Patents by Inventor Bruce D. Zenner

Bruce D. Zenner 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: 6709724
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier. Also, a catalyzing agent is included in an amount sufficient to increase the rate of oxygen scavenging by the organic compound. The organic compound and catalyzing agent are preferably maintained in a dry state by freeze drying or microencapsulation until the organic compound is activated for oxygen scavenging by contact with water or water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Fred N. Teumac, Bruce D. Zenner, Bert A. Ross, Larrie A. Deardurff, Mahmood R. Rassouli
  • Patent number: 6656383
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition or concentrate of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound may be an ascorbate compound or a polycarboxylic or salicylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal or a salt thereof. The oxygen scavenging composition is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier. A catalyzing agent is included in an amount sufficient to increase the rate of oxygen scavenging by the ascorbate compound. The oxygen scavenging compound may be added to the composition in a dry state, and is inactive until activated by contact with water or water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Charles S. Benedict
  • Patent number: 6465065
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier. Also, a catalyzing agent is included in an amount sufficient to increase the rate of oxygen scavenging by the organic compound. The organic compound and catalyzing agent are preferably maintained in a dry state by freeze drying or microencapsulation until the organic compound is activated for oxygen scavenging by contact with water or water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Fred N. Teumac, Bruce D. Zenner, Bert A. Ross, Larrie A. Deardurff, Mahmood R. Rassouli
  • Patent number: 6391406
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition or concentrate of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound may be an ascorbate compound or a polycarboxylic or salicylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal or a salt thereof. The oxygen scavenging composition is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Charles S. Benedict
  • Patent number: 5492742
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging packages and containers which comprise a composition of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound is a salicylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal or a salt thereof. The oxygen scavenging composition is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier. A reducing agent of an ascorbate compound may be added to enhance the performance of the salicylic acid chelate or complex. The oxygen scavenging compound may be added to the composition in a dry state, and is inactive until activated for oxygen scavenging by contact with water or water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Fred N. Teumac, Larrie A. Deardurff, Bert A. Ross
  • Patent number: 5364555
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition of a carrier, such as a polymer, which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor and an oxygen scavenging compound of an organic compound or salt thereof dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger. The oxygen scavenging compound is a salicylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal or a salt thereof. The oxygen scavenging composition is activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates into or through the carrier. A reducing agent of an ascorbate compound may be added to enhance the performance of the salicylic acid chelate or complex. The oxygen scavenging compound may be added to the composition in a dry state, and is inactive until activated for oxygen scavenging by contact with water or water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Oxygen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Fred N. Teumac, Larrie A. Deardurff, Bert A. Ross
  • Patent number: 5202052
    Abstract: An oxygen scavenging composition of a polymer which is permeable to both oxygen and water or water vapor, and an oxygen scavenging material of an amino polycarboxylic acid chelate or complex of a transition metal, or salt thereof, dispersed relatively uniformly throughout the polymer in an amount effective to act as an oxygen scavenger when activated for scavenging oxygen by contact with water or water vapor which permeates the polymer. A preferred oxygen scavenging compound is ferrous EDTA or salts thereof. Also, an ascorbate compound may be used as a preservative or augmenter for the oxygen scavenging compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Aquanautics Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Fred N. Teumac, Larrie A. Deardurff, Bert A. Ross
  • Patent number: 4959135
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the extraction of a ligand such as molecular oxygen from a first fluid environment and for release of a ligand such as molecular oxygen, as well as ligand carrier compounds therefor comprising linear, pentadentate polyalkylamines and transition metal ions. The carrier compounds have the general formula: ##STR1## where, each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is independently an organic group including a sulfur, an oxygen or a nitrogen coordinated to M;each of m, n, o, and p is 1, 2, 3, or 4;X is selected from the group consisting of 2,6-pyridyl, 2,6-piperidyl, 2,5-pyrrolyl, 2,4-imidazolyl, substituted heterocyclic amines, --)--, --S--, ##STR2## and ##STR3## where R.sub.3 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aralkyl; and M is a transition metal ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Aquanautics Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Zenner, Joseph P. Ciccone, Emory S. De Castro, Larrie A. Deardurff, John B. Kerr
  • Patent number: 4761209
    Abstract: A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein the membrane separates the environment from an interior space of a closed container, (2) transporting a carrier fluid into contact with the second surface of the membrane, wherein the carrier fluid is confined in the closed container and the carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through the membrane binds to the carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting the carrier fluid containing the bound oxygen complex to a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell which forms a second portion of the closed container, (4) electrochemically modifying the binding-state oxygen carrier to an oxidation state having less binding affinity for oxygen, thereby releasing free oxygen into the carrier fluid and produ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Aquanautics Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Bonaventura, Celia Bonaventura, Joseph C. Van Ryzin, Bruce D. Zenner, C. William Anderson
  • Patent number: 4609383
    Abstract: An apparatus for extracting oxygen from an environment surrounding the apparatus, which comprises a container having an interior space isolated from physical contact with the environment at least in part by a gas permeable membrane having a first and a second side, wherein the membrane contacts the environment on the first side of the membrane, a carrier fluid in contact with the second side of the membrane in the first container, and a non-proteinaceous oxygen binding compound contained in the carrier fluid, wherein the compound comprises a tetradentate chelating molecule, a metal ion chelated in the molecule, and a nitrogenous base chelated to the metal ion, is disclosed along with a method for extracting oxygen from environmental fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Aquanautics Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Bonaventura, Celia Bonaventura, Joseph C. Van Ryzin, Bruce D. Zenner
  • Patent number: 4602987
    Abstract: A method for extracting oxygen from a fluid environment, which comprises the steps of (1) contacting a first fluid environment containing oxygen with a first surface of a first oxygen permeable membrane having a first and a second surface, wherein the membrane separates the environment from an interior space of a closed container, (2) transporting a carrier fluid into contact with the second surface of the membrane, wherein the carrier fluid is confined in the closed container and the carrier fluid contains a binding-state oxygen carrier, whereby oxygen which diffuses through the membrane binds to the carrier to give a bound oxygen complex, (3) transporting the carrier fluid containing the bound oxygen complex to a first electrode compartment of an electrochemical cell which forms a second portion of the closed container, (4) electrochemically modifying the binding-state oxygen carrier to an oxidation state having less binding affinity for oxygen, thereby releasing free oxygen into the carrier fluid and produ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Aquanautics Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Bonaventura, Celia Bonaventura, Joseph C. Van Ryzin, Bruce D. Zenner, C. William Anderson