Patents Examined by Clare Perrin
  • Patent number: 9869145
    Abstract: A system and method include a shaker configured to separate solids from a drilling fluid, the shaker having a screen assembly, and an actuated arm operatively coupled to the shaker, the actuated arm configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker. The actuated arm is configured to interact with the screen assembly of the shaker, with the actuated arm configured to remove, to inspect, to clean, to repair, or to replace the screen assembly of the shaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley N. Jones, Thomas Geehan
  • Patent number: 9856334
    Abstract: Cross-linked cyclopolymeric resins from N,N-diallyl quaternary ammonium monomers and tetrallylpiperazinium cross-linking monomer or salts, solvates, tautomers or stereoisomers as adsorbent materials for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution. A process for producing the cross-linked cyclopolymeric resins by Butler cyclocopolymerization of the monomers with a free radical initiator. The cross linked cyclopolymeric resins are polyzwitterionic or polyzwitterionic and dianionic and feature repeating units with multiple chelating centers that heavy metal ions can bind to. In addition, a method for removing heavy metals from aqueous solution via contacting and treatment with the cross-linked cyclopolymeric resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Shaikh Asrof Ali, Shamsuddeen Abdullahi Haladu
  • Patent number: 9856159
    Abstract: Polymer flocculants are described comprising blends of high molecular weight polyethylene oxide and high molecular polyacrylamides. When introduced in desired amounts and with desired molecular weight ranges, excellent flocculation function is found that can be used to reduce polymer consumption to obtain a desired purity of clarified waste water. It has been found that the desirable polymer blends can be effectively added upstream from locations in which polyethylene oxide would generally be added so that the polymer blend can effectively mix with the slime flow to reduce or eliminate the need for excess polymer use to compensate for less effective mixing with the slime flow. Suitable waste treatment systems are described to provide for the delivery of the flocculants in the waste treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: PSMG, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Holt
  • Patent number: 9815720
    Abstract: A method and system treat contaminated water. In one embodiment, the method comprises treating contaminated water by introducing a methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution to a vessel. The vessel contains the contaminated water and iron oxide. The contaminated water comprises contaminants. In addition, the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution comprises methylmorpholine-N-oxide and water. The method further comprises contacting the methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution with the contaminated water. In addition, the method comprises treating the contaminated water by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the contaminants in the presence of the iron oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: United Laboratories International, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen D. Matza, Jack G. Frost
  • Patent number: 9797109
    Abstract: A method for retracting oil on a water surface, and a method for reducing the quantity of oil on an oil control boom are described. Spreading of oil can be reversed by reducing the surface tension of the seawater, for example by using a low concentration of a water-soluble surfactant, such as a non-ionic surfactant. A controlled amount of the surfactant may be continuously discharged at the inner-wall of a spill control boom surrounding the oil spill. The spilled oil is caused to retract away from the boom toward the center of the area encircled thereby, such that the oil layer becomes sufficiently thick to be more effectively removed mechanically. The surfactant also reduces the amount of oil on the spill control boom, whereby the boom can easily be removed from a remediated oil spill and reused at a later date without further cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: University of Wyoming
    Inventors: Koichi Takamura, Norman R. Morrow, Nina Loahardjo, Winoto Winoto
  • Patent number: 9796605
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water-insoluble polymeric iron chelating agent having a polymer backbone and an aromatic ring attached to the polymer backbone through an —NH—CH2— bond, wherein the aromatic ring has one or two first functional groups in the form of hydroxyl group and one or two second functional groups located at the ortho position with respect to the first functional group; and wherein the second functional group is —OH, —COOH, or a group represented by formula (I) wherein A represents —CH3, —CH2—CH3, —CH2—C6H5, —CH2—C5H4N or —CH2—COOH and B represents —CH2—COOH. The water-insoluble polymeric iron chelating agent of the present invention offers the advantages of being capable of selectively chelating iron ions, particularly biologically unstable iron, and being insoluble in water, and moreover not being incorporated in metabolic processes in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: DISEASE ADSORPTION SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION ASAHIKAWA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yuzo Nishida, Yutaka Kohgo, Katsuya Ikuta, Katsunori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9782694
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew R. Patterson, Shane P. Wiercinski, Eric A. Lorge
  • Patent number: 9776895
    Abstract: Potable drinking water is plagued with widespread arsenic contamination, particularly in developing communities. Ferric ions were introduced to interact with arsenate based on the strong affinity of arsenate for ferric hydroxides, followed by mucilage addition. The mucilage coagulated and flocculated the ferric-arsenate complex and formed visible flocs that settled at the bottom of the tubes. The system showed 75-96% arsenate removal in 1 hour, while longer retention times showed 100% removal. The role of the mucilage was demonstrated by untreated solutions showing no concentration difference and remaining stable for more than 15 days. This mucilage-based technology has the potential to be a relatively inexpensive, environmentally sustainable alternative to synthetic polymer flocculants for removing arsenic from drinking water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Norma A. Alcantar, Dawn I. Fox
  • Patent number: 9776900
    Abstract: Methods to improve dewatering in industrial and municipal sludges are described. One method involves admixing sludge from a papermaking process and modified cellulose to provide modified sludge with the modified cellulose present in an effective amount to improve dewatering in the treated sludge, such as in allowing use of reduced amounts of coagulant and/or reducing dewatering times, increased dewatered volumes, and reduced sludge product moisture contents, and the like. The dewatered sludge may be formed into a dried particulate, and may be used as filler or other component of concrete, rubber, asphalt, plastics, resin-wood composite products, and other composite products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Zou, Philip M. Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 9770702
    Abstract: Method for controlling metals in a liquid are described. The liquid is contacted with a hexahydrotriazine and/or a hemiaminal material, and metal is adsorbed from the liquid onto the material. The hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal material may be made from a diamine and an aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Jeannette M. Garcia, James L. Hedrick, Gavin O. Jones, Rudy J. Wojtecki
  • Patent number: 9758397
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of separating an oil-in-water emulsion formed during crude oil production into a water phase and an oil phase that includes adding 1 part-per-million (ppm) to 10000 ppm of an N-vinylpyrrolidone based cationic copolymer to the oil-in-water emulsion, based on the total volume of the oil-in-water emulsion, to form a water phase and an oil phase, and separating the water phase from the oil phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: M. J. Yanjarappa, Cecile Boyer, Stephen M. Hoyles, Michael K. Poindexter
  • Patent number: 9758395
    Abstract: Lysine-based polymers, particularly copolymers of lysine and maleic acid, are useful as coagulants for clarification of wastewaters, including produced waters from oils sands mining operations. They can be advantageously used in combination with commercial coagulants, and in combination with flocculants. Such combinations may include dry blends. Also described are methods of preparation of lysine homopolymers and copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Aquero Company, LLC
    Inventor: C. Steven Sikes
  • Patent number: 9758880
    Abstract: A method for controlling water chemistry in a power generation plant including a low-pressure feedwater heater (18), a deaerator (19), and a high-pressure feedwater heater (20) disposed sequentially along a feedwater pipe (16) from a condenser (15) to a steam generator or a boiler (11) to control the chemistry of feedwater guided to the steam generator or the boiler includes the steps of: injecting an oxidant through an oxidant injection line (31) into feedwater flowing through the feedwater pipe disposed downstream of the condenser in such a way that a dissolved oxygen concentration in the feedwater ranges from 3 to 100 ppb while the feedwater is maintained to be neutral to form an oxide film on surfaces of the feedwater pipe, the low-pressure feedwater heater, the deaerator, the high-pressure feedwater heater, and other structural members that come into contact with the feedwater; and injecting a deoxidant through a deoxidant injection line (35) into the feedwater flowing through the feedwater pipe disposed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toyoaki Miyazaki, Masato Okamura, Osamu Shibasaki, Hajime Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9751789
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for making and using fluorescent monomers which are synthesized by reacting a substituted or non-substituted benzoxanthene anhydride with an amine and with a moiety containing a polymerizable group. Such monomers are useful for the preparation of tagged treatment polymers. Such tagged treatment polymers are useful as scale inhibitors in industrial water systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery M Atkins, Barbara E. Moriarty, Paul J. Zinn
