Patents by Inventor William Thornton Stringfellow

William Thornton Stringfellow 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).

  • Biodegradation of ethers using fatty acid enhanced microbes
    Patent number: 6350381
    Abstract: Microorganism growth in aqueous systems used for degradation of ether-based compounds such as MTBE is stimulated and maximized by utilizing fatty acids as the growth substrate for the microorganisms. The fatty acid functions as an inexpensive growth substrate that can be introduced into the aqueous system to quickly maximize the growth of the active microbe incorporated therein. Such a characteristic is desirable since fatty acids are non-toxic, water soluble, typically inexpensive and readily available. In one preferred embodiment, the fatty acid is food grade lactate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Tracey Kilkenny, William Thornton Stringfellow
  • BIODEGRADATION OF ETHERS USING FATTY ACID ENHANCED MICROBES
    Publication number: 20010054587
    Abstract: Microorganism growth in aqueous systems used for degradation of ether-based compounds such as MTBE is stimulated and maximized by utilizing fatty acids as the growth substrate for the microorganisms. The fatty acid functions as an inexpensive growth substrate that can be introduced into the aqueous system to quickly maximize the growth of the active microbe incorporated therein. Such a characteristic is desirable since fatty acids are non-toxic, water soluble, typically inexpensive and readily available. In one preferred embodiment, the fatty acid is food grade lactate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: SCOTT TRACEY KILKENNY, WILLIAM THORNTON STRINGFELLOW