Patents by Inventor Joshua MERTZ

Joshua MERTZ 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: 20230356180
    Abstract: A sorption media with a high capacity to remove heavy metals, lead, and mercury, in particular when synthesized from a titanium source that contains sulfur, such as black liquor or titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4). The use of sulfur provides a higher than expected capacity for Pb and/or Hg. A Group 1 and/or Group 2 metal-titanosilicate is employed, having a Ti to Si molar ratio of 0.5-2, a pore volume of at least less than or equal to 0.25 cc/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Joshua Mertz, Alexander Kronfeld, Bridgett Harris
  • Patent number: 11583846
    Abstract: An alumina-based adsorbent and method of making exhibiting high affinity and capacity towards cations and oxyanions in a broad pH range and presence of large excess of competitive ions. Alumina based adsorbent is a mixed oxide of alumina existing in tetra-, penta-, and octahedral coordination at specific ratio, and oxides of polyvalent metals of elements titanium, zirconium, tin, cerium, lanthanum, iron, or combinations thereof. The alumina-based adsorbent may be used for selective removal of oxyanions of fluoride, phosphorus, arsenic, chromium, and/or selenium, and/or cations of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, and/or zinc, from drinking water, industrial streams and wastes, in medicine and food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Graver Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Anatoly Bortun, James Knoll, Katie Henderson, Joshua Mertz
  • Patent number: 11364454
    Abstract: A filter media for implementation in a sugar purification process that allows for a significant increase in sorbent material while maintaining, and enhancing the decolorization and. hydraulic properties. The filter media incorporates sorbent material, fiber having specific properties that allows for small particle sorbent material without jeopardizing the hydraulic properties of the media, and an electrolyte. The sorbent material is an inorganic, an adsorption, or ion exchange media, or a metal-organic framework. The implementation of this filter media in a sugar purification process eliminates the need for a clarification step during refining while providing for enhanced decolorization and hydraulic properties for fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Graver Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James Knoll, Katie Henderson, Bruce Belcher, Joshua Mertz
  • Patent number: 11114211
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, processes, and apparatuses for treating radioactive waste, through systems designed to bind and dry radioactive media. In some of its various embodiments, the system includes at least one helical screw designed to receive and mix liquid wastes with ion exchange media, as well as convey the resulting slurry through one or more of a binding, dewatering, and drying/off-gassing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Veolia Nuclear Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Mertz, Ja-Kael Luey, Wes Bratton, Kenneth Schofield
  • Publication number: 20200254438
    Abstract: An alumina-based adsorbent and method of making exhibiting high affinity and capacity towards cations and oxyanions in a broad pH range and presence of large excess of competitive ions. Alumina based adsorbent is a mixed oxide of alumina existing in tetra-, penta-, and octahedral coordination at specific ratio, and oxides of polyvalent metals of elements titanium, zirconium, tin, cerium, lanthanum, iron, or combinations thereof. The alumina-based adsorbent may be used for selective removal of oxyanions of fluoride, phosphorus, arsenic, chromium, and/or selenium, and/or cations of lead, mercury, cadmium, copper, and/or zinc, from drinking water, industrial streams and wastes, in medicine and food industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Anatoly Bortun, James Knoll, Katie Henderson, Joshua Mertz
  • Publication number: 20190385756
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, processes, and apparatuses for treating radioactive waste, through systems designed to bind and dry radioactive media. In some of its various embodiments, the system includes at least one helical screw designed to receive and mix liquid wastes with ion exchange media, as well as convey the resulting slurry through one or more of a binding, dewatering, and drying/off-gassing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Ja-Kael LUEY, Wes BRATTON, Kenneth SCHOFIELD
  • Publication number: 20190376154
    Abstract: A filter media for implementation in a sugar purification process that allows for a significant increase in sorbent material while maintaining, and enhancing the decolorization and. hydraulic properties. The filter media incorporates sorbent material, fiber having specific properties that allows for small particle sorbent material without jeopardizing the hydraulic properties of the media, and an electrolyte. The sorbent material is an inorganic, an adsorption, or ion exchange media, or a metal-organic framework. The implementation of this filter media in a sugar purification process eliminates the need for a clarification step during refining while providing for enhanced decolorization and hydraulic properties for fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: James Knoll, Katie Henderson, Bruce Belcher, Joshua Mertz
  • Patent number: 10438711
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, processes, and apparatuses for treating radioactive waste, through systems designed to bind and dry radioactive media. In some of its various embodiments, the system includes at least one helical screw designed to receive and mix liquid wastes with ion exchange media, as well as convey the resulting slurry through one or more of a binding, dewatering, and drying/off-gassing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Mertz, Ja-Kael Luey, Wes Bratton, Kenneth Schofield
  • Publication number: 20190248691
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing lead-tag configuration with ion exchange systems to increase process efficiency, increase media utilization, and reduce system downtime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Ja-Kael LUEY
  • Patent number: 9981868
    Abstract: A mobile processing system is disclosed for the removal of radioactive contaminants from nuclear process waste water. The system is fully scalable, modular, and portable allowing the system to be fully customizable according the site-specific remediation requirements. It is designed to be both transported and operated from standard sized intermodal containers or custom designed enclosures for increased mobility between sites and on-site, further increasing the speed and ease with which the system may be deployed. Additionally, the system is completely modular wherein the various different modules perform different forms or stages of waste water remediation and may be connected in parallel and/or in series. Depending on the needs of the particular site, one or more different processes may be used. In some embodiments, one or more of the same modules may be used in the same operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KURION, INC.
