Patents by Inventor Yufeng CAI
Yufeng CAI 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: 11241655Abstract: A draw solute for a forward osmosis process, the draw solute comprising: a thermally responsive ionic compound having at least one of: a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), the draw solute being regeneratable from a diluted aqueous draw solution after forward osmosis via one of: liquid-liquid phase separation and solid-liquid phase separation, the draw solute being regeneratable when the diluted aqueous draw solution is at a temperature selected from one of: above the LCST and below the UCST.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai, Rong Wang
-
Publication number: 20210366122Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for segmenting a G-banded adhered chromosome based on a geometrical characteristic and regional fusion, and a chromosome karyotype analysis device. The method first extracts concave points of an outline of an adhered chromosome region, then cuts an adhered chromosome image via a cutting line formed by the concave points in pairs, and at last carries out a fusion operation on a local cut region and selects a most appropriate region as a final single chromosome region. The method implements automatic segmentation of an adhered chromosome and improves the chromosome karyotype analysis efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Shengri FENG, Ge LIN, Yi LI, Guangxiu LU, Yang MU, Yueqiu TAN, Yufeng CAI, Zixing CAI
-
Patent number: 11036068Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a non-volatile thermotropic composite material comprising a first component comprising a non-aqueous and non-volatile proton donating material; a second component comprising a monomer, an oligomer or a polymer as a proton accepting material; a non-volatile polymeric matrix; and wherein the non-volatile polymeric matric, the first component and the second component are configured to maintain at least one property which is reversibly changeable based on thermal energy received by or given out from the non-volatile thermotropic composite material. Proton donating materials include ionic liquid, poly(ionic liquid) and deep eutectic salt. The proton accepting material comprises at least an ether, a phenyl ester, an amide and an acrylate functional group.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Nanyang Technological UniversityInventors: Xiao Hu, Heng Yeong Lee, Yufeng Cai
-
Patent number: 11007482Abstract: A draw solute for forward osmosis comprising a semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) hydrogel which comprises a thermally responsive polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, such that the semi-IPN hydrogel is capable of switching between a hydrophilic and hydrophobic state in response to changes in temperature is provided. Also provided is a draw solute comprising a hydrogel of a polyionic thermally responsive polymer, wherein the hydrogel switches between a hydrophilic state to allow absorption of water osmosed from a feed solution and a hydrophobic state to allow release of the absorbed water in response to changes in temperature. There is also provided a forward osmosis method comprising: contacting a feed solution and the draw solute via a semi-permeable membrane, such that feed water in the feed solution passes through the membrane by osmotic pressure and moves into the draw solute; and separating the water from the draw solute to form a purified water product.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai, Rong Wang
-
Patent number: 10690122Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims a more efficient and economical method and system for osmotic energy production and capture using responsive compounds and molecules. The present invention is an energy harvest system enabled by stimuli responsive draw solutions that are competent in terms of energy production, geographic location flexibility, and the affordable, efficient and economical production and delivery of osmotic power. Specifically, the present invention is a novel osmotic power system that uses stimuli responsive draw solutions, economically feasible larger permeable membranes, and low grade heat sources to deliver osmotic power more efficiently and economically with less negative environmental impact, greater power output, and located in more geographically diverse areas of the world than previously thought possible for supporting such a power source.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai, Zhiping Lai, Yujiang Zhong
-
Patent number: 10549237Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of an inorganic salt to form and regenerate a draw solute for forward osmosis, wherein the inorganic salt is selected from one or more of the group selected from sodium sulfate, calcium lactate, disodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and hydrates thereof. Also disclosed herein is a method of forward osmosis using said inorganic salt.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai
-
Patent number: 10532319Abstract: The present invention provides a draw solute for forward osmosis comprising a carbon dioxide responsive structural unit and a thermally responsive structural unit, wherein the draw solute is capable of reversibly switching between a protonated state and a deprotonated state. The present invention also provides a forward osmosis method utilising the draw solute.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai, Rong Wang
-
Publication number: 20190258093Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a non-volatile thermotropic composite material comprising a first component comprising a non-aqueous and non-volatile proton donating material; a second component comprising a monomer, an oligomer or a polymer as a proton accepting material; a non-volatile polymeric matrix; and wherein the non-volatile polymeric matric, the first component and the second component are configured to maintain at least one property which is reversibly changeable based on thermal energy received by or given out from the non-volatile thermotropic composite material. Proton donating materials include ionic liquid, poly(ionic liquid) and deep eutectic salt. The proton accepting material comprises at least an ether, a phenyl ester, an amide and an acrylate functional group.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Xiao HU, Heng Yeong LEE, Yufeng CAI
-
Publication number: 20190003465Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims a more efficient and economical method and system for osmotic energy production and capture using responsive compounds and molecules. The present invention is an energy harvest system enabled by stimuli responsive draw solutions that are competent in terms of energy production, geographic location flexibility, and the affordable, efficient and economical production and delivery of osmotic power. Specifically, the present invention is a novel osmotic power system that uses stimuli responsive draw solutions, economically feasible larger permeable membranes, and low grade heat sources to deliver osmotic power more efficiently and economically with less negative environmental impact, greater power output, and located in more geographically diverse areas of the world than previously thought possible for supporting such a power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicants: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological UniversityInventors: Xiao Hu, Yufeng Cai, Zhiping Lai, Yujiang Zhong
-
Publication number: 20180015414Abstract: Disclosed herein is a use of an inorganic salt to form and regenerate a draw solute for forward osmosis, wherein the inorganic salt is selected from one or more of the group selected from sodium sulfate, calcium lactate, disodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and hydrates thereof. Also disclosed herein is a method of forward osmosis using said inorganic salt.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao HU, Yufeng CAI
-
Publication number: 20180008933Abstract: A draw solute for a forward osmosis process, the draw solute comprising: a thermally responsive ionic compound having at least one of: a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), the draw solute being regeneratable from a diluted aqueous draw solution after forward osmosis via one of: liquid-liquid phase separation and solid-liquid phase separation, the draw solute being regeneratable when the diluted aqueous draw solution is at a temperature selected from one of: above the LCST and below the UCSTType: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Xiao HU, Yufeng CAI, Rong WANG
-
Publication number: 20160082391Abstract: A draw solute for forward osmosis comprising a semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) hydrogel which comprises a thermally responsive polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, such that the semi-IPN hydrogel is capable of switching between a hydrophilic and hydrophobic state in response to changes in temperature is provided. Also provided is a draw solute comprising a hydrogel of a polyionic thermally responsive polymer, wherein the hydrogel switches between a hydrophilic state to allow absorption of water osmosed from a feed solution and a hydrophobic state to allow release of the absorbed water in response to changes in temperature. There is also provided a forward osmosis method comprising: contacting a feed solution and the draw solute via a semi-permeable membrane, such that feed water in the feed solution passes through the membrane by osmotic pressure and moves into the draw solute; and separating the water from the draw solute to form a purified water product.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao HU, Yufeng CAI, Rong WANG
-
Publication number: 20160074810Abstract: The present invention provides a draw solute for forward osmosis comprising a carbon dioxide responsive structural unit and a thermally responsive structural unit, wherein the draw solute is capable of reversibly switching between a protonated state and a deprotonated state. The present invention also provides a forward osmosis method utilising the draw solute.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYInventors: Xiao HU, Yufeng CAI, Rong WANG