Patents Examined by Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 9555393
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a superabsorbent polymer resin incorporated with a particles meeting the following properties i) to ii): i) a BET specific surface area of 300 to 1500 m2/g, ii) a porosity of 50% or more, and a method for preparing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Mo Lee, Young-Sam Kim, Kyoung-Shil Oh, Young-In Yang, Ye-Hon Kim
  • Patent number: 9556036
    Abstract: A device and method for separating boron from carbonate are provided. The device in some embodiments, includes a first half having a heating section, a second half having a cooling section and a plurality of vials disposed therebetween. The second half is opposite the first half. The plurality of vials are adapted to receive boron and an alkaline matrix such that, during heating of the first half and cooling of the second half, boron is sublimated and condensed on a closed end of each of the plurality of vials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
    Inventors: Sarah M. Aciego, Bryan K. Sell
  • Patent number: 9552897
    Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing waste are disclosed. The systems and methods provide for a high level of confinement and long term stability. The systems and methods include adsorbing waste into a metal-organic framework (MOF), and applying pressure to the MOF material's framework to crystallize or make amorphous the MOF material thereby changing the MOF's pore structure and sorption characteristics without collapsing the MOF framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Tina M. Nenoff, Dorina Florentina Sava Gallis, Karena Chapman, Peter Chupas
  • Patent number: 9539455
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for irradiating of solids containing petroleum or petroleum derived compounds (PPDCs), such as soils, oily sludge, drill cuttings, sediments, and non-commercial petroleum industry products, with electron beams in order to physically and/or chemically alter the composition of the PPDCs. The method includes the step of separating PPDC gas and liquids in the presence of a gas driver. Optionally, the method includes the steps of treating off-gases and applying one or more amendments to PPCD-impacted solid material pre-irradiation, post-irradiation, or during electron beam irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC
    Inventors: Thomas Hoelen, Cesar Ovalles, Deyuan Kong
  • Patent number: 9539456
    Abstract: The present invention includes formulations and methods to reduce Cr(VI) contamination, in which the formulation comprises (1) a reactive reducing agent comprising at least one reducing chemical capable of reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III); and (b) one or more solvents. Moreover, the present invention includes formulations to reduce Cr(VI) within the coating, and Cr(VI) reducing kits with at least one color reference tool for evaluating the process and/or completion of the Cr(VI) reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Bruce F. Monzyk, Paul J. Usinowicz, Derik R. Heiss, Vinay V. Gadkari, John T. Stropki
  • Patent number: 9533259
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regenerating a SCR denitration catalyst assisted by microwaves. The method comprises: (1) a poisoned SCR denitration catalyst is immersed in deionized water, and the SCR denitration catalyst is cleaned by a bubbling method; (2) the SCR denitration catalyst is transferred to a container containing a pore-expanding solution for a soaking treatment; (3) the SCR denitration catalyst is transferred to a microwave device and treated for 1-10 minutes; (4) the SCR denitration catalyst is transferred to a container with an activating liquid and impregnated for 1-4 hours; (5) the SCR denitration catalyst is dried with microwaves for 1-20 minutes; and (6) the SCR denitration catalyst is calcined under conditions of 500-600° C. for 4-7 hours. The present invention has readily available raw materials, is simple and energy-saving in device and process, and is suitable for industrial scale regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiang Gao, Zhongyang Luo, Kefa Cen, MingJiang Ni, Hao Song, Weihong Wu, Hongmin Yu, Zhenglun Shi, Jinsong Zhou, Mengxiang Fang, Chunjiang Yu, Shurong Wang, Lemin Cheng, Qinhui Wang
  • Patent number: 9533433
    Abstract: Provided is a water absorbent resin that is useful to sanitary materials such as a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, and a blood absorbent for medical use each having a higher liquid permeability and a higher water absorbing speed. Further provided is a water absorbent resin powder that is useful to sanitary materials such as a disposable diaper, a sanitary napkin, and a blood absorbent for medical use each having a smaller amount of return of a liquid and a higher heat retaining property. A gel grinding device to be used to produce a water absorbent resin, includes: a screw; a feed opening; an extrusion opening; a porous plate; and a barrel, the screw including: a rotating shaft; and a flight, and the screw satisfying at least one of specific parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushi Torii, Kohei Omori, Nobuya Tanaka, Shigeru Sakamoto, Kenji Tada, Hironori Sato
  • Patent number: 9526936
