Patents by Inventor Justin C. Biffinger
Justin C. Biffinger 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).
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Patent number: 11554990Abstract: The invention provides filamentous organism-derived carbonaceous materials doped with organic and/or inorganic compounds, and methods of making the same. In certain embodiments, these carbonaceous materials are used as electrodes in solid state batteries and/or lithium-ion batteries. In another aspect, these carbonaceous materials are used as a catalyst, catalyst support, adsorbent, filter and/or other carbon-based material or adsorbent. In yet another aspect, the invention provides battery devices incorporating the carbonaceous electrode materials.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Zhiyong Ren, Mitchell Tyler Huggins, Justin C. Biffinger, Corey T. Love, Se-Hee Lee, Justin M. Whiteley
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Publication number: 20210024428Abstract: The invention provides filamentous organism-derived carbonaceous materials doped with organic and/or inorganic compounds, and methods of making the same. In certain embodiments, these carbonaceous materials are used as electrodes in solid state batteries and/or lithium-ion batteries. In another aspect, these carbonaceous materials are used as a catalyst, catalyst support, adsorbent, filter and/or other carbon-based material or adsorbent. In yet another aspect, the invention provides battery devices incorporating the carbonaceous electrode materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: ZHIYONG REN, MITCHELL TYLER HUGGINS, JUSTIN C. BIFFINGER, COREY T. LOVE, SE-HEE LEE, JUSTIN M. WHITELEY
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Patent number: 10829420Abstract: The invention provides filamentous organism-derived carbonaceous materials doped with organic and/or inorganic compounds, and methods of making the same. In certain embodiments, these carbonaceous materials are used as electrodes in solid state batteries and/or lithium-ion batteries. In another aspect, these carbonaceous materials are used as a catalyst, catalyst support, adsorbent, filter and/or other carbon-based material or adsorbent. In yet another aspect, the invention provides battery devices incorporating the carbonaceous electrode materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Zhiyong Ren, Mitchell Tyler Huggins, Justin C. Biffinger, Corey T. Love, Se-Hee Lee, Justin M. Whiteley
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Patent number: 10563158Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Barry J. Spargo, Justin C. Biffinger, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Erinn C. (Howard) Pirlo, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Peter K. Wu, Michael P. Malito
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Publication number: 20190270677Abstract: The invention provides filamentous organism-derived carbonaceous materials doped with organic and/or inorganic compounds, and methods of making the same. In certain embodiments, these carbonaceous materials are used as electrodes in solid state batteries and/or lithium-ion batteries. In another aspect, these carbonaceous materials are used as a catalyst, catalyst support, adsorbent, filter and/or other carbon-based material or adsorbent. In yet another aspect, the invention provides battery devices incorporating the carbonaceous electrode materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2017Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: ZHIYONG REN, MITCHELL TYLER HUGGINS, JUSTIN C. BIFFINGER, COREY T. LOVE, SE-HEE LEE, JUSTIN M. WHITELEY
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Patent number: 9663194Abstract: A device having: a chamber having a gas inlet, a gas vent, and a liquid vent; and a float and a weight coupled to the chamber. The float has a lower density than the chamber. The weight has a higher density than the chamber. The aggregate density of the chamber, the float, and the weight is greater than the density of the chamber. The gas inlet, the gas vent, the liquid vent, the float, and the weight are positioned on the chamber such that: when the chamber is filled with and submerged in a liquid in which the chamber is neutrally-buoyant, the chamber is oriented to place the gas vent below the gas inlet; and when a gas is introduced through the gas inlet into the chamber that is filled with the liquid, the chamber pivots to raise the gas vent until a portion of the gas escapes from the chamber through only the gas vent.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Bradley R Ringeisen, Peter K Wu, Barry J Spargo, Justin C Biffinger, Lisa A. Fitzgerald
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Publication number: 20160244706Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Barry J. Spargo, Justin C. Biffinger, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Erinn C. (Howard) Pirlo, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Peter K. Wu, Michael P. Malito
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Patent number: 9327804Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Barry J Spargo, Justin C Biffinger, Bradley R Ringeisen, Erinn C. Howard, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Peter K Wu, Michael P. Malito
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Publication number: 20160115440Abstract: Microwave radiation was found to increase bacterial growth and cell size compared to conventional heating over a 30 hour time period. One method of growing thermophilic organisms involves heating a growth media comprising a thermophilic organism with microwave radiation to a temperature between 50° C. and 75° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Justin C. Biffinger, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Miah J. Davis, Allison L. Cockrell, Kathleen D. Cusick
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Patent number: 8969635Abstract: A method of: providing a mixture of fecal waste and a bacterium; incubating the mixture to produce a fatty acid enriched mixture; removing water from the fatty acid enriched mixture to produce a dried mixture; and pyrolyzing the dried mixture in an inert atmosphere to produce an alkane from the C5-C32 fatty acid. The bacterium is a type that produces a C5-C32 fatty acid in the presence of any microbes in the fecal waste.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Justin C. Biffinger, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Cherie Ziemer, Kurt Henry, Bradley R Ringeisen
