Using Membrane Patents (Class 205/746)
  • Patent number: 11884560
    Abstract: A water softening device includes a container configured to contain water, first and second electrodes arranged in fluid communication with the water, and a power source. The first electrode includes a conversion material that has a first composition and a second composition coexisting with the first composition. The first composition includes calcium ions bonded thereto and the second composition includes sodium ions bonded thereto. The power source supplies current in a first operating state such that the second composition exchanges sodium ions for calcium ions in the water to generate a soft water solution. The first and second electrodes are connected in a second operating state such that the first composition exchanges calcium ions for sodium ions in the water to generate a wastewater solution. The conversion material undergoes a reversible conversion reaction to convert between the first and second compositions within the water stability window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mordechai C. Kornbluth, Jonathan Mailoa, Soo Kim, Georgy Samsonidze, Boris Kozinsky, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Nathan Craig
  • Patent number: 11872603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning a synthetic surface, in particular to remove metal dirt and/or particles therefrom, said method being characterized by the following steps: a) the synthetic surface is rinsed with deionized water; b) the synthetic surface is rinsed with electrolyzed water; and c) the synthetic surface is rinsed with deionized water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Lutz Rebstock, Matthias Fryda, Thorsten Matthée
  • Patent number: 11834354
    Abstract: A desalination battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an intercalation compound contained in the first electrode, a container configured to contain a saline water solution, and a power source. The intercalation compound includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal oxychloride, a metalloid oxychloride, and a hydrate thereof with each having a ternary or higher order. The first and second electrodes are configured to be arranged in fluid communication with the saline water solution. The power source is configured to supply electric current to the first and second electrodes in different operating states to induce a reversible intercalation reaction within the intercalation compound. The intercalation compound reversibly stores and releases target anions from the saline water solution to generate a fresh water solution in one operating state and a wastewater solution in another operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Soo Kim, Mordechai Kornbluth, Jonathan Mailoa, Georgy Samsonidze, Michael Metzger, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Boris Kozinsky, Nathan Craig
  • Patent number: 11649405
    Abstract: A method of making a composition of matter is provided. The method includes pH-modifying, that is, deacidifying, neutralizing or basifying, one or more water-soluble oxidized disulfide oil (WS-ODSO) compounds or mixture of compounds. The WS-ODSO is combined with an effective amount of an alkaline agent. The process results in a pH-modified, that is, deacidified, neutralized or basified, WS-ODSO composition, for example which can be used as a component in synthesis of materials such as zeolitic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Hodgkins, Omer Refa Koseoglu
  • Patent number: 11413577
    Abstract: A scrubber, an exhaust gas purification system comprising the scrubber, and an air purification method. The treatment water of the scrubber is plasma electrolytic water. The plasma electrolytic water is obtained after water is electrolyzed. The process of electrolysis is carried out in an electromagnetic water treatment device. The electromagnetic water treatment device comprises a cation exchange film, a water flow passage, at least one positive pole panel, at least one negative pole panel, and a magnetic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Kunliang Hong
  • Patent number: 11145521
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes the steps of: applying a first agent onto a top surface of the semiconductor substrate while the semiconductor substrate is rotated at a first rotational frequency; immersing the semiconductor substrate in a second agent while rotating the semiconductor substrate at a second rotational frequency; and rotating the semiconductor substrate at a third rotational frequency while a third agent is introduced onto the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first rotational frequency may be greater than the third rotational frequency and the third rotational frequency is greater than the second rotational frequency. In some embodiments, the second rotational frequency is zero and the semiconductor substrate is held stationary during the immersing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mei Hui Tsai, Hsiao-Yi Wang, Yen-Min Liao, Po-Sheng Lu
  • Patent number: 10981114
