Prior art

USPTO Search for Patent 10343114

A search of the USPTO database for patent number US10343114B2 (which is the granted patent, rather than an application) confirms its existence and details. The patent is titled "Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury" and lists Edwin S. Olson, Michael J. Holmes, and John H. Pavlish as inventors, with Birchtech Corp. as the current assignee.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 10343114

The following prior art references are identified as relevant, based on the citations within US10343114B2 and their descriptions. These references potentially anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

U.S. Patent No. 6,808,692 (US6808692B2)

• Full Citation: US6808692B2, "Enhanced mercury control in coal-fired power plants"
• Publication/Filing Date: The priority date for US10343114B2 is August 30, 2004, which is after the publication date of US6808692B2 (October 26, 2004, assuming the provided publication date from Google Patents is the original). The filing date of US6808692B2 is May 14, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for reducing mercury emissions in coal-fired power plants by injecting a molecular halogen or a thermolabile molecular halogen precursor (like calcium hypochlorite) into the flue gas. The halogen converts elemental mercury to mercuric halide, which is then adsorbable by alkaline solids (e.g., fly ash, dry FGD solids) and captured by particulate control devices. The invention also aims to produce mercury-containing fly ash suitable for cementitious applications.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The use of halogens/halides for mercury oxidation and removal from flue gas. (e.g., Claims 1, 17, 26, 40, 43, 46).
  • The injection of such materials into a mercury-containing gas stream. (e.g., Claims 26, 36, 40, 43, 46).
  • The capture of oxidized mercury by alkaline solids in flue gas.
  • The concept of in-situ conversion of mercury in flue gas.

U.S. Patent No. 6,719,828 (US6719828B1)

• Full Citation: US6719828B1, "High capacity regenerable sorbent for removal of mercury from flue gas"
• Publication/Filing Date: This patent claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/287,939, filed April 30, 2001. The issue date is April 13, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent broadly relates to compositions for gas treatment and processes for making and using them, specifically mentioning the removal of mercury from flue gas. It discusses various sorbents, including activated carbon, fuller's earth, bentonite, and montmorillonite clays, as well as processes involving contacting gas containing HCl with dry alkaline material and a sorbent followed by solids separation. The patent mentions difficulties with regenerating certain sorbents after exposure to flue gas contaminants.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The use of various base sorbent materials (e.g., activated carbon, clays) for mercury removal (e.g., Claims 1, 17, 40, 43, 46).
  • The general concept of a high-capacity sorbent for mercury removal from flue gas.
  • The use of a sorbent in conjunction with alkaline materials for mercury capture.

U.S. Patent No. 8,168,147 (US8168147B2)

• Full Citation: US8168147B2, "Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury"
• Publication/Filing Date: This patent is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/201,595 filed on Aug. 29, 2008, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/209,163, filed on Aug. 22, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,286), which claims priority from provisional application 60/605,640, filed on Aug. 30, 2004. Notably, US10343114B2 claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/605,640 filed on Aug. 30, 2004, making US8168147B2 a family member.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a halogen/halide promoted activated carbon sorbent for mercury removal from flue gas. The sorbent contains a halide-modified carbon form produced by the reaction of bromine (or other halogen) with carbon. It also mentions optional secondary components and alkali to increase reactivity and capacity. The patent discusses in-flight preparation of the sorbent and the use of continuous monitoring for control.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a patent family member, this patent contains very similar if not identical subject matter. It directly anticipates many claims, including:
  • Promoted carbon sorbents with halogens/halides. (e.g., Claim 1, 40, 46).
  • Methods for preparing such sorbents. (e.g., Claim 17).
  • Methods for reducing mercury in flue gas using such sorbents, including in-flight preparation and monitoring. (e.g., Claims 26, 36, 40, 43, 46).
  • The use of optional alkaline materials for enhanced mercury capture.

U.S. Patent No. 4,814,152 (Yan)

• Full Citation: US4814152, "Composition and process for removing mercury vapor"
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated within the provided text, but cited by US6719828B1. (A quick search reveals an issue date of March 21, 1989).
• Brief Description: This patent describes a mercury sorbent comprising elemental sulfur and a metal catalyst on a carbon support. The patent text explicitly states that this method "did not appear to employ a halide."
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The use of carbonaceous supports (e.g., activated carbon) for mercury removal. (e.g., Claims 1, 40, 46).
  • However, due to the explicit statement regarding the lack of halide, it is less likely to anticipate claims specifically directed to halogen/halide-promoted sorbents.

