Patent 10926218

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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The USPTO Patent Public Search tool is a web-based search application for patents and patent application publications. I will use it to identify the prior art citations for US Patent 10926218.

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 10,926,218

The following prior art references were cited in US Patent 10,926,218. The analysis below identifies the full citation, publication/filing date, a brief description, and the claim(s) it potentially anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Under 35 U.S.C. § 102, novelty is a condition for patentability, meaning an invention is not patentable if it was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

I. U.S. Patent Documents

  • US 3,194,629

    • Full Citation: US3194629A - Method of removing mercury from gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: July 13, 1965
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing mercury from gases using a porous bed containing a mercury oxidizing reagent, specifically elemental sulfur.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 10, and 17, particularly concerning the general concept of using a sorbent bed and a reagent for mercury removal from gas streams. The use of a "mercury-stabilizing reagent" in claims 8 and 15 of US10926218, including sulfur (S), could be anticipated by this reference.

  • US 3,662,523

    • Full Citation: US3662523A - Recovery of mercury from industrial gases - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: May 16, 1972
    • Description: This patent describes a method for recovering mercury from industrial gases using a porous bed with a mercury oxidizing reagent, such as triiodide or other mixed halogens.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference may anticipate elements of claims 1, 10, and 17, especially regarding the use of halogen-based reagents for mercury oxidation and removal. Specifically, the mention of "halogens" and "halides" as promoters in claims 1, 10, 12, and 13 of US10926218 could be challenged by this patent's disclosure of mixed halogens for mercury recovery.

  • US 4,101,631

    • Full Citation: US4101631A - Process for removing mercury from gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: July 18, 1978
    • Description: This patent describes a process for removing mercury from gas streams using an elemental sulfur sorbent, potentially on a support.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to US 3,194,629, this patent could anticipate the use of sulfur as a mercury-stabilizing reagent as described in claims 8 and 15 of US10926218, and the broader concept of using a sorbent for mercury removal in claims 1, 10, and 17.

  • US 4,708,853

    • Full Citation: US4708853A - Process for removing mercury from contaminated air - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: November 24, 1987
    • Description: This patent focuses on removing mercury from contaminated air using a sorbent material containing sulfur.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent likely anticipates the use of sulfur-containing reagents for mercury removal, which relates to the "mercury-stabilizing reagent" described in claims 8 and 15 of US10926218, as well as the general sorbent usage in claims 1, 10, and 17.

  • US 4,786,483

    • Full Citation: US4786483A - Method of removing elemental mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: November 22, 1988
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing elemental mercury from gas streams using a porous bed containing peroxomonosulfate as a mercury oxidizing reagent.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference could potentially anticipate the broad concept of using a reagent in a sorbent bed for oxidizing elemental mercury in gas streams, as broadly encompassed by claims 1, 10, and 17 of US10926218.

  • US 4,814,152

    • Full Citation: US4814152A - Removing mercury from fluid stream - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: March 21, 1989
    • Description: This patent describes a mercury sorbent comprising elemental sulfur and a metal catalyst on a carbon support.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant to claims 1 and 10 of US10926218, as it discloses a sorbent with a carbon support and a mercury-removing agent (sulfur). While it mentions a metal catalyst and not explicitly a halogen/halide promoter, the fundamental concept of a treated carbon sorbent for mercury removal is present. It also relates to the use of sulfur as a mercury-stabilizing reagent in claims 8 and 15.

  • US 4,889,698

    • Full Citation: US4889698A - Method of removing mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: December 26, 1989
    • Description: This patent details a method for removing mercury from gas streams, where the mercury chemisorbed to sorbent particles is removed from the gas stream in a baghouse or ESP and collected along with ash particulates.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant to claim 17 of US10926218, which describes injecting a sorbent, collecting mercury on the sorbent, and recovering the sorbent from the cleaned flue gas, specifically mentioning collection in a baghouse or ESP.

  • US 4,956,162

    • Full Citation: US4956162A - Method of removing mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: September 11, 1990
    • Description: Similar to US 4,889,698, this patent describes a method of removing mercury from gas streams where sorbent particles are collected in a baghouse or ESP along with ash particulates.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent strongly relates to claim 17 of US10926218, particularly the steps of collecting mercury on sorbent and recovering the sorbent from the cleaned flue gas using a baghouse or ESP.

