Patents by Inventor Andrea GUTIERREZ

Andrea GUTIERREZ has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230203383
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the thermal liquefaction of lignin, and more particularly to lignin solvolysis of a lignin feedstock chosen based on its molecular weight. The process comprises subjecting a feed mixture (30) of lignin feedstock (10) and solvent (20) to a thermal liquefaction step by heating (110) the feed mixture (30) at a temperature between 360 and 420 ° C., separating (120) a liquid product mix (50) from a product mix (40); and recirculating at least part of said liquid product mix (50) as an oil fraction of said solvent (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Roel WESTERHOF, Sascha KERSTEN, Bert HEESINK, Pekka JOKELA
  • Publication number: 20230203381
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignin (10) to renewable product (80), wherein the process comprises the following steps; mixing (100) lignin (10) with aqueous solution (20) to obtain a mixture (30); heating (110) the mixture (30) of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 350° C., under a pressure from 70 to 165 bar, to obtain a first product mix (40); separating aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and solids (52), of the first product mix (40) of step (b); and heating (130) the oil phase (50) of step (c) and solvent (60) to obtain a second product mix (70). The second product mix (70) can be used as such, it can be directed to separation (140) or it can be upgraded. The obtained liquid renewable product is suitable as chemicals, fuel, fuel components or feedstock for fuel production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Roel WESTERHOF, Sascha KERSTEN, Bert HEESINK, Pekka JOKELA
  • Publication number: 20230203380
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process for converting a combined feedstock to renewable liquid product(s), wherein the ash content of the combined feedstock of lignin feedstock and a second renewable feedstock is low. The combined feedstock is mixed with solvent, followed by solvolysis to obtain a product mix. At least part of the product mix is recirculated as the oil fraction of said solvent. The present disclosure further concerns the use of the product mix as a renewable product or use of hydroprocessed oil obtained by the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Pekka JOKELA, Andrea GUTIERREZ, Roel WESTERHOF, Sascha KERSTEN, Bert HEESINK
  • Patent number: 11634645
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling product slate of hydrothermal liquefaction by adjusting pH of hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase. The pH of the hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase can be adjusted by heating during hydrothermal liquefaction (110) a mix (30) comprising lignocellulosic feedstock (10) together with acids, alkalis and/or buffers (20) added under aqueous conditions. The method typically comprises separating (120) aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and/or char (52), of the obtained hydrothermal liquefaction product (40). Preferably the separated aqueous phase (53) is recirculated to be mixed 100 with lignocellulosic feedstock (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pekka Jokela, Andrea Gutierrez, Teemu Lindberg, Bert Heesink, Sascha Kersten, Roel Westerhof
  • Publication number: 20230027439
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock (10) to renewable product (80), wherein the process comprises the following steps; treating (100) lignocellulosic feedstock (10) with aqueous solution (20) to obtain a mixture (30); heating (110) the mixture (30) of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 340° C., under a pressure from 90 to 120 bar, to obtain a first product mix (40); separating aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and solids (52), of the first product mix (40) of step (b); and heating (130) the oil phase (50) of step (c) and solvent (60). The heating (130) is optionally followed by fractionation (200) to obtain a light fraction (90) and a heavy fraction (91) and optionally a bottom residue fraction (92) and/or a gaseous fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Pekka JOKELA, Roel WESTERHOF, Sascha KERSTEN, Bert HEESINK
  • Patent number: 11485913
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock (10) to renewable product (80), wherein the process comprises the following steps; treating (100) lignocellulosic feedstock (10) with aqueous solution (20) to obtain a mixture (30); heating (110) the mixture (30) of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 340° C., under a pressure from 90 to 120 bar, to obtain a first product mix (40); separating aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and solids (52), of the first product mix (40) of step (b); and heating (130) the oil phase (50) of step (c) and solvent (60). The heating (130) is optionally followed by fractionation (200) to obtain a light fraction (90) and a heavy fraction (91) and optionally a bottom residue fraction (92) and/or a gaseous fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Gutierrez, Pekka Jokela, Roel Westerhof, Sascha Kersten, Bert Heesink
  • Publication number: 20210403812
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling product slate of hydrothermal liquefaction by adjusting pH of hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase. The pH of the hydrothermal liquefaction product aqueous phase can be adjusted by heating during hydrothermal liquefaction (110) a mix (30) comprising lignocellulosic feedstock (10) together with acids, alkalis and/or buffers (20) added under aqueous conditions. The method typically comprises separating (120) aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and/or char (52), of the obtained hydrothermal liquefaction product (40). Preferably the separated aqueous phase (53) is recirculated to be mixed 100 with lignocellulosic feedstock (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Pekka JOKELA, Andrea GUTIERREZ, Teemu LINDBERG, Bert HEESINK, Sascha KERSTEN, Roel WESTERHOF
  • Publication number: 20210403813
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic feedstock (10) to renewable product (80), wherein the process comprises the following steps; treating (100) lignocellulosic feedstock (10) with aqueous solution (20) to obtain a mixture (30); heating (110) the mixture (30) of step (a) to a temperature between 290 and 340° C., under a pressure from 90 to 120 bar, to obtain a first product mix (40); separating aqueous phase (53) and oil phase (50), and optionally gas (51) and solids (52), of the first product mix (40) of step (b); and heating (130) the oil phase (50) of step (c) and solvent (60). The heating (130) is optionally followed by fractionation (200) to obtain a light fraction (90) and a heavy fraction (91) and optionally a bottom residue fraction (92) and/or a gaseous fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Pekka JOKELA, Roel WESTERHOF, Sascha KERSTEN, Bert HEESINK
  • Patent number: 11053452
