Patents by Inventor Robert Kostecki

Robert Kostecki 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: 11845682
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to water desalination. In one aspect, a method includes generating a diluted draw solution using forward osmosis. Wastewater is on a first side of an osmotic membrane and a draw solution is on a second side of the osmotic membrane. The draw solution comprises a mixture of water and an ionic liquid. Water in the wastewater diffuses across the osmotic membrane to the draw solution to form the diluted draw solution. The diluted draw solution is heated using a photonic heater to a temperature above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the ionic liquid to phase separate the diluted draw solution into the ionic liquid and treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: the Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Ravi S. Prasher, Akanksha K. Menon, Andrew Z. Haddad, Jeffrey J. Urban
  • Publication number: 20220009813
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to water desalination. In one aspect, a method includes generating a diluted draw solution using forward osmosis. Wastewater is on a first side of an osmotic membrane and a draw solution is on a second side of the osmotic membrane. The draw solution comprises a mixture of water and an ionic liquid. Water in the wastewater diffuses across the osmotic membrane to the draw solution to form the diluted draw solution. The diluted draw solution is heated using a photonic heater to a temperature above a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the ionic liquid to phase separate the diluted draw solution into the ionic liquid and treated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Ravi S. Prasher, Akanksha K. Menon, Andrew Z. Haddad, Jeffrey J. Urban
  • Publication number: 20210395522
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a polymer composition comprising a carboxylic acid-containing polymer (CP) and an amino-containing polymer (AP). The CP and the AP are capable of crosslinking to each other through ionic interaction of the carboxylic acid and amino functional groups. The CP and the AP can be unlinked by increasing the pH of the polymer composition to about pH 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Gao Liu, Zhimeng Liu, Xin He, Chen Fang, Yangzhi Zhao, Robert Kostecki
  • Patent number: 10662082
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. Further provided are methods of using the device for selectively removing dissolved ions from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Chinmayee V. Subban, Ashok J. Gadgil, Robert Kostecki, Guoying Chen
  • Patent number: 10544052
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a device useful or removing dissolved ions from water comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. The present invention provides for a device useful for removing dissolved ions from water comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. The present invention also provides for a method for removing dissolved ions from water comprising providing said device, and using it thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Chinmayee V. Subban, Ashok J. Gadgil, Robert Kostecki, Guoying Chen
  • Publication number: 20180105441
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. Further provided are methods of using the device for selectively removing dissolved ions from water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Chinmayee V. Subban, Ashok J. Gadgil, Robert Kostecki, Guoying Chen
  • Patent number: 9768441
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self-discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Abdelbast Guerfi, Patrick Charest, Robert Kostecki, Kimio Kinoshita, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20170247268
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a device useful or removing dissolved ions from water comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. The present invention provides for a device useful for removing dissolved ions from water comprising or configured to comprise composite resin electrodes. The present invention also provides for a method for removing dissolved ions from water comprising providing said device, and using it thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Chinmayee V. Subban, Ashok J. Gadgil, Robert Kostecki, Guoying Chen
  • Publication number: 20170225991
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for removing arsenic from an arsenic contaminated aqueous solution, and its use thereof. The system comprises an anode comprising iron and a cathode comprising iron or an electricity conducting metal that is electropositive relative to iron in contact with the arsenic contaminated aqueous solution. The system is used by running an electric current through the water via the anode and cathode to cause the formation of iron (hydr)oxide from the iron of the anode which then forms an insoluble arsenic-iron (hydr)oxide complex which can be separated from the aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Ashok Jagannath Gadgil, Susan E. Amrose, Robert Kostecki
  • Patent number: 9368798
    Abstract: A lithium (Li) ion battery comprising a cathode, a separator, an organic electrolyte, an anode, and a carbon black conductive additive, wherein the carbon black has been heated treated in a CO2 gas environment at a temperature range of between 875-925 degrees Celsius for a time range of between 50 to 70 minutes to oxidize the carbon black and reduce an electrochemical reactivity of the carbon black towards the organic electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Thomas Richardson, Ulrike Boesenberg, Elad Pollak, Simon Lux
  • Publication number: 20140374265
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self-discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim ZAGHIB, Abdelbast Guerfi, Patrick Charest, Robert Kostecki, Kimio Kinoshita, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20140370395
    Abstract: A lithium (Li) ion battery comprising a cathode, a separator, an organic electrolyte, an anode, and a carbon black conductive additive, wherein the carbon black has been heated treated in a CO2 gas environment at a temperature range of between 875-925 degrees Celsius for a time range of between 50 to 70 minutes to oxidize the carbon black and reduce an electrochemical reactivity of the carbon black towards the organic electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of University of California
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Thomas Richardson, Ulrike Boesenberg, Elad Pollak, Simon Lux
  • Patent number: 8853526
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices are driven by intense photoemission of “hot” electrons from a suitable nanostructured metal. The metal should be an electron source with surface plasmon resonance within the visible and near-visible spectrum range (near IR to near UV (about 300 to 1000 nm)). Suitable metals include silver, gold, copper and alloys of silver, gold and copper with each other. Silver is particularly preferred for its advantageous opto-electronic properties in the near UV and visible spectrum range, relatively low cost, and simplicity of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Samuel Mao
  • Patent number: 8828103
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Abdelbast Guerfi, Patrick Charest, Robert Kostecki, Kimio Kinoshita, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 8221853
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphitic tin-carbon composite at low temperatures is described. The method involves using microwave radiation to produce a neutral gas plasma in a reactor cell. At least one organo tin precursor material in the reactor cell forms a tin-carbon film on a supporting substrate disposed in the cell under influence of the plasma. The three dimensional carbon matrix material with embedded tin nanoparticles can be used as an electrode in lithium-ion batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Marek Marcinek, Robert Kostecki
  • Publication number: 20120017429
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: KARIM ZAGHIB, Abdelbast Guerfi, Patrick Charest, Robert Kostecki, Kimio Kinoshita, Michel Armand
  • Patent number: 8048561
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Karim Zaghib, Abdelbast Guerfi, Patrick Charest, Robert Kostecki, Kimio Kinoshita, Michel Armand
  • Publication number: 20110215001
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for removing arsenic from an arsenic contaminated aqueous solution, and its use thereof. The system comprises an anode comprising iron and a cathode comprising iron or an electricity conducting metal that is electropositive relative to iron in contact with the arsenic contaminated aqueous solution. The system is used by running an electric current through the water via the anode and cathode to cause the formation of iron (hydr)oxide from the iron of the anode which then forms an insoluble arsenic-iron (hydr)oxide complex which can be separated from the aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Ashok Jagannath Gadgil, Susan E. Addy, Robert Kostecki
  • Publication number: 20100175745
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices are driven by intense photoemission of “hot” electrons from a suitable nanostructured metal. The metal should be an electron source with surface plasmon resonance within the visible and near-visible spectrum range (near IR to near UV (about 300 to 1000 nm)). Suitable metals include silver, gold, copper and alloys of silver, gold and copper with each other. Silver is particularly preferred for its advantageous opto-electronic properties in the near UV and visible spectrum range, relatively low cost, and simplicity of processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Robert Kostecki, Samuel S. Mao
  • Publication number: 20100055441
    Abstract: A method for forming a graphitic tin-carbon composite at low temperatures is described. The method involves using microwave radiation to produce a neutral gas plasma in a reactor cell. At least one organo tin precursor material in the reactor cell forms a tin-carbon film on a supporting substrate disposed in the cell under influence of the plasma. The three dimensional carbon matrix material with embedded tin nanoparticles can be used as an electrode in lithium-ion batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Marek Marcinek, Robert Kostecki