Patents by Inventor Pratim Biswas

Pratim Biswas 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: 20160056448
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a single-step synthesis of nanostructured thin films by a chemical vapor and aerosol deposition (CVAD) process. The present disclosure is also directed to methods for controlling the morphology of the nanostructured thin films. The films can be used, for example, in lithium ion and/or sodium ion battery electrodes, solar cells and gas sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Tandeep Singh Chadha, Pratim Biswas, Woo-Jin An
  • Patent number: 8404183
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20100307593
    Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of nanostructured metal species-based films in a flame aerosol reactor is provided. The process comprises combusting vaporized metal precursor, vaporized fuel and vaporized oxidizer streams to form metal species-based nanoparticles in a flame that are deposited onto a temperature controlled support surface and sintered to form the metal species-based nanostructured film. Improved nanostructured photo-watersplitting cells having a sunlight to hydrogen conversion efficiency of from about 10% to about 15%, dye sensitized solar cells having a sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of from about 10% to about 20%, and nanostructured p/n junction solar cells having a sunlight to electricity conversion of from about 10% to about 20% are provided. Each cell type comprises a nanostructured metal oxide film having continuous individual columnar structures having an average width (w) and grain size criterion (X3) wherein w/10 is greater than X3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Elijah James Thimsen, Pratim Biswas
  • Patent number: 7811460
    Abstract: Biocolloids, e.g. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, are removed from water by filtration using a packed bed of a granular filter medium, preferably MgO, establishing an electric field across the packed bed, perpendicular to the flow of the water through the packed bed. The packed bed is provided in an annular space between two concentric electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Roy C. Haught, Pratim Biswas, Pramod Kulkami
  • Patent number: 7691342
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20090301859
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew SAHLE-DEMESSIE, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan R. Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20080030730
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the impurity content of drinking water processes has a monochromatic light source projecting a beam of visible light toward a light trap. A water sample generator passes a water sample transverse to and intersecting the beam of light. A photo sensor array with an angular resolution of at least 0.10° detects forward scattered light from particles in the water sample. A data acquisition and processing system connected to the photo sensor array receives signals of the intensity of scattered light as a function of the scattering angle and compares the received light intensities to stored patterns of known waterborne contaminants. Based upon detected contaminants and their concentrations, the data acquisition and processing system provides an output on a connector which can be used to control a water processing system to adjust treatment of drinking water for contamination such as bacterial pathogens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Robert Clark, Pratim Biswas, Virendra Sethi, Roy C. Haught
  • Publication number: 20070251811
    Abstract: A reactor produces a surface corona for emitting UV light and for the production of ozone by passing air or oxygen through the surface corona. The emitted UV light activates a photocatalyst coated on a surface facing a surface with embedded electrodes which generate the surface corona. The photocatalyst is a thin film of nanoparticle TiO2 with primary particle size of 0.02 to 0.2 ?m was deposited on a substrate by a flame aerosol method. The method combines ozonation and photocatalysis to provide effective and efficient oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons to value added products. The method can also be used for air and water cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Unnikrishnan Pillai, Chulhan Kim
  • Publication number: 20070210009
    Abstract: Biocolloids, e.g. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, are removed from water by filtration using a packed bed of a granular filter medium, preferably MgO, establishing an electric field across the packed bed, perpendicular to the flow of the water through the packed bed. The packed bed is provided in an annular space between two concentric electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    Inventors: Roy Haught, Pratim Biswas, Pramod Kulkami
  • Patent number: 6861036
    Abstract: An improved method for charging ultrafine particles in coronas (e.g., unipolar or bipolar corona discharges) by exposing the particles to X-ray irradiation. Experimental tests have verified that positive corona in the presence of X-ray irradiation results in maximum or optimum charging efficiency, followed by a negative corona in the presence of X-ray irradiation, X-ray radiation only (without corona), negative corona only (without X-ray irradiation), and finally positive corona only (without X-ray irradiation). This method and system is particularly well suited for use with bioaerosol particles wherein exposure to the corona discharge and X-ray irradiation serves to both capture and inactivate the bioaerosol particles using a single device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Washington University in St. Louis
    Inventors: Pratim Biswas, Norikazu Namiki, Pramod Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 6777374
    Abstract: Organic molecules are partially oxidized in that the gas phase on supported and immobilized photocatalysts deposited having a nanostructure. the photocatalysts are semiconductors such as titanium dioxide and are preferentially coated onto a substrate by flame aerosol coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Michale A. Gonzalez, Zhong-Min Wang, Subhas K. Sikdar
  • Publication number: 20040042151
    Abstract: An improved method for charging ultrafine particles in coronas (e.g., unipolar or bipolar corona discharges) by exposing the particles to X-ray irradiation. Experimental tests have verified that positive corona in the presence of X-ray irradiation results in maximum or optimum charging efficiency, followed by a negative corona in the presence of X-ray irradiation, X-ray radiation only (without corona), negative corona only (without X-ray irradiation), and finally positive corona only (without X-ray irradiation). This method and system is particularly well suited for use with bioaerosol particles wherein exposure to the corona discharge and X-ray irradiation serves to both capture and inactivate the bioaerosol particles using a single device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Pratim Biswas, Norikazu Namiki, Pramod Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20020029955
    Abstract: Organic molecules are partially oxidized in that the gas phase on supported and immobilized photocatalysts deposited having a nanostructure. the photocatalysts are semiconductors such as titanium dioxide and are preferentially coated onto a substrate by flame aerosol coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, Pratim Biswas, Michale A. Gonzalez, Zhong-Min Wang, Subhas K. Sikdar
  • Patent number: 6248217
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent-metal complex. The process includes oxidizing a sorbent precursor and contacting the sorbent precursor with a metallic species. The process further includes chemically reacting the sorbent precursor and the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. In one particular aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the sorbent precursor is transformed into sorbent particles during the oxidation step. These sorbent particles then are contacted with the metallic species and chemically reacted with the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent metal complex in a combustion system. The process includes introducing a sorbent precursor into a combustion system and subjecting the sorbent precursor to an elevated temperature sufficient to oxidize the sorbent precursor and transform the sorbent precursor into sorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Pratim Biswas, Chang-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 5888926
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent-metal complex. The process includes oxidizing a sorbent precursor and contacting the sorbent precursor with a metallic species. The process further includes chemically reacting the sorbent precursor and the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. In one particular aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the sorbent precursor is transformed into sorbent particles during the oxidation step. These sorbent particles then are contacted with the metallic species and chemically reacted with the metallic species, thereby forming a sorbent-metal complex. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a process for forming a sorbent-metal complex in a combustion system. The process includes introducing a sorbent precursor into a combustion system and subjecting the sorbent precursor to an elevated temperature sufficient to oxidize the sorbent precursor and transform the sorbent precursor into sorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Pratim Biswas, Timothy M. Owens