Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Pinnavaia

Thomas J. Pinnavaia 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: 10195594
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel zeolite catalysts, methods of producing the zeolite catalysts and a methods of using such catalyst, including for production of BTEX with improved yield, product selectivity and reduced char production. The present invention relates to novel mesoporous zeolite catalysts, as well as methods of producing the same. The present invention also relates to methods of producing renewable aromatic hydrocarbons using such catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company, Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Shantanu Kelkar, Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Christopher M. Saffron, Robert Kriegel
  • Publication number: 20160030931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel zeolite catalysts, methods of producing the zeolite catalysts and a methods of using such catalyst, including for production of BTEX with improved yield, product selectivity and reduced char production. The present invention relates to novel mesoporous zeolite catalysts, as well as methods of producing the same. The present invention also relates to methods of producing renewable aromatic hydrocarbons using such catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Shantanu Kelkar, Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Christopher M. Saffron, Robert Kriegel
  • Publication number: 20140179831
    Abstract: Fire retardant or flame retardant additives are incorporated into thermoplastic, thermoset, and/or elastomeric polymer materials to form polymer compositions having improved fire retardant properties. More particularly, the polymer compositions of the present invention comprise additive compositions which have the effect of improving the FR effectiveness, the additive compositions comprising a mesoporous silicate additive. In addition, the polymer compositions of the present invention comprise additive compositions comprising a mesoporous silicate additive and a filler, wherein the filler is a flame retardant addition, an inert filler, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Bruce Nanasy
  • Publication number: 20130284667
    Abstract: Polymer composite membranes containing mesoporous particles which function in part as reinforcing agents, modifiers of polymer surface polarity, and membrane structure modifiers are provided. The composites provide superior resistance to internal damage and pore compaction, increased permeability to water with retention of separation fidelity, and resistance to chemical degradation and mechanical wear, along with minimal shedding of the reinforcing particles under applied pressure. These improvements in properties are particularly desirable for the water purification by membrane filtration methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Volodymyr V. Tarabara
  • Publication number: 20110288210
    Abstract: Fire retardant or flame retardant additives are incorporated into thermoplastic, thermoset, and/or elastomeric polymer materials to form polymer compositions having improved fire retardant properties. More particularly, the polymer compositions of the present invention comprise additive compositions which have the effect of improving the FR effectiveness, the additive compositions comprising a mesoporous silicate additive. In addition, the polymer compositions of the present invention comprise additive compositions comprising a mesoporous silicate additive and a filler, wherein the filler is a flame retardant addition, an inert filler, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Bruce Nanasy
  • Publication number: 20110281993
    Abstract: Surfactant-templated mesoporous silicates and mesoporous layered silicate clays having certain porosity parameters are used as reinforcing agents for polymers to make composites. The combination of porosity parameters that allows mesoporous silicates to be competitive with organoclays for the reinforcement of engineering polymers include an average mesopore size of at least 2 nm, a surface are of more than about 50 square meters per gram, a total pore volume of more than about 0.33 cubic centimeters per gram, wherein at least 20% of the total pore volume is due to mesopores about 2 to about 50 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Seong-Su Kim
  • Publication number: 20110212020
    Abstract: Zeolites with uniform intracrystal textural pores between 1 and 10 nm are described. Intracrystal pores, an alumina source and a silica source are reacted in the presence of a silane modified polymer as a porogen and the reaction product is calcined to form the zeolite. The zeolites are useful in catalytic reactions and adsorption processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 7879311
    Abstract: Zeolites with uniform intracrystal textural pores between 1 and 10 nm are described. Intracrystal pores, an alumina source and a silica source are reacted in the presence of a silane modified polymer as a porogen and the reaction product is calcined to form the zeolite. The zeolites are useful in catalytic reactions and adsorption processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 7714156
    Abstract: Nanolayered layered silicate materials of octahedrally arranged units with divalent metal ions at centers of the units covalently linked above and below to tetrahedrally arranged oxygen and hydroxyl units with silicon atoms. The silicate materials contain silanol groups which are reactive to form derivative compositions useful for water purification to remove heavy meal cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Mihai Polverejan
  • Publication number: 20100029832