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Patent number: 8425742Abstract: A high throughput biological screening assay comprising at least two anodes, at least two cathodes acting as the reference electrode, and a polymer membrane placed between each anode and cathode, wherein the at least two anodes comprise a biological culture, and wherein the at least two cathodes comprise an oxidizing agent and a buffering agent. The high throughput biological screening assay wherein the at least two cathodes are connected in parallel to simulate the connection between the same cathode and different anodes. The high throughput biological screening assay further including an external resistor or open circuit and means for measuring the voltage across the external resistor or open circuit. A method of measuring power generation using a single cathode as a reference electrode to monitor the biological production of energy. A method of correlating bacterial biofilm formation within an operational microbial fuel cell directly to current output.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Justin C Biffinger, Meghann Ribbens, Kenneth H. Nealson, Bradley R Ringeisen
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Patent number: 8048547Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a nanoporous membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber. The nanoporous membrane allows nutrients to flow actively or passively from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber and can be modified by a thin film composite (TFC) to create a TFC nanofiltration membrane. The nanoporous membrane can have a pore size from about 100 nm to about 1000 nm. A method of making a fuel cell comprising configuring a nanoporous membrane between an anode chamber and a cathode chamber wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber and can be used to protect the cathode chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Bradley R. Ringeisen, Justin C. Biffinger
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Publication number: 20110229951Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus having: a pressure chamber and a gas-producing microorganism within the chamber. The pressure chamber is capable of maintaining a gas pressure of at least 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Barry J. Spargo, Justin C. Biffinger, Bradley R. Ringeisen, Erinn C. Howard, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Peter K. Wu, Michael P. Malito
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Publication number: 20110098520Abstract: A method of: providing a mixture of fecal waste and a bacterium; incubating the mixture to produce a fatty acid enriched mixture; removing water from the fatty acid enriched mixture to produce a dried mixture; and pyrolyzing the dried mixture in an inert atmosphere to produce an alkane from the C5-C32 fatty acid. The bacterium is a type that produces a C5-C32 fatty acid in the presence of any microbes in the fecal waste.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Justin C. Biffinger, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Cherie Ziemer, Kurt Henry, Bradley R. Ringeisen
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Publication number: 20100199907Abstract: A device having: a chamber having a gas inlet, a gas vent, and a liquid vent; and a float and a weight coupled to the chamber. The float has a lower density than the chamber. The weight has a higher density than the chamber. The aggregate density of the chamber, the float, and the weight is greater than the density of the chamber. The gas inlet, the gas vent, the liquid vent, the float, and the weight are positioned on the chamber such that: when the chamber is filled with and submerged in a liquid in which the chamber is neutrally-buoyant, the chamber is oriented to place the gas vent below the gas inlet; and when a gas is introduced through the gas inlet into the chamber that is filled with the liquid, the chamber pivots to raise the gas vent until a portion of the gas escapes from the chamber through only the gas vent.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: The Government of The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Bradley R. Ringeisen, Peter K. Wu, Barry J. Spargo, Justin C. Biffinger, Lisa A. Fitzgerald
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Publication number: 20100176005Abstract: A high throughput biological screening assay comprising at least two anodes, at least two cathodes acting as the reference electrode, and a polymer membrane placed between each anode and cathode, wherein the at least two anodes comprise a biological culture, and wherein the at least two cathodes comprise an oxidizing agent and a buffering agent. The high throughput biological screening assay wherein the at least two cathodes are connected in parallel to simulate the connection between the same cathode and different anodes. The high throughput biological screening assay further including an external resistor or open circuit and means for measuring the voltage across the external resistor or open circuit. A method of measuring power generation using a single cathode as a reference electrode to monitor the biological production of energy. A method of correlating bacterial biofilm formation within an operational microbial fuel cell directly to current output.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Justin C. Biffinger, Meghann Ribbens, Kenneth H. Nealson, Bradley R. Ringeisen
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Publication number: 20090169924Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a nanoporous membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber. The nanoporous membrane allows nutrients to flow actively or passively from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber and can be modified by a thin film composite (TFC) to create a TFC nanofiltration membrane. The nanoporous membrane can have a pore size from about 100 nm to about 1000 nm. A method of making a fuel cell comprising configuring a nanoporous membrane between an anode chamber and a cathode chamber wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber and can be used to protect the cathode chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2007Publication date: July 2, 2009Inventors: Bradley R. Ringeisen, Justin C. Biffinger