Cidra Corporate Services Inc.

University of Connecticut

Princeton University

Other

Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Douglas H Adamson

Mark R Fernald

Paul Joseph Rothman

Francis K Didden

Christian Victor O'Keefe

Alan D Kersey

Robert K Prud'homme

Ilhan A Aksay

Andrey V Dobrynin

Steven Woltornist

Richard A Register

Ahmed Abdala

Paul Michael Chaikin

Bulent Ozbas

Mustafa Erhan Yildiz

Zhenhua Cui

Koji Asakawa

Michael A Davis

Timothy J Bailey

Paul Mansky

Ian D Robb

Christopher Harrison

Lewis R Norman

Gregory Allen Sotzing

Michael Stephen Ryan

Paul Dolan

Richard Steven Parnas

Warde T Collins

Christian V O'keefe

Harish Kumar

Miri Park

Michael Puig

Prabodha Abeykoon

Garrett Kraft

Fahad Alamer

David E Grahan

Robert M Minnini

Michael Stredney

Vincent Pelletier

Mingshaw Wu

Young-Rae Hong

Christopher O'Neil

Paul J Rothman

Christian V O'KEEFE

Porous, electrically conductive ceramic foams incorporating continuous self-assembled graphene networks are described. The disclosed approach uses interfacial trapping to spontaneously exfoliate and assemble pristine graphite, not graphite oxide, in a ceramic sol-gel. The composite foams display electrical conductivity and joule heating, with anticipated applications as, for example, catalyst supports, thermoelectrics, and porous electrodes.

Ceramic foams with imbedded self-assembled electrically conductive pristine graphene networks

Systems and methods are provided that may utilize a glass substrate to selectively withdraw exfoliated graphene from a high-energy interface between immiscible solvents. The exfoliated graphene preferentially adheres to the surface of the glass substrate for withdrawal from the noted high energy interface, leaving behind the graphite (which is too large to be effectively adsorbed relative to the glass substrate). The disclosed systems and methods are easily implemented and offer significant advantages for graphene production relative to conventional systems and methods, e.g., the disclosed systems/methods do not require the input of heat or mechanical energy which translates to processes that are both cheaper to run and do not result in damage to the graphene. Still further, the disclosed systems/methods do not require chemical modification of the graphene, again lowering the cost considerably and not damaging the graphene structure.

Exfoliation of graphite to graphene by interface stabilization

A machine or apparatus featuring a first processor and a second processor. The first processor is configured to receive a mixture of fluid, valuable material and unwanted material and a functionalized polymer coated member configured to attach to the valuable material in an attachment rich environment, and provide an enriched functionalized polymer coated member having the valuable material attached thereto. The second processor is configured to receive a fluid and the enriched functionalized polymer coated member in a release rich environment to release the valuable material, and provide the valuable material released from the enriched functionalized polymer coated member.

Mineral separation using functionalized membranes

The present disclosure provides advantageous graphene/graphite stabilized composites (e.g., graphene/graphite stabilized emulsion-templated foam composites), and improved methods for fabricating such graphene/graphite stabilized composites. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating pristine, graphene/graphite/polymer composite foams derived from emulsions stabilized by graphene/graphite kinetic trapping. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides that, instead of viewing the insolubility of pristine graphene/graphite as an obstacle to be overcome, it is utilized as a means to create or fabricate water/oil emulsions, with graphene/graphite stabilizing the spheres formed. These emulsions are then the frameworks used to make foam composites that have shown bulk conductivities up to about 2 S/m, as well as compressive moduli up to about 100 MPa and breaking strengths of over 1200 psi, with densities as low as about 0.25 g/cm.

Boron nitride polymer composite foam derived from emulsions stabilized by boron nitride kinetic trapping

A synthetic bead for use in mineral separation is described. The synthetic bead has a surface made of a synthetic material such as polymer and the synthetic material is functionalized with molecules having a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the surface in a separation process. The synthetic beads can be placed in flotation cell containing a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material or in a pipeline where the mixture is transported from one location to another. The enriched synthetic beads carrying the mineral particles are separated from the unwanted materials in the mixture. The mineral particles are then released from the synthetic beads by means of low pH treatment, ultrasonic agitation, thermal or electromagnetic treatment.

Method and system for releasing mineral from synthetic bubbles and beads

Apparatus for use in, or forming part of, a separation process to be implemented in separation processor technology, the apparatus comprising synthetic bubbles or beads configured with a polymer or polymer-based material functionalized to attach to a valuable material in a mixture so as to form an enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto, and also configured to be separated from the mixture based at least partly on a difference in a physical property between the enriched synthetic bubbles or beads having the valuable material attached thereto and the mixture.

