Patents by Inventor Roald N. Leif

Roald N. Leif 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: 20210403421
    Abstract: Biodegradable surfactants are described, in which an amphiphilic heteroatom containing hydrocarbon optionally comprising at least one counterion (Z), and related compositions, methods and systems. Biodegradable surfactant described herein has an aHLB value in accordance with equation (1): aHLB=20*Gh/(Gh?Gt) (1) wherein Gh is the Group Number of a hydrophilic head portion of the biodegradable surfactant optionally comprising the at least one counterion (Z), and Gt is the Group Number of a hydrophobic tail portion of the biodegradable surfactant. A biodegradable surfactant in the sense of the disclosure can be tuned to a set hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB) by selectively modifying at least one tuning moiety of the biodegradable surfactants to provide tuned biodegradable surfactants having an increase or decrease in their adjusted hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Mathew Gerald LYMAN, Lawrence DUGAN, Roald N. LEIF, Bonnee RUBINFELD, Brian E. SOUZA, Carlos A. VALDEZ
  • Patent number: 11066359
    Abstract: Biodegradable surfactants are described, in which an amphiphilic heteroatom containing hydrocarbon optionally comprising at least one counterion (Z), and related compositions, methods and systems. Biodegradable surfactant described herein has an aHLB value in accordance with equation (1): aHLB=20*Gh/(Gh?Gt) (1) wherein Gh is the Group Number of a hydrophilic head portion of the biodegradable surfactant optionally comprising the at least one counterion (Z), and Gt is the Group Number of a hydrophobic tail portion of the biodegradable surfactant. A biodegradable surfactant in the sense of the disclosure can be tuned to a set hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB) by selectively modifying at least one tuning moiety of the biodegradable surfactants to provide tuned biodegradable surfactants having an increase or decrease in their adjusted hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Gerald Lyman, Lawrence Dugan, Roald N. Leif, Bonnee Rubinfeld, Brian E. Souza, Carlos A. Valdez
  • Publication number: 20190359562
    Abstract: Biodegradable surfactants are described, in which an amphiphilic heteroatom containing hydrocarbon optionally comprising at least one counterion (Z), and related compositions, methods and systems. Biodegradable surfactant described herein has an aHLB value in accordance with equation (1): aHLB=20*Gh/(Gh?Gt) (1) wherein Gh is the Group Number of a hydrophilic head portion of the biodegradable surfactant optionally comprising the at least one counterion (Z), and Gt is the Group Number of a hydrophobic tail portion of the biodegradable surfactant. A biodegradable surfactant in the sense of the disclosure can be tuned to a set hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB) by selectively modifying at least one tuning moiety of the biodegradable surfactants to provide tuned biodegradable surfactants having an increase or decrease in their adjusted hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (aHLB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Mathew Gerald LYMAN, Lawrence DUGAN, Roald N. LEIF, Bonnee RUBINFELD, Brian E. SOUZA, Carlos A. VALDEZ
  • Patent number: 10137324
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes contacting a phosphotriester and a halogen salt in a polar solvent. In another embodiment, a method for dealkylating tributylphosphate includes contacting tributylphosphate and a halogen salt in a polar solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Kennedy, Roald N. Leif, Brian P. Mayer, Carlos A. Valdez
  • Patent number: 9290810
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a carrier that includes a non-toxic material; and at least one DNA barcode coupled to the carrier, where the particles each have a diameter in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 100 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: George R. Farquar, Roald N. Leif, Elizabeth Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20150361490
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a product includes a plurality of particles, each particle including: a carrier that includes a non-toxic material; and at least one DNA barcode coupled to the carrier, where the particles each have a diameter in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 100 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: George R. Farquar, Roald N. Leif, Elizabeth Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9023650
    Abstract: A simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the simulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: George Roy Farquar, Roald N. Leif, Elizabeth Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20140057276
    Abstract: A simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the simulant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: George Roy Farquar, Roald N. Leif, Elizabeth Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20130052751
    Abstract: A bio-threat simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the bio-threat simulant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: George Roy Farquar, Roald N. Leif
  • Patent number: 8293535
    Abstract: A bio-threat simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the bio-threat simulant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: George Roy Farquar, Roald N. Leif
  • Publication number: 20110104808
    Abstract: A bio-threat simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the bio-threat simulant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: George Roy Farquar, Roald N. Leif
  • Patent number: 6387278
    Abstract: In situ hydrous pyrolysis/partial oxidation of organics at the site of the organics constrained in an subsurface reservoir produces surfactants that can form an oil/water emulsion that is effectively removed from an underground formation. The removal of the oil/water emulsions is particularly useful in several applications, e.g., soil contaminant remediation and enhanced oil recovery operations. A portion of the constrained organics react in heated reservoir water with injected steam containing dissolved oxygen gas at ambient reservoir conditions to produce such surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Roald N. Leif, Kevin G. Knauss, Robin L. Newmark, Roger D. Aines, Craig Eaker
  • Patent number: 6010632
    Abstract: A process for hot or supercritical water oxidative decomposition of wastes, particularly halogenated organic compounds, is described. The process employs a heterogeneous reagent which accelerates the decomposition and is effective to neutralize acidic byproducts. The reagent is maintained in suspension throughout the reaction by operating at conditions of temperature and pressure at which the heterogeneous reagent is largely or fully insoluble in water, and preferably at which liquid water is not present. Production of potentially corrosive brine is also minimized by operating at conditions under which sodium chloride is insoluble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: David S. Ross, Indira Jayaweera, David C. Bomberger, Roald N. Leif
  • Patent number: 5837149
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the decomposition of material selected from the group consisting of organic compounds, inorganic compounds, or combinations thereof to compounds which are environmentally acceptable, or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or an aqueous slurry of material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of decomposition of the material; (b) contacting the material in the reaction zone with aqueous sodium carbonate as a reactant in an amount effective to decompose the material under hot water or supercritical water oxidation conditions of between about 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 20 and 400 atmospheres for between 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: David S. Ross, Indira Jayaweera, Roald N. Leif
  • Patent number: 5746926
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the decomposition of material selected from halogenated organic compounds, to compounds which are environmentally acceptable, or are amenable to further degradation by conventional disposal systems to produce environmentally acceptable products, which process comprises: (a) conveying an aqueous solution or an aqueous slurry of material into a reaction zone capable of withstanding the temperatures and pressures of decomposition of the material; (b)contacting the material in the reaction zone with aqueous sodium carbonate as a reactant in an amount effective to decompose the material under hydrothermal oxidation conditions of between about 300.degree. and 400.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 20 and 400 atmospheres for between 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: David S. Ross, Indira Jayaweera, Roald N. Leif