Green Rice Patents for Earth Day

Rice has made clear an interest in green tech and taking part in working to avert an imminent climate disaster over the past few years. From modernizing dining to committing to becoming carbon-neutral in the near future, environmentally-minded initiatives are found across campus. 

Research and innovation are important players in this endeavor, resulting in green tech patents.

Most of the Rice inventions are focused on alleviating some problematic areas of growing concern and potential future major concern. They range from reducing waste, improving solar power, and addressing the growing demand for clean, potable water.

For Earth Day 2023, let's look at a few recent patents and patent applications for eco-friendly Rice inventions. 

First is a patent that should be familiar to anyone who frequents Fondren Library's first floor exhibition area. US Patent 11,331,627, Use of surface modified porous membranes for fluid distillation, is one of the featured inventions patented in 2022. I corresponded with the lead inventor, Dr. Qilin Li, who provided some background information and art for the exhibit. She and her team build a device that uses solar or thermal power to distill, and therefore purify or clean, fluids like water. Its relatively small size and portability and the self-contained renewable power source make for a viable solution for those in remote, water-insecure areas. 

Up second is recently-granted patent US 11,591,670, Recycling Li-ion batteries using green chemicals and processes. A team of inventors discovered a way to extract the valuable minerals from used Lithium ion batteries with a solvent made from commonly-available products that is relatively harmless. It is effective on cobalt and lithium, but cobalt was prioritized.

Photo by Jeff Fitlow for Rice News

The ability to recapture metals that may become environmental contaminants otherwise--and in the case of cobalt, scarcer and harder to obtain initially--helps reduce both waste and the need for mining and manufacturing new materials. This process was featured in a Rice News story in 2019, but it can take years to complete the examination process. The patent was just granted this February. 

Two patent applications in the process of examination promise advancements in green technology. 

Patent Application 2022/0007692, Poly-albumen based green coating to enhance shelf life of perishable foods aims to not only decrease the amount of waste we produce, but through a method that does not rely on highly manufactured products. A film coating is applied to fruits and vegetables, formed from egg-derived polymers. This coating is washable, edible, and the materials come from cheap, readily available products or even waste. It's a viable method to prevent food waste before anything becomes a meal.

A diagram of the process from the patent application

A second promising invention is behind patent Application 2023/0114948, Conductive adhesive-barrier enabling integrated photoelectrodes for solar fuels. It is for an improvement in capturing energy fuels using solar energy, by transforming abundant resources like water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Renewable and sustainable sources of energy are integral to even partially mitigating climate change. 

A diagram of the conductive adhesive-barrier from the patent application

Check out all four of these inventions, and then get out there and make your own changes!

Green Technology Pilot Program Extended; Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan Ended

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 241 (Thursday, December 15, 2011)]
[Notices][Pages 77979-77980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32115]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No. PTO-P-2011-0078]

Sunset of the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan and a Limited Extension of the Green Technology Pilot Program

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
To see the complete text of this notice access http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-12-15/html/2011-32115.htm
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) has provided two procedures under which an applicant may have an application accorded special status for examination. The Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan is available if the applicant expressly abandons another copending unexamined [[Page 77980]]application. The Green Technology Pilot Program is available to patent applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. In view of the trend in filings under the Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan, this plan has fulfilled its purpose and will not be extended. In view of the success of the Green Technology Pilot Program, this plan will be extended until 500 additional applications have been accorded special status under this program or until March 30, 2012, whichever occurs earlier. Following the expiration of this extension, the program will be eliminated, and applicants may instead use the newly enacted Prioritized Examination (Track I) program. The Track I program not only provides advancement of examination, but sets a target of reaching final disposition within 12 months from the time advancement is initiated. Furthermore, the advancement in the Track I program is available to all technologies and is not restricted to certain categories of invention as in the Pilot Program.

DATES: Effective Date: December 15, 2011. The Patent Application Backlog Reduction Stimulus Plan became effective on November 27, 2009, was modified on June 24, 2010, and was extended on November 22, 2010.

