Patents by Inventor Luke Roberson

Luke Roberson 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: 11891321
    Abstract: A modular system for waste treatment, water recycling, and resource recovery includes a buffer tank to receive and pre-treat raw organic waste, at least one reactor tank configured as an anaerobic bioreactor that receives and digests pre-treated waste from the buffer tank, a membrane module having a membrane configured to filter waste from the digested waste from the at least one reactor tank to produce a permeate, a permeate collection tank configured to collect and store the permeate generated by the membrane module, a pump system having a plurality of pumps, and a control system configured to monitor the flow of waste and to control the pump system to control the flow of waste between the buffer tank, the at least one reactor tank, the membrane module, and the permeate collection tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Daniel H. Yeh, Luke Roberson, Talon Bullard, Melanie Pickett, Robert Bair, Ahmet Erkan Uman
  • Publication number: 20230271865
    Abstract: A closed-loop, bioregenerative water purification system including a gravity-independent anaerobic membrane bioreactor capable of operating in the presence and absence of gravity, the bioreactor including an anaerobic bioreactor, a first membrane filtration unit, and a second membrane filtration unit, wherein the anaerobic bioreactor is configured to receive organic waste and hygiene water as inputs and break them down into constituent components using anaerobic microbes, wherein the first membrane filtration unit is configured to receive effluent output from the anaerobic bioreactor, return concentrate to the anaerobic bioreactor, and output permeate to the second membrane filtration unit, and wherein the second membrane filtration unit is configured to receive the permeate output from the first membrane filtration unit, separate biogas from the permeate, and output nutrient-rich water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel H. YEH, Melanie T. PICKETT, Luke ROBERSON, Jorge L. CALABRIA, Talon BULLARD
  • Publication number: 20210395125
    Abstract: A modular system for waste treatment, water recycling, and resource recovery includes a buffer tank to receive and pre-treat raw organic waste, at least one reactor tank configured as an anaerobic bioreactor that receives and digests pre-treated waste from the buffer tank, a membrane module having a membrane configured to filter waste from the digested waste from the at least one reactor tank to produce a permeate, a permeate collection tank configured to collect and store the permeate generated by the membrane module, a pump system having a plurality of pumps, and a control system configured to monitor the flow of waste and to control the pump system to control the flow of waste between the buffer tank, the at least one reactor tank, the membrane module, and the permeate collection tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel H. Yeh, Luke Roberson, Talon Bullard, Melanie Pickett, Robert Bair, Ahmet Erkan Uman
  • Patent number: 10336637
    Abstract: A water purification system comprises a bioreaction subsystem receiving contaminated input effluent and having a gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor removing urea and organic matter to create a first effluent. A light-treatment subsystem receives the first effluent and exposes the first effluent to UV light to create a second effluent free from microorganisms. A reactor subsystem fluidically connects an ammonia-reducing reactor to the UV output and receives UV-treated second effluent and has a struvite regenerator connected to the ammonia-reducing reactor output, separating ammonia from the second effluent in the ammonia-reducing reactor, and outputting the ammonia. A separation subsystem fluidically connects to the reactor output and receives the second effluent substantially free from ammonia and has a continuous electro-deionization device separating brine/salts from the second effluent to produce potable water. A closed-loop includes an ammonia-converting subsystem and a sequential fertilizer producer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Jeremy Saslaw, Luke Roberson
  • Publication number: 20190016620
    Abstract: A water purification system comprises a bioreaction subsystem receiving contaminated input effluent and having a gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor removing urea and organic matter to create a first effluent. A light-treatment subsystem receives the first effluent and exposes the first effluent to UV light to create a second effluent free from microorganisms. A reactor subsystem fluidically connects an ammonia-reducing reactor to the UV output and receives UV-treated second effluent and has a struvite regenerator connected to the ammonia-reducing reactor output, separating ammonia from the second effluent in the ammonia-reducing reactor, and outputting the ammonia. A separation subsystem fluidically connects to the reactor output and receives the second effluent substantially free from ammonia and has a continuous electro-deionization device separating brine/salts from the second effluent to produce potable water. A closed-loop includes an ammonia-converting subsystem and a sequential fertilizer producer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremy Saslaw, Luke Roberson