Patents by Inventor David J. Bochniak

David J. Bochniak 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: 6113795
    Abstract: Processes and apparatuses are provided for continuously harvesting particles from organic solution-laden near-critical and supercritical fluids. Broadly, the processes and apparatuses utilize a filter or separator comprising a thin membrane supported on a sintered stainless steel tube. A feed stream comprising the desired particles, a supercritical antisolvent for the particles (preferably CO.sub.2), and a solvent for the particles, is contacted with the membrane layer of the filter under supercritical conditions for the mixture of antisolvent and solvent. The preferred antisolvents are substantially miscible with the solvent and have a critical temperature of less than 160.degree. C. The desired particles are retained by the filter while the solvent and most of the antisolvent pass through the filter, resulting in separation of the particles from the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Kansas
    Inventors: Bala Subramaniam, Roger A. Rajewski, David J. Bochniak