Patents by Inventor Joanne V. Volponi

Joanne V. Volponi 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: 7556945
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for continuously converting sucrose to ?-D-glucose. The method comprises a three-stage enzymatic reactor in which an aqueous solution of sucrose is first converted into a solution of fructose and ?-D-glucose by passing it through a porous, packed column containing an inert media on which invertase is immobilized. This solution is then sent through a second packed column containing glucose isomerase and finally a third packed column containing mutarotase. Solution temperature and pH are adjusted to maximize glucose output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Blake A. Simmons, Joanne V. Volponi, David Ingersoll, Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 7264962
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for continuously converting sucrose to ?-D-glucose. The method comprises a three stage enzymatic reactor in which an aqueous solution of sucrose is first converted into a solution of fructose and ?-D-glucose by passing it through a porous, packed column containing an inert media on which invertase is immobilized. This solution is then sent through a second packed column containing glucose isomerase and finally a third packed column containing mutarotase. Solution temperature and pH are adjusted to maximize glucose output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Blake A. Simmons, Joanne V. Volponi, David Ingersoll, Andrew Walker
  • Patent number: 4741879
    Abstract: A catalytic igniter which can ignite a hydrogen-air mixture as lean as 5.5% hydrogen with induction times ranging from 20 s to 400 s, under conditions which may be present during a loss-of-liquid-coolant accident at a light water nuclear reactor comprises (a) a perforate catalytically active substrate, such as a platinum coated ceramic honeycomb or wire mesh screen, through which heated gases produced by oxidation of the mixture can freely flow and (b) a plurality of thin platinum wires mounted in a thermally conductive manner on the substrate and positioned thereon so as to be able to receive heat from the substrate and the heated gases while also in contact with unoxidized gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: William J. McLean, Lawrence R. Thorne, Joanne V. Volponi