Patents by Inventor Ndumiso SIBANDA

Ndumiso SIBANDA 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).

  • Method of Depolymerising Phenolic Polymers
    Publication number: 20220227694
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for depolymerising a phenolic polymer, the method comprising reacting the phenolic polymer with dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and a hydrogen halide. The phenolic polymer may be selected from the group consisting of lignin and derivatives thereof. The hydrogen halide may be HBr. The quantity of hydrogen halide per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 30 mmoles to 70 mmoles. The quantity of DMSO per gram of phenolic polymer may be from 0.1 mole to 1 mole. The reaction may be performed at a temperature of from 100 to 120° C. The reaction may be carried out for between 10 h and 14 h. The product of the reaction may comprise vanillin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Stellenbosch University
    Inventors: Ndumiso SIBANDA, Harold PASCH, Helen PFUKWA