Patents Assigned to U.S. EPA
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Patent number: 11802067Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for nitrogen gas sparging assisted biological treatment of water. In one example, a denitrification system may include a media-packed column or bed through which nitrogen gas is sparged to remove dissolved oxygen from water. In some examples, an external carbon source and electron donor may be added to the media-packed column or bed to facilitate biological removal of the nitrate and/or other contaminants from the water. In this way, by relying on the sparged nitrogen gas to remove the dissolved oxygen, less of the external carbon source and electron donor may be employed as compared to denitrification systems not assisted by nitrogen gas sparging.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U.S. EPAInventors: Asher Keithley, Daniel Williams, Nicholas Dugan, Darren Lytle
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Patent number: 11701642Abstract: Catalyst materials comprising iron and palladium are described. Also described are methods for preparing such materials. In addition, methods for remediating materials such as sediments and groundwater using the catalyst materials are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA, Waashington DCInventors: Souhail Al-Abed, John McKernan, Slawomir Lomnicki
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Patent number: 11422106Abstract: Biosensors utilizing 4-acetoxyphenol are described. The biosensors typically include 4-acetoxyphenol in a substrate and utilize one or more enzymes to detect the presence of pollutant agents. Also described are related methods using the biosensors to detect the presence of pollutant agents in water such as As(III).Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventors: Tao Li, Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
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Patent number: 11414334Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating a contaminated environmental medium. In one example, the treatment includes adding a salt to the contaminated environmental medium to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to irreversibly precipitate a jarosite-group mineral incorporating contaminant cations and contaminant anions into its structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: United States Government, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventors: Kirk Gerald Scheckel, Ranju R. Karna, Charles R. Partridge, Karen D. Bradham, David James Thomas, Matthew R. Noerpel, Jennifer Lynn Goetz, Todd Peter Luxton
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Publication number: 20120178570Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine configured to power a hydraulic pump to pressurize hydraulic fluid, which is used to power the vehicle directly or is stored in an accumulator. A drive module, including a hydraulic pump/motor and a multi-speed mechanical transmission, is operatively coupled to drive wheels of the vehicle to provide motive power to the vehicle. The drive module can also include a second hydraulic motor (or multiple hydraulic motors) configured to provide motive power. The transmission is configured to progress through its gears at ratio shifts of no less than 2:1 between adjacent gear positions. The transmission is configured to place the hydraulic motor in neutral during some portions of vehicle operation, and to engage the motor during other portions of vehicle operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventors: Charles L. Gray, JR., Daniel W. Barba
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Publication number: 20120123661Abstract: A hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes elements such as a hydraulic pump driven by an internal combustion engine and arranged to draw in low pressure fluid and pump the fluid at high pressure to an accumulator. A hydraulic motor is powered by the pressurized fluid. Safety processes are provided for detecting and addressing a number of conditions that may arise in the operation of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle, including an initialization procedure for start-up of the vehicle, a shut-down procedure, and procedures for detecting and responding to failure of the pump or motor, internal and external fluid leaks, and non-responsive actuation and mode control systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventor: Charles L. Gray, JR.
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Publication number: 20110232418Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine configured to power a hydraulic pump to pressurize hydraulic fluid, which is used to power the vehicle directly or is stored in an accumulator. A drive module, including a hydraulic pump/motor and a multi-speed mechanical transmission, is operatively coupled to drive wheels of the vehicle to provide motive power to the vehicle. The drive module can also include a second hydraulic motor (or multiple hydraulic motors) configured to provide motive power. The transmission is configured to progress through its gears at ratio shifts of no less than 2:1 between adjacent gear positions. The transmission is configured to place the hydraulic motor in neutral during some portions of vehicle operation, and to engage the motor during other portions of vehicle operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventors: Charles L. Gray, JR., Daniel W. Barba
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Publication number: 20110071716Abstract: A method for operating a series hybrid vehicle is provided, in which an engine generates secondary power that is either stored or used as direct input energy by a secondary power source to provide motive power to the vehicle. Regenerative braking is used to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle into secondary energy, which is also stored. When the vehicle driver makes a power demand, the secondary power source is powered by secondary energy from an energy storage device, direct input energy generated by the engine, or both, depending on the amount of stored secondary energy in combination with vehicle speed. When in use, the power level at which the engine is operated is also determined on the basis of available stored energy and vehicle speed. At higher vehicle speeds, the amount of stored energy is allowed to be depleted in order to increase the available storage capacity for regenerative braking.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U.S. EPAInventor: Charles L. Gray, JR.
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Publication number: 20100199837Abstract: In a bent axis hydraulic machine, a back plate and cylinder barrel vary in distance from a drive plate as a stroke angle of the cylinder barrel changes, thereby minimizing unswept fluid volume in the cylinders of the barrel at any stroke angle. Distance is controlled by one or more rollers, engaging respective tracks that define a profile of contact that determines the distance as a function of the stroke angle. Telescoping fluid supply channels are employed to maintain a fluid supply to the cylinder barrel as the distance changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: Government of the USA, as Represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventor: Charles L. Gray, JR.
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Method for removing contaminants from water using ruthenium based contaminant sorbents and oxidizers
Patent number: 7335307Abstract: Ruthenium compounds, either alone or in combination with other remediating compounds, can be used to oxidize, remove and sequester contaminants in water and soil or sediments.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2003Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: U.S. EPAInventors: Kirk G. Scheckel, Christopher A. Impellitteri, James A. Ryan -
Publication number: 20060199204Abstract: RNA in sperm can be used as a diagnostic to distinguish between normal and affected individuals. A list of specific diagnostic transcripts is provided which is compared with transcripts obtained from the sperm of a subject. Correlation between the two transcripts is used to identify normal sperm or affected sperm. Addition, genetic testing for male infertility or damage to spermatozoa is accomplished by providing a microarray of DNA probes with a sample of spermatozoa to determine the mRNA fingerprints of the sample, and comparing the mRNA fingerprints of the sample with the mRNA fingerprints of normal fertile male spermatozoa.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicants: U.S. EPA, Wayne State University, University of LeedsInventors: David Dix, Stephen Krawetz, David Miller
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Publication number: 20050120873Abstract: A spool valve includes a first valve port coupled to a fluid source at a first pressure range, a second valve port coupled to a fluid source at a second, lower, pressure range, and first and second output ports coupled to a hydraulic device. The valve includes a valve spool configured to selectively channel fluid from the first and second valve ports to the first and second output ports, respectively, while in a first position, from the second valve port to both the output ports while in a second position, and from the second and first valve ports to the first and second output ports respectively, while in a third position, and a check valve to permit one-way fluid passage from the second output port to the first valve port. The valve may include an anti-reverse check valve configured to prevent fluid from flowing into the valve via the first output port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2003Publication date: June 9, 2005Applicant: Government of the USA, as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. EPAInventor: Charles Gray
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Publication number: 20050092687Abstract: Ruthenium compounds, either alone or in combination with other remediating compounds, can be used to oxidize, remove and sequester contaminants in water and soil or sediments.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2003Publication date: May 5, 2005Applicant: U.S. EPAInventors: Kirk Scheckel, Christopher Impellitteri, James Ryan
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Publication number: 20030108925Abstract: Genetic testing for male infertility or damage to spermatozoa is accomplished by providing a microarray of DNA probes with a sample of spermatozoa to determine the mRNA fingerprints of the sample; and comparing the mRNA fingerprints of the sample with the mRNA fingerprints of normal fertile male spermatozoa.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicants: U.S. EPA, Wayne State University, University of LeedsInventors: David Jacob Dix, Stephen A. Krawetz, David Miller