Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Laintz

Kenneth E. Laintz 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).

  • Fluid extraction
    Patent number: 5965025
    Abstract: A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a supercritical fluid solvent containing a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the supercritical fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent is a fluorinated .beta.-diketone. In especially preferred embodiments the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide, and the chelating agent comprises a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate, or a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkylphosphine oxide. Although a trialkyl phosphate can extract lanthanides and actinides from acidic solutions, a binary mixture comprising a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate or a trialkylphosphine oxide tends to enhance the extraction efficiencies for actinides and lanthanides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien M. Wai, Kenneth E. Laintz
  • Dense gas-compatible enzymes
    Patent number: 5783627
    Abstract: An enzymatic reaction system including a modified enzyme, and a dense gas system; modified enzymes; and methods of reacting modified enzymes in a dense gas system or liquid carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Fu-jung Kao, Kenneth E. Laintz, Samuel P. Sawan, L. Dale Sivils, W. Dale Spall
  • Extraction of metals using supercritical fluid and chelate forming legand
    Patent number: 5730874
    Abstract: A method of extracting metalloid and metal species from a solid or liquid material by exposing the material to a supercritical fluid solvent containing a chelating agent is described. The chelating agent forms chelates that are soluble in the supercritical fluid to allow removal of the species from the material. In preferred embodiments, the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide and the chelating agent is a fluorinated .beta.-diketone. In especially preferred embodiments the extraction solvent is supercritical carbon dioxide, and the chelating agent comprises a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate, or a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkylphosphine oxide. Although a trialkyl phosphate can extract lanthanides and actinides from acidic solutions, a binary mixture comprising a fluorinated .beta.-diketone and a trialkyl phosphate or a trialkylphosphine oxide tends to enhance the extraction efficiencies for actinides and lanthanides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien M. Wai, Kenneth E. Laintz