Patents by Inventor Frances H. Yang

Frances H. Yang 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: 7148389
    Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal ion that is adapted to form ?-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by ?-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hermandez-Maldonado
  • Patent number: 7094333
    Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal cation that is adapted to form ?-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by ?-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7053256
    Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal cation that is adapted to form ?-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by ?-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado
  • Patent number: 7029574
    Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal ion that is adapted to form ?-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by ?-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado
  • Publication number: 20040200758
    Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal cation that is adapted to form &pgr;-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by &pgr;-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040044262
    Abstract: CuY and AgY zeolites as selective sorbents for desulfurization of liquid fuels. Thiophene and benzene were used as the model system, and vapor phase isotherms were measured. Compared with NaY, CuY and AgY adsorbed significantly larger amounts of both thiophene and benzene at low pressures. It is hypothesized that this is due to &pgr;-complexation with Cu+ and Ag+. On a per-cation basis, more thiophene was adsorbed by Cu+ than by Ag+, e.g., 0.92 molecule/Cu+ versus 0.42 molecule/Ag+ at 2×10−5 atm and 120° C. Molecular orbital calculations confirmed the relative strengths of &pgr;-complexation: thiophene>benzene and Cu+>Ag+. The experimental heats of adsorption for &pgr;-complexation are in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The invention further comprises a process and sorbents for removal of aromatics from hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado
  • Publication number: 20040040891
    Abstract: CuY and AgY zeolites as selective sorbents for desulfurization of liquid fuels. Thiophene and benzene were used as the model system, and vapor phase isotherms were measured. Compared with NaY, CuY and AgY adsorbed significantly larger amounts of both thiophene and benzene at low pressures. It is hypothesized that this is due to &pgr;-complexation with Cu+ and Ag+. On a per-cation basis, more thiophene was adsorbed by Cu+ than by Ag+, e.g., 0.92 molecule/Cu+ versus 0.42 molecule/Ag+ at 2×10−5 atm and 120° C. Molecular orbital calculations confirmed the relative strengths of &pgr;-complexation: thiophene>benzene and Cu+>Ag+. The experimental heats of adsorption for &pgr;-complexation are in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The invention further comprises a process and sorbents for removal of aromatics from hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado
  • Publication number: 20030163013
    Abstract: CuY and AgY zeolites as selective sorbents for desulfurization of liquid fuels. Thiophene and benzene were used as the model system, and vapor phase isotherms were measured. Compared with NaY, CuY and AgY adsorbed significantly larger amounts of both thiophene and benzene at low pressures. It is hypothesized that this is due to &pgr;-complexation with Cu+ and Ag+. On a per-cation basis, more thiophene was adsorbed by Cu+ than by Ag+, eg. 0.92 molecule/Cu+ versus 0.42 molecule/Ag+ at 2×10−5 atm and 120° C. Molecular orbital calculations confirmed the relative strengths of &pgr;-complexation: thiophene>benzene and Cu+>Ag+. The experimental heats of adsorption for &pgr;-complexation are in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The invention further comprises a process and sorbents for removal of aromatics from hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph T. Yang, Frances H. Yang, Akira Takahashi, Arturo J. Hernandez-Maldonado