Patents Examined by Ana Fortuna
  • Water-treatment separating membrane of high flux having good chlorine resistance and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9211507
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a water-treatment separating membrane includes forming an aqueous amine solution layer on a porous support, and forming a polyamide active layer by dropping droplets of an organic solution including an acyl halide compound on the aqueous amine solution layer. A water-treatment separating membrane manufactured by the same also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Hong Kim, Young-Hoon Ko, Chong-Kyu Shin, Phill Lee
  • Method for dewatering water-containing organic substance
    Patent number: 9205381
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a VP dewatering method being applicable over a wide range, having good handling properties, and being economically efficient and highly energy-saving, which comprises compression-pressuring a dewatered vapor product to elevate a condensation temperature thereof and then re-using the same as a heat source for vaporizing a supply liquid. In dewatering a water-containing organic substance which is a liquid starting material according to a vapor permeation membrane separation method, a dewatered organic substance vapor discharged from a membrane module is pressurized with a compressor to elevate the condensation temperature of the vapor and then the vapor is fed to a vaporizer of said method to collect and use the latent heat of condensation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Fujita, Shiro Inoue, Yoshinobu Takaki
  • High permeate flux reverse osmosis membrane including carbodiimide compound and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9205384
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reverse osmosis membrane including a porous support including a polysulfone layer; and a polyamide active layer formed on the porous support, wherein a concentration of sulfur (S) detected on a surface of the polyamide active layer is 1.8×10?3 units or less on average or a concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) detected on the surface of the polyamide active layer is 7×10?3 units or less on average, and a method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis membrane, the method including forming a porous support; and forming a polyamide active layer on the porous support by interfacially polymerizing a polyfunctional amine solution including a carbodiimide compound, and a polyfunctional acid halide compound solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Hong Kim, Young-Ju Lee, Chong-Kyu Shin
  • Separation membrane
    Patent number: 9199199
    Abstract: A separation membrane is described. The separation membrane comprises a porous inorganic membrane, the pores of the inorganic membrane being coated with a polybenzoxazole polymer coating. Methods of making the separation membrane and methods of separating xylenes using the separation membrane are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Chunqing Liu, Gregory F. Maher
  • Polymer membrane for water treatment and method for manufacture of same
    Patent number: 9193815
    Abstract: A polymer membrane for water treatment composed of a vinyl chloride copolymer comprising a vinyl chloride monomer and a hydrophilic monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tamai, Yuki Goto, Takashi Osugi, Ryuichi Matsuo, Naotaka Oyabu
  • Perforated membranes
    Patent number: 9186630
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane comprising at least one molecular monolayer composed of low-molecular aromatics and cross-linked in the lateral direction, wherein the membrane has a thickness in the range from 1 to 200 nm and a perforation in the form of openings having a diameter in the range from 0.1 nm to 1 ?m, to a method for the production thereof, and to a use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Universität Bielefeld
    Inventors: Armin Gölzhäuser, Klaus Edinger
  • Liquid filtration media
    Patent number: 9180393
    Abstract: A liquid filter with a composite medium that has a nanoweb adjacent to and optionally bonded to a microporous membrane. The membrane is characterized by an LRV value of 3.7 at a rated particle size, and the nanoweb has a fractional filtration efficiency of greater than 0.1 at the rated particle size of the membrane. The nanoweb also has a thickness efficiency ratio of greater than 0.0002 at that efficiency. The nanoweb acts to provide depth filtration to the membrane, prefilters particles and extends the lifetime of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Guanghui Chen, Henricus Jacobus Cornelis Gommeren, Lawrence Mark Knorr
  • Antimicrobial water treatment membranes and production thereof
    Patent number: 9175036
    Abstract: The present invention discloses antimicrobial water treatment membranes, comprising a water treatment membrane, covalently attached to one or more antimicrobial peptides or derivatives thereof, either directly or via one or more tether molecules. There are also provided a process for preparing these antimicrobial membranes, and uses thereof in water treatment applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: BEN-GURION UNVERSITY OF THE NEGEV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Roni Kasher, Ze'ev Ronen, Ehud Banin
  • Separation membrane and method for producing the same
    Patent number: 9174174
    Abstract: A separation membrane including a separation-functional layer is provided, wherein the separation-functional layer contains a polyvinylidene fluoride-type resin having a melt viscosity of 3,300 Pa·s or more, and also the separation-functional layer has a three-dimensional network structure. A separation membrane is provided having high virus removal performance, high pure water permeability, and high physical durability and high chemical strength, which can also be used in the field of water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Komori, Toshiyuki Ishizaki, Kenta Iwai, Xunyao Fu, Shinichi Minegishi, Nao Minaki
  • Hollow fiber capillary membrane and method for the production thereof
    Patent number: 9149770
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane made of two coextruded layers A and B, wherein layer B has a non-woven type structure having a mesh size of 0.1 to 10 ?m and layer A has a porous structure. A method for producing a membrane according to the invention and the use thereof is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Fislage, Klaus Heilmann, Torsten Keller, Holger Lichau, Igor Raiko, Roland Sander
  • Enhancing flux of a microporous hollow fiber membrane
    Patent number: 9149772
