Velocys Corp.

Battelle Memorial Institute

Rachid Taha

Anna Lee Tonkovich

Francis P Daly

Sean P Fitzgerald

Yong Wang

Junko M Watson

Richard Q Long

Xiaohong Shari Li

Jeffrey J Ramler

Terry Joseph Mazanec

Steven T Perry

Slawomir Winecki

Barry L Yang

Darwin Argumedo

Vinay V Gadkari

Rick Peterson

Enrique Aceves De Alba

Michael Heinrichs

Laura J Silva

Ravi Arora

David John Hesse

Dongming Qiu

Chunshe J Cao

Ya-Huei Chin

Robert Rozmiarek

Robert J Luzenski

Thomas Hickey

Jeffery D Slane

Bradley R Johnson

Frederick A Zenz

Ya-Huei Chen

Harley D Freeman

Thomas D Yuschak

Bin Yang

Jianli Hu

Paul William Neagle

Kai Jarosch

Kai Tod Paul Jarosch

David Kilanowski

Junko Ida

Terry Manzanec

Mike Marchiando

Sean D Fitzgerald

Kai T P Jarosch

Jeff Marco

Kai Jarosh

Jeffrey D Slane

Frank P Daly

Barry Yang

The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from micorchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels.

Loading/unloading of particulates to/from microchannel reactors

A system for recovering rare earth elements from coal ash includes a leaching reactor, an ash dryer downstream of the leaching reactor, and a roaster downstream of the ash dryer that is cooperatively connected to both the leaching reactor and the ash dryer. Coal ash is mixed with an acid stream such that rare earth elements present in the coal ash are dissolved in the acid stream, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. Mixing of the coal ash with the acid stream can occur in a leaching reactor and heating of the leachate can occur in a roaster. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.

Systems for acid digestion processes

Methods of recovering rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium from coal are described. The coal is dissolved in a first solvent to dissolve organic material in the coal and create a slurry containing coal ash enriched with rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium. The enriched coal ash is separated from the first solvent. Residual organic material is removed from the coal ash. The rare earth elements, vanadium, cobalt, or lithium can then be recovered from the coal ash. The coal ash is mixed with an acid stream that dissolves the rare earth elements, thereby creating (i) a leachate containing the rare earth elements and (ii) leached ash. The leachate is heated to obtain acid vapor and an acid-soluble rare earth concentrate. The acid-soluble rare earth concentrate can be fed to a hydrometallurgical process to separate and purify the rare earth elements.

Methods for recovery of rare earth elements from coal

A method of making a zeolite comprises: adding a zeolite seed to a leach solution containing silicon and aluminum; and heating the leach solution to obtain the zeolite. The leach solution can be made by mixing coal ash with a basic stream, thereby creating (i) a leach solution containing silicon and aluminum, and (ii) leached ash; and separating the leach solution from the leached ash.

Methods for making zeolites

Acid digestion processes for recovery of rare earth elements from coal and coal byproducts

The invention providing methods of loading and unloading particulate from microchannels in apparatus that contains multiple microchannels, typically apparatus that is designed to operate with hundreds or thousands of particulate-containing microchannels. Aligning a sonicating head at one end of a set of microchannels provides a particularly effective mode for densifying particulate in microchannels.

The disclosed invention relates to a process for conducting an equilibrium limited chemical reaction in a microchannel reactor. The process involves the use of active heat exchange and is suitable for conducting exothermic and endothermic reactions. The process is particularly suitable for synthesizing methanol and dimethyl ether.

Process for conducting an equilibrium limited chemical reaction using microchannel technology

Novel methods of electroless plating are described. Catalyst coatings can be applied within microchannel apparatus. Various reactions, including combustion and steam reforming, can be conducted over electroless catalyst coatings.

Electroless plating in microchannels

The present invention provides catalysts, reactors, and methods of steam reforming over a catalyst. Surprisingly superior results and properties obtained in methods and catalysts of the present invention are also described. For example, a coated catalyst was demonstrated to be highly stable under steam reforming conditions (high temperature and high pressure of steam). Methods of making steam reforming catalysts are also described.

Steam reforming methods and catalysts

Steam reforming method

The invention describes microchannel apparatus and catalysts that contain a layer of a metal aluminide or are made in a process in which a metal aluminide layer is formed as an intermediate. Certain processing conditions have surprisingly been found to result in superior coatings. The invention includes chemical processes conducted through apparatus described in the specification. Other catalysts and catalyst synthesis techniques are also described.

Protected alloy surfaces in microchannel apparatus and catalysts, alumina supported catalysts, catalyst intermediates, and methods of forming catalysts and microchannel apparatus

Interior microchannels within microchannel apparatus are uniformly coated. Remarkably, these uniform coatings are formed from materials that are applied to the interior microchannels after an apparatus has been assembled or manufactured. Coatings can be made uniform along the length of a microchannel, in the corner of a microchannel, and/or throughout numerous microchannels in an array of microchannels. Techniques for tailoring the application of washcoats onto microchannels is also described.

Tailored and uniform coatings in microchannel apparatus

The invention provides methods of combusting a fuel in a reactor that includes at least 3 zones each of which contains a solid catalyst. A method of making a thermally-stable alumina support from fumed alumina is also described.

Methods of conducting catalytic combustion in a multizone reactor, and a method of making a thermally stable catalyst support

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Dublin, OH, United States of America

Rachid Taha