    Abstract: A system has an alkaline capture stream as an input, an alkaline depleted stream as an output, a carbon dioxide removal unit operation having a return stream as an output, and a series of electrolyzers, each electrolyzer to receive a CO2-rich input stream and produce an acidified output stream that is more acidic than the CO2-rich input stream, and to receive a return stream and produce a basified output stream that is more alkaline than the input return stream. A method of removing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere and generating hydrogen includes capturing carbon dioxide from an atmosphere in an alkaline capture solution, sending the alkaline solution as a CO2-rich input solution to a series of electrolyzers in a CO2-rich path, removing carbon dioxide from the acidified CO2-rich solution at a removal unit to produce a CO2-poor solution, sending the CO2-poor solution to the series of electrolyzers in a return path, and returning the return solution to the alkaline capture stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Francisco E. Torres, Eugene Shin Ming Beh, Jessica Louis Baker Rivest
  • Patent number: 10934827
    Abstract: Ex situ remediation technology has been the primary method for treating groundwater contaminated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances. These pump and treat systems are expensive and energy intensive. To address the need for effective in situ remediation technology, a reactor to be used within a subsurface well has been developed. The reactor allows for contaminant destruction methods such as ultrasound to be used in situ. This invention eliminates the need for pumps and aboveground treatment. In addition it produces no waste products that must be treated further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fiona Laramay, Michelle Crimi
  • Patent number: 10653976
    Abstract: A water purification apparatus includes a bottomed cylindrical container tank, a lid member for fluid-tightly closing an upper opening of the container tank, an upper filter which forms an upper space between the lid member and itself, a lower filter which forms a lower space between a bottom plate of the container tank and itself, a water passage pipe which passes through the upper and lower filters and which establishes a communication between the upper and lower spaces, and an ion-exchange resin loaded in a space defined by the container tank, the upper and lower filters and the water passage pipe. The lid member has a water supply pipe for supplying water to the upper space, and an overflow pipe which connects to the water passage pipe. A water conveyance pipe for discharging the pure water in the container tank to outside is connected to the lower space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miki
  • Patent number: 10351446
    Abstract: A desalination system comprises at least one desalination cell. The at least one desalination cell comprises first and second electrodes, an anion exchange layer and a cation ion exchange layer disposed on the respective first and second electrodes, and a spacer disposed between the first and second electrodes. The at least one desalination cell further comprises an ion exchange resin disposed between the first and second electrodes. A desalination system and a method for removing ions from an aqueous stream are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Linglu Yang, Hai Yang, Wei Lu, John Harold Barber
  • Patent number: 10317136
    Abstract: An onsite purification plant/system to delivery high and ultra high purity product, such as, process chemicals, industrial and specialty gases to manufacturing processes within the onsite plant turndown ratio from 0% to 100% while preserving the predetermined purity of the supplied substances within a predefined specification range is provided. Preserving liquid/vapor ratio in at least one of the purification means/units ensuring that product purity range stays unchanged is achieved by redirecting the product back into the onsite purification plant/system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: VERSUM MATERIALS US, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Conway, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Jeffrey Alan Hopkins, Brian M. Lindenmuth, Thomas M. Booth
  • Patent number: 10272389
    Abstract: An electromembrane extraction (EME) device including a union connector, an acceptor compartment with a connector end and a donor compartment with a connector end wherein both connector ends are connectable to the union connector, wherein the union connector includes a flat membrane with a seal on each side thereof, wherein the seals when the acceptor compartment and the donor compartment are connected to the union connector are arranged respectively between the acceptor compartment connector end and the flat membrane and the donor compartment connector end and the flat membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: EXTRACTION TECHNOLOGIES NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Roger Trones, Trond Lovli, Tyge Greibrokk
  • Patent number: 10208386
    Abstract: A hydrogen water manufacturing system includes: a container-shaped constant pressure maintaining unit receiving water and maintaining a water level; an electrolysis unit including a hermetically sealed container bisected into an oxygen generation chamber and a hydrogen generation chamber with an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, wherein the chambers independently receive the raw water from the constant pressure maintaining unit, and a positive electrode plate is provided in the oxygen generation chamber and a negative electrode plate is provided in the hydrogen generation chamber; a fluid pump receiving the water and hydrogen from the hydrogen generation chamber; a dissolution unit having a nozzle to inject the water and the hydrogen supplied from the fluid pump; and a flow rate detection sensor arranged on piping downstream of the dissolution unit to detect supply of hydrogen water and drive the fluid pump and simultaneously supply electrical power to the electrolysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HUANTH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung-Ho Ki, Choong-Choon Yu
