Patents Examined by Katherine Zalasky
  • Process for purification of an aqueous phase containing polyaromatics
    Patent number: 9227854
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for purifying a liquid stream having an aqueous phase with polyaromatics, and optionally an organic phase. The process can include sending the liquid stream to a mixing tank and introducing an aromatic component to produce a mixture of an organic phase and of an aqueous phase. The mixture can be sent to a decanter to recover a clean aqueous phase and an organic phase. The clean aqueous phase can go through a stripper to remove a substantial part of any remaining organic component. The liquid stream can be the whole or a fraction of an aqueous phase recovered by condensation of an effluent gas leaving an ethylbenzene dehydrogenation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS FRANCE
    Inventor: Renaud Dernoncourt
  • Ligand based forward osmosis
    Patent number: 9221018
    Abstract: Forward osmosis methods and apparatus using a supported osmotic agent to establish or enhance an osmotic forward bias are disclosed. A supported osmotic agent may be assisted by osmotic agents not attached to a support and/or a pressure differential between an influent and effluent chamber and/or a temperature gradient and/or other means to increase the osmotic pressure in an effluent chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Crystal Clear Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Harris
  • Spinning device
    Patent number: 9222200
    Abstract: A spinning device is disclosed. The spinning device includes a tube body, a sleeve component, a jacket tube and a lid. The tube body has a first through orifice in a vertical direction, the sleeve component has a second through orifice for the tube body to be mounted therein to form a fluid passage in between; the jacket tube has a third through orifice for the sleeve component and the tube body to be mounted therein. A first opening and second opening are formed on the wall of the jacket tube, allowing the second opening to be coupled with the fluid passage. The lid is coupled to one end of the jacket tube, and has a fourth through orifice, allowing the tube body to rotate with respect to the sleeve tube, jacket tube and the lid, thereby making a the hollow fiber having a spiral passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Chin-Chih Tai
  • System and method for filtering
    Patent number: 9212071
    Abstract: A filtering method using a filtering system is disclosed, which is capable of accomplishing a first water bath into which a first membrane cassette and a first membrane cassette for concentrate are submerged, a second water bath into which a second membrane cassette and a second membrane cassette for concentrate are submerged, a first pump for supplying a first negative pressure to the first membrane cassette, a second pump for supplying a second negative pressure to the second membrane cassette, and a common pump for supplying a third negative pressure to the first and second membrane cassettes for concentrate, stopping an operation of the first pump; interrupting the third negative pressure supplied from the common pump to the first membrane cassette for concentrate; and cleaning the first membrane cassette and the first membrane cassette for concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Kolon Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwang-Jin Lee
  • Self-unlocking fluid-tight connector
    Patent number: 9213021
    Abstract: A connector is used to connect a conduit to a threaded orifice of a fluidic component, such as a component of an apparatus for chromatography. The connector includes a flexible fitting, a deformable fitting, and a compression fitting. The flexible fitting fixes the position of the conduit with respect to the threaded orifice. The deformable fitting provides a fluid-tight seal between the fluidic conduit and the threaded orifice. The compression fitting includes an external-thread portion for attachment to the orifice, to urge the flexible fitting toward an outer surface of the fluidic conduit, and to urge the deformable fitting toward both the outer surface and the orifice, a cam portion in mechanical communication with the flexible fitting via a through-hole in the external thread portion, and a graspable portion in rotatable communication with the cam portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Plant, John C. Conidi
  • Scum removal system for liquids
    Patent number: 9205353
    Abstract: The scum removal system for liquids is adaptable to wastewater treatment facilities, aquaculture facilities, oil spills, and/or other environments where the removal of a thin, buoyant layer of material from a liquid surface is desired. The system incorporates a geyser pump having one or more inlet pipes, with the inlet pipe(s) collectively having a larger diameter than the discharge pipe. This assures that the volume of water in the inlet pipe is always less than that in the discharge pulse, thus assuring that a steady, constant flow of liquid flows into the inlet opening to assure a uniform inertial flow of the floating contaminants into the inlet. The top of the inlet pipe(s) may be vertically adjustable for variable liquid level. The geyser pump may be submerged within the liquid or may be installed external to the liquid tank with the submerged inlet pipe communicating with the external pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel M. Early, Scott F. Easter
  • Method and apparatus for iterative lysis and extraction of algae
    Patent number: 9200235
