Patents by Inventor Laura J. Silva

Laura J. Silva 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: 20240043298
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. This FT produced water contains significant amounts of organic impurities. The invention provides methods of treating FT produced water. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the FT produced water could be successfully treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) according to relatively simple and more efficient steps; for example, by adjusting the pH of the water in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 or treating the FT produced water in a stripper where the distillate product stream and a reflux stream returning to the stripper have the same composition. In a related aspect, water compositions are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 11739014
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. The invention provides an aqueous composition comprising specified amounts of dissolved and suspended solids, low chemical oxygen demand and low chlorine demand, pH in the range of 6.5 to 8.0, where the aqueous composition comprises organic carbon derived from fossil sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Publication number: 20200071212
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. This FT produced water contains significant amounts of organic impurities. The invention provides methods of treating FT produced water. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the FT produced water could be successfully treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) according to relatively simple and more efficient steps; for example, by adjusting the pH of the water in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 or treating the FT produced water in a stripper where the distillate product stream and a reflux stream returning to the stripper have the same composition. In a related aspect, water compositions are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 10435318
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. This FT produced water contains significant amounts of organic impurities. The invention provides methods of treating FT produced water. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the FT produced water could be successfully treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) according to relatively simple and more efficient steps; for example, by adjusting the pH of the water in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 or treating the FT produced water in a stripper where the distillate product stream and a reflux stream returning to the stripper have the same composition. In a related aspect, water compositions are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Velocys Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 9926496
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Strangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Patent number: 9695368
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Stangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Patent number: 9500414
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems in which there is partial boiling of a liquid in a mini-channel or microchannel. The partial boiling removes heat from an exothermic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: VELOCYS INC.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, David J. Hesse, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Bin Yang, Ravi Arora, Laura J. Silva, G. Bradley Chadwell, Kai Jarosch, Dongming Qiu
  • Patent number: 9475026
    Abstract: Novel manifolds and methods of flow through manifolds are described. Apparatus and techniques are described in which flow from a relatively large volume header is equally distributed to process channels. Methods of making laminated, microchannel devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Fitzgerald, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, Dongming Qui (deceased), Thomas D. Yuschak, Laura J. Silva, Wm. Allen Rogers, Kai Jarosch, Matthew B. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20160194563
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Stangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Publication number: 20160075579
    Abstract: The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process creates significant amounts of water. This FT produced water contains significant amounts of organic impurities. The invention provides methods of treating FT produced water. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the FT produced water could be successfully treated in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) according to relatively simple and more efficient steps; for example, by adjusting the pH of the water in the range of 4.2 to 5.8 or treating the FT produced water in a stripper where the distillate product stream and a reflux stream returning to the stripper have the same composition. In a related aspect, water compositions are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Graham Lea, Ivan Philip Greager, Laura J. Silva
  • Publication number: 20160038904
    Abstract: The invention described herein concerns microchannel apparatus that contains, within the same device, at least one manifold and multiple connecting microchannels that connect with the manifold. For superior heat or mass flux in the device, the volume of the connecting microchannels should exceed the volume of manifold or manifolds. Methods of conducting unit operations in microchannel devices having simultaneous disrupted and non-disrupted flow through microchannels is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ravi Arora, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Dongming Qui, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 8933254
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen or a source of oxygen in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to form a product comprising ethylene oxide, wherein the catalyst contains silver or silver compound and a support and the catalyst is in the form of particulate solids having a mean particle diameter from 1 to 1000 ?m and wherein the molar ratio of oxygen to ethylene is from 1:4 to 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Radwan Abdallah, Torsten Mäurer, Tobias Rosendahl, Frank Rosowski, Gerhard Theis, Terry Mazanec, Soumitra Deshmukh, Laura J. Silva
  • Publication number: 20140332081
    Abstract: Novel manifolds and methods of flow through manifolds are described. Apparatus and techniques are described in which flow from a relatively large volume header is equally distributed to process channels. Methods of making laminated, microchannel devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. FITZGERALD, Anna Lee TONKOVICH, Ravi ARORA, Dongming QIU, Thomas D. YUSCHAK, Laura J. SILVA, Wm. Allen ROGERS, Kai JAROSCH, Matthew B. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20140291204
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Strangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Lewis Litt
  • Patent number: 8747656
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, John Brophy, Francis P. Daly, Soumitra Deshmukh, Maddalena Fanelli, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. LaPlante, Richard Q. Long, Terry Mazanec, Daniel Francis Ryan, Laura J. Silva, Wayne W. Simmons, Bruce Stangeland, Yong Wang, Thomas Yuschak, Steven T. Perry, Jeffrey Dale Marco, Michael Alan Marchiando, Robert Dwayne Litt
  • Patent number: 8703984
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for converting ethylene to ethylene oxide comprising: flowing reactants comprising ethylene and oxygen or a source of oxygen in a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to form a product comprising ethylene oxide, the reactants undergoing an exothermic reaction in the microchannel reactor; and transferring heat from the microchannel reactor to a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Mazanec, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Wayne W. Simmons, Francis P. Daly, Richard Q. Long, Laura J. Silva
  • Patent number: 8569202
    Abstract: The present invention provides catalysts, reactors, and methods of steam reforming over a catalyst. Surprisingly superior results and properties obtained in methods and catalysts of the present invention are also described. For example, a coated catalyst was demonstrated to be highly stable under steam reforming conditions (high temperature and high pressure of steam). Methods of making steam reforming catalysts are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys Corp.
    Inventors: Junko M. Watson, Francis P. Daly, Yong Wang, Steven T. Perry, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Laura J. Silva, Rachid Taha, Enrique Aceves de Alba, Ya-Huei Chen, Robert Rozmiarek, XiaoHong Li
  • Patent number: 8524927
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen or a source of oxygen in a process microchannel in the presence of a catalyst to form a product comprising ethylene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Mazanec, Soumitra Desmukh, Laura J. Silva, Torsten Maurer, Radwan Abdallah, Frank Rosowski
  • Patent number: 8492164
    Abstract: Novel manifolds and methods of flow through manifolds are described. Apparatus and techniques are described in which flow from a relatively large volume header is equally distributed to process channels. Methods of making laminated, microchannel devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Fitzgerald, Anna Lee Tonkovich, Ravi Arora, Matthew B. Schmidt, Dongming Qiu, Thomas D. Yuschak, Laura J. Silva, William Allen Rogers, Kai Jarosch
  • Publication number: 20130165536
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems in which there is partial boiling of a liquid in a mini-channel or microchannel. The partial boiling removes heat from an exothermic process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, David J. Hesse, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Bin Yang, Ravi Arora, Laura J. Silva, G. Bradley Chadwell, Kai Jarosch, Dongming Qiu