Robert S Bach

US Patent:

8303916, Nov 6, 2012

Filed:

Jan 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/363398

Inventors:

Michael C. Collins - Hingham MA, US
Robert D. Bach - Marco Island FL, US

Assignee:

Oscura, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01J 8/00

US Classification:

422600, 422620, 422622, 422634, 422637, 422642, 423529, 423650, 252373, 48 92, 48206, 48210, 48 61, 208400, 208404, 266171

Abstract:

A reactor system for the transformation of solid, liquid, gaseous, and related hydrocarbon feedstocks into high-purity, high-pressure gas streams capable of withstanding high temperatures and high pressures. The system comprises a plurality of reactor housings and a plurality of molten-metal bath vessels within the housings, the bath vessels in fluid communication with each other via conduits, with communication facilitated by gravity and temperature/pressure differentials.

US Patent:

20130228721, Sep 5, 2013

Filed:

Sep 26, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/627247

Inventors:

Michael C. Collins - Hingham MA, US
Robert D. Bach - Marco Island FL, US

International Classification:

C01B 3/34

US Classification:

252373, 423657, 423658, 585752, 585733, 585240

Abstract:

A reactor system for the transformation of solid, liquid, gaseous, and related hydrocarbon feedstocks into high-purity, high-pressure gas streams capable of withstanding high temperatures and high pressures. The system comprises a plurality of reactor housings and a plurality of molten-metal bath vessels within the housings, the bath vessels in fluid communication with each other via conduits, with communication facilitated by gravity and temperature/pressure differentials.

US Patent:

53243412, Jun 28, 1994

Filed:

May 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/879978

Inventors:

Christopher J. Nagel - Boston MA
Robert D. Bach - Grosse Pointe MI
James E. Johnston - Waltham MA

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

C21B 1500

US Classification:

75503

Abstract:

An environmentally sound process is described for the remediation of waste materials and oxides of metals that allows the separation, recovery and decontamination of metals. The method includes chemically reducing essentially all of a reducible toxic and potentially hazardous metal oxide of a metal-containing composition. A metal-containing composition is directed into a molten bath, including a first reducing agent which, under the operating conditions of the molten bath, chemically reduces a first metal oxide of a metal in the metal-containing composition to form a bath-soluble transient second metal oxide. A second reducing agent is directed into the molten bath. The second reducing agent, under the operations of the molten-bath, chemically reduces the second metal oxide, provided that the second reducing agent has a Gibbs free energy lower than that of the second metal oxide. The rate at which the second reducing agent is directed into the molten bath, relative to the rate at which the metal-oxide of the metal-containing composition is directed into the molten-bath, is sufficient to cause essentially all subsequently formed second metal oxide to dissolve in the molten bath, thereby chemically reducing essentially all of the metal oxide of the metal-containing composition. This indirect reduction technology can remediate a variety of materials, including ash metal-contaminated municipal waste, vitreous stag-like materials and spent metal catalysts, while allowing the recovery of remediable metals.

US Patent:

60961090, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Jan 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/588603

Inventors:

Christopher J. Nagel - Wayland MA
Robert D. Bach - Grosse Pointe MI

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

C21B 1110

US Classification:

75 101

Abstract:

A method for converting a ligated-metal into chemical components of the ligated-metal includes forming an ionized zone that can convert the ligated-metal to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate. The ligated-metal is directed into the ionized zone, whereby the ligated-metal is converted to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate, thereby causing a thermodynamically stable metal-ligand bond of the ligated-metal to be electronically destabilized and inducing subsequent metal-ligand bond rupture. The reduced ligated-metal intermediate is converted by the metal-ligand bond rupture into chemical components of the ligated-metal. Ligated-metals that are suitable for processing by the method of the invention include, for example: uranium hexafluoride (UF. sub. 6); sodium chloride (NaCl); and metal halides, such as iron trichloride (FeCl. sub. 3). Chemical components that can be recovered from the ligated-metal include, for example, metals and gases derived from the ligand component of the ligated-metals.

US Patent:

52021009, Apr 13, 1993

Filed:

Nov 7, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/788804

Inventors:

Christopher J. Nagel - Boston MA
Robert D. Bach - Grosse Pointe MI
William M. Haney - Boston MA

Assignee:

Molten Metal Technology, Inc. - Waltham MA

International Classification:

C22B 6000

US Classification:

423 5

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for reducing the volume of a radioactive composition by separating a radioactive first component from a second component of the radioactive composition. The method includes directing the radioactive composition into a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes a molten bath, wherein oxidation of a component of the radioactive composition in the molten bath will cause separation of the radioactive first component from the second component. An oxidizing agent is directed into the molten bath, which oxidizes a component of the radioactive composition, whereby the radioactive first component is separated from the second component. The net volume of the radioactive composition is thereby reduced.