  • US 5,505,766

    • Full Citation: US5505766A - Method of removing mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: April 9, 1996
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing mercury from gas streams using sorbent particles collected in a baghouse or ESP.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent, like the previous two, significantly anticipates the method of claim 17 of US10926218 regarding the collection and recovery of sorbent particles for mercury removal in flue gas using standard particulate control devices.

  • US 5,607,496

    • Full Citation: US5607496A - Process for removal of heavy metals from waste gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: March 4, 1997
    • Description: This patent teaches the oxidation of mercury on a metal oxide sorbent bed and subsequent absorption to the sorbent.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could anticipate aspects of claims 1, 10, and 17 of US10926218 concerning the general concept of oxidizing mercury on a sorbent for removal from gas streams. While the sorbent material (metal oxide) differs from the carbon-based sorbent of US10926218, the core idea of mercury oxidation and capture on a sorbent is present.

  • US 5,672,323

    • Full Citation: US5672323A - Method of removing mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: September 30, 1997
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing mercury from gas streams, including the collection of mercury-laden sorbent particles in a baghouse or ESP.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent strongly relates to the method of claim 17 of US1096218, specifically the collection of mercury on sorbent and recovery of the sorbent from cleaned flue gas.

  • US 5,827,352

    • Full Citation: US5827352A - Method for reducing the level of mercury in a gas stream - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: October 27, 1998
    • Description: This patent describes a method for reducing mercury in a gas stream, involving injecting sorbent particles and collecting them with ash in a particulate control device.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant to claim 17 of US10926218, particularly the steps of injecting a sorbent into a gas stream and collecting the mercury-laden sorbent.

  • US 5,891,324

    • Full Citation: US5891324A - Process for mercury removal from liquids - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: April 6, 1999
    • Description: This patent describes an activated carbon containing an acid (HCl, H2SO4, or H3PO4) for the removal of mercury from a liquid phase.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: While directed to liquid-phase mercury removal, this patent discloses an activated carbon sorbent with an added acid for mercury removal. This could potentially anticipate the broad concept of a treated activated carbon sorbent (claims 1 and 10 of US10926218), although the application of the sorbent (liquid vs. gas phase) and the specific promoter (acid vs. halogen/halide) differ. The patent itself notes that the Nelson method (US5891324) "lacks many of the features described in this application that impart exceptional activity to the sorbent in a convenient way, for example, the addition of smaller amount of a second more powerful promoting agent, the use of facile solvent systems, including aqueous bromine, and the use of in-flight bromine treatment."

  • US 6,027,551

    • Full Citation: US6027551A - Method of removing mercury from gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: February 22, 2000
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing mercury from gas streams, including collecting mercury-laden sorbent particles in a baghouse or ESP.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent strongly relates to the method of claim 17 of US10926218, particularly the collection of mercury on sorbent and recovery of the sorbent from cleaned flue gas.

  • US 6,136,072

    • Full Citation: US6136072A - Method of removing mercury from a gas stream - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: October 24, 2000
    • Description: This patent describes a method for removing mercury from a gas stream using amalgamating noble metals (gold, silver) on a suitable support, which can be regenerated by microwave heating.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could generally anticipate the concept of a regenerable sorbent for mercury removal from gas streams (relevant to the regeneration aspect mentioned in US10926218's abstract and description), though the specific sorbent material and regeneration method are different from the claims of US10926218.

  • US 6,214,304

    • Full Citation: US6214304B1 - Process for removing mercury from a gaseous stream - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: April 10, 2001
    • Description: This patent describes a process for removing mercury from a gaseous stream using sodium sulfide particles as a sorbent.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate the use of specific sorbent materials for mercury removal in gas streams, broadly relating to claims 1, 10, and 17 of US10926218, although the specific sorbent (sodium sulfide vs. promoted carbon) is different.

  • US 6,258,334

    • Full Citation: US6258334B1 - Removal of mercury from combustion flue gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: July 10, 2001
    • Description: This patent describes the removal of mercury from combustion flue gas using a sulfur-containing sorbent.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant to claims 8 and 15 of US10926218 regarding the use of sulfur as a mercury-stabilizing reagent, and more broadly to claims 1, 10, and 17 concerning mercury removal from flue gas using a sorbent.