  • Patent number: 9969627
    Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus for treating water to be treated, according to the present disclosure, includes a treatment tank, a dielectric partition wall dividing inside of the treatment tank into a first space in which the water to be treated is injected, and a second space in which an electrolytic solution is filled, a first electrode at least part of which is arranged in the first space of the treatment tank, a second electrode at least part of which is arranged in the second space of the treatment tank, and a power supply that applies a high-frequency AC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Ichi Imai, Masaki Fujikane
  • Patent number: 9216364
    Abstract: An onsite purification plant/system to delivery high and ultra high purity product, such as, process chemicals, industrial and specialty gases to manufacturing processes within the onsite plant turndown ratio from 0% to 100% while preserving the predetermined purity of the supplied substances within a predefined specification range is provided. Preserving liquid/vapor ratio in at least one of the purification means/units ensuring that product purity range stays unchanged is achieved by redirecting the product back into the onsite purification plant/system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Conway, Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Jeffrey Alan Hopkins, Brian M. Lindenmuth, Thomas M. Booth
  • Patent number: 9181119
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolysis method that uses iron particles and an aqueous solution containing sodium hypochlorite. The method is characterized in that said method uses direct current, the iron particles form the anode (46) and the sodium hypochlorite concentration of the aqueous solution is at least 1 g/L. The invention further relates to a method and to a plant for the pretreatment of raw water for producing water that can then be easily treated in order to produce drinkable water or a so-called technical water that cannot be consumed but that can be used for household, agricultural or industrial applications such as cleaning, washing, laundry, flushing, garden watering or irrigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: F-TEC SYSTEMS S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marie Fresnel
  • Patent number: 9115011
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water production apparatus and method safely and simply produce electrolyzed water having a sterilizing action, having a physiologically neutral pH value, and, in addition, simultaneously with strong acidic electrolyzed water and strong alkaline electrolyzed water depending upon the structure. The electrolyzed water production apparatus has an electrolyzer tank with an end that receives or stores raw water, and a power supply. The interior portion of the electrolyzer tank is partitioned by a plurality of diaphragms into a plurality of regions. An anode and a cathode (constituting an electrode pair) are positioned on either side of the diaphragm. In a certain region of the electrolyzer tank, an anode and a cathode are arranged so as to face each other without a diaphragm sandwiched between them. When raw water for electrolysis is electrolyzed, electrolyzed water having a desired pH of a neutral range is produced during electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: OSAKA ELECTRO-COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Koichi Umimoto, Shunji Nagata
  • Patent number: 9061323
    Abstract: A cleaning system comprising a liquid source configured to provide a feed liquid at a first temperature, and an electrolysis cell configured to receive the feed liquid and to electrochemically activate the feed liquid to provide an electrochemically-activated liquid, wherein the electrochemical activation also heats the feed liquid such that the electrochemically-activated liquid is at an elevated temperature that is greater than the first temperature. The cleaning system also includes a dispenser configured to dispense the electrochemically-activated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Bruce F. Field, Russell J. Pylkki, Mark Steven Citsay, Charles W. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20150122668
    Abstract: A water conditioner that utilizes ionic flow and selective ionic filtering to control water hardness and/or pH. In some embodiments, the water conditioner includes one or more conditioning cells each having electrodes and a cathode side and an anode side separated by an ion-selective filter. The ion-selective filter is design/configured/selected to pass alkaline earth metal cations and block corresponding carbonate anions. When the electrodes are energized and water is present on the cathode and anode sides of the filter membrane, the alkaline earth metal cations pass from the anode side to the cathode side through the membrane, while the membrane blocks carbonate ions on the cathode side from passing to the anode side. In this manner, alkaline earth metal cations, and water hardness, can be reduced in the anode flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Tadeusz Karabin
  • Patent number: 8999120
    Abstract: An energy-saving ionized water production device and a production method are provided that are capable of producing strongly alkaline ionized in a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Alone World
