Patents by Inventor Usama Zaher

Usama Zaher 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).

  • Two-stage anaerobic digestion systems wherein one of the stages comprises a two-phase system
    Patent number: 9567611
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen
  • Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion Systems Wherein One of the Stages Comprises a Two-Phase System
    Publication number: 20150056676
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen
  • Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion Systems Wherein One of the Stages Comprises a Two-Phase System
    Publication number: 20130309740
    Abstract: Low cost, efficient two-stage anaerobic digestion systems for the production of biogas (e.g. methane) are provided. During the first stage, biogas is produced in a first reactor by anaerobic microbes cultured in two phases: a high solids phase and a low solids phase. During the second stage, biogas is produced in a second reactor by a methanogen-rich anaerobic culture cultured in low solids medium. Removal of effluent comprising pH lowering reaction products assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase. The transfer of effluent from the second reactor to the first reactor assists in maintaining a suitable pH in the high solids phase, in mixing of the high solids phase, and in reseeding the high solids phase with methanogens. Methane is produced in and recovered from both reactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Liang Yu, Jingwei Ma, Craig Frear, Usama Zaher, Shulin Chen