Patents by Inventor David F. Alden

David F. Alden 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: 20240150198
    Abstract: A method for treating an environmental medium having organic contaminants is disclosed. A mixture is added to the environmental medium. The environmental medium is heated to activate the mixture and to evaporate the organic contaminants within the environmental medium to generate contaminated vapors. The mixture acts as an additional heat source. The mixture includes a metal powder. The contaminated vapors are extracted via a perforated pipe, thereby removing the organic contaminants in a gaseous form from the environmental medium. The organic contaminants have an initial boiling point in range of 50° C. to 400° C., when immersed in water or in contact with moist soil, measured at a standard atmospheric pressure of 1 atm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Gary M. BIRK, David F. ALDEN, John SANKEY
  • Publication number: 20230272281
    Abstract: A method for treating an environmental medium is disclosed. A heat source with a heat exchanger is provided aboveground in proximity to the environmental medium to be treated. A mixture is heated to a temperature below a boiling point of the mixture. The mixture consists of a vegetable oil, an emulsifier, and water. The heated mixture and an alkaline compound catalyst are introduced into the contaminated environmental medium. The alkaline compound is potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The alkaline compound is dissolved in an alcohol in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% of the alkaline compound to form an alkyl oxide solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Gary M. Birk, David F. Alden, John Sankey, Guilherme Mascalchi de Figueiredo
  • Patent number: 11577231
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a composition for in-situ remediation of soil and aquifer comprising of a water miscible oil; a solvent (for dissolving the vegetable oil to form a solution); and a catalyst (selected from enzymes biocatalysts, particularly lipases, alkaline compounds, heat or combinations thereof). The present subject matter provides a process for the preparation of the composition and application of the same for surface remediation. Further, the present subject matter provides an in-situ alcoholysis remediation method to reduce contaminant concentrations in aquifer and soil by enabling the generation of both soluble and slowly fermenting electron donors required for the anaerobic remediation of organohalide compounds contaminating soils and groundwater. The method of remediation includes mixing an engineered water-soluble oil or water miscible oil with a solvent and adding a catalyst to groundwater to promote the formation of fatty acid alkyl esters, carboxylic acid salts and glycerol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Gary M. Birk, David F. Alden
  • Publication number: 20220388047
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a zero-valent metal suspension in non-aqueous phase. The suspension comprises 41 wt. % of a plurality of zero-valent iron particles; 0.1 wt % of a surfactant; 36 wt. % of an oil; and 23 wt. % of a thickening agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: David F. ALDEN, Gary M. BIRK
  • Publication number: 20220356400
    Abstract: A method and a system for in-situ remediation of recalcitrant organic and inorganic contaminants in an environmental medium are disclosed. Dissolved gases from water and an oil are removed to form degassed water and a degassed oil. The degassed water and the degassed oil are mixed to form a surfactant-free oil-in water emulsion. The surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion is injected into the environmental medium, thereby producing anaerobic conditions to cause indigenous anerobic bacteria to biodegrade residual concentrations of the contaminants in the environmental medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Gary M. Birk, David F. Alden, Lucas Collin Condes, Michael Taylor Warren, Jeffrey Harry Harwell
  • Patent number: 11491522
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a zero-valent metal suspension in non-aqueous phase. The suspension comprises 41 wt. % of a plurality of zero-valent iron particles; 0.1 wt % of a surfactant; 36 wt. % of an oil; and 23 wt. % of a thickening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Sangho Bang, David F. Alden, Gary M. Birk, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau
  • Patent number: 11123779
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a method for accelerated in-situ chemical reduction of subsoil matter. The method comprises supplying a mixture comprising ferrous sulfide into soil pathways to biologically react with dissolved contaminates in the groundwater. Further, an organic hydrogen donor is supplied into the soil-pathways to produce anerobic-conditions to cause indigenous anaerobic bacteria to biodegrade residual concentrations of the contaminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: David F. Alden, Gary M. Birk, Sangho Bang, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau
  • Publication number: 20210260566
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a composition for in-situ remediation of soil and aquifer comprising of a water miscible oil; a solvent (for dissolving the vegetable oil to form a solution); and a catalyst (selected from enzymes biocatalysts, particularly lipases, alkaline compounds, heat or combinations thereof). The present subject matter provides a process for the preparation of the composition and application of the same for surface remediation. Further, the present subject matter provides an in-situ alcoholysis remediation method to reduce contaminant concentrations in aquifer and soil by enabling the generation of both soluble and slowly fermenting electron donors required for the anaerobic remediation of organohalide compounds contaminating soils and groundwater. The method of remediation includes mixing an engineered water-soluble oil or water miscible oil with a solvent and adding a catalyst to groundwater to promote the formation of fatty acid alkyl esters, carboxylic acid salts and glycerol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Gary M. Birk, David F. Alden
  • Publication number: 20200261953
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a zero-valent metal suspension in non-aqueous phase. The suspension comprises 41 wt. % of a plurality of zero-valent iron particles; 0.1 wt % of a surfactant; 36 wt. % of an oil; and 23 wt. % of a thickening agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Sangho Bang, David F. Alden, Gary M. Birk, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau
  • Publication number: 20200261954
    Abstract: The present subject matter illustrates a method for accelerated in-situ chemical reduction of subsoil matter. The method comprises supplying a mixture comprising ferrous sulfide into soil pathways to biologically react with dissolved contaminates in the groundwater. Further, an organic hydrogen donor is supplied into the soil-pathways to produce anerobic-conditions to cause indigenous anaerobic bacteria to biodegrade residual concentrations of the contaminates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: David F. ALDEN, Gary M. Birk, Sangho Bang, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau