Patents by Inventor Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE

Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE 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: 11628408
    Abstract: A bilayer electrospun membranes for treating hydraulic fracking wastewater via membrane distillation, and more particularly to bilayer electrospun membranes having an omniphobic layer to prevent low-surface tension solution wicking and an oleophobic antifouling surface to prevent foulant depositing on the membrane. Nanoparticles are decorated on the omniphobic surface through electrochemical interaction, which is coated with a fluorine monomer on the nanoparticles. A zwitterionic co-polymer is grafted using self-assembly between hydroxy groups on the antifouling surface generated by alkaline treatment and anchor segment epoxy groups on zwitterionic co-polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Jorge Almodovar, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Yu-Hsuan Chiao, David Alfonso Castilla-Casadiego
  • Publication number: 20210379539
    Abstract: A bilayer electrospun membranes for treating hydraulic fracking wastewater via membrane distillation, and more particularly to bilayer electrospun membranes having an omniphobic layer to prevent low-surface tension solution wicking and an oleophobic antifouling surface to prevent foulant depositing on the membrane. Nanoparticles are decorated on the omniphobic surface through electrochemical interaction, which is coated with a fluorine monomer on the nanoparticles. A zwitterionic co-polymer is grafted using self-assembly between hydroxy groups on the antifouling surface generated by alkaline treatment and anchor segment epoxy groups on zwitterionic co-polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Jorge Almodovar, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Yu-Hsuan Chiao, David Alfonso Castilla-Casadiego
  • Patent number: 11028062
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of HMF production are described herein. A method of HMF production, in some embodiments, comprises providing a saccharide feedstock including glucose and bringing the saccharide feedstock into contact with a solid state catalytic structure at a temperature sufficient to effectuate dehydration of the glucose to provide HMF. The solid state catalytic structure comprises a substrate having one or more surfaces functionalized with saccharide solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities, wherein the saccharide solubilization functionalities comprise one or more imidazolium salts pendant along chains of a first polymeric species attached to the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Xianghong Qian, Ranil Wickramasinghe
  • Patent number: 10118168
    Abstract: In one aspect, catalytic membranes are described herein. In some embodiments, a catalytic membrane comprises a surface functionalized with a polymer, the polymer comprising cellulose solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose and/or hemicellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe, Xianghong Qian, Mathias Ulbricht, Qian Yang
  • Publication number: 20180155305
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of HMF production are described herein. A method of HMF production, in some embodiments, comprises providing a saccharide feedstock including glucose and bringing the saccharide feedstock into contact with a solid state catalytic structure at a temperature sufficient to effectuate dehydration of the glucose to provide HMF. The solid state catalytic structure comprises a substrate having one or more surfaces functionalized with saccharide solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities, wherein the saccharide solubilization functionalities comprise one or more imidazolium salts pendant along chains of a first polymeric species attached to the substrate surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Xianghong QIAN, Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE
  • Publication number: 20160256861
    Abstract: In one aspect, catalytic membranes are described herein. In some embodiments, a catalytic membrane comprises a surface functionalized with a polymer, the polymer comprising cellulose solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose and/or hemicellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE, Xianghong QIAN, Mathias ULBRICHT, Qian YANG
  • Patent number: 9339803
    Abstract: In one aspect, catalytic membranes are described herein. In some embodiments, a catalytic membrane comprises a surface functionalized with a polymer, the polymer comprising cellulose solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose and/or hemicellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, Universitat Duisburg-Essen
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe, Xianghong Qian, Mathias Ulbricht, Qian Yang
  • Patent number: 9132389
    Abstract: The invention provides permeable magnetically responsive filtration membranes that include a filtration membrane polymer base suitable for fluid filtration; hydrophilic polymers conjugated to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer; and magnetic nanoparticles affixed to the ends of a plurality of the hydrophilic polymers, wherein the hydrophilic polymers are movable with respect to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer surface in the presence of an oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe, Xianghong Qian, Heath H. Himstedt, Mathias Ulbricht, Michael J. Semmens
  • Publication number: 20140371340
    Abstract: In one aspect, catalytic membranes are described herein. In some embodiments, a catalytic membrane comprises a surface functionalized with a polymer, the polymer comprising cellulose solubilization functionalities and acid functionalities for the catalytic hydrolysis of cellulose and/or hemicellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe, Xianghong Qian, Mathias Ulbricht, Qian Yang
  • Publication number: 20140231351
    Abstract: The invention provides permeable magnetically responsive filtration membranes that include a filtration membrane polymer base suitable for fluid filtration; hydrophilic polymers conjugated to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer; and magnetic nanoparticles affixed to the ends of a plurality of the hydrophilic polymers, wherein the hydrophilic polymers are movable with respect to the surface of the filtration membrane polymer surface in the presence of an oscillating magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: Colorado State University Research Foundation, The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, Lehrstuhl fur Technische Chemie II, Universitat Duisburg-Essen
    Inventors: Sumith Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE, Xianghong QIAN, Heath H. HIMSTEDT, Mathias ULBRICHT, Michael J. SEMMENS
  • Patent number: 5846427
    Abstract: Improved devices for blood separations are provided based on the use of hollow fiber membrane arrays in extra-lumenal crossflow filtration. Blood is processed extra-lumenally across an ordered array of microporous hollow fibers to separate cells from plasma. By use of extra-lumenal crossflow filtration with suitably oriented fibers, the separation device is more efficient than existing devices which benefits a patient or donor by reducing extracorporeal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: HemaSure, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, Sumith Ranil Wickramasinghe