Patents by Inventor William Robert Kenealy

William Robert Kenealy 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).

  • Method for treating lignocellulosic materials
    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
  • Method for Treating Lignocellulosic Materials
    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