Patents by Inventor Ashlee J. Howarth

Ashlee J. Howarth 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).

  • Publication number: 20250018367
    Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to a metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing liquid phase compounds, in particular anionic and cationic species, as well as a combination of anionic and cationic species, from a liquid or liquid stream. In addition, the present invention is directed to various methods or processes for utilizing the MOF to remove such compounds from a liquid or liquid stream, such as an industrial process stream, and for using the MOF at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Paul L. Frattini, Daniel M. Wells, Ashlee J. Howarth, Christopher James Copeman
  • Publication number: 20230271853
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ligated metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing both anionic and cationic species from a liquid or liquid stream. The present invention also provides methods for placing the MOF on a substrate to form a MOF-containing product that can be used in the removal of certain species from a given fluid. The MOF may be a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, for removal of certain anions, such as oxy-anions, or having an attached thiosulfonyl-thiol (—SO2—S—R2—SH, where R2 is an alkyl group) ligand for complexation with certain cationic species in addition to the anions. The substrate may be any substrate to which a given MOF may be attached, including inert polypropylene polymer resin beads, a macroscopic fabric such as a mesh material or mesh filter, and a molecular fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Paul L. Frattini, Daniel M. Wells, Ashlee J. Howarth, Christopher James Copeman, Keith Paul Fruzzetti
  • Publication number: 20220258127
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of a metal-organic framework (MOF) in removing particular chemical species or compounds, in particular oxy-anions of iodate, from a liquid or liquid stream. In some embodiments, the MOF is a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000 or MOF-808. The Zr-based MOF, including NU-1000 or MOF-808 can be used to remove these oxy-anions from various liquid streams or liquids in industrial processes such as a nuclear and fossil fuel power plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti, Ashlee J. Howarth
  • Patent number: 10723635
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of a metal-organic framework (MOF) in removing particular chemical species or compounds, in particular oxy-anions, from a liquid or liquid stream. In some embodiments, the MOF is a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, and the oxy-anions that are removed include, include, for example, oxy-anions of selenium, including selenite (SeO32?) and selenate (SeO42?); oxy-anions of antimony, including oxy-anions in either the Sb[III] (antimonite) or the Sb[V] (antimonate) redox state; and oxy-anions of lead, including oxy-anions in either the Pb[II] or the Pb[IV] redox state, such as Pb(OH)62?, Pb(OH)64?, PbO32?, and PbO22?. The Zr-based MOF, including NU-1000 can be used to remove these oxy-anions from various liquid streams in industrial processes such as a nuclear and fossil fuel power plants, including the latter's flue gas desulfurization system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Daniel M. Wells, Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti, Omar Farha, Joseph T. Hupp, Ashlee J. Howarth, Michael J. Katz
  • Patent number: 10308527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing particular chemical species or compounds from a liquid. In particular, the present invention provides an MOF having a molecular formula of Zr6(?3-O)4(?3OH)4(OH)4(H2O)4(TBAPy)2, wherein TBAPy is 1,3,6,8-tetrakis (p-benzoic-acid)pyrene, (known as NU-1000) for use in complexing selenate or selenite from a liquid or liquid stream. Further, the selenium based oxy-anions are removed to concentrations below that specified for wastewater discharge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for flue gas desulfurization operations in the fossil fueled electric power generation industry. Such water treatment results are achieved even in the presence of competing sulfate anion challenges and at elevated temperatures comparable to condensate cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Daniel Morgan Wells, Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti, Omar Farha, Joseph T. Hupp, Ashlee J. Howarth, Michael J. Katz
  • Publication number: 20180134581
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of a metal-organic framework (MOF) in removing particular chemical species or compounds, in particular oxy-anions, from a liquid or liquid stream. In some embodiments, the MOF is a Zr-based MOF, such as NU-1000, and the oxy-anions that are removed include, include, for example, oxy-anions of selenium, including selenite (SeO32?) and selenate (SeO42?); oxy-anions of antimony, including oxy-anions in either the Sb[III] (antimonite) or the Sb[V] (antimonate) redox state; and oxy-anions of lead, including oxy-anions in either the Pb[II] or the Pb[IV] redox state, such as Pb(OH)62?, Pb(OH)64?, PbO32?, and PbO22?. The Zr-based MOF, including NU-1000 can be used to remove these oxy-anions from various liquid streams in industrial processes such as a nuclear and fossil fuel power plants, including the latter's flue gas desulfurization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Daniel M. Wells, Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti, Omar Farha, Joseph T. Hupp, Ashlee J. Howarth, Michael J. Katz
  • Publication number: 20160318773
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-organic framework (MOF) for use in removing particular chemical species or compounds from a liquid. In particular, the present invention provides an MOF having a molecular formula of Zr6(?3-O)4(?3OH)4(OH)4(H2O)4(TBAPy)2, wherein TBAPy is 1,3,6,8-tetrakis (p-benzoic-acid)pyrene, (known as NU-1000) for use in complexing selenate or selenite from a liquid or liquid stream. Further, the selenium based oxy-anions are removed to concentrations below that specified for wastewater discharge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for flue gas desulfurization operations in the fossil fueled electric power generation industry. Such water treatment results are achieved even in the presence of competing sulfate anion challenges and at elevated temperatures comparable to condensate cooling water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Daniel Morgan Wells, Paul L. Frattini, Keith Paul Fruzzetti, Omar Farha, Joseph T. Hupp, Ashlee J. Howarth, Michael J. Katz