  • Patent number: 9751783
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment method is to obtain demanganized wastewater, through a step wherein an acid or an alkali is added to sulfuric acid acidified wastewater to adjust pH to not less than 4.0 and not more than 6.0, whereby the sulfuric acid acidified wastewater is separated into a dealuminized solution and an aluminum precipitate; a step wherein a slurrying solution is added to the aluminum precipitate to form a slurry, then an alkali is added to adjust pH to not less than 9.0 and not more than 9.5, whereby an pH-adjusted aluminum precipitate slurry is formed; a step wherein an alkali is added to the dealuminized solution to adjust pH to not less than 8.0 and not more than 9.0; and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Mental Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Tatsuya Higaki, Hirofumi Shoji, Norihisa Toki, Keiji Kudo, Hiroyuki Mitsui, Osamu Nakai
  • Patent number: 9732028
    Abstract: A process for purifying a diaryl carbonate, comprises introducing an aqueous stream to a diaryl carbonate stream that comprises a metal contaminant, wherein the aqueous stream reacts with the metal contaminant to form a precipitate; wherein introducing the aqueous stream to the diaryl carbonate stream results in introducing 100 to 10,000 ppm water based on the total composition of the diaryl carbonate stream and the aqueous stream; removing the precipitate via one or both of a separation column and a filter to result in a purified diaryl carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Ignacio Vic Fernandez, Mykhaylo Lyakhovych, Sergio Ferrer Nadal
  • Patent number: 9725341
    Abstract: Methods for removing one or more contaminants from an aqueous stream comprising: adding one or more hydraulic binders and one or more promoters to the aqueous stream, and separating the contaminants from the aqueous stream are provided. The methods may be used for removing contaminants that are arsenic-based, selenium-based, cadmium-based, zinc-based, mercury-based, iron-based, chromium-based and/or phosphate-based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Lucas Moore, Amir Mahmoudkhani, Jean Robert Durand, Laura Sanders
  • Patent number: 9718713
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing arsenic from water to safe levels at or below the EPA standards. The system is a hybrid spouted vessel/fixed bed filter system that significantly enhances/improves arsenic removal for drinking water using zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles. Movement of the circulating, iron-containing particles in a dense moving bed that forms on the spouted vessel bottom creates an abrasive “self-polishing” action among them that continuously generates colloidal iron corrosion products. This material then circulates with the water in the vessel and is removed and concentrated in a fixed bed filter. The colloidal material captured and immobilized in the filter has been shown to remove arsenic from contaminated water at very rapid rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventors: Joseph Calo, Madhavan Lakshmi, Johannes Kirchner, Euan Bain
  • Patent number: 9714342
    Abstract: Flowable liquid suspensions are described comprising blends of particulate water soluble high molecular weight polymer flocculants. The polymer flocculants can include polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, polyDadmac, Dadmac-acrylamide copolymers, copolymers thereof and combinations thereof. The suspension allows the use of fine powders while reducing potential air quality and safety issues. The suspensions generally settle when mixing is stopped, but a uniform dispersion results when the suspensions are mixed, and the mixed suspensions can be delivered for use. The flocculant suspensions can be used for waste water purification, fiber dewatering, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: PSMG, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Holt, Malcolm Barry Lindler
  • Patent number: 9714179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process of oxygenated feed-water treatment of boilers in power station, carried out under an OT treatment process, suitable for both the monotube type boiler and the drum type boiler, and comprising an oxygenation stage comprising: a normal oxygenation converting stage and a decreased oxygenation film-supplementing stage; the normal oxygenation converting stage is a stage in which the feed water system is oxygenated both at the outlet of a condensate polishing system and at the inlet of a feed water pump of a high pressure feed water system, and the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the main steam is controlled to be ?5 ?g/L; the decreased oxygenation film-supplementing stage is a stage in which, after an oxide film is formed in the feed water system, the amount of oxygenation at the high pressure feed water system is decreased so that the amount of the oxygen added is only for supplementing and maintaining the oxide film, while the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Z (P) EPC Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Zhouhai Qian, Liwei Zhu, Qiuyang Cao, Shenglin Pang, Likui Feng, Xiulin Xiao, Chen Zhou, Canfei Hong