ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,246,991, issued on March 11.
"High-efficiency method for converting limestone to slaked lime" was invented by Marvin S Keshner (Sonora, Calif.) and Erik Garth Vaaler (Redwood City, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A chemical processing method includes decomposing a metal carbonate in a first tube by exposure to a first quantity of heat, producing a metal oxide and carbon dioxide; and hydrating the metal oxide in a second tube concentric with the first, by exposure to steam, producing a metal hydroxide and a second quantity of heat. The partial pressure of the steam and/or of the carbon dioxide is controlled so that the hydration re...