Patents by Inventor Zongsu Wei

Zongsu Wei 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: 11827542
    Abstract: A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gaurav Sant, Zongsu Wei, Bu Wang, Erika Callagon La Plante, Dante Simonetti
  • Publication number: 20230159346
    Abstract: Divalent ions are extracted from solids by leaching to form a divalent ion-containing solution. The divalent ion-containing solution is subjected to concentration to form a concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. Precipitation of a divalent ion hydroxide salt is induced from the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. In other cases, the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution is exposed to carbon dioxide to induce precipitation of a divalent ion carbonate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Gaurav N. Sant, Laurent G. Pilon, Erika Blanca Callagon La Plante, Bu Wang, Zongsu Wei, Sara Vallejo Castaño
  • Publication number: 20230058065
    Abstract: A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Gaurav Sant, Zongsu Wei, Bu Wang, Erika Callagon La Plante, Dante Simonetti
  • Patent number: 11560318
    Abstract: Divalent ions are extracted from solids by leaching to form a divalent ion-containing solution. The divalent ion-containing solution is subjected to concentration to form a concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. Precipitation of a divalent ion hydroxide salt is induced from the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. In other cases, the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution is exposed to carbon dioxide to induce precipitation of a divalent ion carbonate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gaurav N. Sant, Laurent G. Pilon, Erika Blanca Callagon La Plante, Bu Wang, Zongsu Wei, Sara Vallejo Castaño
  • Publication number: 20210206670
    Abstract: The invention relates to composite compositions including a carbonaceous material and a photocatalyst. The invention includes compositions and various methods, including methods for removing one or more contaminants from a substance such as air, soil, and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Dongye ZHAO, Wen LIU, Fan LI, Tianyuan XU, Yangmo ZHU, Jun DUAN, Zongsu WEI
  • Publication number: 20210188671
    Abstract: A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Gaurav Sant, Zongsu Wei, Bu Wang, Erika Callagon La Plante, Dante Simonetti
  • Patent number: 11040898
    Abstract: A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Gaurav Sant, Zongsu Wei, Bu Wang, Erika Callagon La Plante, Dante Simonetti
  • Publication number: 20210024364
    Abstract: Divalent ions are extracted from solids by leaching to form a divalent ion-containing solution. The divalent ion-containing solution is subjected to concentration to form a concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. Precipitation of a divalent ion hydroxide salt is induced from the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution. In other cases, the concentrated divalent ion-containing solution is exposed to carbon dioxide to induce precipitation of a divalent ion carbonate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gaurav N. SANT, Laurent G. PILON, Erika Blanca Callagon LA PLANTE, Bu WANG, Zongsu WEI, Sara Vallejo CASTAÑO
  • Publication number: 20190367390
    Abstract: A method includes: (1) using a chelating agent, extracting divalent ions from a brine solution as complexes of the chelating agent and the divalent ions; (2) using a weak acid, regenerating the chelating agent and producing a divalent ion salt solution; and (3) introducing carbon dioxide to the divalent ion salt solution to induce precipitation of the divalent ions as a carbonate salt. Another method includes: (1) combining water with carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide solution; (2) introducing an ion exchanger to the carbon dioxide solution to induce exchange of alkali metal cations included in the ion exchanger with protons included in the carbon dioxide solution and to produce a bicarbonate salt solution of the alkali metal cations; and (3) introducing a brine solution to the bicarbonate salt solution to induce precipitation of divalent ions from the brine solution as a carbonate salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Gaurav Sant, Zongsu Wei, Bu Wang, Erika Callagon La Plante, Dante Simonetti