Patents Assigned to Alberta Research Council
  • Publication number: 20090258950
    Abstract: A non-toxic insecticidal composition includes a base horticultural oil, an emulsifier such as potassium salts of fatty acids, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventor: Cathy KNOBLAUCH
  • Publication number: 20090244535
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for continuous measurement of acid gas concentration or amine loading in a basic solution using Raman spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Hongqi Yuan, Allan Chambers, John Woolley
  • Publication number: 20090200026
    Abstract: A method for recovering natural gas from a group of subterranean zones containing natural gas, including injecting an amount of a displacing gas into a first subterranean zone, producing a first produced gas from the first subterranean zone, collecting an amount of the first produced gas wherein the quality of the collected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the first produced gas, injecting an amount of the first produced gas into a second subterranean zone wherein the quality of the injected first produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold injection quality for the first produced gas, producing a second produced gas from the second subterranean zone, and collecting an amount of the second produced gas wherein the quality of the collected second produced gas is higher than or equal to a threshold production quality for the second produced gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Alex TURTA, Steve SIM, Ashok SINGHAL, Gary BUNIO, Blaine F. HAWKINS
  • Publication number: 20090181209
    Abstract: The invention includes reinforced composite container flooring with resin-impregnated veneers, a core layer which may be formed from a structural stone-based panel or a multi-layer wood veneer panel, and its manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Qisheng ZHENG, Robert WELLWOOD, Xu BIN, Liheng CHENG, Shenxue JIANG
  • Publication number: 20090111189
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the detection and quantitation of metals and metalloids in a sample by derivatization are provided. In particular, the apparatus and method relates to analysis of mercury in a sample by derivatization of the inorganic and organic mercury species into elemental mercury and organo-mercury hydrides using sodium borohydride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventor: Stuart SCHROEDER
  • Patent number: 7507317
    Abstract: This invention relates to the enhancement of chemical reactions by applying a high frequency electric field to a material. The frequency and amplitude of the electric field are selected in accordance with the properties of the reacting components in the bulk of chemical reactor. In general, the high frequency range is determined by the dielectric properties of reactant(s), that is, at any given temperature, when, for example, the specific conductivity starts to grow from its low frequency value. Typically, frequencies in the range of 100 kHz to 200 MHz or greater are suitable for the enhancement of the reactions. An electric field of any shape having Fourier components that when applied to a chemical process exhibits growth in the real part of conductivity relative to the low frequency value is of particular importance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Joseph Babchin, Jian-Yang Yuan, Ezra Eddy Isaacs, Haibo Huang, Ross Sam Chow, Richard Anthony McFarlane, Dmytro Vassily Prudkyy
  • Publication number: 20080312511
    Abstract: The invention provides a real-time method and computer-implemented system of monitoring animal health comprising sensing at least one physical characteristic by means of an active physical sensor attached to the animal, and sensing at least one activity of the animal by means of an activity sensor attached to the animal; positioning an active activity signal generator in the environment, such that the activity signal generator is associated with an activity, gathering physical characteristic data and activity data, and wirelessly transmitting all such data to a network receiver/converter, in real-time; converting all such data if necessary, and transmitting all such data over a computer network to one or more users, in real-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Lloyd Osler, Mark Vernon Fedorak, Tadeusz Kazmierczak, Duncan Campbell, John-Michael Bernard Carolan, Rodney Ridley, Joseph Wheeler, Reginald Schmidt, Corinne Schmidt, Garry Cardinal, Kevin Cyca, Geoffrey Chambers, Jeffrey Min Yao Huang, Edmond Hok Ming Lou, Bruce Brososky, Christopher Charles Kirchen, Donald Mullen
  • Publication number: 20080289783
    Abstract: A process for producing dissolving pulp includes a degumming step using a degumming liquor which includes hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Keith LUO, Wade CHUTE
  • Publication number: 20080289149
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of decortication for separating the bast from the inner core of fibre plants using a disc refiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Wade CHUTE, Deb HENRY, Dean ROLHEISER
  • Publication number: 20080286625
    Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell comprises a dense electrolyte layer; at least one reticulated electrode matrix (REM) of ion-conducting material partially sintered on the gas impermeable electrolyte layer, and electrode material located substantially within the REM. The REM has a majority of pores with an average pore size of less than micron. The REM can also have a porosity of 5 to 80%, thickness at or below 3.00 microns, and a mean grain size of 0.01 to 3.00 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Partha Sarkar, Mark Lewis Richardson, Luis Yamarte, Lorne Johanson
  • Patent number: 7452622
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal-supported tubular micro-solid oxide fuel cell, and a fuel cell made from such method. The method comprises the steps of coating a wooden substrate member with a conductive substrate layer, coating the substrate layer with an inner electrode layer, coating the inner electrode layer with an electrolyte layer, drying and sintering the coated substrate member such that the substrate member combusts, coating the electrolyte layer with an outer electrode layer, and then drying and sintering the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.
