Patents by Inventor Zhanfei Liu

Zhanfei Liu 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: 8455699
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing glycerol-related products. One process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing glycerol and an alkylation reagent to a substantially oxygen free environment. Another process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing a glycerol and tetramethylammonium hydroxide to a substantially oxygen free environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu, Elodie Salmon
  • Patent number: 8450370
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing glycerol related products. One process comprises introducing a biomass and an alkylation reagent to a substantially oxygen free environment, hydrolyzing at a temperature at or above 200° C. one or more lipid glycerides in the biomass, methylating one or more fatty acids in the biomass with methyl groups from the alkylation reagent, wherein the hydrolyzing and methylating occur contemporaneously and separating resulting biodiesel and methylated glycerol-related products from a residue of the biomass by condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu, Elodie Salmon
  • Publication number: 20120323044
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing glycerol-related products. One process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing glycerol and an alkylation reagent to a substantially oxygen free environment. Another process for producing glycerol-related products comprises introducing a glycerol and tetramethylammonium hydroxide to a substantially oxygen free environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu, Elodie Salmon
  • Patent number: 8080679
    Abstract: Disclosed is the direct conversion process for producing biodiesel from a biomass. The direct conversion process for producing biodiesel from a biomass comprises reacting a feed stock comprising a biomass and an alkylation reagent in a substantially oxygen free environment at a temperature sufficient to hydrolyze one or more lipid glycerides in the biomass and alkylated one or more fatty acids in the reaction. The process may comprise reacting a feed stock comprising an algal biomass and tetramethylammonium hydroxide in a substantially oxygen free environment at a temperature between 250° C. and 500° C. The direct conversion process for producing biodiesel may further comprise reacting oil containing lipid glycerides with an alkylation reagent at a sufficient temperature to esterify the oil. The fatty acid alkyl esters produced from the reacted feed stock are recovered. The recovered fatty acid alkyl esters, as an essential component of biodiesel, may be formulated into biodiesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu
  • Publication number: 20110289830
    Abstract: Disclosed are processes for producing glycerol related products. One process comprises introducing a biomass and an alkylation reagent to a substantially oxygen free environment, hydrolyzing at a temperature at or above 200° C. one or more lipid glycerides in the biomass, methylating one or more fatty acids in the biomass with methyl groups from the alkylation reagent, wherein the hydrolyzing and methylating occur contemporaneously and separating resulting biodiesel and methylated glycerol-related products from a residue of the biomass by condensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu, Elodie Salmon
  • Publication number: 20090158638
    Abstract: Disclosed is the direct conversion process for producing biodiesel from a biomass. The direct conversion process for producing biodiesel from a biomass comprises reacting a feed stock comprising a biomass and an alkylation reagent in a substantially oxygen free environment at a temperature sufficient to hydrolyze one or more lipid glycerides in the biomass and alkylated one or more fatty acids in the reaction. The process may comprise reacting a feed stock comprising an algal biomass and tetramethylammonium hydroxide in a substantially oxygen free environment at a temperature between 250° C. and 500° C. The direct conversion process for producing biodiesel may further comprise reacting oil containing lipid glycerides with an alkylation reagent at a sufficient temperature to esterify the oil. The fatty acid alkyl esters produced from the reacted feed stock are recovered. The recovered fatty acid alkyl esters, as an essential component of biodiesel, may be formulated into biodiesel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicants: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY, OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Patrick G. Hatcher, Zhanfei Liu