Patents Assigned to Ecolab
  • Patent number: 9845448
    Abstract: A water hardness controlling agent includes a polyacrylic acid or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 50,000 g/mol, an acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000 g/mol and a phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof. A ratio of acrylic-maleic acid copolymer or salt thereof to polyacrylic acid or salt thereof to phosphonocarboxylic acid or salt thereof in parts per million is about 1-30:10-80:6-20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Altony J. Miralles, Carter M. Silvernail
  • Patent number: 9845437
    Abstract: A method of passivating a metal surface of hydrocarbon processing equipment is provided in which a water soluble molybdate compound is introduced into water or steam which is in contact or will come into contact with a metal surface of the hydrocarbon processing equipment to passivate the metal surface to inhibit surface coke formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Savage, Christopher A. Russell
  • Patent number: 9845447
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods of generating carbonate in situ in a use solution under an enriched CO2 atmosphere. In another aspect, the invention is directed to methods of cleaning food processing surfaces under an enriched CO2 atmosphere comprising contacting a food processing surface with a cleaning composition comprised of an alkalinity source, a surfactant, and water, monitoring the pH during the wash cycle and adjusting the pH by recirculating a use solution, adding a secondary alkalinity source, or both recirculating a use solution and adding a secondary alkalinity source, to generate carbonate in situ in the use solution. In a particular embodiment of the invention the alkalinity source is an alkali metal carbonate and the secondary alkalinity source is an alkali metal hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 9845290
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods for forming peroxyformic acid, comprising contacting formic acid with hydrogen peroxide. The methods for forming peroxyformic acid can include adding formic acid with a relatively lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide, or adding formic acid to a peroxycarboxylic acid composition or forming composition to react with hydrogen peroxide in the compositions. The present invention also relates to peroxyformic acid formed by the above methods. The present invention further relates to the uses of peroxyformic acid for treating a variety of targets, e.g., target water, including target water used in connection with oil- and gas-field operations. The present invention further relates to methods for reducing or removing H2S or iron sulfide in the treated water source, improving clarity of the treated water source, or reducing the total dissolved oxygen or corrosion in the treated water source, using peroxyformic acid, including peroxyformic acid generated in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian, Junzhong Li, Richard Staub, Victor Keasler, Brian Bennett, Allison Brewster
  • Publication number: 20170355846
    Abstract: The invention provides an associative polymer, a powder, and a process for making a powder comprising, networking one or more associative polymer(s) and one or more optional surfactant(s) to form a wet gel, and forming a powder from the wet gel, wherein the associative polymer(s) have a weight average molecular weight of from about 10 kDa to about 2,000 kDa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Heqing Huang, David Jordan, Robert M. Lowe, Jeffrey Cramm, Weiguo Cheng, Mingli Wei
  • Patent number: 9840683
    Abstract: An alkaline detergent is described which includes the use of a copolymer in combination with an alkali metal hydroxide. The detergent maintains cleaning functions and also prevents hard water scaling, for example at application temperatures of between 145-180 degrees Fahrenheit and with a pH of 9.5 to about 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: BASF SE, Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Carter M. Silvernail, Erik C. Olson, Kerrie E. Walters, Juergen Detering, Arend Jouke Kingma, James S. Dailey
  • Patent number: 9841382
    Abstract: Methods and systems for colorimetrically analyzing a liquid medium by analyzing chemical test strip images are provided. The liquid medium can be industrial water in an industrial water system. Image analyzing software carries out the analysis. The results of the analysis can be used to diagnosing a chemical treatment regimen of the industrial water system. A chemical test strip holder can be used to enhance reliability and repeatability of the imaging process and/or subsequent analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Walicki
  • Patent number: 9840810
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions for increasing the strength of a paper sheet. The method involves adding to the paper sheet an amine-containing polymer. The amine-containing polymer interacts with materials such as glyoxalated polyacrylamide or starch to make the paper stronger in terms including tensile strength, surface strength and bulk strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: David J. Castro, Robert M. Lowe, Mei Liu
  • Publication number: 20170349462
    Abstract: A method for efficiently removal of oxidised selenium from liquid, such as FGD wastewater. The method involves adding a non-iron-based reducing agent (e.g. sodium dithionite) and preferably Fe(II) ions to the liquid at a pH of above 7.5 or 8 and precipitating elemental selenium from the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Tarun Kumar BERA, Jitendra T. SHAH, Vaideeswaran SIVASWAMY
  • Patent number: 9835482
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to a flow meter and/or flow meter operation can include one or more sensors and be capable of detecting parameters of the fluid flowing the flowmeter. One or more sensors can include capacitive sensors having a plurality of electrodes and configured to detect capacitive properties of a fluid flowing through the flow meter. Detected changes in detected properties of the fluid can be evidence of important changes in the fluid, such as an out of product event or a contamination of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher J. Owen, Anatoly Skirda, Paul Simon Schilling, Viktor Slobodyan