Mineral separation using sized-, weight- or magnetic-based polymer bubbles or beads

The present disclosure provides advantageous composite films/coatings, and improved methods for fabricating such composite films/coatings. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved methods for fabricating composite films by trapping at least a portion of a layered material (e.g., hexagonal boron nitride sheets/layers) at an interface of a phase separated system and then introducing the layered material to a polymer film. The present disclosure provides for the use of boron nitride layers to increase the properties (e.g., dielectric constant and breakdown voltage) of polymer films. The exemplary films can be produced by an advantageous climbing technique. Exemplary boron nitride films are composed of overlapping boron nitride sheets with a total thickness of about one nanometer, with the film then transferred onto a polymer film, thereby resulting in significant increases in both dielectric and breakdown properties of the polymer film.

Dielectric materials using 2D nanosheet network interlayer

An engineered collection medium for use in mineral separation is described. The engineered collection medium has a solid phase body configured with a three-dimensional open-cell structure like foam or sponge to provide collection surfaces. The surfaces are functionalized with a hydrophobic chemical having molecules with a functional group for attaching mineral particles to the collection surfaces. The engineered collection medium can be a foam block, a filter or conveyor belt to be placed in a slurry to collect mineral particles in the slurry. The engineered collection medium carrying the mineral particles is provided to a release apparatus where the mineral particles can be released by using mechanical agitation, sonic agitation and so forth.

Recovery media for mineral processing

Graphene/graphite polymer composite foam derived from emulsions stabilized by graphene kinetic trapping

Apparatus or recovering a mineral particle of interest from a slurry in a mineral extraction process, featuring a core or substrate; and multiple layers arranged on the core or substrate, each layer of the multiple layers configured with a respective outer surface having a plurality of molecules attached thereto, the molecules comprising a functional group selected for attracting and attaching one or more mineral particles of interest to the molecules. Each layer is made from a polymer having a thickness of less than or equal to about 125 microns. The polymer is selected from a group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane or dimethyl siloxane.

Mineral recovery using hydrophobic polymer surfaces

Apparatus, such as a flotation separation device, features a flotation cell or column configured to receive a mixture of water, valuable material and unwanted material; receive polymer-based materials, including polymer bubbles or beads, configured to attach to the valuable material in the mixture; and provide enriched polymer-based materials, including enriched polymer bubbles or beads, having the valuable material attached thereon.

Flotation separation using lightweight synthetic beads or bubbles

A method to fractionate and isolate components of oxidized graphene material is provided that includes fractionating a system that includes graphene oxide, a solvent and water, wherein the fractionation creates two phases or fractions: (i) a water phase or fraction that contains highly oxidized graphene oxide, and (ii) a solvent-in-water emulsion phase or fraction that contains a graphene-based material. The graphene-based material is recovered from the solvent-in-water phase or fraction. Fractionation of the solvent-in-water emulsion phase or fraction may be repeated. The graphene-based material (uGO) may be used in a range of applications, e.g., a medical device, a nanoelectronic, an electromechanical system, a sensor, a composite, a catalysis, and energy storage device, and an optics application.

Fractionation of graphene oxide through emulsion stabilization and graphene oxide produced thereby

Apparatus is provided featuring a first and second cells. The first cell receives an ore slurry having mineral particles of interest, receives unexpanded polymer microspheres comprising a surface having mineral collector chemistry attached thereto with molecules for attaching the mineral particles of interest, causes the unexpanded polymer microspheres to expand substantially in volume into expanded polymer microspheres having a substantially increased sphere surface area, and provides an expanded polymer microsphere foam layer comprising the expanded polymer microspheres with attached mineral particles of interest. The second cell receives the expanded polymer microsphere foam layer, and causes the expanded polymer microspheres to collapse substantially in volume into collapsed polymer microspheres having a substantially reduced sphere surface area that results in a mechanical shearing off of the attached mineral particles of interest. The second cell may also provide a mineral concentrate output having the mineral particles of interest.

Dimensionally controlled 'engineered polymer bubble' for flotation separation

Apparatus, including a pipeline, featuring at least one pipe liner or coating configured to line or coat a pipe for receiving a process fluid flow, configured with at least one chemical taggant or tracer, and also configured to respond to the process fluid flow, and provide an indication about a degree of liner or coating wear or a location of wear in the pipe. The apparatus may also include the pipe having the at least one pipe liner or coating configured therein.

Smart pipe concept based on embedded taggant-sensor and/or color-encoded elements to monitor liner wear in lined pipelines, including urethane lined pipe

Growing community of inventors

Mansfield Center, CT, United States of America

Douglas H Adamson