Patents by Inventor Richard R. Willis

Richard R. Willis 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: 20110138999
    Abstract: Metal-organic framework (MOF)-polymer mixed matrix membranes (MOF-MMMs) can be prepared by dispersing high surface area MOFs into a polymer matrix. The MOFs allow the polymer to infiltrate the pores of the MOFs, which improves the interfacial and mechanical properties of the polymer and in turn affects permeability. These mixed matrix membranes are attractive candidates for practical gas separation applications such as CO2 removal from natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Richard R. Willis
  • Publication number: 20100260664
    Abstract: A process has been developed to synthesize various zeolites with nano size crystals. The process involves forming an aluminosilicate initiator which exhibits the Tyndall effect and contains no appreciable filterable solids. This initiator is then mixed with a clear solution comprising reactive sources of Al, Si, M and R plus water. M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal while R is an organoammonium compound. The resultant reaction mixture is reacted at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce a zeolite such as zeolite Y with average crystallite size less than 500 nm or preferably less than 300 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Willis, Dorothy E. Kuechl, Annabelle I. Benin
  • Publication number: 20100222523
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
  • Publication number: 20100222509
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
  • Publication number: 20100222619
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of crystalline coordination copolymers wherein multiple organic molecules are assembled to produce porous framework materials with layered or core-shell structures. These materials are synthesized by sequential growth techniques such as the seed growth technique. In addition, the invention provides a simple procedure for controlling functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: UOP LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Kyoung Moo Koh, Antek G. Wong-Foy, Adam J. Matzger, Annabelle I. Benin, Richard R. Willis
  • Patent number: 7728187
    Abstract: Adsorbents and methods for the adsorptive separation of meta-xylene from a mixture containing at least one other C8 aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g., a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and ethylbenzene) are described. Suitable adsorbents comprise sodium zeolite Y having an average crystallite size from about 50 to about 700 nanometers. The adsorbents provide improved separation efficiency, which may be associated with a higher meta-xylene mass transfer rate and/or other beneficial effects. Exemplary desorbents for use in the process may comprise toluene, benzene, or indan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Santi Kulprathipanja, Stanley J. Frey, Richard R Willis, Lisa M. Knight
  • Publication number: 20100069234
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of certain metal organic frameworks that have been treated with water or another metal titrant in the storage of carbon dioxide. The capacity of these frameworks is significantly increased through this treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Richard R. Willis, John J. Low, Syed A. Faheem, Annabelle I. Benin, Randall Q. Snurr, Ahmet Ozgur Yazaydin
  • Publication number: 20090326310
    Abstract: Adsorbents and methods for the adsorptive separation of meta-xylene from a mixture containing at least one other C8 aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g., a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and ethylbenzene) are described. Suitable adsorbents comprise sodium zeolite Y having an average crystallite size from about 50 to about 700 nanometers. The adsorbents provide improved separation efficiency, which may be associated with a higher meta-xylene mass transfer rate and/or other beneficial effects. Exemplary desorbents for use in the process may comprise toluene, benzene, or indan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Santi KULPRATHIPANJA, Stanley J. Frey, Richard R. Willis, Lisa M. Knight
  • Publication number: 20090197426
    Abstract: A process for forming a zeolite beta dielectric layer onto a substrate such as a silicon wafer has been developed. The zeolite beta is characterized in that it has an aluminum concentration from about 0.1 to about 2.0 wt. %, and has crystallites from about 5 to about 40 nanometers. The process involves first dealuminating a starting zeolite beta, then preparing a slurry of the dealuminated zeolite beta followed by coating a substrate, e.g. silicon wafer with the slurry, heating to form a zeolite beta film and treating the zeolite beta with a silylating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Richard R. Willis, Stephen T. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20070224113
    Abstract: A process has been developed to synthesize various zeolites with nano size crystals. The process involves forming an aluminosilicate initiator which exhibits the Tyndall effect. This initiator is then mixed with a clear solution comprising reactive sources of Al, Si, M and R plus water. M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal while R is an organoammonium compound. The resultant reaction mixture is reacted at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce a zeolite such as zeolite Y with average crystallite size less than 500 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Richard R. Willis, Dorothy E. Kuechl, Annabelle I. Benin
