak, Richard E. Jones
  • Patent number: 5833739
    Abstract: A process for coating zeolite crystals with paraffin, a wax other than paraffin, a fat or oil, or a mixture of at least one QAC and a wax, fat, or oil. Preferably, the crystals are dehydrated until they have about 5% moisture content, and are then mixed with paraffin to produce paraffin-coated zeolite crystals having a desired content of paraffin. When the coated zeolite crystals are used for removing benzene from contaminated water, their paraffin content is preferably about 8% (by weight). Other embodiments are methods for using zeolite coated with paraffin, another wax, a fat, an oil, or a mixture of at least one QAC and a wax, fat, or oil to filter a contaminant from contaminated liquid or gas. The zeolite crystals are optionally impregnated with a chemical such as permanganate before they are coated with the desired wax, fat, oil or mixture. A zeolite crystal having pores coated with wax, fat, oil, or a mixture of at least one QAC and wax, fat, or oil is within the scope of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventors: Fred Klatte, Fernando Cadena
  • Patent number: 5827355
    Abstract: An electrically regenerable gas filter system includes a carbon fiber composite molecular sieve (CFCMS) filter medium. After a separate medium-efficiency pre-filter removes particulate from the supply airstream, the CFCMS filter sorbs gaseous air pollutants before the air is recirculated to the space. When saturated, the CFCMS media is regenerated utilizing a low-voltage current that is caused to pass through the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk A. Wilson, Timothy D. Burchell, Roddie R. Judkins
  • Patent number: 5779768
    Abstract: A condensable component present at low concentration in a feed gas mixture containing the condensable component and a noncondensable component is recovered by selective adsorption from the feed gas mixture in an adsorption step, the resulting adsorbed condensable component is desorbed by a heated purge gas in a regeneration step to yield a purge gas effluent enriched in desorbed condensable component, and the purge gas effluent is cooled to condense and recover the condensable component as a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhu Anand, Shivaji Sircar, Augustine Ivanhoe Dalton
  • Patent number: 5769933
    Abstract: An activated carbon and/or activated graphite foundry sand additive, and method of casting molten metal against a foundry sand containing the additive composition. In another embodiment, the activated carbon and/or activated graphite additive (or portion thereof) is formed in-situ by adding to the foundry sand a humic acid-containing and/or a humic acid salt-containing ore (hereinafter referred to separately or in combination as "humic-containing ore") and low VOC-containing (<1 mg/g at 1800.degree. F.) carbon or graphite or admixtures of low VOC-containing carbon and graphite. The combination of low VOC-containing carbon and/or graphite and the humic-containing ore react in-situ when the foundry sand is heated by contact with molten metal, at temperatures of about 450.degree. F. to about 2300.degree. F., particularly in the range of about 600.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., to activate the carbon and/or graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: AMCOL International Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Landis
  • Patent number: 5695554
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a foundry sand additive composition, and method of casting molten metal against a foundry sand containing the additive composition. The additive composition comprises a humic acid-containing and/or a humic acid salt-containing ore (hereinafter referred to separately or in combination as "humic-containing ore") and carbon or graphite or admixtures of carbon and graphite. The combination of carbon and/or graphite and the humic-containing ore react in-situ when the foundry sand is heated by contact with molten metal, at temperatures of about 450.degree. F. to about 2300.degree. F., particularly in the range of about 600.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., to activate the carbon and/or graphite. The carbon and/or graphite, activated in-situ during the molding process, absorb and/or adsorb (sorb) gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the mold, so that the VOC gases are held by the in-situ-activated carbon and/or graphite to satisfy VOC emissions requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: AMCOL International Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Landis
  • Patent number: 5688313
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an activated carbon and/or activated graphite foundry sand additive, and method of casting molten metal against a foundry sand containing the additive composition. In another embodiment, the activated carbon and/or activated graphite additive (or portion thereof) is formed in-situ by adding to the foundry sand a humic acid-containing and/or a humic acid salt-containing ore (hereinafter referred to separately or in combination as "humic-containing ore") and carbon or graphite or admixtures of carbon and graphite. The combination of carbon and/or graphite and the humic-containing ore react in-situ when the foundry sand is heated by contact with molten metal, at temperatures of about 450.degree. F. to about 2300.degree. F., particularly in the range of about 600.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F., to activate the carbon and/or graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: AMCOL International Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Landis
  • Patent number: 5676737
    Abstract: A process for the separation of solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent. The process may be used to extract and recover solutes from solvents in either the supercritical or subcritical region. The process can be used to purify solvents containing solutes by removing solutes whose chemical potential decreases as the density of the solvent increases. The process utilizes a sorbent to remove the solute followed by an in situ regeneration of the sorbent and recovery of the solute. Typically, a gaseous solvent containing at least one solute is passed through a bed of sorbent to sorb at least one of the solutes to the bed of sorbent, producing a purified gaseous solvent. At least a portion of the gaseous solvent is then acted upon to increase its solvent capacity for the at least one sorbed solute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: David R. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 5659109