    Inventors: John Raymont, James Fredrickson, Joshua Mertz, David Carlson, Mark Denton, Gary Alan Hofferber, Ja-Kael Luey, Zechariah James Fitzgerald, Ronald Merritt Orme, Eric Vincent Penland
  • Publication number: 20180072592
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing lead-lag configurations with ion exchange systems to increase process efficiency, increase media utilization, and reduce system downtime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Ja-Kael M. LUEY
  • Publication number: 20170362097
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling performance of a mixed ion exchange media comprising two or more media. The weighted average of a quantity of the first media having a first rate of exchange to a quantity of a second media having a second rate of exchange is determined based on predetermined requirements for the resulting mixed media. After determining the weighted average, the first and second media are mixed resulting in a mixed media having a third rate of exchange. The mixed media is introduced to an ion exchange column. Contaminated liquid is then introduced to the column creating a mass transfer zone within the column. The mixed media is generally considered optimized when it meets three conditions simultaneously: 100% safety limitation, 100% media capacity used, and effluent criteria are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Brett SIMPSON, Whitney LAMARCHE, Clay NULLE, Ja-Kael LUEY, Dustin RAE, Ben GARRETT
  • Publication number: 20170209810
    Abstract: A method for manipulating ion concentration to maximize ion exchange media performance is disclosed herein. First a source liquid is directed through an ion concentrator such as a nanofilter, reverse osmosis membrane, or an evaporator/crystallizer. The ion concentrator separates the source liquid into a concentrate stream and a permeate stream wherein the permeate stream comprises a smaller concentration of ions than the concentrate stream. The concentrate stream and/or the permeate stream (input stream) may then be directed through an ion exchange vessel. The ion exchange vessel receives the input stream, enables ion exchange between the ion exchange media in the vessel and the input stream resulting in a liquid output having a smaller concentration of ions than the input stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Brett SIMPSON, Ja-Kael LUEY, Ron ORME, David CARLSON
  • Patent number: 9714457
    Abstract: Submersible media filters and submersible columns for use in removing radioactive isotopes and other contaminants from a fluid stream, such as a fluid stream from the primary coolant loop of a nuclear reactor system or a fluid stream from a spent-fuel pool. Generally, these submersible media filters and submersible columns are adapted to be submersed in the fluid stream, and additionally the filters are adapted to be vitrified after use, resulting in a stabilized, non-leaching final waste product with a substantially reduced volume compared to the original filter. In several embodiments, the submersible media filters and submersible columns include isotope-specific media (ISM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: KURION, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Denton, Joshua Mertz, Trevor Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20160314865
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, processes, and apparatuses for treating radioactive waste, through systems designed to bind and dry radioactive media. In some of its various embodiments, the system includes at least one helical screw designed to receive and mix liquid wastes with ion exchange media, as well as convey the resulting slurry through one or more of a binding, dewatering, and drying/off-gassing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Kurion, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua MERTZ, Ja-Kael LUEY, Wes BRATTON, Kenneth SCHOFIELD
  • Publication number: 20150368136
    Abstract: A mobile processing system is disclosed for the removal of radioactive contaminants from nuclear process waste water. The system is fully scalable, modular, and portable allowing the system to be fully customizable according the site-specific remediation requirements. It is designed to be both transported and operated from standard sized intermodal containers or custom designed enclosures for increased mobility between sites and on-site, further increasing the speed and ease with which the system may be deployed. Additionally, the system is completely modular wherein the various different modules perform different forms or stages of waste water remediation and may be connected in parallel and/or in series. Depending on the needs of the particular site, one or more different processes may be used. In some embodiments, one or more of the same modules may be used in the same operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: KURION, INC.
    Inventors: John RAYMONT, James FREDRICKSON, Joshua MERTZ, Richard KEENAN, David CARLSON, Mark DENTON, Gary Alan HOFFERBER, Ja-Kael LUEY, Zechariah James FITZGERALD, Ronald Merritt ORME, Eric Vincent PENLAND