Patents by Inventor Franklin R. Alvarez

Franklin R. Alvarez 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: 9266803
    Abstract: An improved process for separation of liquid mixtures involves vapor stripping followed by mechanical compression of the vapor which is then exposed to a permeation membrane for separation of the compressed vapor. The apparatus for separating a liquid mixture of two or more solvents comprises components a stripping column, at least one over-head compressor and, thereafter, at least one selectively permeable membrane wherein the membrane separates the components of the vapor based on the different sorption and diffusion characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Leland M Vane, Franklin R. Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20130015052
    Abstract: An improved process for separation of liquid mixtures involves vapor stripping followed by mechanical compression of the vapor which is then exposed to a permeation membrane for separation of the compressed vapor. The apparatus for separating a liquid mixture of two or more solvents comprises components a stripping column, at least one over-head compressor and, thereafter, at least one selectively permeable membrane wherein the membrane separates the components of the vapor based on the different sorption and diffusion characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Franklin R. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 8263815
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation to form a rectified overhead vapor, compression of the rectified vapor, and treatment of the compressed vapor by two sequential membrane separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Ramin Daniels, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer H. Ly, Franklin R. Alvarez, Leland M. Vane
  • Patent number: 8114255
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Membrane Technology & Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland M Vane, Franklin R Alvarez, Yu Huang, Richard W Baker
  • Publication number: 20110130598
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation to form a rectified overhead vapor, compression of the rectified vapor, and treatment of the compressed vapor by two sequential membrane separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker, Ramin Daniels, Tiem Aldajani, Jennifer H. Ly, Franklin R. Alvarez, Leland M. Vane
  • Publication number: 20100051441
    Abstract: Processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Franklin R. Alvarez, Yu Huang, Richard W. Baker
  • Publication number: 20090057128
    Abstract: An improved process for separation of liquid mixtures involves vapor stripping followed by mechanical compression of the vapor which is then exposed to a permeation membrane for separation of the compressed vapor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Leland Vane, Franklin R. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6755975
    Abstract: A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Franklin R. Alvarez, Richard W. Baker
  • Publication number: 20040000521
    Abstract: A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicants: Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Leland M. Vane, Anurag P. Mairal, Alvin Ng, Franklin R. Alvarez, Richard W. Baker