Patents Examined by Steven A. Friday
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Patent number: 10837895Abstract: A system and method for treating water containing at least one contaminant. The system and method include a water treatment module such as a reverse osmosis unit. An electrochemical contaminant detection system is positioned in the waste water stream of the water treatment module. The contaminant detection system includes a contaminant sensor and a water quality sensor module. The contaminant sensor measures the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream and the water quality sensor module measures one or more water quality parameters of the waste water stream. A processor uses an algorithm to determine the concentration of the contaminant in the feed water based on the measurements of the contaminant sensor and water quality sensor module.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: A. O. SMITH CORPORATIONInventor: Gusphyl Antonio Justin
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Patent number: 10799834Abstract: The present invention provides a device capable of reducing the resistance and increasing the ion exchange rate in an electrodialysis, electro-deionization, or capacitive deionization apparatus and a method for producing said device. More specifically, the device is an electrodialysis spacer designed to have an ionically conductive surface of either cationic nature, anionic nature or a combination of both, which act as conductive pathways for ions as they move towards their respective electrode. The method of producing said spacer involves coating a substrate, such as a woven mesh, expanded netting, extruded netting or non-woven material, with perm-selective ionomer solutions and applying that substrate to an inert spacer material that has undergone chemical or mechanical etching.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: MAGNA IMPERIO SYSTEMS CORP.Inventors: Brian M. McDonald, Ethan L. Demeter
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Patent number: 10766795Abstract: Various aspects described herein relate to electrochemical devices, e.g., for separation of one or more target organic or inorganic molecules (e.g., charged or neutral molecules) from solution, and methods of using the same. In particular embodiments, the electrochemical devices and methods described herein involve at least one redox-functionalized electrode, wherein the electrode comprises an immobilized redox-species that is selective toward a target molecule (e.g., charged molecule such as ion or neutral molecule). The selectivity is based on a Faradaic/redox-activated chemical interaction (e.g., directional hydrogen binding) between the oxidized state of the redox species and a moiety of the target molecule (e.g., charged molecule such as ion or neutral molecule).Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Xiao Su, Demetra S. Achilleos, Trevor Alan Hatton
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Patent number: 10760170Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electrolysis. For example, an electrolysis system for carbon dioxide utilization may include: an electrolysis cell having an anode and a cathode, where carbon dioxide reduces at the cathode to at least one hydrocarbon compound or to carbon monoxide; first and second electrolyte reservoirs; a first product gas line from the first electrolyte reservoir; a second product gas line from the second electrolyte reservoir; a first connecting line supplying electrolyte from the first electrolyte reservoir to the anode; a second connecting line taking electrolyte from the anode to the second electrolyte reservoir; a third connecting line supplying electrolyte from the second electrolyte reservoir to the cathode; a fourth connecting line taking electrolyte from the cathode off to the first electrolyte reservoir; and a pressure-equalizing connection directly connecting the first and second electrolyte reservoirs.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Philippe Jeanty, Ralf Krause, Erhard Magori, Nayra Sofia Romero Cuéllar, Bernhard Schmid, Günter Schmid, Kerstin Wiesner-Fleischer
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Patent number: 10744457Abstract: An electrochemical separator includes an electrochemical reactor that has an anode and a cathode. An aqueous working liquid circulates through the electrochemical reactor. The aqueous working liquid contains water and electrochemically active organic molecules dissolved in the water. The electrochemically active organic molecules are quinones functionalized with one or more ionic groups.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Michael L. Perry
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Patent number: 10731270Abstract: Particles are removed from electronic components, such as components of data storage devices by use of an electrochemical process. An electronic component is immersed in an electrochemical bath, and a voltage is applied across the +ve electrode and ?ve electrode in an amount sufficient to remove charged particles present on a surface of the electronic component.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Zubair Ahmed Khan
