Patents by Inventor Tito Viswanathan

Tito Viswanathan 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: 11390540
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water purification compositions and the method of producing the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method of producing a water purification composition including providing a substrate having one or more functional groups that has hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl, and/or amino group; depositing a solution of a metal salt on the substrate; depositing a solution of carboxylic acid compound on the substrate; forming a mixture wherein the metal cross-links the hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl and/or amino groups on the surface of the substrate, and the carboxylic acid compound; and heating the mixture till the product is dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20210237041
    Abstract: A composite is synthesized by pyrolysis of a mixture of tannin and melamine. The synthesis process comprises dissolving the tannin and the melamine in water to form a homogeneous solution; evaporating the solution to yield a dry solid; and subjecting powders of the dry solid to a heat treatment at a temperature for a duration of time effective to produce the composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10974230
    Abstract: A composite synthesized by the steps of preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive; evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders; and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce a doped carbon composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20200354237
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water purification compositions and the method of producing the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method of producing a water purification composition including providing a substrate having one or more functional groups that has hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl, and/or amino group; depositing a solution of a metal salt on the substrate; depositing a solution of carboxylic acid compound on the substrate; forming a mixture wherein the metal cross-links the hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl and/or amino groups on the surface of the substrate, and the carboxylic acid compound; and heating the mixture till the product is dry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10759681
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water purification compositions and the method of producing the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to compositions containing a substrate that has hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl or amino groups, a metal oxide, and a carboxylic acid compound, and the method of producing the same. The composition is useful for the removal of soluble phosphorus, selenium, fluoride, arsenic and other heavy metal contaminants that may be present in water. The composition could be of use in numerous fields, including but not limited to, oil and gas, mining, storm water, agricultural runoffs, municipal wastewater, and industrial wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20200002193
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water purification compositions and the method of producing the same. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to compositions containing a substrate that has hydroxyl, thiol, carboxyl or amino groups, a metal oxide, and a carboxylic acid compound, and the method of producing the same. The composition is useful for the removal of soluble phosphorus, selenium, fluoride, arsenic and other heavy metal contaminants that may be present in water. The composition could be of use in numerous fields, including but not limited to, oil and gas, mining, storm water, agricultural runoffs, municipal wastewater, and industrial wastewater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Tito VISWANATHAN
  • Publication number: 20190247834
    Abstract: A composite synthesized by the steps of preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive; evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders; and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce a doped carbon composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 10293329
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a doped carbon composite includes preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive, evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders, and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce the doped carbon composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20170203284
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a doped carbon composite includes preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive, evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders, and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce the doped carbon composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9643165
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing a doped carbon composite includes preparing a solution having a carbon source material and a heteroatom containing additive, evaporating the solution to yield a plurality of powders, and subjecting the plurality of powders to a heat treatment for a duration of time effective to produce the doped carbon composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9169139
    Abstract: A method of separating a liquid hydrocarbon material from a body of water, includes: (a) mixing magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites with a liquid hydrocarbon material dispersed in a body of water to allow the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each to be adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material to form a mixture; (b) applying a magnetic force to the mixture to attract the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material; and (c) removing the body of water from the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material while maintaining the applied magnetic force. The magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites is formed by subjecting one or more metal lignosulfonates or metal salts to microwave radiation, in presence of lignin/derivatives either in presence of alkali or a microwave absorbing material, for a period of time effective to allow the carbon-metal nanocomposites to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9095837