    Inventors: Kazunori Osamura, Takao Kawajiri, Yutaka Nakamura, Noboru Kudo, Masae Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20140339162
    Abstract: Electrocoagulation (EC) may remove oil and solids from oilfield water and other raw, untreated or unprocessed water as a pretreatment for increased boron removal efficiency using a subsequent boron selective resin. Boron selective resins are efficient for boron removal, but oil and solids in water lower the boron remove efficiency and capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: JIASHENG CAO, RONALD M. MATHERLY, DARYL D. MCCRACKEN, KUSHAL SETH
  • Publication number: 20140299529
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for desalinating water, such as seawater. The system, method, and/or apparatus includes an electrodialysis cell that can separate monovalent ionic species from multivalent ionic species, so they may be separately treated. Each separate treatment may include precipitation of salt via the use of an organic solvent, followed by processing of precipitated salts and membrane treatment of water to remove solvent and remaining salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Rakesh Govind, Robert Foster
  • Publication number: 20140183058
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for enhanced electrocoagulation processing using enhanced membrane aeration are disclosed for effluent treatment. The apparatus has an enrichment means for establishing an ion rich air/gas stream and a membrane aerator for receiving the ionized air/gas stream and effluent to be treated. An ionized air/gas rich effluent feed stream flows out of the membrane aerator and is received at an electrocoagulation processing assembly for diffused ion enhanced electrocoagulation treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwater Resource, LLC
    Inventors: Reginald A. Wiemers, Robert Kohlheb, Peter H. Zahn
  • Patent number: 8764956
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid includes: an ion-exchange material; an anode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and an anode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the anode chamber; and a cathode chamber having a surface defined by an opposite surface of the ion-exchange material and a cathode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the cathode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun-joo Lee, Joon-ho Kim, Chin-sung Park, Jung-im Han, Seung-yeon Yang, Shin-i Yoo
  • Patent number: 8753489
    Abstract: An electrolyzing system for electrolyzing a brine solution of water and an alkali salt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water is provided. The system includes an internal chamber for receiving the brine solution and two electrolyzer cells immersed in a brine bath. Each electrolyzer cell includes an electrode, at least one ion permeable membrane supported relative to the electrode to define a space communicating between a fresh water supply and a chemical outlet into which brine enters only through the membrane. One of the electrodes is coupled to a positive charging electrical supply and the other to a negative charging electrical supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventors: Gregory John Swartz, James B. Swartz, James Ira Moyer
  • Publication number: 20140138258
    Abstract: In a water processing system including a first volume with a raw water inlet and a soft water outlet and a second volume for collecting minerals therein, and wherein mineral ions are transferred to the second volume using an electrolysis process, a method for enhancing minerals removal comprising the steps of transferring water from the second volume to a minerals removal device and using a partial electrolysis process in the minerals removal device to cause minerals to be deposited there. Preferably, the first and second volumes are separated by a membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: David Sherzer
  • Patent number: 8709231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for enriching water with oxygen by an electrolytic process, that comprises the following series of steps: the electrolysis of Cl? Br? ion-free water in an electrolysis cell in which the anode and the cathode are separated by a gas-tight membrane that is pervious to electric charges; b) recovering the oxygen-enriched water from the anode compartment of the electrolysis cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Compagnie Gervais Danone
    Inventors: Christophe Lascoste, Stéphane Brunner, Liliana Jimenez, Alexis Klein
  • Patent number: 8647497
    Abstract: A system for hydrogen sulfide removal from a sour gas mixture including hydrogen sulfide. The sour gas mixture is reacted with a transition metal compound in a scrubber. Sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized to form elemental sulfur and the transition metal is reduced to form a reduced state transition metal compound. An electrochemical redox reaction is performed including the reduced state transition metal compound to regenerate the transition metal compound in an electrolyzer including a power source. During the electrochemical redox reaction a voltage from the power source applied to the electrolyzer is controlled to regenerate the transition metal compound at a rate sufficient to match a flow rate of hydrogen sulfide into the scrubber or maintain a predetermined maximum hydrogen sulfide level out from the scrubber. The transition metal compound regenerated is returned to the scrubber for the reacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Cunping Huang, Franklyn Smith, Clovis A. Linkous, Karthikeyan Ramasamy, Ali T. Raissi, Nazim Muradov
