Columbia University

Sandia National Laboratories

Alan C West

Edward F Leonard

Christian Paul Aucoin

Edgar E Nanne

Zhongliang Tang

Nina C Shapley

Robert J Von Gutfeld

Klaus S Lackner

Jennifer L Wade

Scott Banta

Timothy Kernan

Mark J Willey

John T Hachman

Raimondo Betti

James John Kelly

Nina C Shaplely

Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Methods and systems for producing products using engineered sulfur oxidizing bacteria

Systems and methods for plating and/or etching of hard-to-plate metals are provided. The systems and methods are designed to overcome the deleterious effect of superficial coating or oxide layers that interfere with the plating or etching of certain metal substrates. The systems and methods involve in situ removal of coating materials from the surfaces of the metal substrates while the substrates are either submerged in plating or etching solutions, or are positioned in a proximate enclosure just prior to submersion in the plating or etching solutions. Further, the substrates can be in contact with a suitable patterning mask to obtain patterned oxide-free regions for plating or etching. This in situ removal of coating layers may be achieved by pulse heating or photoablation of the substrate and the inhibiting coating layers. Electrical energy or laser light energy may be used for this purpose. Additionally or alternatively, the coating materials may be removed by mechanical means.

In situ plating and etching of materials covered with a surface film

Systems and methods for in-situ annealing of metal layers as they are being plated on a substrate by action of a chemical solution are provided. The in-situ annealing, in conjunction with controlled slow growth rates, allows control of the structure of the plated metal layers. The systems and methods are used for maskless plating of the substrates.

Systems and methods for in situ annealing of electro- and electroless platings during deposition

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for removing undesirable materials from a sample fluid by contact with a second fluid. The sample fluid flows as a thin layer adjacent to, or between, concurrently flowing layers of the second fluid, without an intervening membrane. In various embodiments, a secondary separator is used to restrict the removal of desirable substances and effect the removal of undesirable substances from blood. The embodiments may be used for the removal of components from a sample fluid that vary in size. When blood is the sample fluid, for example, this may include the removal of small molecules, middle molecules, macromolecules, macromolecular aggregates, and cells, from the blood sample to the extractor fluid.

Systems and methods for membraneless dialysis

Methods and systems for monitoring electrolyte bath fluids are provided. The electrolyte bath fluids can be electroplating, electroless plating or etching solutions. The monitoring systems employ microfluidic devices, which have built in microfluidic channels and microfabricated thin-film electrodes. The devices are configured with fluid pumps to control the movement and mixing of test fluids through the microfluidic channels. The microfabricated thin-film electrodes are configured so that the plating or etching bath fluid composition can be characterized by electrochemical measurements. The monitoring methods and system provide faster measurement times, generate minimal waste, and occupy dramatically reduced physical space compared to conventional bath-monitor systems. The monitoring systems and method also provide low-cost system and methods for measuring or monitoring electroless plating bath rates.

Systems and methods for monitoring plating and etching baths

A method and apparatus for sensing corrosion comprises a casing and a counter-electrode. The casing is made of material that is substantively incompressible at pressures on wires within a structural cable. The casing has a thickness that is not greater than typical interstitial spaces between wires of the structural cable and has a length on an order of a radius of the structural cable. The counter-electrode exchanges electrons with ions of an electrolyte that corrodes the wires of the structural cable. The counter-electrode is embedded in the casing, is exposed to the electrolyte in a window of the casing, and is recessed to avoid contact with any wire of the structural cable when the sensor is deployed among the wires of the structural cable.

Cable insertion for corrosion sensors

A device, system and method for exchanging components between first and second fluids by direct contact in a microfluidic channel. The fluids flow as thin layers in the channel. One of the fluids is passed through a filter upon exiting the channel and is recycled through a secondary processor which changes the fluid's properties. The recycled fluid is reused for further exchange. The filter excludes blood cells from the recycled fluid and prevents or limits clogging of the filter. The secondary processor removes metabolic waste and water by diafiltration.

Systems and methods of microfluidic membraneless exchange using filtration of extraction outlet streams

A carbon dioxide permeable membrane is described. In some embodiments, the membrane includes a body having a first side and an opposite second side; a plurality of first regions formed from a molten carbonate having a temperature of about 400 degrees Celsius to about 1200 degrees Celsius, the plurality of first regions forming a portion of the body and the plurality of first regions extending from the first side of the body to the second side of the body; a plurality of second regions formed from an oxygen conductive solid oxide, the plurality of second regions combining with the plurality of first regions to form the body and the plurality of second regions extending from the first side of the body to the second side of the body; and the body is configured to allow carbon dioxide to pass from the first side to the second side.

Carbon dioxide permeable membrane

Methods and systems for screening for the effect of bath composition on the performance of electroplating, electroless-plating, electrochemical-etching, electropolishing, and chemical-etching processes are provided. The methods and systems use microfluidic channels that allow for etching or plating studies on an electrode exposed to a multitude of bath compositions at different positions on its surface. After deposition or etching, the electrode surface can be quickly and easily detached from the device for analysis of deposited or etched film properties.

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Tenafly, NY, United States of America

Alan C West