Patents by Inventor Franco Pala

Franco Pala 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).

  • Total organofluorine method for PFAS using reductive defluorination
    Patent number: 11774414
    Abstract: A method of determining total organofluorine in a sample comprising PFAS, comprising: providing a solution of PFAS in an organic solvent to obtain extracted PFAS, or extracting a sample with an organic solvent to obtain extracted PFAS; treating the extracted PFAS with a sodium metal dispersion and alcohol to obtain sodium fluoride; and quantifying the amount of the fluoride. Surprisingly, we discovered that the method recovered substantial fluorine from PFAS and significantly higher yields obtained by selection of the appropriate alcohols. The method is selective for organofluorine from inorganic fluorine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Kavitha Dasu, Chad Cucksey, Franco Pala
  • Sampling for monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in surface water, groundwater and pore water
    Publication number: 20230238849
    Abstract: Methods of passively sampling PFAS in the environment, PFAS sorbents, apparatus and systems (apparatus plus conditions) for sampling groundwater, porewater, and surface water are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Eliza M. Kaltenberg, Franco Pala, Kavitha Dasu, Fred Griesemer, Bradley Westlake, George Nanes
  • Sampling for monitoring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water, groundwater and pore water
    Patent number: 11579134
    Abstract: Methods of passively sampling PFAS in the environment, PFAS sorbents, apparatus and systems (apparatus plus conditions) for sampling groundwater, porewater, and surface water are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Eliza M. Kaltenberg, Franco Pala, Kavitha Dasu, Fred Griesemer, Bradley Westlake, George Nanes
  • Total Organofluorine Method for PFAS Using Reductive Defluorination
    Publication number: 20220107291
    Abstract: A method of determining total organofluorine in a sample comprising PFAS, comprising: providing a solution of PFAS in an organic solvent to obtain extracted PFAS, or extracting a sample with an organic solvent to obtain extracted PFAS; treating the extracted PFAS with a sodium metal dispersion and alcohol to obtain sodium fluoride; and quantifying the amount of the fluoride. Surprisingly, we discovered that the method recovered substantial fluorine from PFAS and significantly higher yields obtained by selection of the appropriate alcohols. The method is selective for organofluorine from inorganic fluorine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kavitha Dasu, Chad Cucksey, Franco Pala
  • Systems and Methods of Regenerating Activated Carbon
    Publication number: 20200306726
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for regenerating activated carbon that have been used in absorbing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous solution. In these methods, the activated carbon is treated with a solution of base in alcohol, which has been found to impart superior properties to the activated carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan R. James, Kavitha Dasu, Dinusha Siriwardena, Franco Pala, Ramona Darlington Iery
  • Sampling for monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in surface water, groundwater and pore water
    Publication number: 20200292516
    Abstract: Methods of passively sampling PFAS in the environment, PFAS sorbents, apparatus and systems (apparatus plus conditions) for sampling groundwater, porewater, and surface water are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Eliza M. Kaltenberg, Franco Pala, Kavitha Dasu, Fred Griesemer, Bradley Westlake, George Nanes