Patents by Inventor Laura E. Rice

Laura E. Rice 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: 11608516
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a water process system. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process and determining if a problematic organism exceeds an acceptable threshold. If so a remedial bio-control procedure can be applied long before any unwanted defects or problems occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Patent number: 10640402
    Abstract: The disclosure provides treatment strategies that prevent or control the growth of organisms that degrade oxidant stabilizers in oxidant-stabilized biocides. This allows stabilized halogen programs to perform at their intended level and prevents the need for increased halogen usage in an attempt to maintain control of these microbial populations and reduce the halogen-demand created by their enzyme byproducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Elisa M. Luth
  • Publication number: 20180134589
    Abstract: The disclosure provides treatment strategies that prevent or control the growth of organisms that degrade oxidant stabilizers in oxidant-stabilized biocides. This allows stabilized halogen programs to perform at their intended level and prevents the need for increased halogen usage in an attempt to maintain control of these microbial populations and reduce the halogen-demand created by their enzyme byproducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Elisa M. Luth
  • Patent number: 9908796
    Abstract: The invention provides for treatment strategies that prevent or control the growth of organisms that degrade oxidant stabilizers in oxidant stabilized biocides. This allows stabilized halogen programs to perform at their intended level and prevents the need for increased halogen usage in an attempt to maintain control of these microbial populations and reduce the halogen-demand created by their enzyme byproducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Elisa Luth
  • Publication number: 20160304931
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a water process system. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process and determining if a problematic organism exceeds an acceptable threshold. If so a remedial bio-control procedure can be applied long before any unwanted defects or problems occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Patent number: 9388044
    Abstract: A method of producing stable disinfectant for use as a biocidal composition. The method comprises: providing reagents, asynchronously feeding the reagents into a wide space, and allowing all the reagents to come into contact and mix with each other. The reagents comprise: a) an amine source in concentrated form, b) an oxidizing halogen compound in concentrated form, and c) a diluent. The use of asynchronous feeding and a wide space results in a dynamic biocide regimen. This regimen results in a changing environment that infestations have difficulty adapting to. This method also imparts superior results due to the avoidance of channeling effects which would otherwise weaken the effects of the biocide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Amit Gupta, Laura E. Rice, Randall Elliott, Yu-Mei Lu, Wen Li Tu
  • Patent number: 9295745
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular portion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining and comparing a diversity index of a sample from the process. Because no system is completely free from biological infestation, utilizing information taken from the changes in the populations provides information useful in protecting the system from unwanted effects. Not only does the diversity index allow for the distinguishing between biological and non-biological events, it even allows for the prediction of problems without previously knowing that a particular organism will cause a particular problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Patent number: 9290802
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process which is such that little or no live examples of the microorganism remain. However because DNA from the organisms is still present, an analysis which identifies portions of DNA specific to the particular organism will correctly identify the microorganism present. This allows for analysis of infestations present on felts or paper sheets which typically no longer have many live microorganisms on them when samples are taken for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Patent number: 9265851
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular portion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining and comparing a diversity index of a sample from the process. Because no system is completely free from biological infestation, utilizing information taken from the changes in the populations provides information useful in protecting the system from unwanted effects. Not only does the diversity index allow for the distinguishing between biological and non-biological events, it even allows for the prediction of problems without previously knowing that a particular organism will cause a particular problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Patent number: 9265259
    Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods of their use as effective biocidal agents for water streams. The composition comprises a halogen source, halogen stabilizers containing a sulfur bearing species and ammonium salts/urea, and an alkali. The sulfur bearing species includes sulfamic acid or its salt equivalent. By having optimized mixing ratio of halogen to stabilizer and that of ammonium salts to sulfamic acid or sulfamate, a synergistic effect occurs which both increases the efficacy of the composition as a biocide and it avoids adverse impacts on other chemicals that are present in the water stream. Best of all the composition is easy to form and easy to introduce into a water stream of concern. Its introduction can be as simple as mixing two containers of reagent prior to introduction to the water process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Wen Li Tu, Laura E. Rice, Andrew J. Cooper, Elisa M. Luth, Yu-mei Lu, Jian Kun Shen
  • Patent number: 9161543
