Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Thomas

Kenneth M. Thomas 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).

  • Purification of an oil-containing liquid using a surface treated permeable inorganic membrane
    Patent number: 5209838
    Abstract: A process is described for purifying an oil-containing liquid to remove aqueous and solid impurities which comprises passing said liquid through a permeable inorganic membrane previously treated by contacting the membrane with an organic reactant selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphinic acid, a monocarboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a boronic acid, a phosphoric acid ester and a precursor which decomposes upon contact with said inorganic membrane to form one of said organic reactants whereby the treated membrane is capable of separating aqueous and solid impurities from hydrocarbons in the oil-containing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: William C. Sleppy, Larry F. Wieserman, Kenneth M. Thomas, Kenneth P. Goodboy