Kentucky Patent of the Month – May 2022
Advanced Energy Materials, LLC (ADEM), a leader in bulk manufacturing of nanomaterials, have been designing and developing catalyst products via nanowire technology. This technology is used in fuel cells and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) applications.
Sulfur is a naturally occurring component in crude oil and remains in diesel and gasoline. Since September 2007, all of the on-highway diesel fuel sold at gas stations in the United States is ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), for which the allowable sulfur content is 15 ppm. Beginning in 2017, new vehicle emission standards issued by the US EPA Tier 3 program will lower the allowable sulfur content of gasoline from 30 ppm to 10 ppm. Refineries have met challenges to meet this sulfur specification, needing ultra-deep desulfurization processes.
Recently, ADEM has developed new nanowire-based hydrodesulfurization catalysts for hydrocarbon fuels. Their catalyst is composed of titanium (IV) oxide nanowires created by exposing TiO2-KOH paste to microwave radiation. An assortment of metal particles are impregnated on the metal oxide nanowire surface which are then sulfided to produce catalytically-active metal particles on the surface. This design is capable of removing thiophenic sulfur from liquid fuels through a HDS process in a fixed bed reactor. The nanowires increase the HDS activity and increase sulfur removal efficiency.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
