Patents by Inventor Carol J. Mertz

Carol J. Mertz 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: 10199129
    Abstract: The method and system disclosed provides radionuclide contamination mitigation by applying an aqueous carrier solution comprising a cation to a surface bearing a radionuclide contaminant to cause the radionuclide contaminant to enter solution forming a laden solution, then contacting the laden solution with a sequestering agent to bind to the radionuclide contaminant to form a laden sequestering agent. The removal and sequestration of the radionuclide contaminant from the contaminated surface leads directly to a reduction in the amount of radiologically-impacted critical infrastructure and the environment. The method and system are able to be performed or utilized economically with materials quickly available in the event of a radiological dispersion event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Michael D Kaminski, Carol J Mertz
  • Patent number: 9359582
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous gel composition for removing actinide ions, lanthanide ions, fission product ions, or a combination thereof from a porous surface contaminated therewith. The composition comprises a polymer mixture comprising a gel forming cross-linked polymer and a linear polymer. The linear polymer is present at a concentration that is less than the concentration of the cross-linked polymer. The polymer mixture is at least about 95% hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight (wt %) of a multi-dentate organic acid chelating agent, and about 0.02 to about 0.6 molar (M) carbonate salt, to form a gel. When applied to a porous surface contaminated with actinide ions, lanthanide ions, and/or other fission product ions, the aqueous gel absorbs contaminating ions from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Carol J. Mertz
  • Publication number: 20150038387
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous gel composition for removing actinide ions, lanthanide ions, fission product ions, or a combination thereof from a porous surface contaminated therewith. The composition comprises a polymer mixture comprising a gel forming cross-linked polymer and a linear polymer. The linear polymer is present at a concentration that is less than the concentration of the cross-linked polymer. The polymer mixture is at least about 95% hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight (wt %) of a multi-dentate organic acid chelating agent, and about 0.02 to about 0.6 molar (M) carbonate salt, to form a gel. When applied to a porous surface contaminated with actinide ions, lanthanide ions, and/or other fission product ions, the aqueous gel absorbs contaminating ions from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Carol J. Mertz
  • Patent number: 8658580
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous gel composition for removing actinide ions, lanthanide ions, fission product ions, or a combination thereof from a porous surface contaminated therewith. The composition comprises a polymer mixture comprising a gel forming cross-linked polymer and a linear polymer. The linear polymer is present at a concentration that is less than the concentration of the cross-linked polymer. The polymer mixture is at least about 95% hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight (wt %) of a multi-dentate organic acid chelating agent, and about 0.02 to about 0.4 molar (M) carbonate salt, to form a gel. When applied to a porous surface contaminated with actinide ions, lanthanide ions, and/or other fission product ions, the aqueous gel absorbs contaminating ions from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Carol J. Mertz
  • Publication number: 20130231270
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous gel composition for removing actinide ions, lanthanide ions, fission product ions, or a combination thereof from a porous surface contaminated therewith. The composition comprises a polymer mixture comprising a gel forming cross-linked polymer and a linear polymer. The linear polymer is present at a concentration that is less than the concentration of the cross-linked polymer. The polymer mixture is at least about 95% hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight (wt %) of a multi-dentate organic acid chelating agent, and about 0.02 to about 0.4 molar (M) carbonate salt, to form a gel. When applied to a porous surface contaminated with actinide ions, lanthanide ions, and/or other fission product ions, the aqueous gel absorbs contaminating ions from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. KAMINSKI, Carol J. MERTZ
  • Patent number: 8507284
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and rapid methods for extracting strontium ions from urine to provide a concentrated and purified strontium-90 extract suitable for scintillation measurements. The methods remove organic compounds, pigments, and alkali metal ions that can interfere with quantitative determination of strontium-90 in urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Carol J. Mertz, Ilya A. Shkrob, Mark L. Dietz, Cory A. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20130017613
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and rapid methods for extracting strontium ions from urine to provide a concentrated and purified strontium-90 extract suitable for scintillation measurements. The methods remove organic compounds, pigments, and alkali metal ions that can interfere with quantitative determination of strontium-90 in urine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. KAMINSKI, Carol J. MERTZ, Ilya A. SHKROB, Mark L. DIETZ, Cory A. HAWKINS
  • Patent number: 7737320
    Abstract: A method of decontaminating porous surfaces contaminated with water soluble radionuclides by contacting the contaminated porous surfaces with an ionic solution capable of solubilizing radionuclides present in the porous surfaces followed by contacting the solubilized radionuclides with a gel containing a radionuclide chelator to bind the radionuclides to the gel, and physically removing the gel from the porous surfaces. A dry mix is also disclosed of a cross-linked ionic polymer salt, a linear ionic polymer salt, a radionuclide chelator, and a gel formation controller present in the range of from 0% to about 40% by weight of the dry mix, wherein the ionic polymer salts are granular and the non cross-linked ionic polymer salt is present as a minor constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Martha R. Finck, Carol J. Mertz
  • Publication number: 20100130398
    Abstract: A method of decontaminating porous surfaces contaminated with water soluble radionuclides by contacting the contaminated porous surfaces with an ionic solution capable of solubilizing radionuclides present in the porous surfaces followed by contacting the solubilized radionuclides with a gel containing a radionuclide chelator to bind the radionuclides to the gel, and physically removing the gel from the porous surfaces. A dry mix is also disclosed of a cross-linked ionic polymer salt, a linear ionic polymer salt, a radionuclide chelator, and a gel formation controller present in the range of from 0% to about 40% by weight of the dry mix, wherein the ionic polymer salts are granular and the non cross-linked ionic polymer salt is present as a minor constituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael D. Kaminski, Martha R. Finck, Carol J. Mertz