Patents by Inventor HELEN N. Lew

HELEN N. Lew 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).

  • Publication number: 20240018095
    Abstract: Composition and methods for killing microorganisms using antimicrobial epoxy polymers and epoxy polymer curing agents are described. Compositions containing at least one compound of formula I where R1 is a phenolic group (e.g., simple phenol, creosote, thymol, or carvacrol), and where R2 is a polyamine (e.g., ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), hexamethylenediamine (HDA)); and optionally a carrier; the compositions may additionally contain at least one epoxy resin. Methods for killing microorganisms involving contacting the microorganisms with an effective microorganism killing amount of the above composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: HELEN N. LEW, KUN HUANG, RICHARD D. ASHBY, XUETONG FAN
  • Patent number: 11840499
    Abstract: A biobased fatty acid arginate may be synthesized according to the disclosed process by combining arginine and a fatty acid. The fatty acid arginate may have certain beneficial properties, such as surfactant properties or acting as an antimicrobial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Helen N Lew, Xuetong Fan, Kun Huang, Jianwei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220274918
    Abstract: A biobased fatty acid arginate may be synthesized according to the disclosed process by combining arginine and a fatty acid. The fatty acid arginate may have certain beneficial properties, such as surfactant properties or acting as an antimicrobial agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: HELEN N. LEW, XUETONG FAN, KUN HUANG, JIANWEI ZHANG
  • Patent number: 11370745
    Abstract: A branched estolide compound of the formula: wherein x and y are equal to 1 or greater; wherein x+y=14; wherein n is 0, 1, or greater than 1; wherein R is H or wherein R=C1 to C18 straight alcohols or C4 to C12 branched alcohols; wherein R1 is a residual fragment of octanoic, decanoic, lauric, coconut, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, iso-stearic or iso-oleic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Girma Biresaw, Steven C. Cermak, Helen N. Lew
  • Publication number: 20210230097
    Abstract: A branched estolide compound of the formula: wherein x and y are equal to 1 or greater; wherein x+y=14; wherein n is 0, 1, or greater than 1; wherein R is H or wherein R=C1 to C18 straight alcohols or C4 to C12 branched alcohols; wherein R1 is a residual fragment of octanoic, decanoic, lauric, coconut, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, iso-stearic or iso-oleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: GIRMA BIRESAW, STEVEN C. CERMAK, HELEN N. LEW
  • Publication number: 20210094905
    Abstract: Compositions containing at least one compound of formula I where R1 is a phenolic compound (e.g., simple phenol, creosote, thymol, or carvacrol), and where R2 is a polyamine (e.g., ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), hexamethylenediamine (HDA)); and optionally a carrier; the compositions may additionally contain at least one epoxy resin. Methods for killing microorganisms involving contacting the microorganisms with an effective microorganism killing amount of the above composition. Compositions containing at least one compound produced by a method involving reacting phenolic-branched chain fatty acid methyl ester with at least one polyamine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kun Huang, Richard D. Ashby, Xuetong Fan, Helen N. Lew, Robert A. Moreau
  • Patent number: 10364209
    Abstract: A method for preparing triglyceride oils containing at least 2% branching on the hydrocarbon chain, said method involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) a feedstock containing unsaturated fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone having 6 to 25 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, (b) modified zeolite, and (c) water or alcohol in the presence of an inert atmosphere (e.g., at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 350° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 300 psi for about 24 to about 72 hours) to produce triglycerides containing at least 2% branching (and optionally isolating said triglycerides containing at least 2% branching and optionally purifying the isolated triglycerides containing at least 2% branching); wherein said modified zeolite has been calcined at about 760° C. to about 840° C. for about 20 to about 28 hours, then placed in about 1N HCl at about 50° C. to about 60° C. for about 20 to about 28 hours and washed with water until the pH is neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Helen N. Lew, Renee J. Latona, Majher I. Sarker, Robert A. Moreau
  • Publication number: 20190062672
    Abstract: A method for preparing triglyceride oils containing at least 2% branching on the hydrocarbon chain, said method involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) a feedstock containing unsaturated fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone having 6 to 25 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, (b) modified zeolite, and (c) water or alcohol in the presence of an inert atmosphere (e.g., at a temperature of about 150° C. to about 350° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 300 psi for about 24 to about 72 hours) to produce triglycerides containing at least 2% branching (and optionally isolating said triglycerides containing at least 2% branching and optionally purifying the isolated triglycerides containing at least 2% branching); wherein said modified zeolite has been calcined at about 760° C. to about 840° C. for about 20 to about 28 hours, then placed in about 1N HCl at about 50° C. to about 60° C. for about 20 to about 28 hours and washed with water until the pH is neutral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Helen N. Lew, Renee J. Latona, Majher I Sarker, Robert A. Moreau
