Patents by Inventor Amanda L. Hofacker

Amanda L. Hofacker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6929737
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6319394
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Publication number: 20010025807
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6238551
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Publication number: 20010001198
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 17, 2001
    Applicant: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman