US 10589225

Here is a concise summary of US patent 10589225, based on the provided patent text and a search for CAFC dockets:

US Patent: 10589225

• Title: Sorbents for the oxidation and removal of mercury
• Current Assignee: Birchtech Corp. (reassigned from Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. on 2024-11-07)
• Inventors: Edwin S. Olson, Michael J. Holmes, John Henry Pavlish
• Filing Date: May 14, 2015 (Application number US14/712,558)
• Issue Date: March 17, 2020
• Abstract: The patent describes an activated carbon sorbent that is enhanced with halogens and halides, making it highly effective for removing mercury from flue gas. The sorbent includes a modified carbon form with reactive halogen and halide compounds. Additional components can be included to boost reactivity and mercury capacity. These components can be combined with the sorbent or directly injected into the flue gas. The patent states that the mercury removal efficiency surpasses or matches conventional methods, with benefits like reduced costs. The sorbent is also regenerable and reusable. The patent also details methods for preparing and treating the sorbent, including in-flight preparation, introduction, and control of the active sorbent into the mercury-contaminated gas stream.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

The patent includes several independent claims, focusing on a promoted carbon sorbent and methods for its use and preparation:

• Independent Claim 1 (System/Composition): This claim describes a "promoted carbon sorbent" for removing mercury from a gas stream. This sorbent consists of a "base activated carbon" that has reacted with a "promoter." The promoter is chosen from halogens, halides, or combinations of these. The reaction creates a product that is effective at removing mercury.
• Independent Claim 13 (Method of Preparation): This claim outlines a method for preparing a sorbent. It involves taking a "granular activated carbon" and reacting it with a "promoter." Similar to Claim 1, the promoter is a halogen, a halide, or a combination. The resulting "reaction product" is a promoted carbon sorbent designed to remove mercury from a gas stream.
• Independent Claim 22 (Method of Mercury Reduction with Recovery/Regeneration): This claim details a method for reducing mercury in flue gas. It involves providing a sorbent and injecting it into a mercury-containing flue gas stream. The method aims to collect more than 70 weight percent of the mercury on the sorbent, resulting in cleaned flue gas. A key aspect is "substantially recovering" the sorbent from the cleaned flue gas. The claim also notes that if less than 70 wt-% mercury removal is needed, the target can be met using less than half the amount of carbon required by standard (non-enhanced) carbon.
• Independent Claim 35 (Method of Mercury Reduction with Size Separation): This claim describes a method for reducing mercury in a gas stream that contains both mercury and ash. It specifies injecting a "particulate activated carbon sorbent" that has a mass mean size greater than 40 micrometers (μm) into the gas stream. The mercury is removed by these sorbent particles. Crucially, the sorbent particles are then separated from the ash particles based on their size, and the sorbent particles are subsequently "re-injected" into the gas stream.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:

As of April 26, 2026, a search for US patent 10589225 in the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any direct results, indicating no active appeals related to this specific patent number in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for the year 2026. However, it is noted that Google Patents indicates several district court cases and PTAB cases related to this patent family, with proceedings ongoing in 2025 (e.g., IPR2025-00424, IPR2025-00425). These would typically be reviewed by the CAFC if appealed.