    Abstract: A method and system for processing algae involves the use of an ionic liquid-containing clarified cell lysate to lyse algae cells. The resulting crude cell lysate may be clarified and subsequently used to lyse algae cells. The process may be repeated a number of times before a clarified lysate is separated into lipid and aqueous phases for further processing and/or purification of desired products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Streamline Automation, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Chew, Tabitha Boggs, H. Waite H. Dykes, Jr., Stephen J. Doherty
  • Fractionation of charged polysaccharide
    Patent number: 9200052
    Abstract: Polydisperse and charged polysaccharides are fractionated into low polydispersity fractions (preferably having pd<1.1), each containing species within a narrow range of molecular weights. An aqueous solution of the polydisperse polysaccharides is contacted with an ion exchange resin in a column and the polysaccharides are subjected to selective elution by aqueous elution buffer. The selective elution consists of at least 3 sequential elution buffers having different and constant ionic strength and/or pH and in which the subsequent buffers have ionic strength and/or pH than those of the preceding step. The new preparations are particularly suitable for the production of PSA-derivatized therapeutic agents intended for use in humans and animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Lipoxen Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Sanjay Jain, Ioannis Papaioannou, Peter Laing
  • Superhydrophilic and oleophobic porous materials and methods for making and using the same
    Patent number: 9186631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a porous material having a surface that is concurrently both superhydrophilic (having a first apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of less than or equal to about 5° for water) and oleophobic (having a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 90°) or superoleophobic (a second apparent advancing dynamic contact angle of greater than or equal to about 150° for oil). Such materials can be used in a separator device to separate a liquid-liquid mixture of immiscible components (e.g., oil and water) or miscible components (e.g., alcohols). Separation apparatus incorporating such materials and methods of making and using these materials are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: The Regents Of The University Of Michigan, The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Anish Tuteja, Arun Kumar Kota, Gibum Kwon, Joseph M. Mabry
  • Apparatus and process for treatment of water
    Patent number: 9180411
    Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of water, including for example treatment in connection with hydrocarbon production operations. Silica in water produces undesirable scaling in processing equipment, which causes excess energy usage and maintenance problems. Electrocoagulation (EC) at relatively high water temperature, followed by any of membrane distillation or forward osmosis (FO), may be combined with a subsequent process of ceramic ultra-filtration (UF filtration) employed to treat water. Water to be treated may be produced water that has been pumped from a subterranean reservoir. The treated water may be employed to generate steam. The treatment units (e.g., EC, forward osmosis, UF filtration, etc) can be configured into one system as an on-site installation or a mobile unit for on-site or off-site water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Prakhar Prakash, James Craig Pauley, Randall B. Pruet
  • Water softener using nanofiltration to reclaim a portion of the regenerating solution
    Patent number: 9181110
    Abstract: A water softening system includes apparatus that recycles a substantial percentage of the solution used for regenerating the system. This system conventionally includes a brine tank and a softening tank through which hard water from a source passes during normal operation. During a regeneration mode, the solution of sodium or potassium ions in the brine tank passes through the softening tank acquiring hardness ions, and then through a nanofilter that passes a much higher proportion of the sodium or potassium ions than the hardness ions from a high pressure side to a low pressure side. The hardness ions flow from the upstream end of the nanofilter through an outlet and into a drain. The liquid passing through the nanofilter contains salt that returns to the brine tank for reuse. Concentration of sodium or potassium ions may be tested during a fast rinse portion of the regeneration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Peter S. Cartwright
  • Lubricant filtration system
    Patent number: 9175805
    Abstract: A filtration device is disclosed. The device includes a filter inlet, a filter outlet, and a filter flow path from the filter inlet to the filter outlet. A filter in the filter flow path filters contaminants from lubricant flowing from a lubricant supply to a lubricant destination. A bypass flow path bypasses the filter in the event the filter becomes clogged. The bypass flow path has a bypass inlet in fluid communication with the filter flow path at a location upstream from the filter and a bypass outlet separate from the filter outlet and not in fluid communication with the filter outlet. The bypass outlet is normally closed to permit flow along the filter flow path and opens if the filter becomes clogged so that lubricant is directed along the bypass flow path and through the bypass outlet for disposal without going to the lubricant destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Paul G. Conley, Canlong He, Craig J. Fraser
  • Cellulose powder and processes for its production