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas containing mercaptans. Mercaptans are concentrated into a distillate stream by distilling the feed gas stream without specific pretreatment for mercaptans removal. Thus, the mercaptans removal equipment is much smaller since mercaptans treatment can take place at a point in the process where the flowrate is much lower. A portion of the treated distillate stream can be reinjected to the upstream distilling stage to facilitate mercaptan absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Felix J. Fernandez de la Vega, Charles A. Durr
  • Patent number: 5616169
    Abstract: A seal-free and frame-free odor and/or pollutant filter, e.g., in air conditioners and motor vehicles, having a self-supporting and elastic adsorption filter bed installed under slight compression in air supply ducts. The filter bed is made of a highly air-permeable substrate material and an adsorbent affixed thereto by an adhesive mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignees: Hasso von Blucher, Ernest de Ruiter
    Inventors: Ernest de Ruiter, Jonas Tornblom
  • Patent number: 5607576
    Abstract: Acidic halogens, especially chlorides, are removed from a dry gas stream by contact with dry particles of solid caustic. The solid caustic particles are preferably non-porous, and disposed in a bed with at least a 10% bed interstitial volume. Limiting halogen content in gas, and operating with a bone dry gas, ensures that salts deposit on the surface of the solid caustic without plugging the bed of solid caustic. Efficient halogen removal can be achieved even when treating a bone dry gas, one having less than 10 ppmv water vapor, at ambient temperature, without plugging the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung Y. Yan
  • Patent number: 5601702
    Abstract: Acidic halides, especially chlorides, are removed from gas by contact with particles of solid caustic covered by aqueous and hydrocarbon phases, respectively. Effective neutralization is achieved without swelling or plugging the bed of solid caustic. Halides are removed as brine. Efficient caustic utilization is achieved by controlling water vapor levels in the gas based on pH of brine product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung Y. Yan
  • Patent number: 5599381
    Abstract: A process is described for the separation of solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent. The process is useful in the extraction and recovery of solutes using supercritical fluid extraction, and in the purification of impure steam. The process utilizes a sorbent to remove solute followed by an in situ regeneration of the sorbent and the recovery of the solute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: David R. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 5587084
    Abstract: An quaternary phosphonium ion-exchanged clay and method of removing organic contaminants from air and/or water, by contacting the contaminants in the air or water with a quaternary phosphonium organo-clay. The clay is prepared by ion-exchange of an ion-exchangeable clay with (a) tetra-short chain alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) quaternary phosphonium ion or (b) a di- or tri-short chain alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4) quaternary phosphonium ion having 1 or 2 mono-substituted or unsubstituted cycloakyl moieties, or one or two alkaryl moieties for removing air-laden and water-laden organic contaminants. The new organo-clays and methods are particularly adapted for removal of aromatic petroleum-based contaminants from water, such as benzene; alkyl-benzenes, such as toluene; xylenes (o-, m- and p-isomers); and chlorinated 1 and 2 carbon compounds, such as CCl.sub.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Stephen A. Boyd, Ravi Kukkadapu
  • Patent number: 5567229
    Abstract: A rotary adsorption unit is disclosed wherein the desorb air is supplied by a regenerative thermal oxidizer. The system utilizes a closed desorb loop, with the desorb air being continuously cleaned at the regenerative thermal oxidizer and returned to the rotary adsorption unit. Fresh air is added into the desorb gas on the way to the regenerative thermal oxidizer, and an equal amount of air is bled off to maintain a constant air flow. The added air replaces oxygen that may be lost during cleaning of the desorb air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Durr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Klobucar, Dinesh Bhushan
  • Patent number: 5557030
    Abstract: A process is provided for the removal of heavy hydrocarbons from a feed gas mixture. An adsorption process employing a high silica zeolite adsorbent having a silica to alumina ratio greater than about 20 and having a pore size greater than about 4.5 Angstroms is used to remove from the feed gas mixture heavy hydrocarbon contaminants and permit the further treatment of the feed gas for the bulk removal of carbon dioxide. The adsorption zone comprises at least 2 adsorption beds wherein one of the first adsorption beds is operating in an adsorption mode and the other is being regenerated. The effluent from the adsorption zone, depleted in heavy hydrocarbons is passed to a membrane treating zone to provide a non-permeate stream depleted in carbon dioxide. At least a portion of the non-permeate stream is heated and the heated non-permeate stream is used to regenerate the adsorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: John Markovs, Carmen M. Yon
  • Patent number: 5536301
    Abstract: The purge and trap procedure commonly used for analysis of volatile organic compounds in water or air can be significantly improved using traps employing molecular sieves as adsorbents. Silicalite and potassium-exchanged dealuminated zeolite Y form an effective mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: James R. Lansbarkis, Jon S. Gingrich, Catherine L. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 5529609
