Patents by Inventor George A. Olah

George A. Olah 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: 7704369
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning power plants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by an electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode in one cell compartment and a metal cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution comprising methanol and an electrolyte of one or more alkyl ammonium halides, alkali carbonates or combinations thereof to produce therein a reaction mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen which can be subsequently used to produce methanol while also producing oxygen in the cell at the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20100022671
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing methanol and its products exclusively from a geothermal source as the sole source material also using the needed energy from the geothermal energy source. The method includes separating or isolating carbon dioxide accompanying hot water or steam of the source, generating hydrogen from the water and subsequently preparing methanol from the carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The methanol can be further converted into dimethyl ether or other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090320356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of stockpiling a fuel source by storing methanol or dimethyl ether in appropriate storage facilities to provide an alternative fuel source that can be used to avoid shortages due to unavailability, limited availability or excessive costs of oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090293348
    Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction seconardy treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090285739
    Abstract: A method for neutralizing or reducing the carbon footprint from carbon dioxide emissions due to human activities related to the combustion or use of carbon containing fuels. This method includes an initial step of capturing carbon dioxide and then chemically recycling it to form and provide a permanent inexhaustible supply of carbon containing fuels or products, which subsequently can be combusted or used without increasing the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. Thus, the current lifestyles that rely extensively on conventional carbon containing fuels and products can continue indefinitely without harming the environment to preserve and even improve the earth's atmosphere for the benefit of future generations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7608743
    Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction secondary treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7605293
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by electrochemical reduction produces formic acid acid and some formaldehyde and methanol mixtures. The formic acid can be used as source of carbon as well as hydrogen to produce methanol, dimethyl ether and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090172997
    Abstract: An efficient and economic ternary flex-fuel mixture that includes at least 10% gasoline, at least 10% bioethanol and at least 45% methanol, with the amount of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol totaling 100%, wherein the flex-fuel mixture has an octane rating of at least 90 and remains homogeneous in the presence of up to 10% water therein. Preferred flex-fuel mixtures include 10-15 to 30% gasoline, 50 to 75-80% methanol, and 10 to 25% of bioethanol and having an octane rating of 90 to 98. Also, methods of making these flex-fuel mixtures and to improvements in methods for preparing a flex-fuel mixture of gasoline and bioethanol by adding methanol in an amount sufficient to enable the mixture to remain homogeneous in the presence of up to 10% water to thus allow handling, transportation, dispensing and use of the mixture in the same manner as conventional gasoline fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090030240
    Abstract: The invention provides for a method of forming dimethyl ether by bimolecular dehydration of methanol produced from a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide obtained by reforming of methane, water and carbon dioxide in a ratio of about 3:2:1. Subsequent use of water produced in the dehydration of methanol in the bi-reforming process leads to an overall ratio of carbon dioxide to methane of about 1:3 to produce dimethyl ether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20090014336
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning power plants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by an electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode in one cell compartment and a metal cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution comprising methanol and an electrolyte of one or more alkyl ammonium halides, alkali carbonates or combinations thereof to produce therein a reaction mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen which can be subsequently used to produce methanol while also producing oxygen in the cell at the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20080319093
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of converting carbon dioxide to methanol and/or dimethyl ether using any methane source or natural gas consisting of a combination of steam and dry reforming, in a specific ratio to produce a 2:1 molar ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide with subsequent conversion of the CO and H2 mixture exclusively to methanol and/or dimethyl ether. This method is termed the BI-REFORMING™ process. Dehydrating formed methanol allows producing dimethyl ether (DME) using any suitable catalytic method, including use of solid acid catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: George A. Olah, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7459590
    Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for producing methanol by removing water from atmospheric air, obtaining hydrogen from the removed water, obtaining carbon dioxide from atmospheric air; and converting the carbon dioxide under conditions sufficient to produce methanol. Thereafter, the methanol can be dehydrated to produce dimethyl ether or further processed to produce synthetic hydrocarbons, polymers, and products derived from them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Robert Aniszfeld
  • Publication number: 20080293976
    Abstract: The invention relates to regenerative, supported amine sorbents that includes an amine or an amine/polyol composition deposited on a nano-structured support such as nanosilica. The sorbent provides structural integrity, as well as high selectivity and increased capacity for efficiently capturing carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, including the air. The sorbent is regenerative, and can be used through multiple operations of absorption-desorption cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Alain Goepert, Sergio Meth, G.K. Surya Prakash
  • Patent number: 7445859
    Abstract: A liquid organic, fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion™. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon™-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion™/methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion™. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Eugene Vamos, Subbarao Surampudi, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Harvey A. Frank, Gerald Halpert, George A. Olah, G. K. Surya Prakash
  • Publication number: 20080220480
    Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for producing methanol by removing water from atmospheric air, obtaining hydrogen from the removed water, obtaining carbon dioxide from atmospheric air; and converting the carbon dioxide under conditions sufficient to produce methanol. Thereafter, the methanol can be dehydrated to produce dimethyl ether or further processed to produce synthetic hydrocarbons, polymers, and products derived from them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: George A. OLAH, Robert ANISZFELD
  • Patent number: 7378561
    Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for separating the water (i.e., the moisture in the air) and carbon dioxide content of atmospheric air for their use in the subsequent production of methanol, dimethyl ether and derived synthetic hydrocarbons as products. The method includes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water under conditions sufficient to produce methanol and/or dimethyl ether. Methanol and/or dimethyl ether can be used as fuel or fuel additives or further converted to synthetic hydrocarbons and their products. Carbon dioxide is captured on a suitable absorbent, preferentially polyethyleneimine supported on nano-structured fumed silica. The process can also involve hydrogenation with hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water obtained from the air or from any other water source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Robert Aniszfeld
  • Publication number: 20080039538
    Abstract: A method for producing methanol and dimethyl ether using the air as the sole source of materials is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for separating the water (i.e., the moisture in the air) and carbon dioxide content of atmospheric air for their use in the subsequent production of methanol, dimethyl ether and derived synthetic hydrocarbons as products. The method includes the conversion of carbon dioxide and water under conditions sufficient to produce methanol and/or dimethyl ether. Methanol and/or dimethyl ether can be used as fuel or fuel additives or further converted to synthetic hydrocarbons and their products. Carbon dioxide is captured on a suitable absorbent, preferentially polyethyleneimine supported on nano-structured fumed silica. The process can also involve hydrogenation with hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water obtained from the air or from any other water source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: George A. Olah, Robert Aniszfeld
  • Publication number: 20070254969
    Abstract: An efficient and environmentally beneficial method of recycling and producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by chemical or electrochemical reduction secondary treatment to produce essentially methanol, dimethyl ether and derived products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: George Olah, G.K. Prakash
  • Patent number: 7147958
    Abstract: A catalyst ink for a fuel cell including a catalytic material and poly(vinylidene fluoride). The ink may be applied to a substrate to form an electrode, or bonded with other electrode layers to form a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, University of Southern California
    Inventors: Surya Prakash, Sekharipuram R. Narayanan, Anthony Atti, George Olah, Marshall C. Smart
  • Publication number: 20060235091
    Abstract: An environmentally beneficial method of producing methanol from varied sources of carbon dioxide including flue gases of fossil fuel burning powerplants, industrial exhaust gases or the atmosphere itself. Converting carbon dioxide by electrochemical reduction produces formic acid acid and some formaldehyde and methanol mixtures. The formic acid can be used as source of carbon as well as hydrogen to produce methanol, dimethyl ether and other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: George Olah, G.K. Prakash