Patents by Inventor Amy A. Ekechukwu

Amy A. Ekechukwu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7384529
    Abstract: A decontamination method for stripping radionuclides from the surface of stainless steel or aluminum material comprising the steps of contacting the metal with a moderately acidic carbonate/bicarbonate electrolyte solution containing sodium or potassium ions and thereafter electrolytically removing the radionuclides from the surface of the metal whereby radionuclides are caused to be stripped off of the material without corrosion or etching of the material surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Amy A. Ekechukwu
  • Patent number: 6180413
    Abstract: A method for the determination of total organic carbon in an aqueous sample by trapping the organic matter on a sorbent which is carbon free and analyzing the sorbent by combustion and determination of total CO2 by IR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
    Inventor: Amy A. Ekechukwu
  • Patent number: 5583051
    Abstract: A fiber optic probe for remotely detecting the presence and concentration organic species in aqueous solutions. The probe includes a cylindrical housing with an organic species indicator, preferably diaminonaphthyl sulfonic acid adsorbed in a silica gel (DANS-modified gel), contained in the probe's distal end. The probe admits aqueous solutions to the probe interior for mixing within the DANS-modified gel. An optical fiber transmits light through the DANS-modified gel while the indicator reacts with organic species present in the solution, thereby shifting the location of the fluorescent peak. The altered light is reflected to a receiving fiber that carries the light to a spectrophotometer or other analysis device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Amy A. Ekechukwu
  • Patent number: 5489536
    Abstract: A method for making a composition for measuring the concentration of chloated aromatic compounds in aqueous fluids, and an optical probe for use with the method. The composition comprises a hydrophobic polymer matrix, preferably polyamide, with a fluorescent indicator uniformly dispersed therein. The indicator fluoresces in the presence of the chlorinated aromatic compounds with an intensity dependent on the concentration of these compounds in the fluid of interest, such as 8-amino-2-naphthalene sulfonate. The probe includes a hollow cylindrical housing that contains the composition in its distal end. The probe admits an aqueous fluid to the probe interior for exposure to the composition. An optical fiber transmits excitation light from a remote source to the composition while the indicator reacts with chlorinated aromatic compounds present in the fluid. The resulting fluorescence light signal is reflected to a second optical fiber that transmits the light to a spectrophotometer for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Amy A. Ekechukwu
  • Patent number: 5326451
    Abstract: A dropping electrolyte electrode for use in electrochemical analysis of non-polar sample solutions, such as benzene or cyclohexane. The liquid electrode, preferably an aqueous salt solution immiscible in the sample solution, is introduced into the solution in dropwise fashion from a capillary. The electrolyte is introduced at a known rate, thus, the droplets each have the same volume and surface area. The electrode is used in making standard electrochemical measurements in order to determine properties of non-polar sample solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Amy A. Ekechukwu