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Patent number: 10710910Abstract: In alternative aspects, the invention provides electrocoagulation processes and apparatus in which the anode oscillates in the electrochemical cell. In some embodiments, this facilitates control of the mixing conditions at the electrode surface independently from the flow through the cell. A constant DC current may be applied in the electrocoagulation, so that as the anode moves closer to a cathode, the cell voltage will oscillate. This may for example be carried out to provide a comparable degree of electrocoagulation with a net reduction in the energy consumption compared to a non-oscillating cell.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIPInventors: Edward Roberts, Paul Panikulam
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Patent number: 10640401Abstract: A system and method for algal harvesting and destabilization are provided. The system includes a multifunctional reactive electrochemical membrane (REM). The application of an electrical current generates reactive species at the REM surface and oxidizes algae and soluble organic compounds. This novel type of membrane filtration avoids the use of harmful chemical additives. In addition, it provides the benefits of avoiding polymer aging, membrane fouling, and high costs caused by high transmembrane pressures and frequent membrane cleaning. Traditional membrane separation that significantly suffers from membrane fouling due to either the formation of a cake layer of algal cells, or more commonly due to organic matter adsorption onto the membrane surface is significantly avoided.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: New Jersey Institute of TechnologyInventors: Wen Zhang, Likun Hua
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Patent number: 10633283Abstract: A method for treating and utilizing bypass dusts from a cement production process involves a) contacting the bypass dust with an aqueous phase and mixing the same to obtain a suspension, wherein water-soluble components of the bypass dust are dissolved in the aqueous phase; b) performing a solid/liquid separation, in particular a vacuum filtration or a filter press filtration, to separate the solids contained in the suspension, wherein a brine remains; c) precipitating a partial amount of the heavy metals present in the brine, and optionally Ca, and separating the precipitate from the brine; and d) subjecting the brine to an electrocoagulation, wherein a flocculate containing the heavy metals remaining in the brine is separated.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Holcim Technology, Ltd.Inventors: Serge Lukas Zihlmann, Florian Christian Gross
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Patent number: 10625211Abstract: Water treatment systems including electrically-driven and pressure-driven separation apparatus configured to produce a first treated water suitable for use as irrigation water and a second treated water suitable for use as potable water from brackish or saline water and methods of operation of same.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLCInventors: Gary C. Ganzi, Frederick C. Wilkins
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Patent number: 10604428Abstract: A waste water treatment apparatus utilizing electrochemical technology. Electrochemical waste water treatment is based on the application of an electric field between an anode and a cathode to the waste water. The apparatus for waste water treatment comprise a channel extending through a housing between an inlet and an outlet and a water treatment zone between the inlet and outlet. The apparatus further comprise first and second spaced apart electrodes having working ends for treating waste water in the treatment zone, and an electrode feed arrangement for feeding the first and second electrodes towards the channel to control the spacing between the working ends of the first and second electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Inventor: Robert Charles Llewelyn Thomas
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Patent number: 10590546Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrode element having a valve metal substrate, a first catalyst component applied to said substrate, said first catalyst component suitable for evolving oxygen from an aqueous solution under anodic polarization, a second catalyst component suitable for generating chlorine dioxide from a chlorate solution in acidic environment; said first and second catalyst component being electrically insulated from each other. The inventions also concern an electrolytic cell having such an electrode element and a process for the generation of chlorine dioxide on a catalyst component an electrochemical cell comprising such an electrode element.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: INDUSTRIE DE NORA S.P.A.Inventor: Kenneth L. Hardee
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Patent number: 10568979Abstract: A treatment system (1) for cleaning a component part contaminated with a biofilm, in particular for cleaning bacterially contaminated surfaces of bone implants or dental implants (20), shall enable a particularly effective, locally focused and flexible treatment. For this purpose, the treatment system (1) according to the invention has a conduction element (10), which can be put into electric contact with the component needing treatment and which can be connected to a first pole of an electric supply unit (16), and a media cannula (2) which is provided for supplying a treatment liquid and whose interior is connected in an electrically conductive manner with the second pole of the electric supply unit (16).Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Zyfoma GmbHInventor: Urs Brodbeck
