Patents by Inventor Kimberly R. Powell

Kimberly R. Powell 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: 6747179
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a catalysis reaction in carbon dioxide comprising contacting a fluid mixture with a catalyst bound to a polymer, the fluid mixture comprising at least one reactant and carbon dioxide, wherein the reactant interacts with the catalyst to form a reaction product. A composition of matter comprises carbon dioxide and a polymer and a reactant present in the carbon dioxide. The polymer has bound thereto a catalyst at a plurality of chains along the length of the polymer, and wherein the reactant interacts with the catalyst to form a reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignees: North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Regents of University of California
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Eva Birnbaum, Ruben G. Carbonell, Stephanie Crette, James B. McClain, T. Mark McCleskey, Kimberly R. Powell, Timothy J. Romack, William Tumas
  • Patent number: 6176895
    Abstract: A composition useful for the extraction of metals and metalloids comprises (a) carbon dioxide fluid (preferably liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide); and (b) a polymer in the carbon dioxide, the polymer having bound thereto a ligand that binds the metal or metalloid; with the ligand bound to the polymer at a plurality of locations along the chain length thereof (i.e., a plurality of ligands are bound at a plurality of locations along the chain length of the polymer). The polymer is preferably a copolymer, and the polymer is preferably a fluoropolymer such as a fluoroacrylate polymer. The extraction method comprises the steps of contacting a first composition containing a metal or metalloid to be extracted with a second composition, the second composition being as described above; and then extracting the metal or metalloid from the first composition into the second composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, William Tumas, Kimberly R. Powell, T. Mark McCleskey, Timothy J. Romack, James B. McClain, Eva R. Birnbaum