    Abstract: Surfactant-templated mesoporous silicates and mesoporous layered silicate clays having certain porosity parameters are used as reinforcing agents for polymers to make composites. The combination of porosity parameters that allows mesoporous silicates to be competitive with organoclays for the reinforcement of engineering polymers include an average mesopore size of at least 4 nm for surfactant-templated mesoporous silicates and least 2 nm for mesoporous layered silicate clays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, In Park, Siqi Xue
  • Patent number: 7534415
    Abstract: Mesoporous crystalline alumina compositions and process for the preparation thereof are described. The compositions are useful as catalysts and absorbents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Zhaorong Zhang, Randall Hicks
  • Publication number: 20090123734
    Abstract: Nanolayered layered silicate materials of octahedrally arranged units with divalent metal ions at centers of the units covalently linked above and below to tetrahedrally arranged oxygen and hydroxyl units with silicon atoms. The silicate materials contain silanol groups which are reactive to form derivative compositions useful for water purification to remove heavy meal cations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Mihai Polverejan
  • Patent number: 7485282
    Abstract: A process is described for the synthesis of metal oxides in a nanometric particle form that cannot be easily obtained by conventional bulk synthesis techniques. The method makes use of Colloid Occluded Carbons (COC) and Colloid Imprinted Carbons (CIC) as reagents and as templating agents for the preparation of metal oxides in nanometric particle form. The nanometric particles are suitable useful in the field of chemical catalysis, particularly for petroleum refining when in porous form, and as sensors, optical wave guides, and coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Seong-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 7449164
    Abstract: Nanolayered layered silicate materials of octahedrally arranged units with divalent metal ions at centers of the units covalently linked above and below to tetrahedrally arranged oxygen and hydroxyl units with silicon atoms. The silicate materials contain silanol groups which are reactive to form derivative compositions useful for water purification to remove heavy meal cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Mihai Polverejan
  • Patent number: 7423132
    Abstract: A method for the separation and assay of phosphorylated peptides or proteins from complex mixtures of proteins and peptides is described. The method uses a diazo moiety linked by an organic group to a substrate. Kits for performing the assay are also described. The method and kits are particularly useful for detecting changes in phosphorylates produced in living cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Jetze J. Tepe, Thomas J. Pinnavaia
  • Publication number: 20080214882
    Abstract: The surfactant-mediated hydrolysis of ZSM-5 zeolite affords five-membered ring subunits that can be readily incorporated into the framework walls of a hexagonal mesostructured aluminosilicate, denoted MSU-Z. The five-membered ring subunits, which are identifiable by infrared spectroscopy, impart unprecedented acidity to the mesostructure, as judged by cumene cracking activity at 300° C. Most notably, MSU-Z aluminosilicate made through the base hydrolysis of ZSM-5 in the presence of cetyl trimethyl ammonium ions exhibits a cumene conversion of 73%, which is 6.7-fold higher than the conversion provided by a conventional MCM-41. This approach to stabilizing zeolitic subunits through surfactant-mediated hydrolysis of zeolites appears to be general. The hydrolysis of USY zeolite under analogous hydrolytic conditions also affords zeolitic fragments that boost the acidity of the mesostructure in comparison to equivalent compositions prepared from conventional aluminosilicate precursors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Hui Wang, Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 7404901
    Abstract: A method for the removal of arsenic ions from water with a porous silica composition with an organofunctional moiety comprising a thio which binds the arsenic ion and is then removed from the water. The method comprises the quality of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Emily J. McKimmy
  • Publication number: 20070258884
    Abstract: Zeolites with uniform intracrystal textural pores between 1 and 10 nm are described. Intracrystal pores, an alumina source and a silica source are reacted in the presence of a silane modified polymer as a porogen and the reaction product is calcined to form the zeolite. The zeolites are useful in catalytic reactions and adsorption processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 7166265
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of mesostructured organofunctional silica and silica-alumina compositions using a hydrolyzable organosilane compound is described. The process uses a water soluble silicate to form the compositions, which have hexagonal, wormhole or foam mesostructures. The compositions are useful for catalytic and sorption applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Jainisha R. Shah, Seong-Su Kim
  • Patent number: 7132165
    Abstract: Novel lamellar mesoporous silica compositions which can contain functional inorganic elements and organic functional groups as part of the lamellar silica framework structure are described. The compositions are prepared using gemini amine surfactants as templates or structure directing agents. The compositions have novel high temperature and hydrothermal stability and unique fundamental particle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Board of Trustees operating Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Seong-Su Kim, Wenzhong Zhang