  • US 6,508,281

    • Full Citation: US6508281B1 - Method for mercury control in gas streams - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: January 21, 2003
    • Description: This patent describes a sorbent for mercury and other contaminants comprising an inorganic aerogel composition.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference discloses a sorbent for mercury removal from gas streams (relevant to claims 1, 10, and 17). However, the sorbent material (inorganic aerogel) is distinct from the promoted activated carbon specified in US10926218, and it does not appear to employ a carbon support or halide.

II. Foreign Patent Documents

  • JP 49-43197 A

    • Full Citation: JP S49-43197 A - Method for removing mercury from gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: April 22, 1974
    • Description: This Japanese patent describes the treatment of mercury-contaminated electrolysis cell gas using a metal iodide salt on a support.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent could potentially anticipate the use of a halide (iodide) on a support for mercury removal from gas streams, which is relevant to the "promoter selected from the group consisting of halogens, halides, and combinations thereof" in claims 1 and 10 of US10926218. However, US10926218 distinguishes itself by specifying a carbon support and the formation of a carbon bromide compound.

  • JP 50-6438 A

    • Full Citation: JP S50-6438 A - Method for removing mercury from gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: January 22, 1975
    • Description: This Japanese patent describes a similar treatment to JP 49-43197, using a resin impregnated with a metal iodide for mercury removal.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: Similar to JP 49-43197, this reference anticipates the use of a halide (iodide) impregnated material for mercury removal from gas streams, potentially challenging the broad scope of claims 1 and 10 of US10926218 regarding halide promoters. However, the specific support material (resin) differs from the activated carbon of US10926218.

  • DE 3426059 A1

    • Full Citation: DE3426059A1 - Process for the removal of mercury from waste gas - Google Patents.
    • Publication Date: February 6, 1986
    • Description: This German patent describes the use of a very thick carbon bed for the treatment of flue gases containing polyhalogenated compounds and also addresses Hg removal.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This patent is highly relevant to claims 1, 10, and 17 of US10926218 due to its disclosure of a carbon bed for mercury removal from flue gases. The use of carbon and the application to flue gas for mercury removal are directly related. While it mentions polyhalogenated compounds in the flue gas, it does not explicitly detail the promotion of the carbon with halogens/halides as described in US10926218.

III. Other Publications

  • Ghorishi, B.; Gullet, B. K. Waste Manage Res. 1993, 16, 582.

    • Publication Date: 1993
    • Description: This academic reference likely discusses basic silicate or oxide sorbents for mercury removal.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 10, and 17 if it broadly discusses the use of sorbents for mercury removal. However, the specific sorbent materials (silicate or oxide) differ from the promoted carbon of US10926218.

  • Tsuji, K.; Shiraishi, I.; Dague, R. F. Proceedings, Sixth International Symposium, Air & Water Management Assoc., New Orleans, La., Mar. 10-12, 1993.

    • Publication Date: March 10-12, 1993
    • Description: This publication likely describes the GE-Mitsui-BF system, which employs a recirculating carbon bed for mercury removal along with acid gases, with carbon regeneration at high temperatures.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: This reference is highly relevant to claims 1, 10, and 17, especially regarding the use of carbon sorbents for mercury removal from flue gas and the concept of sorbent regeneration. The fact that the carbons are "not pretreated" in the GE-Mitsui-BF system (as explicitly stated in the US10926218 patent description when discussing this reference) highlights a potential distinction from the "promoted carbon sorbent" in claims 1 and 10 of US10926218.

  • PCT/US04/12828, titled “PROCESS FOR REGENERATING A SPENT SORBENT”

    • Full Citation: PCT/US04/12828 (WO2004103507A2) - Process for regenerating a spent sorbent - Google Patents.
    • Filing/Publication Date: August 30, 2004 / December 2, 2004
    • Description: This PCT application describes a process for regenerating a spent sorbent. It is also noted as "co-pending, commonly owned" in US10926218.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims: Given that this is a commonly owned, co-pending application, it would likely be considered inventor-originated prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1)(A) (pre-AIA) if published before the effective filing date of US10926218 and the grace period applies, or under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(2) (post-AIA) if it names another inventor. It directly addresses the regeneration aspect of the sorbent, which is a key feature mentioned in the abstract and description of US10926218 and could impact claim 17, particularly the step of "regenerating the recovered sorbent."

Generated 7/1/2026, 6:46:00 PM