  • Patent number: 8603392
    Abstract: Corrosion-inhibited hypochlorite compositions and methods of use are disclosed. Corrosion inhibitors including sugar acids and calcium compounds, polyacrylate and calcium compounds, and/or zinc and calcium compounds are used with hypochlorite sources to enhance the longevity and performance of electrochemical cells as well as reducing corrosion of metal in contact with the generated hypochlorite sources. The methods for generation employ a variety of electrochemical cells, beneficially including use of portable electrochemical cell system for production of corrosion-inhibited hypochlorite cleaning solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jenna Johnson, Kim R. Smith, Erik C. Olson, Steven E. Lentsch
  • Patent number: 8603320
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating and applying a sanitizing liquid. The method includes moving a mobile floor cleaning device along a floor and electrochemically activating a liquid on the mobile floor cleaning device by passing the liquid through a functional generator having first and second electrode chambers that are separated by an ion exchange membrane such that the liquid activated in the first electrode chamber comprises O3 molecules. Substantially all of the liquid activated in the first and second electrode chambers are dispensed from the device within 5 seconds of the time at which the liquids are activated by the functional generator without an intermediate step of storing either of the liquids produced in the first or second electrode chambers. At least some of the dispensed liquid is recovered from the floor with a recovery device carried by the mobile floor cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Patent number: 8597476
    Abstract: Electrolytic equipment in the form of radiation mode that is provided with pluralities of baffles (13) in the form of radiation mode on the top surface of the seat (10) and acidic water passage (131) is formed between the baffles (13). The top surface of the seat (10) has through holes (14) used to make anode conduction portions (33) of anode plate (30) through. In the center of the seat (10), there is a socket joint portion (11) that is provided with an inlet and outlet interval tube (15) in the center of it. There are plurality of equidistributed baffles (151, 157) on the inside wall and the outside wall of the inlet and outlet interval tube (15) to form raw water inlet passage (152) and acidic water outlet passage (153).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Wen-Shing Shyu
  • Publication number: 20130277231
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating contaminated water includes an electrolytic cell and a flow directing device. The electrolytic cell includes an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, an anode, a cathode, and a membrane. The anode is in the anode chamber and the cathode is in the cathode chamber. The membrane is positioned in the electrolytic cell to maintain a pH difference between the anode chamber and cathode chamber when a voltage is applied between the anode and cathode. The contaminated water for treatment is provided with hydrogen ions at the anode and with hydroxyl ions at the cathode when the voltage is applied. The flow directing device is connected to direct the water from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: AQUA VECTORS, INC.
    Inventor: Polly Hanson-Greenberg
  • Patent number: 8557178
    Abstract: Corrosion inhibitor compositions and methods of use are disclosed. Corrosion inhibitors are selected from polyacrylate and calcium corrosion inhibitors, zinc and calcium corrosion inhibitors and/or sugar acids and calcium corrosion inhibitors combined with hypochlorite sources provide use solutions for effective corrosion inhibition for metal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Erik C. Olson, Kim R. Smith, Steven E. Lentsch, Sherri L. Tischler
  • Publication number: 20130252129
    Abstract: A solid oxide supercritical water electrochemical cell which uses carbonaceous materials, such as sewage or waste food, in a mixture with fluid as fuel, simultaneously generating two or more forms of energy by means of combustion of oxidizable carbonaceous material in whole or in part by electrochemical oxidation under hydrothermal conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew Parfitt
  • Patent number: 8518225
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing in the home hydrogen-dissolved drinking water that is suitable for drinking, has a high dissolved hydrogen concentration, and a long dissolved hydrogen life. A hydrogen-dissolved drinking water production apparatus includes an electrolytic cell through which water can pass for producing drinking water having a pH in a range of 2.5 to 8.5, and in particular, in a range of 5.8 to 8.5, and a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 0.1 ppm or more by supplying high-purity water having a conductivity of 50 ?S/cm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osao Sumita, Shin Gyo Yim
  • Patent number: 8486254
