Donald F Othmer from Brooklyn, NY

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Donald F Othmer

Address:

Brooklyn, NY 11201

License #:

PE005390L - Expired

Category:

Engineers

Type:

Professional Engineer

Publications

Isbn (Books And Publications)

Concise Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology

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Author

Donald F. Othmer

ISBN #

0471517003

Us Patents

Manufacture Of Titanium Chloride And Metallic Iron From Titaniferous Materials Containing Iron Oxides

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US Patent:

39895106, Nov 2, 1976

Filed:

Apr 12, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/460383

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C22B 100
C22B 510
C22B 516

US Classification:

75 1T

Abstract:

A reactor operating at a maximum temperature above 1535. degree. C and up to about 1950. degree. C is charged with a mixture of: (a) iron bearing titaniferous ore or its concentrate, or a residue from other operations containing iron and titanium, at least some of which is present as oxides, also (b) silica -- combined or separately added, also (c) one or more chlorides of a third metal of the alkaline or alkaline earth group, such as common salt and/or calcium chloride, also (d) a solid reductant as coke. Some impurities of the original material are removed as volatile chlorides or oxy-chlorides; the titanium also goes off as TiCl. sub. 4 in the gas stream, the iron is withdrawn as molten metallic iron, and the third metal added as the chloride: e. g. , the sodium of the common salt or the calcium of its chloride unites with the silica to give a silicate, such as sodium silicate (water glass) and/or calcium silicate which acts as a flux to remove the gangue from the iron. Most of the chlorine is supplied by the chlorine in this third-metal chloride through the separation by the chloride interaction with the iron and titanium: including that leaving in the titanium tetra-chloride, and in other volatile chlorides or oxy-chlorides, or remaining in the gangue as non-volatile chlorides.

Solvent Refining Of Sugar

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US Patent:

41167120, Sep 26, 1978

Filed:

Sep 6, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/830578

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C13D 114

US Classification:

127 46R

Abstract:

There are numerous impurities in beet and cane sugar in the two phases in which it appears in the food industry and in commerce: -- as a solid phase in crystalline raw sugar, and as a liquid phase in concentrated syrups or molasses. These impurities, varying greatly with the source of the sugar, are extracted therefrom by solvents which are completely miscible with water, have molecular weights below 62 and contain a hydroxyl group: preferred solvents ethanol and acetic acid, also methanol. The crystalline nature of the solid raw sugar and the high solids content (40 to 80%) of such liquid solutions minimizes mutual solubility with the solvent which is enhanced by the use of a co-solvent -- acetone, also completely miscible with water, also with a molecular weight below 62, and allows counter current washing of the raw sugar or the liquid-liquid extraction of the sugar syrups. Impurities preferentially going to the solvent layer, and their extractability or the relative extractability of different impurities may be controlled by variation of (a) the solvent itself; (b) its water content; (c) its temperature; (d) its pH; (e) its ratio of admixture with acetone as the co-solvent, which reduces further the mutual solubility of the sugar and the miscibility with water; and particularly (f) the solids content of the syrup or molasses to be extracted. Highly refined sugar either as the syrup or as crystal sugar is made from the raffinate of the liquid washing or extraction; and the impurities may be separated to recover values conventionally lost.

Method For Producing Titanium

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US Patent:

39778665, Aug 31, 1976

Filed:

Dec 10, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/423261

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C22B 5300

US Classification:

75 845

Abstract:

Titanium tetrachloride is reduced at atmospheric pressure and 1245. degree. C to 1750. degree. C by molten manganese to give substantially pure molten titanium metal and gaseous manganese chloride. A counter-current stream of gaseous titanium tetrachloride contacts molten manganese to make the chlorine interchange. Titanium alloys with other metals which will not reduce titanium tetrachloride are made by adding such metals to the reactor with the molten manganese; and they end up as part of the melt with titanium. The manganese chloride formed is oxidized to the oxide while giving chlorine gas, to be used in forming the titanium tetrachloride; and the manganese oxide is carbo-thermally reduced by conventional methods to manganese metal for recycle.

Desulfurization Of Coal

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US Patent:

43291562, May 11, 1982

Filed:

Oct 1, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/192731

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C10L 906
C10L 908

US Classification:

44 1SR

Abstract:

Peat, lignite, coal, many forms of biomass (land or marine) and solid wastes may have from 1/2 to 30 times as much water associated with the dry solids. Some of this water may be chemically bound or otherwise may be practically inseparable by mechanical means. The solids may be partially oxidized by oxygen or air in the first chemical reactions of a Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) taking place in the presence of the large amount of water at temperatures of 175. degree. C. to 325. degree. C. and pressures of 10 to 100 atmospheres-preferably 240. degree. to 300. degree. C. and 70 to 100 atmospheres. All sulfur in high sulfur coal is oxidized selectively to the sulfate radical; and heat to bring the combustible up to the necessary temperature is supplied by burning part of the combustible itself. The sulfur free coal may be used as conventionally. Residual solids (now 70 to 95% of the original fuel) have a higher heating value on a dry basis, and are mechanically separated from all but 1/2 to 2 pounds of water.

Pipe Heating By Ac In Steel

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US Patent:

39756173, Aug 17, 1976

Filed:

Aug 30, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/393043

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

H05B 300
F16L 5300

US Classification:

219300

Abstract:

When an insulated conductor wire is adjacent to and coextensive with the outside of a steel pipe transporting a fluid and it carries alternating current as one leg of a circuit, with the pipe itself carrying the AC for the return leg, induction and magnetic effects develop which cause the AC flow to concentrate on a band of the surface or "skin" of the pipe close to the wire, thus greatly increasing the resistance of the pipe wall and the heat produced therein. No current is carried in the inner wall of the pipe nor in that part of the outer wall removed from the wire; and there is no current loss to the ground or other surroundings. The insulated conductor wire may be uncovered throughout those portions of its outer surface not directly confronting the pipe by any electrically conductive material which would shield the electromagnetic field generated around the wire in a direction away from the pipe, or it may be covered by a shaped cover of electrical insulation material. However, electrically conductive shielding members may be provided between the wire and the pipe on each side of the wire to trim the effective width of the heating band on the pipe. The conductor wire may comprise a pair of elongated conductors arranged in spaced parallel relation and electrically connected throughout their respective lengths by electrically conductive material having a positive temperature coefficient whereby the current flow and thus the heat generated is automatically regulated in accordance with temperature.

Separation Of Components Of A Fluid Mixture

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US Patent:

41510755, Apr 24, 1979

Filed:

Jun 11, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/694954

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C02C 106

US Classification:

210 7

Abstract:

Fluid mixtures containing a carrying liquid as water and solid particles or oil, or both may be separated in a settling treatment by being passed through channels between plates which are tilted so that one side of all plates is lower than the other, whereby the more dense phase concentrates on the lower side to discharge therefrom as a stream containing at least most of the solid particles, if that represents the more dense phase; and clear water discharges substantially free of particles from the upper side of the channels. While accomplishing the separation of phases the process may simultaneously and rapidly destroy organic materials in waste liquors, such as sewage waters, by utilizing an oxidation depending on (a) pressure treatment to supply more oxygen in solution from air and/or oxygen that is obtainable under atmospheric pressure, (b) the utilization of this oxygen to supply BOD and COD in the liquid, due to strictly chemical, enzymatic, and/or aerobic reactions, (c) the depressurization to eliminate dissolved gases, and (d) the continuation of these steps to obtain less polluted effluent water.

Methanol Dehydration

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US Patent:

44053436, Sep 20, 1983

Filed:

Sep 1, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/413744

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

B01D 5304

US Classification:

55 28

Abstract:

Methanol is converted from syngas at high temperatures and pressures. The gas stream leaving the converter, at 300. degree. to 500. degree. C. , above atmospheric pressure--usually between 750 to 7000 pounds per square inch, has besides the unreacted permanent gases of the syngas and others, methanol and water as well as other liquid impurities. Based on the weight of methanol, water may be present in from 0. 5 to 20%, also small amounts of higher alcohols, dimethyl ether, etc. Condensation gives an aqueous liquid, from which the water must be separated if the methanol is to be used as a motor fuel. When this amount of water is low e. g. 0. 5 to 12% this may be separated by adsorption most economically from the gas before condensation of the methanol. The energy in this gas stream at a high temperature and pressure above the ambient may be used to dehydrate completely the methanol, by the use of a conventional desiccant.

Method For Producing Aluminum Metal From Its Salts

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US Patent:

39389880, Feb 17, 1976

Filed:

Aug 7, 1973

Appl. No.:

5/386411

Inventors:

Donald F. Othmer - Brooklyn NY

International Classification:

C22B 400

US Classification:

75 10R

Abstract:

Aluminum metal in the gaseous state may be produced by breaking down of its salts at temperatures of at least 2500. degree. to 5500. degree. C. These very high temperatures may be reached in various ways, e. g. , by producing a thermal plasma by means of a plasma arc or a plasma torch. There results a mixture of the two elemental gases; and the separation of the mixture is accomplished by instananeously chilling the hot gas stream from such a heater to a temperature of 136. degree. to 1500. degree. C in a "flash" cooler by contacting it directly with a liquid coolant, separately cooled. The liquid coolant may comprise the same aluminum salt as is fed to the plasma system; or it may be a solution of that compound with one or more other liquids, which solution may have a melting or boiling point in a desired temperature range; or it may be a quite different compound or compounds. The aluminum produced may be withdrawn as a liquid; or if the flash condenser operates below the melting point of aluminum, it may be obtained as a slurry of fine granules in the liquid coolant. The other elemental gas may pass through the liquid of the flash condenser uncondensed.

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