Patents by Inventor Harold D. May

Harold D. May 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).

  • Publication number: 20190301029
    Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of bioelectric production of organic compounds such as acetate. In further aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of producing a hydrocarbon based fuel using C02 as the carbon source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: MUSC FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Harold D. MAY, Edward V. LABELLE
  • Patent number: 9879251
    Abstract: Methods are provided for microbial electrosynthesis of H2 and organic compounds such as methane and acetate. Method of producing mature electrosynthetic microbial populations by continuous culture is also provided. Microbial populations produced in accordance with the embodiments as shown to efficiently synthesize H2, methane and acetate in the presence of CO2 and a voltage potential. The production of biodegradable and renewable plastics from electricity and carbon dioxide is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
    Inventors: Harold D. May, Christopher W. Marshall, Edward V. Labelle
  • Publication number: 20150259669
    Abstract: Methods are provided for microbial electrosynthesis of H2 and organic compounds such as methane and acetate. Method of producing mature electrosynthetic microbial populations by continuous culture is also provided. Microbial populations produced in accordance with the embodiments as shown to efficiently synthesize H2, methane and acetate in the presence of CO2 and a voltage potential. The production of biodegradable and renewable plastics from electricity and carbon dioxide is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: MUSC FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Harold D. May, Christopher W. Marshall, Edward V. Labelle
  • Publication number: 20110306089
    Abstract: A system for the efficient conversion of plant biomass to methane is provided, where the conversion includes use of a thermophilic methanogenic consortium containing a cellulolytic thermophile, an acetate-oxidizing thermophile and a thermophilic methanogen, the combination of which hydrolyzes hexoses and pentoses, oxidizes acetate and provides a hydrogen sink, to convert plant biomass to the theoretical limit of bioenergy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Sowers, Harold D. May, Chanlan Chun, Chrisopher William Marshall
  • Publication number: 20090017512
    Abstract: The compositions, methods and apparatus of the present invention allow the production of electricity, ethanol and hydrogen, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the invention provides a process for generating electricity or hydrogen comprising supplying a microbial catalyst and a fuel source to a microbial fuel cell or a bio-electrochemically assisted microbial reactor (BEAMR), respectively, under thermophilic conditions. In other embodiments, the invention provides a process of generating ethanol and electricity or ethanol and hydrogen comprising supplying a microbial catalyst and a fuel source to a fermentation vessel in operable relation with a microbial fuel cell or a BEAMR system, respectively, wherein the microbial catalyst has a cellulolytic activity, an ethanologenic activity, and an electricigenic activity. Other embodiments include compositions and apparati for practicing the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Harold D. May, Tsutomu Shimotori
  • Patent number: 6946248
    Abstract: Bioremediative microorganisms comprising a 16S ribosomal subunit nucleic acid sequence and useful in various methods for dechlorinating chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including anaerobic dechlorination of ortho- and double-flanked chloro substituents of PCBs. The methods of bioremediation may employ consortia of microbially effective species, e.g., aerobic as well as anaerobic species, to dechlorinate corresponding PCB mixtures containing widely varying and significant numbers of PCB congeners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Biotechnology Institute Medical University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Kevin R. Sowers, Harold D. May
  • Publication number: 20030134408
    Abstract: Bioremediative microorganisms comprising a 16S ribosomal subunit nucleic acid sequence and useful in various methods for dechlorinating chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including anaerobic dechlorination of ortho- and double-flanked chloro substituents of PCBs. The methods of bioremediation may employ consortia of microbially effective species, e.g., aerobic as well as anaerobic species, to dechlorinate corresponding PCB mixtures containing widely varying and significant numbers of PCB congeners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Kevin R. Sowers, Harold D. May
  • Publication number: 20030125280
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions comprising the tissue specific and target RNA-specific ribozyme(s) in either a viral delivery system or a biologic liposome preparation, wherein the viral delivery system or a biologic liposome comprises a pathogen-specific promotor upstream from a sequence encoding a triple ribozyme comprising a) a 5′ autocatalytically cleaving ribozyme sequence, b) a catalytic ribozyme comprising a target RNA-specific binding site and c) a 3′ autocatalytically cleaving ribozyme sequence. The invention also provides methods of treating and/or preventing bacterial infections by administering the compositions of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicants: Medical University of South Carolina, The Penn State Research Foundation, a Pennsylvania corporation
    Inventors: James S. Norris, Michael G. Schmidt, Joseph W. Dolan, Steven D. London, Harold D. May, Gary A. Clawson
  • Patent number: 5474934
    Abstract: Ethers including dioxanes are degraded by bringing an ether-containing influent into intimate contact, under growth or resting conditions and in the presence of oxygen, with a culture comprising a bacterium having the characterizing microbiological properties of Amycolata ATCC 55486 or a mutant thereof which retains the characterizing microbiological property of being capable of utilizing dioxane as a sole carbon growth source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Celgene Corporation
    Inventors: Jean E. Adamus, Harold D. May, Domenic A. Paone, Patrick J. Evans, Rebecca E. Parales