Patents by Inventor Edwin N. Lightfoot, Jr.

Edwin N. Lightfoot, Jr. 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).

  • Membrane cascade-based separation
    Patent number: 8152999
    Abstract: The present invention provides counter flow cascade separation systems useful to separate solute/solute pairs present in a solvent. The separation systems include a series of interconnected stages with each stage comprising a diafilter preferentially permeable for one solute. Solute/solute pairs are preferentially separated by the diafilter into permeate and retentate flows. Stages are combined to form separation systems capable of operation approaching an ideal cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Edwin N. Lightfoot, Jr., Michael C. Cockrem
  • Membrane cascade-based separation
    Patent number: 7141171
    Abstract: The present invention provides counter flow cascade separation systems useful to separate solute/solute pairs present in a solvent. The separation systems include a series of interconnected stages with each stage comprising a combination of a diafilter preferentially permeable for one solute and an ultrafilter that accepts a permeate flow from the diafilter. The ultrafilter is permeable to solvent. Solute/solute pairs are preferentially separated by the diafilter into permeate and retentate flows and excess solvent is removed from the permeate flow by the ultrafilter and recycled back into the system. Stages are combined to form a counter flow cascade separation system capable of operation approaching an ideal counter flow cascade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Edwin N. Lightfoot, Jr.