U.S. Patent No. 5,891,324 (Nelson)

• Full Citation: US5891324, "Process for the removal of mercury contained in an aqueous phase"
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated within the provided text. (A quick search reveals an issue date of April 6, 1999).
• Brief Description: This patent describes activated carbon containing an acid (HCl, H2SO4, or H3PO4) for the removal of mercury contained in a liquid phase, such as in the oil industry. The mercury is adsorbed from the liquid into the solid carbon phase at relatively low temperatures.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The use of activated carbon for mercury removal. (e.g., Claims 1, 40, 46).
  • The use of acid-treated activated carbon.
  • However, the primary limitation is its focus on mercury removal from a liquid phase, which distinguishes it from US10343114B2's focus on gas streams.

U.S. Patent Application 2002/0150516

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application 2002/0150516, "Method for removal of mercury from flue gas"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date is October 17, 2002.
• Brief Description: This application describes a process of injecting manganese oxide sorbent particles for mercury removal from flue gas. Regeneration is claimed by removal of spent oxide particles from the reaction zone and rinsing with dilute aqueous acid.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This application could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The injection of sorbent particles into a flue gas stream for mercury removal. (e.g., Claims 26, 36).
  • The general concept of regenerating sorbent particles.
  • However, the specific sorbent material (manganese oxide) differs from the halogen/halide-promoted carbon/non-carbon sorbents of US10343114B2.

U.S. Patent Application 2001/0003116

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent Application 2001/0003116, "Method for regeneration of mercury sorbents"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date is June 14, 2001.
• Brief Description: This application describes the regeneration of a plate or honeycomb material composed of transition metal oxides used for sorption of mercury in flue gas. The claimed process involves heating the sorbent in a reducing gas stream to remove poisons, followed by impregnation with a polyfunctional complex-forming reagent containing the catalyst active component to restore mercury capture capacity.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This application could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The regeneration of sorbents for mercury capture from flue gas.
  • The use of transition metal oxides as sorbents.
  • However, the specific regeneration method and the composition of the active component differ from the halogen/halide promotion of US10343114B2.

U.S. Patent No. 7,435,286 (US7435286B2)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,435,286, "Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury"
• Publication/Filing Date: This patent issued on October 14, 2008, and claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/605,640 filed on Aug. 30, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a halogen/halide promoted activated carbon sorbent for mercury removal from flue gas streams, very similar in description to US8168147B2 and US10343114B2, as they share the same priority date and are part of the same patent family.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a direct family member, this patent is highly likely to anticipate most, if not all, of the claims in US10343114B2. It would likely cover the promoted sorbents, their preparation, and their use in mercury removal from gas streams.

U.S. Patent No. 8,652,235 (US8652235B2)

• Full Citation: US8652235B2, "Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury"
• Publication/Filing Date: This patent issued on February 18, 2014, and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/429,058 filed on April 23, 2009. It also shares priority with the August 30, 2004 provisional application, making it a family member.
• Brief Description: This patent is another family member sharing the same ultimate priority date and similar description regarding promoted sorbents for mercury oxidation and removal.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a direct family member, this patent is highly likely to anticipate most, if not all, of the claims in US10343114B2. It would likely cover the promoted sorbents, their preparation, and their use in mercury removal from gas streams.

JP 49-43197 and JP 50-6438 (Japanese Patents)

• Full Citation: Japanese Patent JP 49-43197 and JP 50-6438
• Publication/Filing Date: JP 49-43197 (1974), JP 50-6438 (1975).
• Brief Description: JP 49-43197 describes the treatment of Hg-contaminated electrolysis cell gas using a metal iodide salt on a support. JP 50-6438 describes a similar treatment using a resin impregnated with a metal iodide. The US10343114B2 patent explicitly states that "These patents do not appear to represent a carbon bromide compound as specified in this patent application."
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents could potentially anticipate claims related to:
  • The general concept of using supported metal halides for mercury removal from gas streams.
  • However, their specificity to metal iodides and the explicit distinction made in US10343114B2 concerning carbon bromide compounds would limit their anticipatory scope against claims focused on bromide-promoted carbon sorbents.