Rajendra Mehta

US Patent:

6685838, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Jun 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/876663

Inventors:

Carlo Licata - Pasadena CA
Rajendra Mehta - Reno NV
Manoranjan Misra - Reno NV

Assignee:

Maxim LLC - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

C02F 142

US Classification:

210661, 210688

Abstract:

A method of removing both Sr and Cs from an alkaline solution having a pH between about 9 to 14 includes providing a keratin protein from essentially a fiber portion separated from a quill portion of a poultry feather. A slurry is made of the keratin protein and the alkaline solution and is treated ultrasonically. The Sr and Cs may each be present in the alkaline solution at least at about 5 ppb. The keratin protein is contacted with the Sr and Cs by mechanical agitation at a temperature between about 20 to 90Â C. and at a pressure not greater than about 10 psi. A supernatant produced in the step of contacting is then filtered.

US Patent:

7008606, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Jul 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/192822

Inventors:

Manoranjan Misra - Reno NV, US
Rajendra Mehta - Reno NV, US
Songyuan Chen - Reno NV, US

Assignee:

The Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada - Reno NV

International Classification:

C01F 5/40

US Classification:

423554, 75746, 148273

Abstract:

A method is provided for passivating sulfidic iron-containing rock comprising contacting sulfidic iron-containing rock with one or more members of the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate and magnesium carbonate, thereby reducing the acid generation potential of rock.

US Patent:

20040124151, Jul 1, 2004

Filed:

Jun 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/600278

Inventors:

Carlo Licata - Pasadena CA, US
Rajendra Mehta - Reno NV, US
Manorangan Misra - Reno NV, US

Assignee:

MAXIM, LLC, a limited liability corporation

International Classification:

C02F001/28

US Classification:

210/661000, 210/688000

Abstract:

A method of removing a heavy metal from a composition comprises: (1) providing a fibrous protein fiber; (2) agitating the fibrous protein fiber; (3) making a slurry of the agitated fibrous protein fiber; (4) contacting the agitated fibrous protein fiber slurry with a composition containing a heavy metal ion or a heavy metal ion complex; and (5) filtering a supernatant produced in step (4) to remove the heavy metal from the composition. The fibrous protein of the fibrous protein fiber can be selected from the group consisting of keratins, collagens, fibrins, and elastins. Typically, the fibrous protein of the fibrous protein fiber is a keratin. Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of removing a heavy metal from a composition, comprising: (1) providing a keratin protein fiber; (2) agitating the keratin protein fiber by a process selected from the group consisting of ultrasound and mechanical mixing; (3) treating the keratin protein fiber with alkali at a pH of between about 9 to about 14; (4) packing the agitated alkali treated keratin protein fiber into a column; (5) passing the composition through the column under pressure to remove the heavy metal from the composition; (6) desorbing adsorbed heavy metal from the column by treatment with an acid; (7) washing the column for a first time; (8) regenerating the column by passing alkali through the column; and (9) washing the column for a second time.