    Abstract: Provided are a treatment method for an organic halogen compound, which allows the organic halogen compound to be efficiently decomposed without a large-scale treatment device or high operating cost, and a catalyst to be used for the treatment method. In the treatment method, an organic halogen compound is subjected to decomposition treatment by heating the organic halogen compound at a temperature of from 100° C. to 200° C. in the presence of a catalyst formed of copper oxide and hydrogen peroxide, to subject the organic halogen compound to a hydrothermal oxidation reaction utilizing a Fenton method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: OSAKA CITY UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Noritsugu Kometani
  • Patent number: 9527003
    Abstract: A production saltwater evaporation apparatus, comprising a separation and storage area comprising an iodine separation unit configured to remove iodine from production saltwater and produce saltwater, and an evaporator configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that at least some of the water in the saltwater evaporates. Included is a production saltwater evaporation apparatus, comprising a saltwater clarifying unit configured to separate metals from production saltwater and produce saltwater, and an evaporator configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that at least some of the water in the saltwater evaporates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hudgens Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Hudgens
  • Patent number: 9511349
    Abstract: A mineral wool batt for use as a plant growth medium, particularly in applications for growing vegetation (including plants) in which water retention and/or the avoidance of water run-off is of interest. The mineral wool batt has an absorbent layer which comprises needled mineral wool fibers; superabsorbent particles in the absorbent layer may be sandwiched between a denser upper and/or lower barrier layer(s) which assist in preventing their escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Knauf Insulation
    Inventors: Jure Sumi, Gorazd Sebenik, Sasa Bavec, Gregor Kejzar
  • Patent number: 9511339
    Abstract: Embodiments of a series-coupled fluidized bed reactor unit are provided. In one embodiment, the reactor unit includes primary and secondary reactors. The primary reactor includes a reaction vessel, a gas distributor fluidly coupled to the reaction vessel, and a cyclonic plenum assembly. The cyclonic plenum assembly includes a plenum assembly housing, which is fluidly coupled to the gas distributor and which has an annular sidewall; and a gas/solids inlet pipe, which fluidly couples a partially-reacted gas outlet of the secondary reactor to the plenum assembly housing. The gas/solids inlet pipe is tangentially positioned with respect to the annular sidewall of the plenum assembly housing to induce vortex flow within the plenum assembly housing of the partially-reacted gas received from the secondary fluidized bed reactor through the gas/solids inlet pipe to promote the cyclonic separation of entrained solids from the partially-reacted gas prior to entry into the gas distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Terris Yang, Robert Johnson, Hsueh Sung Harry Tung
  • Patent number: 9506648
    Abstract: A two step process for the destruction of a precursor material using a steam plasma in a three zone reactor wherein the precursor material is hydrolyzed as a first step in the high temperature zone of the reactor, followed by a second step of medium temperature oxidation of the reactant stream in the combustion zone of the reactor where combustion oxygen or air is injected and immediate quenching of the resulting gas stream to avoid the formation of unwanted by-products. A related apparatus includes a non transferred direct current steam plasma torch, an externally cooled three zone steam plasma reactor means for introducing the precursor material into the plasma plume of the plasma torch, means for introducing the combustion air or oxygen into the combustion zone, means for exiting the reactant mixture from the reactor and means for quenching the reactant mixture located at the exit end of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: PYROGENESIS CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Carabin, Lakshminarayana Rao
  • Patent number: 9504988
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) technology for selectively sequestering one or more target molecules from chemical mixtures. Also disclosed herein are MIP beads and methods of making and using thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: 6th Wave Innovations Corp.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Gluckman, Glen E. Southard
  • Patent number: 9499440
    Abstract: An amount-reduction, harmless, disposal method for heavy metal waste gypsum (HMWG), which belongs to the technical fields of recycling economy and environmental protection. The HMWG used as raw material is subjected to processes of smelting fluxpreparation, lead smelting, fuming, and geopolymeric gelling, to realize amount-reduction, harmless and resources recycling utilization of heavy metal waste gypsum. The smoke containing sulfur dioxide produced in the smelting process is sent to the acid making system, and the produced dust with heavy metal is sent to the dedicated system for heavy mental disposing. The smoke dust produced in the fuming process is returned to the lead smelting system. The secondary HMWG produced in the acid making system would be returned to the preparation process of smelting flux. And the final products would be sulfuric acid and geopolymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BEIJING
    Inventors: De an Pan, Shen gen Zhang, Ling jie Li, Bin Guo, Bo Liu
  • Patent number: 9499406