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for improving oil recovery from a liquid source of oil, comprising: a membrane contactor in contact with a liquid source of oil; a heating/cooling device connected to at least one of the liquid source of oil or a collection fluid; and a membrane contactor system having one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first or second surfaces coalesce one or more oils from the liquid source of oil allowing the coalesced oil to be collected on the opposite surface of the membrane, wherein a temperature differential between the liquid source of oil and the collection fluid enhances the oil recovery at the membrane contactor from the liquid source of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMS, ORGANIC FUELS ALGAE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Method for cleaning filter structures in filtration installations for filtering liquid products, and a filtration installation
    Patent number: 9138667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning filter structures of filtration installations for filtering liquid products containing a gas or gas mixture that is neutral to the product, in particular for filtering drinks containing the gas or gas mixture that is neutral to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Sander
  • Magnetically responsive membranes
    Patent number: 9132389
    Abstract: The invention provides permeable magnetically responsive filtration membranes that include a filtration membrane polymer base suitable for fluid filtration; hydrophilic polymers conjugated to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer; and magnetic nanoparticles affixed to the ends of a plurality of the hydrophilic polymers, wherein the hydrophilic polymers are movable with respect to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer surface in the presence of an oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe, Xianghong Qian, Heath H. Himstedt, Mathias Ulbricht, Michael J. Semmens
  • Non-braided reinforced holow fibre membrane
    Patent number: 9132390
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane comprising a reinforcing structure embedded within a membrane wall is provided. A generally tube-shaped reinforcing structure for a hollow fiber membrane is also provided. The reinforcing structure comprises i) a plurality of warp filaments, the plurality of warp filaments being generally parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other circumferentially; and, ii) one or more wrap filaments, each of the one or more wrap filaments extending obliquely between at least two of the plurality of warp filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: BL Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre Lucien Cote
  • Apparatus and method for separating hydrophilic and hydrophobic components
    Patent number: 9126127
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating hydrophilic material from hydrophobic material, comprising: (a) a body having a first and second parallel walls defining an elongated cavity; (b) a water-absorbing material in the cavity along the first wall and having a surface essentially parallel to the second wall, thereby defining a channel between the surface and the second wall; (c) a first inlet having a first inlet end disposed in the channel, the first inlet being configured for injecting a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic material; (d) a first outlet having a first outlet end disposed in the channel proximate the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophilic material; and (e) a second outlet having a second outlet end disposed in the channel a distance from the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophobic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Erin Lynne Jablonski, Janet T. Tesfai, Renee N. Perry, Daniel Eric Mayo
  • Method for treating water in order to desalinate said water, including treating concentrates
    Patent number: 9126149
    Abstract: A method and system for treating water in order to desalinate the water where the system and method includes a reverse osmosis or distillation unit for producing a first concentrate and at least partially desalinated water. The first concentrate stream is directed to a first demineralization unit which utilizes nanofiltration membranes to treat the first concentrate stream so as to produce a permeate and a second concentrate stream. The second concentrate stream is directed to a second demineralization unit that includes an ion exchange device which in turn treats the second concentrate stream by producing a stream of at least partially demineralized water and third concentrate stream. The stream of at least partially demineralized water is mixed with the stream of at least partially desalinated water produced by the reverse osmosis or distillation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Michel Coeytaux
  • Desalination treatment membrane
    Patent number: 9108169
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a desalination treatment membrane includes a desalting membrane and a base material which is disposed in close contact with the desalting membrane, wherein a solid salt is fixed to the base material by a graft-polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kenji Sano, Hideyuki Tsuji, Arisa Yamada, Akihiro Matsui, Yasunari Maekawa, Shin Hasegawa, Shinichi Sawada
  • Wastewater treatment system
    Patent number: 9102544
    Abstract: A treatment system and process is described herein to separate constituent parts from aqueous-based products or by-products, such as wastewater from a cellulosic ethanol process. The treatment system may include an ultrafiltration system, a first reverse osmosis system and a second reverse osmosis system. The treatment system may be configured to operate in modified batch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Merryman
  • Non-reactive process for fixing nanotubes in a membrane in through-passage orientation
    Patent number: 9095821
    Abstract: A polymer membrane is formed around nanotubes by applying either droplets or a thin film of a suspension of the nanotubes over a layer of a solution of the polymer, the suspending medium for the nanotubes and the solvent(s) for the polymer selected such that the suspending agent will evaporate while it is migrating into and dispersing in the solvent. When the polymer is then permitted to coagulate around the nanotubes, the coagulated polymer will fix the orientations of the nanotubes and a high proportion of the nanotubes will protrude from both sides of the resulting membrane to provide through-passages through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NAGARE MEMBRANES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy V. Ratto, Jason K. Hott, Alan Szmodis, Alyssa-Jennifer Avestro, Michael O'Connell
  • Reverse osmosis membrane
    Patent number: 9079139
    Abstract: There is provided a reverse osmosis membrane including a porous support; a polysulfone layer formed on the porous support and having pores formed in a surface thereof, pores having a diameter of 40 nm or greater accounting for less than 0.5% of total pores; and an active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hye-Jin Kwon, Seung-Yup Lee, Seung-Pyo Jeong, Phill Lee, Chong-Kyu Shin