The Green Technology Pilot Program became effective on December 8, 2009, was modified to eliminate the classification requirement on May 21, 2010, and was extended on November 10, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pinchus M. Laufer or Michael Cygan, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at (571) 272-7726 or (571) 272-7700; or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

Green Technology Pilot Program Extended

[Federal Register: November 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 217)]
[Notices][Page 69049-69050]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10no10-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No.: PTO-P-2010-0083]

Expansion and Extension of the Green Technology Pilot Program
To view the complete text of this notice, access http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2010_register&docid=fr10no10-35

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On December 8, 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented the Green [[Page 69050]] Technology Pilot Program, which permits patent applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources, and greenhouse gas emission reduction to be advanced out of turn for examination and reviewed earlier (accorded special status). The program is designed to promote the development of green technologies. Initially, participation was limited to applications filed before December 8, 2009. The USPTO is hereby expanding the eligibility for the pilot program to include applications filed on or after December 8, 2009. The program is also being extended until December 31, 2011. These changes will permit more applications to qualify for the program, thereby allowing more inventions related to green technologies to be advanced out of turn for examination and reviewed earlier.

DATES: Effective Date: November 10, 2010.
Duration: The Green Technology Pilot Program will run until December 31, 2011, except that the USPTO will accept only the first 3,000 grantable petitions to make special under the Green Technology Pilot Program in unexamined applications irrespective of the filing date of the application.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pinchus M. Laufer and Joni Y. Chang, Senior Legal Advisors, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at 571-272-7726 or 571-272-7720; or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

Green Technology Pilot Program

[Federal Register: January 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 7)]
[Notices][Page 1591-1592]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja10-39]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Green Technology Pilot Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

To view the complete text of this comment request see:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2010_register&docid=fr12ja10-39


SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov. Include A0651-0062 Green
  Technology Pilot Program comment@ in the subject line of the message.
  
• Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan K.
  Fawcett.
  
• Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the
  Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office,
  P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
  
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to Brian Hanlon, Director, Office of Patent Legal Administration, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-5047; or by e-mail at Brian.Hanlon@uspto.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a streamlined examination pilot program for patent applications pertaining to green technologies, including greenhouse gas reduction.
[[Page 1592]]
The green technology pilot program will permit patent applications pertaining to green technology, i.e., environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy, or greenhouse gas emission reduction, to be accorded special status for examination using an expedited procedure that is similar to the existing first action interview pilot program without meeting the current requirements of the accelerated examination program. The first action interview pilot and accelerated examination programs are both covered under OMB Control Number 0651-0031.

This pilot will support national and international green technology initiatives and is expected to run for six months.

Federal Register - Green Technologies Pilot Program

Federal Register: December 8, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 234)]
[Notices][Page 64666-64669]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08de09-24]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No. PTO-P-2009-0038]

Pilot Program for Green Technologies Including Greenhouse Gas
Reduction
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
To view the complete text of this notice see:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register&docid=fr08de09-24

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a pilot program in which an applicant may have an application advanced out of turn (accorded special status) for examination, for applications pertaining to green technologies including greenhouse gas reduction (applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources or greenhouse gas emission reduction). Currently, an application pertaining to environmental quality, or energy conservation, development of renewable energy resources or greenhouse gas reduction will not be advanced out of turn for examination unless it meets the requirements of the accelerated examination program. Under the Green Technology Pilot Program, applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy, or greenhouse gas emission reduction, will be advanced out of turn for examination without meeting all of the current requirements of the accelerated examination program (e.g., examination support document). The USPTO will accept only the first 3,000 petitions to make special in previously filed new applications, provided that the petitions meet the requirements set forth in this notice.

DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2009.

Duration: The Green Technology Pilot Program will run for twelve months from its effective date. Therefore, petitions to make special under the Green Technology Pilot Program must be filed before December 8, 2010. The USPTO may extend the pilot program (with or without modifications) depending on the feedback from the participants and the effectiveness of the pilot program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pinchus M. Laufer and Joni Y. Chang, Senior Legal Advisors, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at 571-272-7726 or 571-272-7720; by facsimile transmission to 571-273-7726, marked to the attention of Pinchus M. Laufer; or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

Accelerated Examination for Green Technology Patent Applications

If you haven't had a chance yet to check USPTO Director David Kappo's blog, you are missing helpful information. Today's (Dec. 8, 2009) entry gives details about a pilot program designed to reduce the average processing time of green technology patent applications. The program will be open to the first 3,000 applications already on file with the USPTO for which inventors add a no-cost petition indicating "how the invention materially contributes to environmental quality, the discovery or development of renewable energy resources, more efficient utilization and conservation of energy resources, or greenhouse gas emission reduction."