Search Results - Chemicals

This invention provides novel, deoxybenzoin-based anti-flammable polymers and cured epoxy resins for a variety of end-use applications.

This invention provides novel ammonium and sulfonium sulfonate zwitterions and polymers derived therefrom for a variety of end-use applications.

Ferroptosis is a well-defined cell death mechanism distinct from other regulated cell death phenotypes such as apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. This invention provides novel ferroptosis inducer compounds that represent a new class of highly specific chemotherapeutic agents.

This invention provides new chemical compositions and methods for the preparation of adhesive materials with low flammability. The low flammability is due to newly invented organic/polymeric components used in the adhesive formulation, rather than through the addition of a conventional anti-flammable additives such as halogenated organic molecules or phosphorous-containing structures.

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This invention provides a new class of zwitterionic polymers that exhibit hydrophobic properties and are soluble in polar organic solvents, allowing for their use as novel polymeric surfactants, and as functional materials in other applications.

Zeolites have found wide application in catalysis and separation processes due to their tunable pore structure and active sites, and they show remarkable stability in commercial use. Recently, ultra-thin two-dimensional (2D) zeolite nanosheets have been synthesized from zeolite precursors. These ultra-thin nanosheets show promise for high throughput separations and catalytic reactions involving bulky molecules. A commercially feasible synthesis method, however, has yet to be developed. State-of-the-art methods require high energy input and multiple processing steps, and give low yield and small nanosheet size.

 

Professors Winter and Fan have developed a simpler, lower energy method to synthesize ultra-thin 2D zeolite nanosheets from precursor zeolite materials, such as MCM-22 and ml-MFI. In the method, zeolite precusors can be subjected to either a short sonication or chaotic flow treatment in the presence of commercially available telechelic polymers, resulting in exfoliated zeolite nanosheets. While demonstrated in batch, this process can potentially be scaled and made continuous.

With rapidly increasing proliferation and declining costs of renewable energy generation, methods of storing excess electricity become increasingly important. One such method was previously patented by Dr. Derek Lovley and Dr. Kelly Nevin. In their patented method, microorganisms use electricity to convert water and carbon dioxide into multi-carbon chemicals and fuels, akin to the reverse operation of a microbial fuel cell. This invention builds upon the inventors’ patent. Here, they created a genetically-modified strain of Geobacter sulfurreducens, whose electrical current consumption rate is more than 10x higher than the wild-type strain, greatly enhancing the conversion process. This new strain also provides a platform for producing a wide variety of high-value carbonaceous products previously not possible through this method.

This invention provides flame retardant monomers and polymers. The monomers are unsaturated deoxybenzoin compounds that are inherently fire resistant and can decrease the flammability of unsaturated polymers by crosslinking the polymers.

Treatment and disposal of bio-hazardous sludge accounts for 50-60% of the operational costs at a wastewater treatment plant. To treat this sludge, it undergoes a process involving thickening, conditioning, and dewatering, followed by transport to a landfill or incinerator. In addition to high costs, landfilling and incineration are detrimental from a sustainability standpoint.

 

In this patented invention, a closed, anaerobic, completely stirred tank side stream reactor is added after the outlet of the settling tank at the wastewater treatment plant. Solids retention time in the reactor is short (< 4 days), keeping its size and cost down. The acidic and anaerobic environment of the reactor causes biomass to deflocculate and sludge to hydrolyze, ultimately reducing sludge by 60%. The invention also has the added benefit of producing hydrogen and methane fuel.