Patents by Inventor Meisha Shofner

Meisha Shofner 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: 20220370960
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are membranes comprising: porous substrate; and two or more graphene oxide (GO) sheets disposed on the porous substrate, each GO layer comprising a plurality of GO flakes, each GO flake comprising a planar graphene structure with oxygen moieties extending therefrom, wherein the membrane, when a pressure from 10 bar to 50 bar of transmembrane pressure is applied from 1 hour to 48 hours, has an aqueous flux wherein the aqueous flux changes by 5% or less while the pressure is applied. The membranes can also include an intercalating agent disposed between the two or more GO sheets, the intercalating agent interacting with each GO sheet, wherein the intercalating agent provides a non-covalent stabilization of the two or more GO sheets. Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using the same and systems for implementing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Chen Ma, Meisha Shofner, Scott Sinquefield, Zhongzhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11484838
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a membrane-based device configured to concentrate black liquor, which results from papermaking. Certain embodiments may comprise a nanofiltration membrane configured to remove lignin from black liquor, and the nanofiltration membrane may include a first macroporous polymer substrate and a first graphene oxide membrane covering the first macroporous polymer substrate. Some embodiments may comprise a reverse osmosis membrane, which may include a second macroporous polymer substrate and a second graphene oxide membrane covering the second macroporous polymer substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Fereshteh Rashidi, Sankar Nair, Nikita Kevlich, Meisha Shofner, Scott Sinquefield, Zhongzhen Wang
  • Publication number: 20220280698
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are hybrid materials including a polyvinyl alcohol component combined with a filler. The filler may be one or more of crystalline nanocellulose and chitin nanofibers. The hybrid materials may also include water, and in such cases are designated hydrogels. The hybrid materials may be substantially free of solvents including water, and in such cases are designated aerogels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Cameron William Irvin, Meisha Shofner
  • Publication number: 20200368688
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a membrane-based device configured to concentrate black liquor, which results from papermaking. Certain embodiments may comprise a nanofiltration membrane configured to remove lignin from black liquor, and the nanofiltration membrane may include a first macroporous polymer substrate and a first graphene oxide membrane covering the first macroporous polymer substrate. Some embodiments may comprise a reverse osmosis membrane, which may include a second macroporous polymer substrate and a second graphene oxide membrane covering the second macroporous polymer substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Fereshteh Rashidi, Sankar Nair, Nikita Kevlich, Meisha Shofner, Scott Sinquefield, Zhongzhen Wang
  • Publication number: 20180071684
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a membrane-based device configured to concentrate black liquor, which results from papermaking. Certain embodiments may comprise a nanofiltration membrane configured to remove lignin from black liquor, and the nanofiltration membrane may include a first macroporous polymer substrate and a first graphene oxide membrane covering the first macroporous polymer substrate. Some embodiments may comprise a reverse osmosis membrane, which may include a second macroporous polymer substrate and a second graphene oxide membrane covering the second macroporous polymer substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Sankar Nair, Nikita Kevlich, Fereshteh Rashidi, Meisha Shofner, Scott Sinquefield, Zhongzhen Wang, VIII
  • Publication number: 20160200934
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for compositions and methods of making a waterborne epoxide resin that contains cellulose nanocrystals or nanofibrils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: James Carson Meredith, III, Natalie Girouard, Gregory T. Schueneman, Meisha Shofner
  • Patent number: 8809979
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: William Marsh Rice University, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Enrique V. Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ranjii Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 7744844
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Enrique V. Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ranjii Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20090099276
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Enrique V. Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ranjii Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20090027069
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Enrique V. Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ranjii Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 7407640
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Enrique V. Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn X. Pulikkathara, Ranjii Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20060202168
    Abstract: The present invention involves the interaction of radiation with functionalized carbon nanotubes that have been incorporated into various host materials, particularly polymeric ones. The present invention is directed to chemistries, methods, and apparatuses which exploit this type of radiation interaction, and to the materials which result from such interactions. The present invention is also directed toward the time dependent behavior of functionalized carbon nanotubes in such composite systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Enrique Barrera, Richard Wilkins, Meisha Shofner, Merlyn Pulikkathara, Ranji Vaidyanathan