    Patent number: 9163095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing spherical, non-fibrillar cellulose particles with a particle size in the range of from about 1 ?m to about 400 ?m from a solution of cellulose in which the solution is cooled down to below its solidification temperature wherein it is flowing freely, the solvent is washed out, the solidified cellulose solution is disintegrated to form cellulose powder comprising particles, and the disintegrated and washed out particles are dried. The invention also relates to the cellulose powder and particles made in accordance with the process of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Innerlohinger, Gregor Kraft, Hedda Weber, Haio Harms
  • Removal of organic dyes and organic pollutants by titanium peroxide gel
    Patent number: 9149673
    Abstract: The one step process of removal of chromophore/dye/organic pollutant from a solution comprising a polymer free titanium oxide gel i.e. high zeta potential is disclosed. The concentration of the chromophores is removed up to 95-100%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Mohan Kerba Dongare, Shubhangi Bhalchandra Umbarkar
  • Apparatus and process for treatment of water
    Patent number: 9138688
    Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of water, including for example treatment in connection with hydrocarbon production operations. Silica in water produces undesirable scaling in processing equipment, which causes excess energy usage and maintenance problems. Electrocoagulation (EC) at relatively high water temperature followed by ultra-filtration (UF filtration) may be combined with forward osmosis (FO) to treat water. Water to be treated may be produced water that has been pumped from a subterranean reservoir. The treated water may be employed to generate steam. The treatment units (e.g., EC, forward osmosis, UF filtration, etc) can be configured into one system as an on-site installation or a mobile unit for on-site or off-site water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Prakhar Prakash, James Craig Pauley, Randall B. Pruet
  • Hollow fibers having a winding channel
    Patent number: 9114364
    Abstract: A hollow fiber for adsorption or filtration. The hollow fiber contains a tubular matrix having a first end and a second end, and a winding channel formed through the tubular matrix and extending between the first end and the second end. The tubular matrix is porous and has a surface-area-to-volume ratio of 10 to 20000 m2/m3, a thickness of 0.05 to 9.95 mm, an outside diameter of 0.1 to 10 mm, and a length 10 to 90% that of the winding channel. Also disclosed is a method of preparing this hollow fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Chin-Chih Tai
  • Continuous collection method of particle component in aqueous solution and apparatus therefor
    Patent number: 9108124
    Abstract: The particle components may be collected by using a phenomenon that the particle components in the aqueous phase aggregate at the liquid-to-liquid interface. Both of the particle components and the dissolved components in the aqueous phase may be simultaneously collected if combined with liquid-liquid extraction phenomenon that the dissolved components in the aqueous phase are collected into the solvent phase through the liquid-to-liquid interface. The aggregation phenomenon of the particle components at the liquid-to-liquid interface may be promoted by using an emulsion flow method, a method of applying mechanical external forces (such as stirring and vibrating) or another method combining both the above-mentioned methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
    Inventors: Hirochika Naganawa, Nobuyuki Yanase, Tetsushi Nagano
  • Process for obtaining desalted water from zirconium-containing wash water
    Patent number: 9079787
    Abstract: A method for recovering demineralized water from zirconium-containing rinse water having a pH lower than 6.0, wherein a) the rinse water has added to it an aqueous solution of Ca(OH)2 containing no more than 0.1 wt % undissolved Ca(OH)2, in a quantity such that the pH of the rinse water rises to a value in the range from 6.2 to 8.0, b) a precipitate that forms is separated from the rinse water, and c) the rinse water from which the precipitate was removed in step b) is subjected to an ion exchange method or to reverse osmosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Jan-Willem Brouwer, Jens Krömer
  • Dehydration processes using membranes with hydrophobic coating
    Patent number: 9061252
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic compounds, especially polar compounds such as alcohols. The processes include a membrane-based dehydration step, using a membrane that has a dioxole-based polymer selective layer or the like and a hydrophilic selective layer, and can operate even when the stream to be treated has a high water content, such as 10 wt % or more. The processes are particularly useful for dehydrating ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer Ly
  • Chemical solution feeder and method
    Patent number: 9056286
    Abstract: A feeder is disclosed for dissolving a chemical and mixing it with a liquid. The feeder includes a hopper adapted to hold the chemical, a nozzle located in the hopper, and a supply of the liquid to the nozzle to dissolve the chemical on contact with the liquid from the nozzle to form a solution. A solution basin is disposed under the hopper and a drain is provided from the hopper into the solution basin. An outlet from the solution basin has an outlet valve which opens when a solution level in the solution basin rises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ALLCHEM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Mark Sims, Brian Bokowy, David Jack Thomas