Cem Corporation

Edward Earl King

James Edward Thomas

Wyatt Price Hargett, Jr

Michael J Collins

William Edward Jennings

Michael John Collins

Joseph Joshua Lambert

David A Barclay

Gary Roger Greene

Matthew Donald Barrett

Lois B Jassie

Byron Eugene McLendon

Dennis Palmer Manchester

Todd Mark Hochrad

Gary Wilbert Busse

Brian W Renoe

Dale A Yurkovich

Wyatt Price Hargett Jr

Michael John Collins Jr

A method and apparatus for rapidly and accurately determining the fat and oil content of a sample using microwave drying and NMR analysis is disclosed. The method and apparatus incorporate a low mass, porous, hydrophilic and lipophilic sample pad that ensures that the entire sample is subjected to NMR analysis. The method and apparatus according to the invention are suitable for rapidly determining the fat and oil content of samples collected during a production process and for process or quality control.

Sample combination for NMR measurements of fats and oils

An instrument for carrying out controlled microwave assisted chemical processes is particularly useful for handling relatively small samples. The instrument includes a needle, and a needle seal adjacent the needle and having a shaft coaxial with the needle and in communication with the needle. A pressure transducer is opposite the needle seal from the needle and in communication with the shaft. A housing holds the needle to the needle seal and the needle seal to the transducer. A chamber is formed between the housing and the needle seal. A lateral shaft goes through the needle seal from the coaxial shaft to the chamber in the housing, and a valve is in communication with the chamber.

Microwave assisted chemical synthesis instrument with controlled pressure release

An instrument for carrying out controlled microwave assisted chemical processes, and that is particularly useful for handling relatively small samples. The instrument includes a microwave-transparent reaction vessel with an open mouth, a pressure-resistant seal on the mouth of the vessel, and a needle, portions of which penetrate the seal with a first end of the needle and provide fluid communication into the vessel. A pressure transducer is at the opposite end of the needle and in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel through the needle. The instrument defines a pressure control flow path from a portion of the needle outside of the vessel to a fluid port, the flow path being in communication with the needle, the interior of the vessel and the transducer. A controllable pressure release valve for the flow path is associated with the port.

An instrument and associated method are disclosed for conducting microwave assisted chemical reactions. The instrument includes a microwave cavity, preferably a closed microwave cavity, for conducting microwave assisted chemical reactions, and a source for applying microwave radiation within the cavity and to a vessel and its contents. The instrument also includes an illumination source for illuminating the vessel and its contents, as well as a camera or spectrometer for visually observing the vessel and its contents, an infrared detector for monitoring the temperature of the vessel and its contents, and a filter for preventing the illumination source from saturating the infrared detector, thereby enabling concurrent visual observation and infrared monitoring.

Real-time imaging and spectroscopy during microwave assisted chemistry

An instrument is disclosed for carrying out controlled microwave assisted chemical processes, and that is particularly useful for handling relatively small samples. The instrument includes a microwave-transparent reaction vessel with an open mouth, a pressure-resistant seal on the mouth of the vessel, and a needle, portions of which penetrate the seal with a first end of the needle and provide fluid communication into the vessel. A pressure transducer is at the opposite end of the needle and in fluid communication with the interior of the vessel through the needle. The instrument defines a pressure control flow path from a portion of the needle outside of the vessel to a fluid port, the flow path being in communication with the needle, the interior of the vessel and the transducer. A controllable pressure release valve for the flow path is-associated with the port.

Method and apparatus for rapid fat content determination

A controlled-flow microwave instrument for chemical synthesis using heterogeneous or highly viscous starting materials includes a microwave source for generating electromagnetic radiation in the microwave frequencies, a microwave cavity in wave communication with the source for exposing compositions placed therein to microwave radiation, a microwave-transparent pressure resistant reaction vessel in the cavity, a source reservoir for starting materials and related compositions, a pump in communication with the source reservoir for pumping heterogeneous or highly viscous materials from the source reservoir to the reaction vessel, and a pressure-resistant valve between the pump and the reaction vessel for isolating the reaction vessel from the pump and the source reservoir during application of microwave energy to compositions in the vessel and from any resulting high pressures generated therein.

