Company Filing History:
Years Active: 1980-1992
Title: Innovations of Kenneth C Ash
Introduction
Kenneth C Ash is a notable inventor based in Corvallis, Oregon. He has made significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, particularly in the area of zirconium and hafnium separation processes. With a total of two patents to his name, Ash's work has implications for various industrial applications.
Latest Patents
One of Kenneth C Ash's latest patents is a process for the recovery of substantially pure zirconium values from zircon sand. This process involves contacting zircon sand in a chlorinator with a chlorination medium to form an off-gas stream containing chlorides of zirconium, hafnium, silicon, and trace uranium. The off-gas stream is then passed to a condenser to remove volatile silicon chlorides, resulting in a product stream containing condensed chlorides of zirconium, hafnium, and trace uranium. The product stream is treated in an acidic aqueous medium to separate the principal hafnium values from the principal zirconium values. The pH of the resulting effluent is adjusted to between about 3 to about 7 in a second stage to precipitate the trace uranium values.
Another significant patent by Ash involves a method for preventing the formation of 3-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone. This method selectively controls an ammonium thiocyanate-methyl isobutyl ketone regeneration system by maintaining the pH in the range of 4 to 9 and the temperature below 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Career Highlights
Kenneth C Ash is currently employed at Teledyne Industries, Inc., where he continues to innovate and develop new processes. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and application of zirconium and hafnium separation techniques.
Collaborations
Throughout his career, Ash has collaborated with notable colleagues, including William A Crocker and John C Haygarth. These collaborations have contributed to the successful development of his patented processes.
Conclusion
Kenneth C Ash's contributions to the field of chemical engineering, particularly in zirconium and hafnium separation, highlight his innovative spirit and dedication to advancing industrial processes. His patents reflect a commitment to improving efficiency and effectiveness in chemical recovery methods.