    Abstract: An air cleaner comprises a cleaning element having a three-dimensional visco-elastic matrix of material for adsorbing airborne particulate matter and for absorbing volatile liquids and a variety of noxious gases. The three-dimensional visco-elastic matrix of material adsorbs particulate matter of many types and sizes and advantageously draws the particulate matter below the surface of the material. To enhance the cleaning properties of the material, the three-dimensional visco-elastic matrix of material may additionally comprise a zeolite to improve the absorption of gases and a metallic additive, such as copper sulfate, to inhibit biological activity. The material forming the three-dimensional visco-elastic matrix may be acrylamide, siloxane, acrylate, or a cellulosic material and may be in the form of fibers or particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jan W. Gooch, Charlene W. Bayer
  • Patent number: 5509956
    Abstract: A process and apparatus wherein an adsorption media, containing contaminants adsorbed from a contaminated gas stream, are contained in a media chamber. This chamber is defined by a generally cylindrical vessel, and the adsorption media comprises a polymeric material in particulate or bead form. The media chamber is defined in surrounding relationship to an elongate hollow guide tube which extends longitudinally along the central axis of the chamber. A microwave generator supplies microwave energy into the guide tube which functions as a waveguide. This waveguide has a plurality of slots formed therein which functions as radiators for the microwave energy. The microwave energy passes radially outwardly from the waveguide into the surrounding media throughout the length thereof to effect uniform heating of the media both longitudinally and radially. This heating effects release of the contaminants from the adsorbent media, which volatiles are then sucked out of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Horizon Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Opperman, Mark S. Arsenault
  • Patent number: 5505764
    Abstract: A process for restarting an adsorption receptacle which is part of an installation for the purification of hydrogen by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), which receptacle, during a hiatus in its operation, has been depressurized and then rendered inert with nitrogen. The receptacle is repressurized with practically pure hydrogen, and then the adsorption cycle is restarted in this receptacle. The repressurization is effected counter-current with respect to the adsorption direction in the receptacle. The receptacle is repressurized with hydrogen produced by the installation before the hiatus. The process can be used for the treatment of a catalytic hydrocarbon reforming gas, in which case the receptacle contains successively, in the adsorption direction, a layer of alumina, a layer of carbon and a layer of molecular sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Francois Fuentes
  • Patent number: 5470377
    Abstract: A process is described for the separation of solutes dissolved in a gaseous solvent. The process is useful in the extraction and recovery of solutes using supercritical fluid extraction, and in the purification of impure steam. The process utilizes a sorbent to remove solute followed by an in situ regeneration of the sorbent and the recovery of the solute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: David R. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 5458784
    Abstract: A process for removing contaminants, particularly organic and metal contaminants, from aqueous and gaseous streams by contacting a contaminated stream with graphitic carbon filaments (nanofibers) characterized as having; (i) a surface area from about 50 to 800 m.sup.2 /g, (ii) an electrical resistivity from about 0.3 .mu.ohm.multidot.m to 0.8 .mu.ohm.multidot.m, (iii) a crystallinity from about 5% to about 100%, (iv) a length from about 1 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m; and (v) a distance from about 0.335 nm to about 0.700 nm between graphite platelets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Catalytic Materials Limited
    Inventors: R. Terry K. Baker, Nelly M. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5444029
    Abstract: A method for regenerating an activated charcoal filter for a spray paint booth exhaust which includes the following steps:a passing a first gas flow of uncontaminated inlet air through the filter;preheating the first gas flow;combining the preheated first gas flow with additional uncontaminated air to form a preheated second gas flow at a predetermined temperature for achieving substantially complete desorption of the activated charcoal filter;recirculating the preheated second gas flow through the filter for desorbing filtered contaminants into the second gas flow;conveying the second gas flow to a heat contributing heat exchanging point for further preheating;pyrolytically oxidizing the further reheated gas flow, at a preselected elevated temperature, thereby oxidizing substantially all of the suspended particles therein;passing a resulting oxidized flow, at elevated temperature, to the heat exchanging point for cooling the oxidized gas flow and contributing exchanged heat to the second gas flow to achieve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Omia
    Inventor: Guy Martin
  • Patent number: 5429662
    Abstract: A separation of gas by permeation, comprising the steps of and the apparatus for compressing a gaseous mixture to be separated at a first temperature (Ta) in a compressor (2), cooling to a second temperature (To) the compressed mixture to condense condensable impurities in the compressed gaseous mixture, purifying the compressed gaseous mixture of condensable and/or adsorbable impurities at a third temperature (T.sub.1) greater than the second temperature (T.sub.0) and passing the purified gaseous mixture into a gaseous permeation unit comprising at least one membrane module to obtain at least one production gas. The third temperature (T.sub.1) is so regulated that it will not be less than a first predetermined value. The second temperature (To) is greater than the first temperature (Ta) by a value comprised between 1.degree. and 5.degree. C., the first value being not less than 20.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes George Claude
    Inventor: Frederic Fillet