  • Patent number: 10144694
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) at least one phenolic compound, (b) unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, and (c) H-ferrierite zeolite catalyst in the presence of distilled water or alcohol and a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 1000 psi, and isolating saturated phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are methods for killing microorganisms on or in an object, involving contacting said object with an effective microorganisms killing amount of a composition comprising phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, and optionally a carrier; the phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof may be produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Helen N. Lew, Karen Wagner, Xuetong Fan, Alberto Nunez, Robert A. Moreau, Michael J. Haas, Zongcheng Yan
  • Publication number: 20180282254
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) at least one phenolic compound, (b) unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, and (c) H-ferrierite zeolite catalyst in the presence of distilled water or alcohol and a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 1000 psi, and isolating saturated phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are methods for killing microorganisms on or in an object, involving contacting said object with an effective microorganisms killing amount of a composition comprising phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, and optionally a carrier; the phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof may be produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Helen N. Lew, Karen Wagner, Xuetong Fan, Alberto Nunez, Robert A. Moreau, Michael J. Haas, Zongcheng Yan
  • Patent number: 10087132
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for converting an unsaturated fatty acid into a saturated branched-chain fatty acid through a zeolite-catalyzed process and methods of economically regenerating and reusing the zeolite catalyst. The processes include subjecting the unsaturated fatty acid to an isomerization reaction to result in a selective conversion of the unsaturated fatty acid into the saturated branched-chain fatty acid. The reaction occurs in the presence of (i) an activated zeolite catalyst, (ii) an effective amount of water, and (iii) optionally an oligomerization reducing agent. The spent zeolite catalyst may be regenerated by heating to create a regenerated zeolite catalyst that is functional for use as the activated zeolite catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Majher I Sarker, Helen N. Lew, Robert A. Moreau
  • Patent number: 10071946
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) at least one phenolic compound, (b) unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, and (c) H-ferrierite zeolite catalyst in the presence of distilled water or alcohol and a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 1000 psi, and isolating saturated phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are methods for killing microorganisms on or in an object, involving contacting said object with an effective microorganisms killing amount of a composition comprising phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, and optionally a carrier; the phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof may be produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Helen N. Lew, Karen Wagner, Xuetong Fan, Alberto Nunez, Robert A. Moreau, Michael J. Haas, Zongcheng Yan
  • Publication number: 20180186716
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for converting an unsaturated fatty acid into a saturated branched-chain fatty acid through a zeolite-catalyzed process and methods of economically regenerating and reusing the zeolite catalyst. The processes include subjecting the unsaturated fatty acid to an isomerization reaction to result in a selective conversion of the unsaturated fatty acid into the saturated branched-chain fatty acid. The reaction occurs in the presence of (i) an activated zeolite catalyst, (ii) an effective amount of water, and (iii) optionally an oligomerization reducing agent. The spent zeolite catalyst may be regenerated by heating to create a regenerated zeolite catalyst that is functional for use as the activated zeolite catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Majher I Sarker, Helen N. Lew, Robert A. Moreau
  • Publication number: 20170253552
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, involving subjecting in a pressurized container (a) at least one phenolic compound, (b) unsaturated fatty acids having 6 to 25 carbon atoms, alkyl esters thereof, or mixtures thereof, and (c) H-ferrierite zeolite catalyst in the presence of distilled water or alcohol and a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 400° C. and a pressure of about 10 to about 1000 psi, and isolating saturated phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof or mixtures thereof. Also disclosed are methods for killing microorganisms on or in an object, involving contacting said object with an effective microorganisms killing amount of a composition comprising phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof, and optionally a carrier; the phenolic branched chain fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof may be produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: HELEN N. Lew, KAREN WAGNER, XUETONG FAN, ALBERTO NUNEZ, ROBERT A. MOREAU, MICHAEL J. HAAS, ZONGCHENG YAN