Controlled flow instrument for microwave assisted chemistry with high viscosity liquids and heterogeneous mixtures

A sample for NMR measurement of moisture and fat and oil contents is disclosed. The sample includes an organic portion containing at least some fats and oils, a pad that is substantially transparent to microwave radiation and is free of atoms that would interfere with or mask the NMR response of the protons in the fats and oils in the sample, and a sheet material that is free of atoms that would interfere with or mask the NMR response of the protons in the fats and oils in the sample, with the sheet material being wrapped around the organic portion and the pad.

A controlled-flow microwave instrument for chemical synthesis that includes heterogeneous or highly viscous materials includes a fluid reservoir for supplying or receiving fluids, a fluid pump in fluid communication with the reservoir for pumping fluids to or from the reservoir, a microwave transparent reaction vessel in fluid communication with the pump for supplying or receiving fluids to or from the pump and the reservoir, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir and the vessel for measuring the pressure of fluids in the instrument at the sensor, and a processor in signal communication with the pressure sensor and the pump for controlling the pump and the flow of fluids in the instrument based at least in part on the pressure measured at the sensor.

A controlled-flow microwave instrument for chemical synthesis that includes heterogeneous or highly viscous materials. Includes a fluid reservoir for supplying or receiving fluids, a fluid pump in fluid communication with the reservoir for pumping fluids to or from the reservoir, a microwave transparent reaction vessel in fluid communication with the pump for supplying or receiving fluids to or from the pump and the reservoir, a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir and the vessel for measuring the pressure of fluids in the instrument at the sensor, and a processor in signal communication with the pressure sensor and the pump for controlling the pump and the flow of fluids in the instrument based at least in part on the pressure measured at the sensor.

A self sealing vessel assembly for high pressure microwave assisted chemistry is disclosed. The vessel assembly includes a polymeric cylinder and a circular polymeric cap for the cylinder, the cylinder being closed at one end and open at the other end to receive the cap. The open end of the cylinder has a lip that is beveled inwardly from the open end, and the circular polymeric cap has a beveled lower edge that engages the beveled lip when the cap is place upon the polymericcylinder. For high pressure applications, a choke cylinder depends from the beveled lower edge of the cap, and has an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the polymeric cylinder so that the choke provides a self sealing mechanism for the cylinder as pressure from a chemical reaction increases within the cylinder. A composite sleeve surrounds the polymeric cylinder, and includes at least one wound fabric layer in which the winding is selected from the group consisting of filaments and yarns. A supporting frame extends along the cylinder and across the lid and across the closed end of the cylinder, and prevents the lid from being displaced from the cylinder when pressure is generated inside of the vessel.

Pressure vessel with composite sleeve

The vessel assembly includes a polymeric cylinder and a circular polymeric cap for the cylinder, the cylinder being closed at one end and open at the other end to receive the cap. The open end of the cylinder has a lip that is beveled inwardly from the open end, and the circular polymeric cap has a beveled lower edge that engages the beveled lip when the cap is place upon the polymeric cylinder. For high pressure applications, a choke cylinder depends from the beveled lower edge of the cap, and has an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the polymeric cylinder so that the choke provides a self sealing mechanism for the cylinder as pressure from a chemical reaction increases within the cylinder. A composite sleeve surrounds the polymeric cylinder, and includes at least one wound fabric layer in which the winding can be a filament or a yarn.

The invention is a method and associated instrument for microwave assisted chemistry. The invention includes the steps of directing a continuous flow of fluid through a microwave cavity while applying microwave radiation to the cavity and to the continuous flow of materials therein, monitoring the pressure of the fluid in the cavity; and cooling the fluid in the cavity when the pressure exceeds a predetermined setpoint pressure.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Edward Earl King