Patents by Inventor Kris A. Berglund

Kris A. Berglund 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: 6287480
    Abstract: Improved deicing compositions and methods are provided. In particular, the subject invention is directed at deicing compositions which are suitable and effective for airport applications in which corrosion of magnesium based alloys is an issue. In particular, the invention is directed at deicing compositions which are less corrosive of steel and aluminum and certain magnesium based parts than conventional road salt. For example, the invention is directed to deicing compositions which are substantially less corrosive than allowed for use on aircraft metal parts, such as magnesium based alloys unlike acetate and formate salts. The subject invention is also directed at deicing compositions which inhibit the corrosive effects of conventional road salt. The subject invention is also directed at deicing compositions comprising effective deicing amounts of succinate salts, such as potassium succinate (trihydrate), ammonium succinate (anyhdrous), sodium succinate (hexahydrate), either alone or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignees: Applied CarboChemicals, Inc., Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Hasan Alizadeh, Dilum D. Dunuwila
  • Patent number: 6265190
    Abstract: A highly efficient process for the production and recovery of pure succinic acid from a succinate salt that involves minimal use of additional reagents, and produces virtually no waste by-products, and permits internal recycle of the base and acid values, is provided. The method involves the formation of diammonium succinate, either by using an ammonium ion based material to maintain neutral8 pH in the fermenter or by substituting the ammonium cation for the cation of the succinate salt created in the fermenter. The diammonium succinate can then be reacted with a sulfate ion, such as by combining the diammonium succinate with ammonium bisulfate and/or sulfuric acid at sufficiently low pH to yield succinic acid and ammonium sulfate. The ammonium sulfate is advantageously cracked thermally into ammonia and ammonium bisulfate. The succinic acid can be purified with a methanol dissolution step. Various filtration, reflux and reutilization steps can also be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignees: Michigan State University, Applied CarboChemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Yedur, Kris A. Berglund, Dilum D. Dunuwila
  • Patent number: 5958744
    Abstract: A highly efficient process for the production and recovery of pure succinic acid from a succinate salt that involves minimal use of additional reagents, and produces virtually no waste by-products, and permits internal recycle of the base and acid values, is provided. The method involves the formation of diammonium succinate, either by using an ammonium ion based material to maintain neutral8 pH in the fermenter or by substituting the ammonium cation for the cation of the succinate salt created in the fermenter. The diammonium succinate can then be reacted with a sulfate ion, such as by combining the diammonium succinate with ammonium bisulfate and/or sulfuric acid at sufficiently low pH to yield succinic acid and ammonium sulfate. The ammonium sulfate is advantageously cracked thermally into ammonia and ammonium bisulfate. The succinic acid can be purified with a methanol dissolution step. Various filtration, reflux and reutilization steps can also be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Carbochemicals
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Sanjay Yedur, Dilum D. Dunuwila
  • Patent number: 5897908
    Abstract: A physical mixture which consists essentially of compositions of lysine monohydrochloride and potassium chloride alone or admixed with small amounts of succinic acid, in particular weight ratios, and which has a salty taste comparable to table salt (sodium chloride). The mixture masks the bitter aftertaste of the potassium chloride and can provide dietary lysine which is an essential amino acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Hasan Alizadeh
  • Patent number: 5779979
    Abstract: A method and test kit for the detection of hydroxy substituted aromatic compounds using a titanium film (12, 23) which reacts with the compound to change the light absorbance. Preferred films are prepared by reaction of a titanium alkoxide with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The change in light absorbance of the film is preferably detected with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Preferably the film is provided on a transparent slide (22) or on an inside wall of a spectrophotometer cell (10). The cells (10 and 20) are provided with covers (13 and 14) for holding the solution to allow the hydroxy substituted compounds to react with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Joel I. Dulebohn, Beatrice A. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 5776415
    Abstract: A method and test kit for the detection of hydroxy substituted aromatic compounds using a titanium film (12, 23) which reacts with the compound to change the light absorbance. Preferred films are prepared by reaction of a titanium alkoxide with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The change in light absorbance of the film is preferably detected with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Preferably the film is provided on a transparent slide (22) or on an inside wall of a spectrophotometer cell (10). The cells (10 and 20) are provided with covers (13 and 14) for holding the solution to allow the hydroxy substituted compounds to react with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Joel I. Dulebohn, Beatrice A. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 5565610
    Abstract: A crystalline salt of lysine hydrochloride, succinic acid or alkali metal salt, wherein the molar ratio of lysine to succinic ion calculated as succinic acid is between about 3 and 10. The salt has the appearance of ordinary table salt crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Hasan Alizadeh
  • Patent number: 5527959
    Abstract: A crystalline salt of lysine hydrochloride, succinic acid or alkali metal salt, wherein the molar ratio of lysine to succinic ion calculated as succinic acid is between about 3 and 10. The salt has the appearance of ordinary table salt crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Hasan Alizadeh
  • Patent number: 5462878
    Abstract: A method and test kit for the detection of hydroxy substituted aromatic compounds using a titanium film (12, 23) which reacts with the compound to change the light absorbance. Preferred films are prepared by reaction of a titanium alkoxide with an aliphatic carboxylic acid. The change in light absorbance of the film is preferably detected with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. Preferably the film is provided on a transparent slide (22) or on an inside wall of a spectrophotometer cell (10). The cells (10 and 20) are provided with covers (13 and 14) for holding the solution to allow the hydroxy substituted compounds to react with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Joel I. Dulebohn, Beatrice A. Torgerson
  • Patent number: 5034105
    Abstract: A process for preparing a carboxylic acid of high purity comprises preparing an undersaturated solution of a salt of the carboxylic acid; subjecting the undersaturated salt solution to water-splitting electrodialysis to form base and a supersaturated solution of the carboxylic acid; and, then crystallizing the carboxylic acid from the supersaturated solution. In the preferred embodiment, the undersaturated solution is a fermentation broth containing sodium succinate and the carboxylic acid obtained is succinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Michigan Biotechnology Institute
    Inventors: Kris A. Berglund, Ponnampalam Elankovan, David A. Glassner