Brian L Simpson
Engineers in Hamlin, NY

5578173, Nov 26, 1996

Apr 3, 1995

8/415861

Walter E. Toot - Rochester NY
Brian L. Simpson - Hamlin NY
Bruce R. Debruin - Kingsport TN
Andrius A. Naujokas - Webster NY
William J. Gamble - Rochester NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

C07C 6754, C07C 2728, C07C 2980

203 6

A method of removing dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) from a vapor stream. The vapor stream includes dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), methylhydroxyethyl terephthalate (MHET), glycols and methanol. A distillation column is held under an elevated pressure of 100 to 500 kPag and at a temperature of at least 85. degree. C. It has (i) a plurality of distillation trays; (ii) methanol liquid sprays between the trays; (iii) a main spray zone below the trays and (iv) a liquid pool of methanol in the bottom of the column. The vapor stream is directed into the distillation column, above the liquid pool and below the main spray zone, thereby forming a stream of liquid and vapor. The stream of liquid is directed away from the distillation column walls and into the liquid pool at the bottom of the column. Concurrently, a portion of the liquid in the bottom of the column is (i) recycled back into the distillation column as a spray in the column above the vapor stream inlet, thereby preventing build up of solid DMT on column surfaces and (ii) removed from the column to enable DMT removal.

4824939, Apr 25, 1989

Oct 9, 1986

6/917342

Brian L. Simpson - Hamlin NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

A23J 110, B01D 1102, C07G 700

530356

A novel leaching process for separating extractable material from a particulate solid material that comprises extractable and non-extractable portions includes the steps of introducing the particulate solid material and a liquid solvent to an extraction zone; agitating the liquid solvent to a degree sufficient to suspend the particulate solid material and effect segregation of particles thereof in relation to their propensity to settle; maintaining contact between the liquid solvent and the particulate solid material for a time sufficient to leach extractable material therefrom; and selectively withdrawing particles of the solid material from the extraction zone. In a preferred embodiment, the leaching process is a multi-stage process in which the selectively withdrawn particles from each stage are introduced to the next successive stage of the series. A particularly important use for the novel leaching process is in the recovery of gelatin from bone, and specifically in that step of the gelatin manufacturing process in which granulated bone is demineralized by contact with a dilute acid solution which converts bone particles to particles of ossein by extracting the minerals from the bone.

5765728, Jun 16, 1998

Jul 10, 1996

8/677757

Brian Leigh Simpson - Hamlin NY
Gerald Douglas Knight - Rochester NY
Richard Arthur Tietz - Leroy NY
Mark Louis Quadrini - Rochester NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

G01F 1124, B65G 5346

2221462

An improved system (10) conveys comminuted material from a source (12) to a vessel (14), especially for continuously conveying chopped poly(ethyleneterephthalate), or PET, into a methanolysis recovery reactor without entrainment of air into the reactor and without frequent jamming of the apparatus. A single rotary vane valve (36) is provided in the conveyance path at an inlet (38) to the vessel. The valve has clearances between the vanes (44) and the housing (48) larger than the smallest dimension of the comminuted material to prevent jamming of the rotor by PET flakes. The internal spaces (52, 47) in the valve are continuously purged with nitrogen at sufficient volume and pressure such that gases and fumes in the vessel are substantially prevented from passing upward through the valve. Nitrogen also flows from the valve countercurrently through the supply ducts (26, 30) to strip entrained air from the incoming material. Preferably, additional nitrogen is introduced into the supply duct (30) ahead of the valve to assist in air removal from the material.

5364418, Nov 15, 1994

Oct 12, 1993

8/135115

Ralph H. Pelto - Rochester NY
Brian L. Simpson - Hamlin NY
Theodore E. Walker - Spencerport NY
John W. Crevelling - Rochester NY
Kevin M. Logsdon - Holley NY
Paul C. Drake - Brockport NY
Jeffrey R. Hennenkamp - Rochester NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

C01G 500, C05B 1900

23313R

A process is disclosed for forming compacted silver nitrate bodies. A feed silver nitrate solution is introduced into an evaporative crystallizer (10). Steam is provided to a steam jacket (30) to heat the solution in the crystallizer (10) and form a slurry comprising silver nitrate crystals. The crystallizer (10) has an agitator (20) to mix the slurry and promote crystal growth. Slurry density is maintained within a desired range by controlling the rate of steam flow to the steam jacket (30) via a control valve (34). Slurry containing silver nitrate crystals is withdrawn from the crystallizer (10) and introduced to a centrifuge separator (78), for separating and drying the crystals. The separated, dried crystals are further dried by contact with an airstream and fall into a hopper (88). The crystals flow from the hopper into a translucent feed tube (96) and then into a roll compactor (100) that compacts the crystals to form the compacted silver nitrate bodies.

5360602, Nov 1, 1994

Mar 9, 1992

7/848478

Jeffrey R. Hennenkamp - Rochester NY
Kevin M. Logsdon - Holley NY
Brian L. Simpson - Hamlin NY
Theodore E. Walker - Spencerport NY
Paul C. Drake - Brockport NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

C01B 2148

423395

Silver nitrate crystals comprising a substantially non-platelet crystal morphology are disclosed. The non-platelet silver nitrate crystals have an aspect ratio in the range of from about 1:2:3 to about 1:1:1. FIGS. 4 and 5.

6042800, Mar 28, 2000

Dec 28, 1993

8/174497

Brian Leigh Simpson - Hamlin NY
Gary Michael Distefano - Rochester NY
Kevin Michael Logsdon - Holley NY
Stephen Michael Popham - Rochester NY
Donald Charles Reid - Rochester NY

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

C01B 2148, C01G 500

423395

Herein is disclosed a continuous process for manufacturing purified silver nitrate solutions comprising the steps of: a) transferring a crude silver nitrate solution, together with a slurry comprising silver oxide, to a multistage agitated reactor, thereby forming a mixture; b) maintaining a continuous weight percent undissolved solids inside the reactor such that silver oxide is 10 to 80 weight percent of said undissolved solids; c) transporting the first mixture through the reactor over a period of 15 minutes to 3 hours to form a reaction product; and d) filtering the reaction products through a continuous filter to form a silver nitrate filtrate.