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Patent number: 10556206Abstract: Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion®). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLCInventors: Xin Xiao, Henry T. Sessions, Lucas M. Angelette, Paul R. Beaumont, David W. Babineau
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Patent number: 10532318Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system for treating ballast water and ballast water treatment systems in order for treatment effects to be carried out, such as controlling the transportation of undesirable and invasive marine organisms. In particular, the disclosure relates to methods and systems for applying a superimposed time-varying frequency electromagnetic wave comprising both AC and DC components in a pulsating manner to ballast water within a ballast water treatment system.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Semb-Eco R&D PTE LTDInventors: Hwee Hong Chew, Poh Kwee Ong
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Patent number: 10518219Abstract: A process for ion-exchanging an exchangeable-ion containing solid material, characterized in that said process include a bipolar membrane electrodialysis step, which comprises subjecting an aqueous ion-containing solution to a bipolar membrane electrodialysis to produce an acid liquid; an ion-exchange step, which comprises contacting the exchangeable-ion containing solid material with the acid liquid and conducting the ion-exchange to produce a slurry containing the ion-exchanged solid material; a solid-liquid separation step, which comprises subjecting the slurry containing the ion-exchanged solid material to a solid-liquid separation to produce a solid phase and a liquid phase, adjusting the liquid phase to a pH of 4-6.5, and subjecting the pH-adjusted liquid phase to a solid-liquid separation to produce a treatment liquid. Oxalic acid is used in at least one of the bipolar membrane electrodialysis step, the ion-exchange step, and the solid-liquid separation step.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM PROCESSING, SINOPECInventors: Zhongqing Liu, Lina Zhou, Yibin Luo, Xingtian Shu
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Patent number: 10519522Abstract: The method for purifying oses from hemicellulose originating from lignocellulosic biomass includes eliminating the cellulose matrix and the solid residues and/or the suspended materials from the acid hydrolysate containing oses in order to obtain a clarified hydrolysate, and subjecting the clarified hydrolysate, without adding any basic chemical reagent to increase the pH to at least one step of ultrafiltration and/or to at least one step of nanofiltration, so as to obtain a filtrate containing the majority of the pentoses and a retentate containing the species likely to precipitate under the effect of an increase in the pH. The filtrate is treated by at least one step of electrodialysis so as to recover the acid catalyst from an acid-supplemented solution, and obtain a deacidified filtrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: CENTRALESUPELECInventors: Marc-Andre Theoleyre, Julien Lemaire
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Patent number: 10513449Abstract: A desalination apparatus includes a membrane assembly disposed between a first fluid container and a second fluid container and in fluid contact with a first aqueous solution in the first fluid container and a second aqueous solution in the second fluid container. The membrane assembly includes a semipermeable membrane having a first side to be in fluid contact with the first aqueous solution and having a second side to be in fluid contact with the second aqueous solution; an electrode assembly disposed adjacent the second side of the semipermeable membrane and to contact the second aqueous solution; and power circuitry to apply charge to the electrode assembly to provide an ion concentration at the second side of the semipermeable membrane that is at least equal to the ion concentration on the first side of the semipermeable membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Inventor: Prerna Kundalgurki
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Patent number: 10501344Abstract: A method reuses produced water resulting from a fossil fuel extraction operation. The method includes providing the produced water as an input to an electrodialysis system. The method also includes running the electrodialysis system to produce a diluate and a concentrate. The diluate is contaminated so as to have a conductivity of no less than 0.1 Siemens/meter. The method also includes reformulating the diluate to produce fossil fuel extraction fluid. The method also includes using the produced fossil fuel extraction fluid in the fossil fuel extraction operation. An electrodialysis system includes first and second stacks. The electrodialysis system also includes first and second voltage sources, coupled to the first and second stacks, so as to apply a first voltage to the first stack lower by at least about 10% than a second voltage to the second stack.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInventors: John H. Lienhard, Ronan Killian McGovern, Lige Sun, Adam Michael Weiner, Syed M. Zubair
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Patent number: 10464018Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for separating a target species (e.g., CO2) from a gas mixture (e.g., gas stream) via an electrochemical process.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Sahag Voskian, Trevor Alan Hatton