  • Patent number: 7229832
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene R. Smotkin
  • Patent number: 6923939
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene S. Smotkin
  • Patent number: 6844198
    Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of solids in a plurality by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during adsorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: La Salle R. Swenson, Timothy A. Brandvold, Michael J. McCall, Richard R. Willis
  • Publication number: 20040235056
    Abstract: A method for assembling arrays of materials where each array contains different materials on or within a particle and the location of each particle at a spatially identifiable location in the array determines the material associated with that particle, has been developed. Assembling of the arrays begins with the delivery, of a particle and a component to a first isolated location in first region. A second isolated location on the first region also receives another particle and component to form at least two particle-component pairs in the first region. At least one of the particle-component pairs is selectively transferred to an isolated location in a second region where the particle-component pair receive an additional component thereby producing a first material associated with the first particle-component pair and a second material associated with the second particle-component pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas E. Mallouk, Ramnarayanan Ramanathan, Richard R. Willis, Ralph D. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 6814871
    Abstract: A process for removing pollutants from aqueous streams is disclosed. The process involves contacting the stream with a shaped ion exchange composite to remove ammonium and phosphate ions. The composite is a mixture of an anion exchange composition such as zirconia and a microporous cation exchange composition formed into a shaped article and optionally containing a binder such as hydrous zirconium oxide. The microporous cation exchangers are represented by the empirical formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: David S. Bem, Richard R. Willis, Daniel L. Ellig
  • Patent number: 6808928
    Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: LaSalle R. Swenson, Timothy A. Brandvold, Michael J. McCall, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Richard R. Willis
  • Publication number: 20040197920
    Abstract: A method of determining a surface property of a plurality of solids by contacting the solids with a fluid, measuring the radiation emitted, absorbed, or altered during desorption of the fluid using a detector, and then determining at least one surface property of the solids from the radiation measurements has been invented. The invention is particularly useful in combinatorial applications in order to evaluate a plurality of solids or mixtures of solids to determine at least one surface property of each of the solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: LaSalle R. Swenson, Timothy A. Brandvold, Richard R. Willis, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Michael J. McCall
  • Publication number: 20040077096
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for rapidly screening materials using, for example, mass spectrometry has been developed. More specifically, an array of materials on a fluid permeable support contained within a reaction cell having a semipermeable membrane can be rapidly screened for characteristics such as catalytic activity, selectivity, and adsorption and desorption properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Amit Nayar, Renxuan Liu, Richard R. Willis, Eugene S. Smotkin
  • Patent number: 6579460
    Abstract: A process and a composite for removing toxic cations and anions from blood or dialysate is disclosed. The process involves contacting blood or dialysate with a shaped ion exchange composite to remove ammonium and phosphate ions. The composite is a mixture of an anion exchange composition such as zirconia and a microporous cation exchange composition formed into a shaped article and optionally containing a binder such as hydrous zirconium oxide. The microporous cation exchangers are represented by the following empirical formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Richard R. Willis, David S. Bem, Daniel L. Ellig
  • Patent number: RE38128
    Abstract: A temperature climate control system comprises a variable temperature seat, at least one heat pump, at least one heat pump temperature sensor, and a controller. Each heat pump comprises a number of Peltier thermoelectric modules for temperature conditioning the air in a main heat exchanger and a main exchanger fan for passing the conditioned air from the main exchanger to the variable temperature seat. The Peltier modules and each main fan may be manually adjusted via a temperature switch and a fan switch, respectively. Additionally, the temperature climate control system may comprise a number of additional temperature sensors to monitor the temperature of the ambient air surrounding the occupant as well as the temperature of the conditioned air directed to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Amerigon Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Gallup, David R. Noles, Richard R. Willis