Patents by Inventor Gary C. Schafran

Gary C. Schafran 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).

  • System and method for high-voltage pulse assisted aggregation of algae
    Patent number: 8772004
    Abstract: A method and device for aggregating algae in an aqueous solution is disclosed. The method can include providing an algae feed comprising a liquid and algae dispersed therein. The algae feed can be aggregated by applying a nanosecond pulsed electric field to the algae feed. The nanosecond pulsed electric field can include a plurality of electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 to 1,000 nanoseconds. The method can also include separating an aggregated algae stream from the algae feed and feeding the aggregated algae stream to a lipid extraction operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary C. Schafran, Juergen F. Kolb, Aron Stubbins, Karl H. Schoenbach
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH-VOLTAGE PULSE ASSISTED AGGREGATION OF ALGAE
    Publication number: 20110003350
    Abstract: A method and device for aggregating algae in an aqueous solution is disclosed. The method can include providing an algae feed comprising a liquid and algae dispersed therein. The algae feed can be aggregated by applying a nanosecond pulsed electric field to the algae feed. The nanosecond pulsed electric field can include a plurality of electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 to 1,000 nanoseconds. The method can also include separating an aggregated algae stream from the algae feed and feeding the aggregated algae stream to a lipid extraction operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gary C. Schafran, Juergen F. Kolb, Aron Stubbins, Karl H. Schoenbach