    Abstract: A method for the additive manufacturing of inorganic crystalline materials, including: physically combining a plurality of starting materials that are used to form an inorganic crystalline compound to be used as one or more of a semiconductor, scintillator, laser crystal, and optical filter; heating or melting successive regions of the combined starting materials using a directed heat source having a predetermined energy characteristic, thereby facilitating the reaction of the combined starting materials; and allowing each region of the combined starting materials to cool in a controlled manner, such that the desired inorganic crystalline compound results. The method also includes, prior to heating or melting the successive regions of the combined starting materials using the directed heat source, heating the combined starting materials to facilitate initial reaction of the combined starting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
    Inventors: Ashley C. Stowe, Douglas Speight
  • Patent number: 9492583
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article exhibiting excellent absorption speed of body fluid and dryness after absorbing body fluid, even in the case of absorbing body fluid repeatedly. The absorbent article of the present invention comprises: a water absorption layer where a water absorbent resin powder meeting the following requirements (a) to (d) is disposed, (a) a bulk density: 0.45 g/ml to 0.62 g/ml, (b) an absorption speed measured by a vortex method: 20 seconds to 50 seconds, (c) a liquid passing speed under load: 10 seconds or less, (d) a moisture absorption blocking ratio: 5% or less; and a diffusion layer disposed below the water absorption layer and including a cellulose acetate fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: LIVEDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ota, Motoko Nishida
  • Patent number: 9491926
    Abstract: A granular absorbent and granular absorbent making method producing granular absorbent from a carbohydrate starch-containing cereal grain, e.g., corn, based admixture extruded from a single screw or twin screw extruder forming liquid absorbing pellets having a clumping agent formed during extrusion composed at least in part of carbohydrate polymer binder. Each pellet is extruded under conditions that cause formation of carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent at least some of which is water soluble. One preferred method of extruding granular absorbent causes starch dextrinization to occur such that at least some of the carbohydrate polymer binder clumping agent in each liquid absorbing pellet of the granular absorbent is formed of dextrin. Each pellet can be coated such as with a smectite that preferably is bentonite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Pioneer Pet Products, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Lipscomb, Scott Repinski
  • Patent number: 9492808
    Abstract: Absorbent fibrous structure containing a polymeric fluid containing a polymer, including for example a copolymer and/or terpolymer, soil adsorbing agent, and absorbent fibrous structures containing such polymer soil adsorbing agents, and methods for making same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Cahit Eylem, Michael Scott Prodoehl, Charles William Neal, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan
  • Patent number: 9496059
    Abstract: A method for securely and safely storing radiocontaminated waste matter and a container therefor are provided. Radiocontaminated waste matter and PSC are mixed and then retained and stored in a tetragonal cylindrical container tank 1 made of steel sheet, concrete, or PSC-containing concrete, so that the spatial gamma radiation dosage of the environment around the tank 1 becomes about the same as that of an environment or place which receives no fall-out radioactive substances. When a mixture of radiocontaminated waste matter and PSC is ashed, and the ash thus obtained is again mixed with PSC, and then loaded and stored in said container tank, the spatial gamma radiation dosage around said container tank is to be similar to that of an environment or place which receives no fall-out radioactive substances, and simultaneously both 134Cs and 137Cs are decreased, and as a result radiocontaminated waste matter can be securely and safely loaded and stored for a long-period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: CORELEX SAN-EI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ai Van Tran
  • Patent number: 9492697
    Abstract: Tissue digestion methods and apparatuses that provide easy, safe and inexpensive disposal of biological tissue, for example animal carcasses and human cadavers, are disclosed. Embodiments include tissue digesters with elongated cylindrical vessels for holding digestive fluid and baskets for holding tissue within said vessel. Embodiments include baskets with perforations to allow circulation of digestive fluid around and about the tissue. In one form the basket holding the tissue is horizontally loaded into a horizontally disposed vessel. The vessel is then tilted to a more vertical orientation. Gravity helps to collect the tissue fragments in a sloped collection region of the basket, which is located near a mixer to allow continual agitation of the tissue fragments as they are digested. The tissue digester can operate efficiently at lower temperature and pressures, is mechanically less complicated, consumes less power and is less expensive to manufacture than conventional tissue digesting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bio-Response Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Wilson, Lucas J. Wilson