Patents Assigned to Virent, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11952332
    Abstract: Processes, catalysts, and reactor systems for reforming heavy aromatic compounds (C11+) into C6-8 aromatic compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are processes, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic compounds and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: VIRENT, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Matthew Van Straten, Brice Dally
  • Patent number: 11130914
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: VIRENT, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Brice Dally, Warren Lyman, Randy D. Cortright
  • Patent number: 10669598
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for catalytically converting biomass to oxygenated compounds suitable for use in bioreforming processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: VIRENT, INC.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Randy D. Cortright, Dick A. Nagaki, Elizabeth Woods
  • Patent number: 10619106
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Dally, Warren Lyman, Randy Cortright, Paul Blommel
  • Patent number: 10370596
    Abstract: A method for producing an alternative gasoline fuel which contains 60% v/v or more of a combination of (a) a biologically-derived alcohol and (b) a mixture of C4 to C12 hydrocarbon fuel components, all of which hydrocarbon fuel components have been derived, whether directly or indirectly, from the catalytic conversion of a non-petroleum or biologically-derived oxygenate component, wherein the concentration of the alcohol (a) in the formulation is from 0.1 to 30% v/v.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Blommel, Richard Price
  • Patent number: 10131604
    Abstract: The present invention provides catalysts, methods, and reactor systems for converting oxygenated hydrocarbons to oxygenated compounds. The invention includes methods for producing cyclic ethers, monooxygenates, dioxygenates, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and alcohols from oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like, using catalysts containing Group VIII metals. The oxygenated compounds produced are useful in the production of liquid fuels, chemicals, and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Blank, Randy Cortright, Taylor Beck, Elizabeth Woods, Michael Jehring
  • Patent number: 10005700
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a Group VIII metal and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9982316
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for catalytic deconstruction of biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Randy D. Cortright, Elizabeth Woods
  • Patent number: 9944869
    Abstract: Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols useful as liquid fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel fuel, and industrial chemicals. The process involves the conversion of mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons to aromatics and gasoline range hydrocarbons where the oxygenated hydrocarbons are derived from biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy D. Cortright, Paul G. Blommel
  • Patent number: 9944581
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Held, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright, Matthew Gray
  • Patent number: 9878966
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Li Yuan, Matthew Van Straten, Warren Lyman, Randy D. Cortright
  • Patent number: 9873644
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting carboxylic acids to aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Blommel, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9873836
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting biomass to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Blommel, Andrew Held, Ralph Goodwin, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9873837
    Abstract: Methods, reactor systems, and catalysts are provided for converting in a continuous process biomass to fuels and chemicals, including methods of converting the water insoluble components of biomass, such as hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, to volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates, such as alcohols, ketones, cyclic ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and mixtures thereof. In certain applications, the volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates can be collected and used as a final chemical product, or used in downstream processes to produce liquid fuels, chemicals and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, John Kania
  • Patent number: 9873643
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Blommel, Li Yuan, Matthew Van Straten, Warren Lyman, Randy D. Cortright
  • Patent number: 9862893
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods for removing mineral acids, mineral salts and contaminants, such as metal impurities, ash, terpenoids, stilbenes, flavonoids, proteins, and other inorganic products, from a lignocellulosic feedstock stream containing organic acids, carbohydrates, starches, polysaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, sugars, sugar alcohols, phenols, cresols, and other oxygenated hydrocarbons, in a manner that maintains a portion of the organic acids and other oxygenated hydrocarbons in the product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Gray, Megan Matthes, Thomas Nelson, Andrew Held
  • Patent number: 9765261
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, Sean Connolly
  • Patent number: 9738944
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for catalytic deconstruction of biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Randy D. Cortright, Elizabeth Woods
  • Patent number: 9725777
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Randy D. Cortright, Dick A. Nagaki
  • Patent number: 9695094
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a NinSnm alloy and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright