Patents by Inventor Georges Olah

Georges Olah 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: 8461215
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering coal as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from coal combustion is captured, purified, combined with coalbed methane or any other natural methane or natural gas source, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8461217
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering natural gas as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from natural gas combustion or from natural gas wells is captured, purified, combined with natural gas or methane or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8440729
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of forming methanol by combining a mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide under specific reaction conditions sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which are then reacted under conditions sufficient to form methanol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least two moles of hydrogen to one mole of carbon monoxide and the overall molar ratio between methane, water and carbon dioxide is about 3:2:1. Methane, carbon dioxide and water are bi-reformed over a catalyst. The catalyst includes a single metal, a metal oxide, a mixed catalyst of a metal and a metal oxide or a mixed catalyst of at least two metal oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8212088
    Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction seconardy treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20120115965
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of forming methanol by combining a mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide under specific reaction conditions sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which are then reacted under conditions sufficient to form methanol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least two moles of hydrogen to one mole of carbon monoxide and the overall molar ratio between methane, water and carbon dioxide is about 3:2:1. Methane, carbon dioxide and water are bi-reformed over a catalyst. The catalyst includes a single metal, a metal oxide, a mixed catalyst of a metal and a metal oxide or a mixed catalyst of at least two metal oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8138380
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning power plants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by an electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode in one compartment and a metal cathode electrode in a compartment that also contains an aqueous solution comprising methanol and an electrolyte. An anion-conducting membrane can be provided between the anode and cathode to produce at the cathode therein a reaction mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be subsequently used to produce methanol while also producing oxygen in the cell at the anode. The oxygen produced at the anode can be recycled for efficient combustion of fossil fuels in power plants to exclusively produce CO2 exhausts for capture and recycling as the source of CO2 for the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 8133926
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of forming dimethyl ether by bimolecular dehydration of methanol produced from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide obtained by reforming of methane, water and carbon dioxide in a ratio of about 3:2:1. Subsequent use of water produced in the dehydration of methanol in the bi-reforming process leads to an overall ratio of carbon dioxide to methane of about 1:3 to produce dimethyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20120013468
    Abstract: A system for the accurate determination of the position of an article and the location of lost articles through wireless ranging. Provision is made for positional exception monitoring, as well as the centralized tracking of the whereabouts of articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: George OLAH
  • Publication number: 20110086928
    Abstract: A method for neutralizing or reducing the carbon footprint from carbon dioxide emissions due to human activities related to the combustion or use of carbon containing fuels. This method includes an initial step of capturing carbon dioxide and then chemically recycling it to form and provide a permanent inexhaustible supply of carbon containing fuels or products, which subsequently can be combusted or used without increasing the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. Thus, the current lifestyles that rely extensively on conventional carbon containing fuels and products can continue indefinitely without harming the environment to preserve and even improve the earth's atmosphere for the benefit of future generations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7906559
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of converting carbon dioxide to methanol and/or dimethyl ether using any methane source or natural gas consisting of a combination of steam and dry reforming, in a specific ratio to produce a 2:1 molar ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with subsequent conversion of the CO and H2 mixture exclusively to methanol and/or dimethyl ether. This method is termed the BI-REFORMING™ process. Dehydrating formed methanol allows producing dimethyl ether (DME) using any suitable catalytic method, including use of solid acid catalysts. When recycling formed water into the bi-reforming step the conversion of carbon dioxide with methane produces exclusively dimethyl ether without any by-product formation and complete utilization of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20110054045
    Abstract: The invention provides for \ a method of forming methanol by combining a mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide under reaction conditions sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are reacted under conditions sufficient to form methanol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least two moles of hydrogen to one mole of carbon monoxide and the overall molar ratio between methane, water and carbon dioxide is about 3:2:1. Methane, carbon dioxide and water are bi-reformed over a catalyst. The catalyst includes a single metal, a metal oxide, a mixed catalyst of a metal and a metal oxide or a mixed catalyst of at least two metal oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7846978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing methanol from a methane source by oxidizing methane under conditions sufficient to a mixture of methanol and formaldehyde while minimizing the formation of formic acid and carbon dioxide. The oxidation step is followed by treatment step in which formaldehyde is converted into methanol and formic acid which itself can further be converted into methanol via catalytic hydrogenation of intermediately formed methyl formate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100274060
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method for processing heavy oil from any sources including tar sands, oil shales, varied residues in a bi-reforming process utilizing reaction conditions with steam and carbon dioxide sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form methanol. Methanol produced can be dehydrated to form dimethyl ether, with water produced being recycled back to the bi-reforming process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100261937
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering petroleum oil as an essentially environmentally carbon dioxide-neutral fuel and source material. Carbon dioxide produced from petroleum oil combustion is captured, purified, combined with steam and light hydrocarbon fractions, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100261938
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering natural gas as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from natural gas combustion or from natural gas wells is captured, purified, combined with natural gas or methane or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100261125
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for rendering coal as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from coal combustion is captured, purified, combined with coalbed methane or any other natural methane or natural gas source, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7795175
    Abstract: The invention relates to regenerative, supported amine sorbents that includes an amine or an amine/polyol composition deposited on a nano-structured support such as nanosilica. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Alain Goepert, Sergio Meth, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100193370
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning power plants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by an electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode in one compartment and a metal cathode electrode in a compartment that also contains an aqueous solution comprising methanol and an electrolyte. An anion-conducting membrane can be provided between the anode and cathode to produce at the cathode therein a reaction mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be subsequently used to produce methanol while also producing oxygen in the cell at the anode. The oxygen produced at the anode can be recycled for efficient combustion of fossil fuels in power plants to exclusively produce CO2 exhausts for capture and recycling as the source of CO2 for the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: George A. OLAH, G.K. Surya PRAKASH
  • Publication number: 20100152474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing methanol from a methane source by oxidizing methane under conditions sufficient to a mixture of methanol and formaldehyde while minimizing the formation of formic acid and carbon dioxide. The oxidation step is followed by treatment step in which formaldehyde is converted into methanol and formic acid which itself can further be converted into methanol via catalytic hydrogenation of intermediately formed methyl formate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7705059
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing methanol from a methane source by oxidizing methane under conditions sufficient to a mixture of methanol and formaldehyde while minimizing the formation of formic acid and carbon dioxide. The oxidation step is followed by treatment step in which formaldehyde is converted into methanol and formic acid which itself can further be converted into methanol via catalytic hydrogenation of intermediately formed methyl formate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash