Patents by Inventor Ted R. Aulich

Ted R. Aulich 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: 11905382
    Abstract: A proton-exchange membrane includes a polymer matrix, polymer fibers, or a combination thereof. The proton-exchange membrane also includes a proton-conducting material distributed on the polymer matrix, on the polymer fibers, in the polymer fibers, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Energy and Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Jivan Thakare, John Hurley, Xiangfa Wu, Zhengping Zhou, Oksana Zholobko
  • Publication number: 20210009775
    Abstract: A proton-exchange membrane includes a polymer matrix, polymer fibers, or a combination thereof. The proton-exchange membrane also includes a proton-conducting material distributed on the polymer matrix, on the polymer fibers, in the polymer fibers, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Jivan Thakare, John Hurley, Xiangfa Wu, Zhengping Zhou, Oksana Zholobko
  • Patent number: 9005422
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia are disclosed. Embodiments include (1) ammonium nitrate produced via the reduction of a nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a nitrogen source at the anode; (2) urea or its isomers produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source: (3) ammonia produced via the reduction of nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a hydrogen source or a hydrogen equivalent such as carbon monoxide or a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen at the anode; and (4) urea-ammonium nitrate produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and anodic oxidation of a nitrogen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Junhua Jiang, Ted R. Aulich, Alexey V. Ignatchenko
  • Publication number: 20140275670
    Abstract: A process relating to the manufacture of hydrocarbons, particularly paraffins/alkanes, from fatty acid feedstocks. More specifically, a process relating to the manufacture of paraffins/alkanes from fatty acid feedstocks comprising an olefinic bond saturation followed by a deoxygenation process carried out using decarboxylation achieving a maximum feedstock conversion to a paraffin product while consuming a minimum amount of hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Chad A. Wocken, Ramesh K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 8530715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to production of fuels or fuel blendstocks from renewable sources. Various embodiments provide a method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock including at least one of a renewable triacylglyceride (TAG), renewable free fatty acid (FFA), and renewable fatty acid C1-C5 alkyl ester (C1-C5 FAE) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product including hydrocarbons. In some examples, the first product can be subjected to further chemical transformations such as aromatization, cracking, or isomerization to produce a second product including hydrocarbons. In various embodiments, the first or second hydrocarbon product with minimal or substantially no further processing can be suitable as a liquid transportation fuel or fuel blendstock, including fuels such as gasoline, naptha, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Marc D. Kurz
  • Publication number: 20130072731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to production of fuels or fuel blendstocks from renewable sources. Various embodiments provide a method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock including at least one of a renewable triacylglyceride (TAG), renewable free fatty acid (FFA), and renewable fatty acid C1-C5 alkyl ester (C1-C5 FAE) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product including hydrocarbons. In some examples, the first product can be subjected to further chemical transformations such as aromatization, cracking, or isomerization to produce a second product including hydrocarbons. In various embodiments, the first or second hydrocarbon product with minimal or substantially no further processing can be suitable as a liquid transportation fuel or fuel blendstock, including fuels such as gasoline, naptha, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Marc D. Kurz
  • Patent number: 8398842
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen. Implementing an electrolyte serving as ionic charge carrier, (1) ammonium nitrate is produced via the reduction of a nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a nitrogen source at the anode; (2) urea or its isomers are produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source; (3) ammonia is produced via the reduction of nitrogen source at the cathode and the oxidation of a hydrogen source at the anode; and (4) urea-ammonium nitrate is produced via the simultaneous cathodic reduction of a carbon source and a nitrogen source, and anodic oxidation of a nitrogen source. The electrolyte can be solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Edwin S. Olson, Junhua Jiang
  • Patent number: 8309783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to production of fuels or fuel blendstocks from renewable sources. Various embodiments provide a method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock including at least one of a renewable triacylglyceride (TAG), renewable free fatty acid (FFA), and renewable fatty acid C1-C5 alkyl ester (C1-C5 FAE) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product including hydrocarbons. In some examples, the first product can be subjected to further chemical transformations such as aromatization, cracking, or isomerization to produce a second product including hydrocarbons. In various embodiments, the first or second hydrocarbon product with minimal or substantially no further processing can be suitable as a liquid transportation fuel or fuel blendstock, including fuels such as gasoline, naptha, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Marc D. Kurz
  • Patent number: 8304591
    Abstract: A novel, energy efficient process of producing jet fuel is disclosed herein. The process is based on utilizing a medium chain fatty acid source such as cuphea oil, which precludes the need for high-energy fatty acid chain cracking to achieve the shorter molecules needed for jet fuels and other fuels with low-temperature flow requirements. In an embodiment, a process for producing a jet fuel comprises providing a medium chain fatty acid source. The method also comprises cleaving the one or more medium chain fatty acid groups from the glycerides to form glycerol and one or more free fatty acids. The method further comprises decarboxylating the one or more medium chain fatty acids to form one or more hydrocarbons for the production of the jet fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Chad A. Wocken, Ronald C. Timpe, Paul Pansegrau
  • Publication number: 20120234689
    Abstract: A method for producing fertilizers comprising feeding gaseous reactants comprising at least one nitrogen source and a source of hydrogen selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen-containing salt, a hydrogen-containing compound, and a hydrogen-containing gas to a reactor, the reactor including at least one reaction chamber, at least one anode, at least one cathode, and at least one electrolyte between each at least one anode and each at least one cathode, providing electricity to drive anodic and cathodic reactions, and producing a fertilizer having nitrogen by providing a nitrogen source of the at least one nitrogen source and at least one carbon source to the at least one cathode and a nitrogen source of the at least one nitrogen source to the at least one anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ted R. AULICH, Edwin S. OLSON, Junhua JIANG
  • Patent number: 8247632
    Abstract: A method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock comprising triacylglyceride (TAG) and TAG-derived materials such as free fatty acid (FFA) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product comprising hydrocarbons. A method of producing a transportation fuel by selecting an undoped feedstock comprising virgin TAG, used TAG, FFA, and FAME or a combination thereof; hydrotreating the undoped feedstock in the presence of an unsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product and subjecting the first product to at least one process selected from aromatization, cyclization, and isomerization to produce a second hydrocarbon product selected from gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels. A method is described by which fatty acids may be converted to hydrocarbons suitable for use as liquid transportation fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Marc Kurz
  • Publication number: 20120157733
    Abstract: A method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock comprising triacylglyceride (TAG) and TAG-derived materials such as free fatty acid (FFA) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product comprising hydrocarbons. A method of producing a transportation fuel by selecting an undoped feedstock comprising virgin TAG, used TAG, FFA, and FAME or a combination thereof; hydrotreating the undoped feedstock in the presence of an unsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product and subjecting the first product to at least one process selected from aromatization, cyclization, and isomerization to produce a second hydrocarbon product selected from gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels. A method is described by which fatty acids may be converted to hydrocarbons suitable for use as liquid transportation fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Marc Kurz
  • Publication number: 20120157734
    Abstract: The present invention relates to production of fuels or fuel blendstocks from renewable sources. Various embodiments provide a method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock including at least one of a renewable triacylglyceride (TAG), renewable free fatty acid (FFA), and renewable fatty acid C1-C5 alkyl ester (C1-C5 FAE) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product including hydrocarbons. In some examples, the first product can be subjected to further chemical transformations such as aromatization, cracking, or isomerization to produce a second product including hydrocarbons. In various embodiments, the first or second hydrocarbon product with minimal or substantially no further processing can be suitable as a liquid transportation fuel or fuel blendstock, including fuels such as gasoline, naptha, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich, Mare D. Kurz
  • Patent number: 8182787
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in producing high-pressure hydrogen from natural gas, methanol, ethanol, or other fossil fuel-derived and renewable hydrocarbon resources. The process can produce hydrogen at pressures ranging from 2000 to 12,000 pounds per square inch (psi) using a hydrogen carrier, with or without high-pressure water, and an appropriate catalyst. The catalyst reacts with the hydrogen carrier and, optionally, high-pressure water, in a catalytic reformer (20) maintained under desired temperature and pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Collings, Ted R. Aulich, Ronald C. Timpe, Michael J. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8152988
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia, at low temperature and pressure, preferably at ambient temperature and pressure, utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen or hydrogen equivalent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Energy & Enviromental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Edwin S. Olson, Junhua Jiang
  • Publication number: 20120083633
    Abstract: A novel, energy efficient process of producing jet fuel is disclosed herein. The process is based on utilizing a medium chain fatty acid source such as cuphea oil, which precludes the need for high-energy fatty acid chain cracking to achieve the shorter molecules needed for jet fuels and other fuels with low-temperature flow requirements. In an embodiment, a process for producing a jet fuel comprises providing a medium chain fatty acid source. The method also comprises cleaving the one or more medium chain fatty acid groups from the glycerides to form glycerol and one or more free fatty acids. The method further comprises decarboxylating the one or more medium chain fatty acids to form one or more hydrocarbons for the production of the jet fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Chad A. Wocken, Ron C. Timpe, Paul Pansegrau
  • Patent number: 7989671
    Abstract: A method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock comprising triacylglyceride (TAG) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product comprising hydrocarbons. A method of producing a transportation fuel by selecting an undoped feedstock comprising virgin TAG, used TAG, or a combination thereof; hydrotreating the undoped feedstock in the presence of an unsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product; and subjecting the first product to at least one process selected from aromatization, cyclization, and isomerization; to produce a second hydrocarbon product selected from gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua R. Strege, Benjamin G. Oster, Paul D. Pansegrau, Chad A. Wocken, Ted R. Aulich
  • Publication number: 20110120880
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the preparation of nitrogen fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, urea, urea-ammonium nitrate, and/or ammonia, at low temperature and pressure, preferably at ambient temperature and pressure, utilizing a source of carbon, a source of nitrogen, and/or a source of hydrogen or hydrogen equivalent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Junhua Jiang, Alexey Ignatchenko, Ted R. Aulich
  • Publication number: 20110061290
    Abstract: Aviation-grade kerosene comprising a first blendstock derived from non-petroleum feedstock and comprising primarily hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of isoparaffins and normal paraffins, and a second blendstock comprising primarily hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of cycloalkanes and aromatics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Ron C. Timpe, Chad A. Wocken, Carsten Heide
  • Patent number: 7897824
    Abstract: A novel, energy efficient process of producing jet fuel is disclosed herein. The process is based on utilizing a medium chain fatty acid source such as cuphea oil, which precludes the need for high-energy fatty acid chain cracking to achieve the shorter molecules needed for jet fuels and other fuels with low-temperature flow requirements. In an embodiment, a process for producing a jet fuel comprises providing a medium chain fatty acid source. The method also comprises cleaving the one or more medium chain fatty acid groups from the glycerides to form glycerol and one or more free fatty acids. The method further comprises decarboxylating the one or more medium chain fatty acids to form one or more hydrocarbons for the production of the jet fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Energy & Environmental Research Center Foundation
    Inventors: Ted R. Aulich, Chad A. Wocken, Ron C. Timpe, Paul Pansegrau