    Abstract: A composition and methods of its use, the composition comprising: a halogen source, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition is disclosed. Additionally, a method for reducing biological activity in a process stream is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a composition to a process stream, wherein said composition contains: a halogen, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods of their use as effective biocidal agents for water streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Andrew J. Cooper, Elisa M. Luth, Wen Li Tu
  • Publication number: 20140141443
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process which is such that little or no live examples of the microorganism remain. However because DNA from the organisms is still present, an analysis which identifies portions of DNA specific to the particular organism will correctly identify the microorganism present. This allows for analysis of infestations present on felts or paper sheets which typically no longer have many live microorganisms on them when samples are taken for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Publication number: 20140110347
    Abstract: The invention provides for treatment strategies that prevent or control the growth of organisms that degrade oxidant stabilizers in oxidant stabilized biocides. This allows stabilized halogen programs to perform at their intended level and prevents the need for increased halogen usage in an attempt to maintain control of these microbial populations and reduce the halogen-demand created by their enzyme byproducts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Elisa Luth
  • Patent number: 8613837
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process which is such that little or no live examples of the microorganism remain. However because DNA from the organisms is still present, an analysis which identifies portions of DNA specific to the particular organism will correctly identify the microorganism present. This allows for analysis of infestations present on felts or paper sheets which typically no longer have many live microorganisms on them when samples are taken for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Publication number: 20130189152
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular portion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining and comparing a diversity index of a sample from the process. Because no system is completely free from biological infestation, utilizing information taken from the changes in the populations provides information useful in protecting the system from unwanted effects. Not only does the diversity index allow for the distinguishing between biological and non-biological events, it even allows for the prediction of problems without previously knowing that a particular organism will cause a particular problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Publication number: 20130186582
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process which is such that little or no live examples of the microorganism remain. However because DNA from the organisms is still present, an analysis which identifies portions of DNA specific to the particular organism will correctly identify the microorganism present. This allows for analysis of infestations present on felts or paper sheets which typically no longer have many live microorganisms on them when samples are taken for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Liliya Lund
  • Publication number: 20130101682
    Abstract: A composition and methods of its use, the composition comprising: a halogen source, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition is disclosed. Additionally, a method for reducing biological activity in a process stream is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a composition to a process stream, wherein said composition contains: a halogen, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods of their use as effective biocidal agents for water streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Laura E. RICE, Andrew J. COOPER, Elisa M. LUTH, Wen Li TU
  • Publication number: 20130101683
    Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods of their use as effective biocidal agents for water streams. The composition comprises a halogen source, halogen stabilizers containing a sulfur bearing species and ammonium salts/urea, and an alkali. The sulfur bearing species includes sulfamic acid or its salt equivalent. By having optimized mixing ratio of halogen to stabilizer and that of ammonium salts to sulfamic acid or sulfamate, a synergistic effect occurs which both increases the efficacy of the composition as a biocide and it avoids adverse impacts on other chemicals that are present in the water stream. Best of all the composition is easy to form and easy to introduce into a water stream of concern. Its introduction can be as simple as mixing two containers of reagent prior to introduction to the water process stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: NALCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Wen Li TU, Laura E. RICE, Andrew J. COOPER, Elisa M. LUTH, Yu-mei LU, Jian Kun SHEN
  • Patent number: 8273382
    Abstract: A composition for anti-microbial effect in a water system such as a pulp and paper processing line with an aqueous slurry. The composition comprises a free chlorine-generating biocide comprising a chlorine source, urea, and an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide a pH greater than 10, and typically at least pH 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Laura E. Rice, Andrew J. Cooper, Robert L. Wetegrove, Michael V. Enzien
  • Publication number: 20120021062
    Abstract: A method of producing stable disinfectant for use as a biocidal composition. The method comprises: A) providing reagents, B) asynchronously feeding the at least two of the reagents into a wide space, and C) allowing all the reagents to conic into contact and mix with each other. The reagents comprise: a) an amine source of disinfectant in concentrated form, b) an oxidizing halogen compound in concentrated form, and c) a diluent. The use of asynchronous feeding and a wide space results in a dynamic biocide regimen. This regimen results in a changing environment that infestations have difficulty adapting to. This method also imparts superior results due to the avoidance of channeling effects which would otherwise weaken the effects of the biocide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Amit Gupta, Laura E. Rice, Randall Elliott, Yu-Mei Lu, Wen Li Tu