Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Czerwinski

Kenneth R. Czerwinski 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: 11760654
    Abstract: Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
    Inventors: David W. Hatchett, Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Katherine Luebke, Cassara Higgins
  • Publication number: 20220315443
    Abstract: Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: David W. HATCHETT, Kenneth R. CZERWINSKI, Katherine LUEBKE, Cassara HIGGINS
  • Patent number: 11427480
    Abstract: Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA
    Inventors: David W. Hatchett, Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Katherine Luebke, Cassara Higgins
  • Publication number: 20220041464
    Abstract: Described are methods for the recovery of uranium from uranium hexafluoride dissolved directly into ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: David W. HATCHETT, Kenneth R. CZERWINSKI, Katherine LUEBKE, Cassara HIGGINS
  • Patent number: 10422048
    Abstract: A process for recovering a rare earth element. The process includes adding water and a nonaqueous acid to an ionic liquid, and dissolving an oxide of a first rare earth element directly into the ionic liquid to form an ionic solution comprising at least about 0.1 weight percent water, the acid and an ion of the first rare earth element. The process further includes applying a potential to the ionic solution to deposit the first rare earth element onto an electrode as a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS, REACTIVE INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Hatchett, Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Janelle Droessler, Karen D. Jayne, Michael C. Kimble, Kyle G. Boutin
  • Patent number: 10399077
    Abstract: This document provides a dual flask for laboratory use, methods of using a dual flask, and systems including a dual flask. A dual flask can include a first flask structure and a second flask structure. Each flask structure can include a body and a neck. The first body and the second body in a dual flask provided herein can be connected together and have a filter there between such that fluids can be filtered between said first and second bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Rego, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Publication number: 20170306514
    Abstract: A process for recovering a rare earth element. The process includes adding water and a nonaqueous acid to an ionic liquid, and dissolving an oxide of a first rare earth element directly into the ionic liquid to form an ionic solution comprising at least about 0.1 weight percent water, the acid and an ion of the first rare earth element. The process further includes applying a potential to the ionic solution to deposit the first rare earth element onto an electrode as a metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: David W. HATCHETT, Kenneth R. CZERWINSKI, Janelle DROESSLER, Karen D. JAYNE, Michael C. KIMBLE, Kyle G. BOUTIN
  • Patent number: 9631290
    Abstract: Uranic and transuranic metals and metal oxides are first dissolved in ozone compositions. The resulting solution in ozone can be further dissolved in ionic liquids to form a second solution. The metals in the second solution are then electrochemically deposited from the second solutions as room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), tri-methyl-n-butyl ammonium n-bis(trifluoromethansulfonylimide) [Me3NnBu][TFSI] providing an alternative non-aqueous system for the extraction and reclamation of actinides from reprocessed fuel materials. Deposition of U metal is achieved using TFSI complexes of U(III) and U(IV) containing the anion common to the RTIL. TFSI complexes of uranium were produced to ensure solubility of the species in the ionic liquid. The methods provide a first measure of the thermodynamic properties of U metal deposition using Uranium complexes with different oxidation states from RTIL solution at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
    Inventors: David W. Hatchett, Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Janelle Droessler, John Kinyanjui
  • Publication number: 20150258541
    Abstract: This document provides a dual flask for laboratory use, methods of using a dual flask, and systems including a dual flask. A dual flask can include a first flask structure and a second flask structure. Each flask structure can include a body and a neck. The first body and the second body in a dual flask provided herein can be connected together and have a filter there between such that fluids can be filtered between said first and second bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Rego, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Publication number: 20130087464
    Abstract: Uranium metal can be electrochemical deposited from room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), tri-methyl-n-butyl ammonium n-bis(trifluoromethansulfonylimide) [Me3NnBu][TFSI] providing an alternative non-aqueous system for the extraction and reclamation of actinides from reprocessed fuel materials. Deposition of U metal is achieved using TFSI complexes of U(III) and U(IV) containing the anion common to the RTIL. TFSI complexes of uranium were produced to ensure solubility of the species in the ionic liquid. The methods provide a first measure of the thermodynamic properties of U metal deposition using Uranium complexes with different oxidation states from RTIL solution at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicants: Nevada, Las Vegas
    Inventors: David W. Hatchett, Wendy Pemberton, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 7854907
    Abstract: A spent fuel reprocessing method contacts an aqueous solution containing Technetium(V) and uranyl with an acidic solution comprising hydroxylamine hydrochloride or acetohydroxamic acid to reduce Tc(V) to Tc(II, and then extracts the uranyl with an organic phase, leaving technetium(II) in aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    Inventors: Cynthia-May S. Gong, Frederic Poineau, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Publication number: 20100124522
    Abstract: A spent fuel reprocessing method contacts an aqueous solution containing Technetium(V) and uranyl with an acidic solution comprising hydroxylamine hydrochloride or acetohydroxamic acid to reduce Tc(V) to Tc(II, and then extracts the uranyl with an organic phase, leaving technetium(II) in aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Cynthia-May S. Gong, Frederic Poineau, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 7582232
    Abstract: A method of preparing an actinide nitride fuel for nuclear reactors is provided. The method comprises the steps of a) providing at least one actinide oxide and optionally zirconium oxide; b) mixing the oxide with a source of hydrogen fluoride for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the oxide to a fluoride salt; c) heating the fluoride salt to remove water; d) heating the fluoride salt in a nitrogen atmosphere for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to convert the fluorides to nitrides; and e) heating the nitrides under vacuum and/or inert atmosphere for a period of time sufficient to convert the nitrides to mononitrides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Anthony K. Burrell, Alfred P. Sattelberger, Charles Yeamans, Thomas Hartmann, G. W. Chinthaka Silva, Gary Cerefice, Kenneth R. Czerwinski
  • Patent number: 7452703
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for separating isotopes of actinide elements such as uranium using microorganisms, e.g., metal or sulfate reducing bacteria. The microorganisms reduce the actinide element to form a precipitate, which contains a greater proportion of the lighter isotope relative to the heavier isotope than the starting material. The precipitate may be collected, re-oxidized, and subjected to multiple rounds of enrichment. Alternately, separation processes not requiring formation of a precipitate may be used. The invention also features cell-free systems for isotope separation. The invention further provides compositions produced according to the foregoing methods, including compositions comprising enriched uraninite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Martin F. Polz
  • Publication number: 20080268513
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for separating isotopes of actinide elements such as uranium using microorganisms, e.g., metal or sulfate reducing bacteria. The microorganisms reduce the actinide element to form a precipitate, which contains a greater proportion of the lighter isotope relative to the heavier isotope than the starting material. The precipitate may be collected, re-oxidized, and subjected to multiple rounds of enrichment. Alternately, separation processes not requiring formation of a precipitate may be used. The invention also features cell-free systems for isotope separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Czerwinski, Martin F. Polz