  • Patent number: 9834742
    Abstract: A hard surface cleaning composition, namely a bathroom cleaning composition, using partially neutralized citric acid salts and/or fully neutralized ethanolamine citrate salts are disclosed. The cleaning composition is unexpectedly safe to use, environmentally-friendly and efficacious for removal of soap scum and water hardness stains at mildly acidic and/or alkaline pHs. Methods of using the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Dale Curtis Larson, III, Mark Dennis Levitt
  • Patent number: 9833002
    Abstract: Disclosed are biocide compositions. The compositions are useful in applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions, particularly in applications relating to the production, transportation, storage, and separation of crude oil and natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Keasler, Jeffrey Caleb Clark, Carrie Keller-Schultz, Brian Bennett
  • Patent number: 9834720
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to one or more compositions and methods for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates in a fluid. The fluid may be contained, for example, in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Izabela Owsik, Alfred Hase
  • Patent number: 9834730
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for flocculating solids are provided. The solids may be suspended in an organic liquid medium and a water in oil emulsion may be added to the liquid medium. The water in oil emulsion includes an emulsion polymer capable of flocculating the solids suspended in the organic liquid medium. The emulsion polymer may be added to the organic liquid medium in an inactive form and the polymer may subsequently become activated upon contacting the organic liquid medium. Once activated, the polymer may flocculate the suspended solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Anoop Chengara, Jordan Montag
  • Patent number: 9834509
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing disulfide compounds through oxidative coupling of thiol compounds. Thiols are oxidized to the corresponding disulfide compound in high yield in presence of a base and a metal salt. The method uses low catalyst loadings and provides organic disulfide compounds with little to no byproducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Prakasa Rao Anantaneni, Ryan M. Harrington, Boyd Laurent
  • Publication number: 20170341086
    Abstract: A process of treating a gas stream containing at least one mercury compound or species, the process comprising: applying a composition into said gas stream ahead of a particulate matter collection device, wherein said composition contains a compound having the following formula (SiO2)x(OH)yMzSaF, wherein (i) SiO2 is an optional component; (ii) M comprises at least one of the following metal or metalloid cations: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; (iii) S comprises a sulfur-based species selected from at least one of the following: sulfide salts, dithiocarbamates, polymer-based dithiocarbamates, and polysulfide salts; (iii) F is an optional component and if present comprises at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area co
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ergang, Bruce A. Keiser, Richard Mimna
  • Publication number: 20170342663
    Abstract: An on-line control and reaction process for pH adjustment and a control device for automatically adjusting pH value are provided. The process includes mixing a first enhancer and a second enhancer, optionally after diluting the first enhancer and/or the second enhancer with water, to form a mixture, setting a base pH value (?1) and a target pH value (?2), and adding pH adjuster into the mixture via a pH control unit and mixing to obtain a product with the target pH value. The pH control unit adjusts the adding of the pH adjuster by measuring or inputting certain parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Meng Zhang, Na Xu, Jun Li, Yulin Zhao
  • Patent number: 9827582
    Abstract: A closed-loop refillable dispensing system may include one or more reusable or refillable product packages configured to dock with an automated filling station. The automated filling station automatically mixes concentrated chemical product with a diluent and dispenses the resulting chemical product solution. The product package may include a fitment insert configured to mate with a docking connector at the automated filling station. When the product package is removed from the docking connector, the fitment insert provides a positive, leak-proof seal for the product package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Schultz, Kenneth T. Dobizl, Brian L. Sholes
  • Patent number: 9828269
    Abstract: Water treatment compositions are provided that are effective for mitigating corrosion or fouling of surfaces in contact with aqueous systems. The water treatment compositions can include one or more azole compounds, one or more transition metals, and one or more dispersants, in addition to various other additives. The water treatment compositions can exclude phosphorus and still be effective. Methods for mitigating corrosion or fouling of a surface in an aqueous system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Jasbir S. Gill
  • Patent number: 9828264
    Abstract: A method of reducing hydrogen sulfide content in a medium is disclosed. The method may include the steps of contacting a medium containing hydrogen sulfide with an effective amount of hydrogen peroxide, contacting the medium with an oxidizing agent, converting the hydrogen sulfide to sulfate, and reducing the hydrogen sulfide content in the medium. The medium may be a gas or a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Jacobs, Henry Castanieto, Steven J. Butler, John L. Featherstone