Patents by Inventor Terrence L. Donaldson

Terrence L. Donaldson 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).

  • Method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants in aqueous liquids
    Patent number: 5246584
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying organic contaminants, such as trichloroethylene, in aqueous liquids, such as groundwater, utilizing steam stripping integrated with biodegradation. The contaminated aqueous liquid is fed into a steam stripper causing the volatilization of essentially all of the organic contaminants and a portion of the aqueous liquid. The majority of the aqueous liquid is discharged from the steam stripper. The volatilized vapors are then condensed to the liquid phase and introduced into a bioreactor. The bioreactor contains methanotrophic microorganisms which convert the organic contaminants into mainly carbon dioxide. The effluent from the bioreactor is then recycled back to the steam stripper for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Donaldson, James H. Wilson
  • Continuous production of ethanol by use of flocculent zymomonas mobilis
    Patent number: 4413058
    Abstract: Ethanol is produced by means of a floc-forming strain of Zymomonas mobilis bacteria. Gas is vented along the length of a column containing the flocculent bacteria to preclude disruption of liquid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Inventors: Edward J. Arcuri, Terrence L. Donaldson