    Inventors: Partho Sarkar, Hongsang Rho, Lorne Johanson, Luis Yamarte
  • Publication number: 20080234423
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel or board includes the step of adding phyllosilicate clay to a thermosetting resin and natural fibres. The natural fibres include hardwood fibre, softwood fibre, grain straw, hemp fibre, kenaf fibre, bagasse fibre, palm fibre, canola straw fibre, flax straw fibre, rapeseed straw fibre, wheat straw fibre, oat straw fibre, barley straw fibre, rice straw fibre or rye straw fibre. The thermosetting resin may include phenol formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, melamine urea formaldehyde, or methylenediphenyl diisocynanate. The phyllosilicate clay may include nanoparticulate clay and may include natural, modified or synthetic forms of sodium montmorillonite, montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, laponite, hectorite, saponite, sauconite, magadite, kenyaite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, or hydrotactite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Sunguo WANG, Hua QIU, John ZHOU, Rob WELLWOOD
  • Patent number: 7425584
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the delulcanization of rubber. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for the hydro-devulcanization of vulcanized rubber utilizing a rubber swelling solvent, a source of reactive hyrogen and elevated temperature and, optimally, also uses a dispersed molecular-scale hydrogenation catalyst that is introduced into the vulcanized rubber in a catalytically inert form that is soluable in the rubber swelling solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council
    Inventors: Richard Anthony McFarlane, Roger Kai Lott, Haibo Huang
  • Patent number: 7417071
    Abstract: A lipid composition includes triacylglycerols that include unsaturated fatty acids such as alpha linolenic acid and antioxidant moeities such as pyruvic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.
    Inventor: Neena Gandhi
  • Publication number: 20080190853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating liquid droplets from a gas stream. The method includes the steps of conditioning the gas stream which contains the droplets so that the gas stream exhibits substantially turbulent flow, passing the gas stream generally axially through a flowpath so that the gas stream is in communication with a collector surface, collecting the droplets on the collector surface, and draining the collector surface to remove the collected droplets from the collector surface. The apparatus includes a flowpath, a collector surface for collecting the droplets, a flow conditioner for conditioning the gas stream, and a drainage mechanism for draining the collected droplets from the collector surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventor: Peter Toma
  • Publication number: 20080135243
    Abstract: A method of reducing water influx into a wellbore, wherein the wellbore is in fluid communication with a subterranean formation such as a gas producing formation or gas reservoir. The method particularly places a gelant in a desired position down the wellbore and into the formation in order to thereby reduce the influx of water and enhance the resulting gas production. The method includes the steps of first introducing a gelant into the wellbore and second introducing a temporarily stable foam into the wellbore in order to overdisplace the gelant from the wellbore and into the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Laurie A. Hodgins, Fred Wassmuth
  • Publication number: 20080132612
    Abstract: A low density oriented strand board has an average density of less than about 1.5 times the density of wood species used in the board and a homogenous vertical density profile. Low density OSB may be formed by preheating the wood finish prior to pressing, controlling the moisture content such that the core layer has a higher moisture content than the face layers, or a combination of pre-heating and moisture content control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ALBERTA RESEARCH COUNCIL INC.
    Inventors: Liheng CHEN, Robert W.F. WELLWOOD
  • Patent number: 7382453
    Abstract: An improvement in a PVT apparatus, which improvement includes a fluid path model having a fluid path and a sampling section, wherein the depth of the fluid path within the sampling section is substantially uniform and is less than about 100 ?m. The apparatus may be configured to provide a micron-scale slim tube which may be used in a manner similar to a conventional slim tube apparatus. A method for characterizing an interfacial property of a dispersion such as, for example, miscibility of a first fluid and a second fluid as a function of pressure. The method includes collecting sets of transmittance images representing transmittance of electromagnetic radiation through the dispersion, generating values of a general interfacial property factor from the transmittance images, and characterizing the interfacial property using the values of the general interfacial property factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas B. Fisher, Marcel Girard
  • Patent number: 7364640
    Abstract: A process for removing silica from nonwood plant materials involving both chemical and mechanical action is described. The silica-rich epidermal cells are liberated mechanically by a pre-pulping and low-consistency refining step and subsequently removed from the pulp via the filtrate of a thickening step. Amorphous silica is liberated chemically by using an alkaline dilution source in the pulper, then removed from the pulp via the filtrate of a thickening step and a dewatering step. The silica is then removed from the filtrate by adjusting the pH, followed by a separation step. The desilicated fibrous material may then be chemically or mechanically pulped and bleached using known processes. The silica removed from the nonwood plant material may then be used as a feedstock for other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Alberta Research Council Inc.
    Inventors: Wade Chute, Sofia Vichnevsky
  • Publication number: 20080092254
    Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants with reduced levels of saturated fatty acids in the seed oil and methods of making these plants. The transgenic plants developed through this method contain reduced levels of saturated fatty acids in seed oil due to expression of a prokaryotic delta-9 desaturase enzyme (i.e. an enzyme that introduces cis double bonds at the delta-9 position of saturated fatty acids) operably linked with an endoplasmic reticulum retention and retrieval signal sequence. One example of the invention is a plant expressing a heterologous delta-9 desaturase enzyme from cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans, which converts lipid-bound 16:0 and 18:0 fatty acids into corresponding 16:1 and 18:1, in operative linkage with a KKSS (SEQ ID NO:5) endoplasmic reticulum retention and retrieval signal sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Alberta Research Council Inc.
    Inventors: Salehuzzaman Shah, Randall Weselake