Patents by Inventor Ross E. Swaney

Ross E. Swaney 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: 8123904
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an MDF board from pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives (particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase). The treated wood is then subjected to a sugar extraction wash and refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product. Once this is done the pulp is used to make MDF boards having improved water repellency properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Biopulping International Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, William R. Kenealy, Eric G. Horn, Ross E. Swaney, Jerrold Winandy
  • Patent number: 8092647
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material or source using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid derivatives, particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase. Once treated, the material may be refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product and the production of the product is accompanied by strength increases in paper made from the pulp and energy savings in making the pulp, hi addition the treatment or pretreatment produces a soluble carbohydrate source and other components (e.g. acetic acid, other wood components) for further product development. In certain cases a pulp product is not produced and all of the carbohydrate present in the lignocellulose is converted into soluble sugars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, William Robert Kenealy, Eric Horn, Ross E. Swaney
  • Publication number: 20100300634
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an MDF board from pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives (particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase). The treated wood is then subjected to a sugar extraction wash and refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product. Once this is done the pulp is used to make MDF boards having improved water repellency properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, William R. Kenealy, Eric G. Horn, Ross E. Swaney, Jerrold Winandy
  • Publication number: 20090194243
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material or source using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid derivatives, particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase. Once treated, the material may be refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product and the production of the product is accompanied by strength increases in paper made from the pulp and energy savings in making the pulp, hi addition the treatment or pretreatment produces a soluble carbohydrate source and other components (e.g. acetic acid, other wood components) for further product development. In certain cases a pulp product is not produced and all of the carbohydrate present in the lignocellulose is converted into soluble sugars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, William Robert Kenealy, Eric Horn, Ross E. Swaney
  • Publication number: 20080264588
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an MDF board from pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives (particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase). The treated wood is then subjected to a sugar extraction wash and refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product. Once this is done the pulp is used to make MDF boards having improved water repellency properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, William R. Kenealy, Eric G. Horn, Ross E. Swaney, Jerrold Winandy
  • Patent number: 7306698
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing pulp from fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid, or oxalic acid and sodium bisulfite, prior to pulping. The pulping of the resulting product requires less energy input and provides a pulp having enhanced physical properties as compared to untreated materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignees: Biopulping International, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, Ross E. Swaney, Eric G. Horn, Michael J. Lentz, Gary M. Scott, Cory C. Black, Carl J Houtman, T. K. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7008505
    Abstract: In a new process for preparing pulped wood chips for paper making, chips from a hardwood such as eucalyptus are inoculated with aliving culture of one or more white rot fungi. The fungi propagate throughout the body of the wood chip, selectively attacking the lignin of the wood without harming the cellulosic fibers. Subsequent mechanical pulpting results in reduced utilization of energy, improved strength, and reduced cooking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Biopulping International, Inc.
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, Eric G. Horn, Michael J. Lentz, Ross E. Swaney
  • Publication number: 20040154762
    Abstract: In a new process for preparing pulped wood chips for paper making, chips from a hardwood such as eucalyptus are inoculated with aliving culture of one or more white rot fungi. The fungi propagate throughout the body of the wood chip, selectively attacking the lignin of the wood without harming the cellulosic fibers. Subsequent mechanical pulpting results in reduced utilization of energy, improved strength, and reduced cooking time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, Eric G Horn, Michael J Lentz, Ross E Swaney
  • Publication number: 20030041985
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing pulp from fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid, or oxalic acid and sodium bisulfite, prior to pulping. The pulping of the resulting product requires less energy input and provides a pulp having enhanced physical properties as compared to untreated materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Masood Akhtar, Ross E. Swaney, Eric G. Horn, Michael J. Lentz, Gary M. Scott, Cory C. Black, Carl J. Houtman, T. K. Kirk