    Abstract: A washing apparatus and a method of deodorizing washing water that can prevent the unpleasant smell of washing water are provided. An electrolytic water producing means 2 produces strong acidic water and strong alkaline water by electrolysis of an electrolytic solution. The produced strong acidic water and strong alkaline water are stored in an acid container 3 and alkali container 4, respectively. A mist container 5 connected to the alkali container 4 produces a deodorant mist upon receiving a part of the strong alkaline water in the alkali container 4. A discharge port 6a is selectively connected to the acid container 3, alkali container 4, or water pipe 8 so as to discharge the strong acidic water, strong alkaline water, or tap water. A mist ejection portion 7 is formed to spray the deodorant mist of the strong alkaline water in the mist container 5 around the strong acidic water or tap water discharged from the discharge port 6a so that the mist surrounds the strong acidic water or tap water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Minoru Kanno
  • Patent number: 8449747
    Abstract: In order to carry out a selective extraction of cations (Mn+) by an electrochemical transfer in a solution from a first electrolyte (E1) to a second electrolyte (E2), the method includes using as an electrolyte separation wall a transfer wall (2) made of chalcogenide with molybdenum clusters (MonXn+2 or MxMonXn+2) and ensuring the cation transfer through the transfer wall by generating a potential difference (?E) between the electrode A1 in the first electrolyte (E1) and the electrode C2 in the second electrolyte (E1) or the transfer wall (2) in order to induce an intercalation of the cations in the transfer wall on the side of the first electrolyte, a scattering of the cations therein, and the de-intercalation thereof in the second electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Universite de Lorraine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Clotilde Boulanger, Sakina Seghir, Nathalie Leclerc, Sebastien Diliberto, Jean-Marie Lecuire
  • Patent number: 8419926
    Abstract: Electrolyzed water producing method and apparatus are provided which are capable of producing electrolyzed water having a desired property irrespective of the quality of raw water supplied and the like while allowing the size and weight of the apparatus and the cost to be reduced by limiting the capacity of an electrolysis power source. The electrolyzed water producing method includes: circulating an aqueous electrolyte solution to a first electrolytic chamber of a pair of electrolytic chambers opposed to each other across an intervening ion permeable diaphragm while supplying raw water to the second electrolytic chamber; and applying a predetermined voltage to a pair of electrodes disposed in the respective electrolytic chambers with the diaphragm intervening there between, to electrolyze the raw water and the aqueous electrolyte solution, thereby producing electrolyzed water in the second electrolytic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohichi Miyashita, Ryuichi Kimata, Makoto Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8414748
    Abstract: A cell design for systems of mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) of materials includes inactive surface coatings, such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polypropylene, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene and polytetrafluoroethylene polymers or a glass glaze or metallic oxide, on all interior surfaces of the electrochemical cell to prevent . A further cell design for systems of mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) included conduits for connecting plural catholyte chambers or for connecting plural anolyte chambers which are embedded within walls of a molded unibody constructed box and slots for parallel arrangement of membranes and porous electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Scimist, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger W. Carson, Bruce W. Bremer, Michael L. Mastracci, Kent E. Maggard
  • Patent number: 8398843
    Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid comprising: a cathode substrate; an anode substrate facing the cathode substrate and forming a reaction chamber with the cathode substrate; and a nonconductor which forms a boundary between the portions of the cathode substrate and the anode substrate that are capable of contacting one another, wherein at least one of the cathode substrate and the anode substrate is a semiconductor doped with impurities and the other is a metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-im Han, Joon-ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20130017414
    Abstract: A bioelectrochemical system includes an anode, a saline solution chamber, and a cathode. The anode is at least partially positioned within an anode chamber containing an aqueous reaction mixture including one or more organic compounds and one or more bacteria for oxidizing the organic compounds. The saline solution chamber contains a draw solution and is separated from the anode chamber by a forward osmosis membrane. Water diffuses across the forward osmosis membrane from the aqueous reaction mixture to the draw solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: Zhen He
  • Patent number: 8343330
    Abstract: A microfluidic device which electrochemically regulates a pH of a fluid, and a method of regulating a pH of a fluid using the microfluidic device, include a chamber which includes a cathode formed of a metal adsorbing hydrogen gas, and an anode formed of a metal having a higher standard oxidation potential than, and does not react with, water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hun-joo Lee, Joon-ho Kim, Sung-young Jeong, Hee-kyun Lim
  • Patent number: 8337690
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of an electrochemically activated liquid. The ORP is reduced by emitting ions from an ion generator into the electrochemically activated liquid, wherein the ions have a charge polarity that is opposite to the ORP of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Bruce F. Field