    Abstract: Metal nanocomposites and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The nanocomposites have metal nanoparticles dispersed in a matrix carrier and can be produced by: treating a matrix material having a functional group with a quaternary amine compound to form a function site; treating the matrix material with a metal salt such that a metal ion of the metal salt is chelated with the functional site; treating the matrix material with an alkali; and microwaving the matrix material to form the metal nanocomposites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: BROAD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8920688
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing transition metal phosphide. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of preparing a transition metal lignosulfonate, mixing the transition metal lignosulfonate with phosphoric acid to form a mixture, and subjecting the mixture to a microwave radiation for a duration of time effective to obtain a transition metal phosphide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8790615
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing carbon-magnetite nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) dissolving a first amount of an alkali salt of lignosulfonate in water to form a first solution, (b) heating the first solution to a first temperature, (c) adding a second amount of iron sulfate (FeSO4) to the first solution to form a second solution, (d) heating the second solution at a second temperature for a first duration of time effective to form a third solution of iron lignosulfonate, (e) adding a third amount of 1N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to the third solution of iron lignosulfonate to form a fourth solution with a first pH level, (f) heating the fourth solution at a third temperature for a second duration of time to form a first sample, and (g) subjecting the first sample to a microwave radiation for a third duration of time effective to form a second sample containing a plurality of carbon-magnetite nanocomposites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8753603
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing carbon nanotubes. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: (a) dissolving a first amount of a first transition-metal salt and a second amount of a second transition-metal salt in water to form a solution; (b) adding a third amount of tannin to the solution to form a mixture; (c) heating the mixture to a first temperature for a first duration of time to form a sample; and (d) subjecting the sample to a microwave radiation for a second duration of time effective to produce a plurality of carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20140102988
    Abstract: A method of separating a liquid hydrocarbon material from a body of water, includes: (a) mixing magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites with a liquid hydrocarbon material dispersed in a body of water to allow the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each to be adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material to form a mixture; (b) applying a magnetic force to the mixture to attract the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material; and (c) removing the body of water from the magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by the liquid hydrocarbon material while maintaining the applied magnetic force. The magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites is formed by subjecting one or more metal lignosulfonates or metal salts to microwave radiation, in presence of lignin/derivatives either in presence of alkali or a microwave absorbing material, for a period of time effective to allow the carbon-metal nanocomposites to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8647512
    Abstract: A method for separating a liquid hydrocarbon material from a body of water. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of mixing a plurality of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites with a liquid hydrocarbon material dispersed in a body of water to allow the plurality of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each to be adhered by an amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material to form a mixture, applying a magnetic force to the mixture to attract the plurality of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by an amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material, and removing said plurality of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites each adhered by an amount of the liquid hydrocarbon material from said body of water while maintaining the applied magnetic force, wherein the plurality of magnetic carbon-metal nanocomposites is formed by subjecting one or more metal lignosulfonates or metal salts to microwave radiation, in presence of lignin/derivatives either in presence of alkali or a microwave absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8574337
    Abstract: A method of producing carbon-metal nanocomposites includes (a) treating a material containing at least one o-catechol unit with a first solution of hexamine such that the material becomes hexamine treated; (b) treating the material with a second solution having a plurality of metal ions such that the material becomes metal treated; (c) treating the material with a third solution of alkali such that the material becomes alkali treated; and (d) heating the alkali, metal and hexamine treated material after (a), (b), and (c) for a predetermined period of time such that a plurality of carbon-metal nanocomposites having metal nanoparticles dispersed in the material are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20130233802
    Abstract: Metal nanocomposites and methods of producing the same are disclosed. The nanocomposites have metal nanoparticles dispersed in a matrix carrier and can be produced by: treating a matrix material having a functional group with a quaternary amine compound to form a function site; treating the matrix material with a metal salt such that a metal ion of the metal salt is chelated with the functional site; treating the matrix material with an alkali; and microwaving the matrix material to form the metal nanocomposites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20120121821
    Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method of producing carbon-metal nanocomposites includes (a) treating a material containing at least one o-catechol unit with a first solution of hexamine such that the material becomes hexamine treated; (b) treating the material with a second solution having a plurality of metal ions such that the material becomes metal treated; (c) treating the material with a third solution of alkali such that the material becomes alkali treated; and (d) heating the alkali, metal and hexamine treated material after (a), (b), and (c) for a predetermined period of time such that a plurality of carbon-metal nanocomposites having metal nanoparticles dispersed in the material are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventor: Tito Viswanathan