  • Patent number: 8333883
    Abstract: An electrolytic method for extracting components from subsurface strata including providing a carrier fluid; providing a pair of electrodes within a container, the container having a first outlet located proximal to a first electrode of the pair of electrodes and a second outlet located proximal to a second electrode of the pair of electrodes; flowing the carrier fluid through the container; applying a potential to the pair of electrodes to produce a first ionized carrier fluid and a second ionized carrier fluid in the container; removing the first ionized carrier fluid from the container through their respective outlets; injecting one of the first ionized carrier fluid and the second ionized carrier fluid into the subsurface strata to release the components; and recovering one of the first ionized carrier fluid and second ionized carrier fluid and components from the subsurface strata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Strategic Resource Optimization, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Peters, David D. Faulder
  • Publication number: 20120312752
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of removing phosphorus from sewage wastewater by electrocoagulation, comprising: providing an electrode assembly comprising an anode and a cathode with a porous membrane interposed therebetween; placing the electrode assembly in an electrocoagulation tank; passing sewage wastewater through the electrocoagulation tank to treat the sewage wastewater by electrocoagulation; and introducing the treated water into a mixing tank to further treat the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim, Jung O. Park, Tae Hwan Jun
  • Patent number: 8317993
    Abstract: A plating apparatus has a steam treatment chamber configured to perform a steam treatment using steam on a surface of a substrate, and a plating chamber configured to plate the surface of the substrate subjected to the steam treatment. The plating apparatus also has an acid treatment chamber configured to bring the surface of the substrate subjected to the steam treatment into contact with an acid liquid. The plating apparatus includes a frame housing the steam treatment chamber, the acid treatment chamber, and the plating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Kuriyama, Rei Kiumi, Nobutoshi Saito, Takashi Takemura, Masaaki Kimura, Sachiko Takeda, Yugang Guo
  • Publication number: 20120267256
    Abstract: An apparatus for the selective production of electrolyzed water is provided, wherein the apparatus allows for the production and discharge of either electrolyzed acidic water or electrolyzed basic water to be independently without the corresponding production and discharge of the other. In certain embodiments, the present invention can provide a low chloride electrolyzed acidic water or a low chloride electrolyzed basic water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: EAU TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Kindred
  • Patent number: 8273225
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid diamond electrode, a reactor, in particular a reactor comprising an anode, a cathode and at least one bipolar electrode having first and second major working surfaces positioned therebetween wherein the at least one bipolar electrode consists essentially of diamond, and methods in which the reactors are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Element Six Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan James Wilman, Patrick Simon Bray, Timothy Peter Mollart
  • Publication number: 20120234693
    Abstract: An electrolyzed water production apparatus and method safely and simply produce electrolyzed water having a sterilizing action, having a physiologically neutral pH value, and, in addition, simultaneously with strong acidic electrolyzed water and strong alkaline electrolyzed water depending upon the structure. The electrolyzed water production apparatus has an electrolyzer tank with an end that receives or stores raw water, and a power supply. The interior portion of the electrolyzer tank is partitioned by a plurality of diaphragms into a plurality of regions. An anode and a cathode (constituting an electrode pair) are positioned on either side of the diaphragm. In a certain region of the electrolyzer tank, an anode and a cathode are arranged so as to face each other without a diaphragm sandwiched between them. When raw water for electrolysis is electrolyzed, electrolyzed water having a desired pH of a neutral range is produced during electrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: OSAKA ELECTRO-COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Koichi UMIMOTO, Shunji NAGATA
  • Patent number: 8242026
    Abstract: Provided is a method for performing etching process or film forming process to a substrate W whereupon a prescribed pattern is formed with an opening. The method is provided with a step of mixing a liquid and a gas, at least one of which contains a component that contributes to the etching process or the film forming process, and generating charged nano-bubbles 85 having a diameter smaller than that of the opening formed on the semiconductor substrate W; a step of forming an electric field to attract the nano-bubbles onto the surface of the substrate W; and a step of performing the process by supplying the substrate with the liquid containing the nano-bubbles 85 while forming the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Sumie Nagaseki