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids, said process comprising the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids comprises at least one acid oil and at least another renewable feedstock, and it is treated with an aqueous medium, to obtain a mixture, and a first stream comprising water is separated from said mixture and a second stream comprising fatty acids is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Gutierrez, Thomas Björklöf
  • Patent number: 10947478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising at least one acidulated soap-stock, wherein said process comprises the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid is treated in a treating step with an aqueous medium, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising fatty acids are obtained, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Björklöf, Andrea Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 10815430
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising triglycerides, said process comprising the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising triglycerides, comprising at least one plant oil originating from a plant of the family Brassicaceae, is treated with an aqueous medium to obtain a mixture, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising triglycerides are separated from said mixture, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Gutierrez, Thomas Björklöf
  • Patent number: 10711198
    Abstract: A method for forming catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product from pyrolyzable material, the method comprising burning fuel in a fluidized bed boiler, thereby heating some particulate material; transferring at least some of the heated particulate material or some other heated particulate material to a pyrolysis reactor to pyrolyze some pyrolyzable material in the pyrolysis reactor; and conveying at least some pyrolytic vapor through a catalyst bed comprising catalyst material; and conveying at least part of the formed side products upstream back to the process; thereby producing the catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product in an resource efficient manner. In addition, a system configured to produce catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product from pyrolyzable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Heiskanen, Sara Kaerki, Erkki Vaelimaeki, Reyhaneh Shenassa, Jussi Maentyniemi, Pekka Jokela, Andrea Gutierrez, Joakim Autio, Janne Asikkala
  • Publication number: 20200190407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising triglycerides, said process comprising the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising triglycerides, comprising at least one plant oil originating from a plant of the family Brassicaceae, is treated with an aqueous medium to obtain a mixture, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising triglycerides are separated from said mixture, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Thomas BJÖRKLÖF
  • Publication number: 20200190426
    Abstract: The present invention relates to process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising at least one acidulated soap-stock, wherein said process comprises the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising at least one fatty acid is treated in a treating step with an aqueous medium, and a first stream comprising water and a second stream comprising fatty acids are obtained, and the second stream is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas BJÖRKLÖF, Andrea GUTIERREZ
  • Publication number: 20200190427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids, said process comprising the steps, where the renewable feedstock comprising fatty acids comprises at least one acid oil and at least another renewable feedstock, and it is treated with an aqueous medium, to obtain a mixture, and a first stream comprising water is separated from said mixture and a second stream comprising fatty acids is obtained as purified renewable feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Andrea GUTIERREZ, Thomas BJÖRKLÖF
  • Patent number: 10633605
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for modifying of bio-oil, the process including the steps where feedstock including bio-oil is allowed react with a reducing agent in at least one polar solvent, to obtain modified bio-oil. Also disclosed is the use modified bio-oil, obtainable by the process, as heating oil, as starting material in processes for producing fuels, fuel components, fine chemicals, chemical building-blocks, and solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Janne Asikkala, Andrea Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 10240095
    Abstract: A process for catalytically converting crude tall oil into hydrocarbons suitable as biofuel components. The crude tall oil is treated in a reactor system including a catalytically active guard bed phase and a catalytically active main reaction phase. At least one of the phases includes a catalyst bed with a combination of hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) and hydrodewaxing (HDW) catalysts. The process provides biofuel with acceptable ignition and cold flow properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jaakko Nousiainen, Arto Rissanen, Andrea Gutierrez, Teemu Lindberg, Heli Laumola, Pekka Knuuttila
  • Patent number: 10106750
    Abstract: A process for upgrading pyrolysis oil that includes heating pyrolysis oil in the absence of added catalyst at 100° C. to 200° C. temperature and 50 bar to 250 bar pressure, and heating the product of the first heating in the absence of added catalyst at 200° C. to 400° C. temperature and 50 bar to 250 bar pressure. Also, the product obtained by this process and the use of treated pyrolysis oil. Further, methods where the treated pyrolysis oil is fed to a power plant for producing electricity; is burned in a boiler for producing heating oil and/or is used as transportation fuel or as a blending component in transportation fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrea Gutierrez, Pekka Jokela, Jaakko Nousiainen
  • Patent number: 9988568
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to one or more compositions and methods for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates in a fluid. The fluid may be contained, for example, in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: John Waldvogel, Qiwei Li, Peter Webber, Andrea Gutierrez, Pritesh Sharma
  • Publication number: 20180057753
    Abstract: A method for forming catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product from pyrolyzable material, the method comprising burning fuel in a fluidized bed boiler, thereby heating some particulate material; transferring at least some of the heated particulate material or some other heated particulate material to a pyrolysis reactor to pyrolyze some pyrolyzable material in the pyrolysis reactor; and conveying at least some pyrolytic vapor through a catalyst bed comprising catalyst material; and conveying at least part of the formed side products upstream back to the process; thereby producing the catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product in an resource efficient manner. In addition, a system configured to produce catalytically treated pyrolytic vapor product from pyrolyzable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jukka Heiskanen, Sara Kaerki, Erkki Vaelimaeki, Reyhaneh Sheenassa, Jussi Maentyniemi, Pekka Jokela, Andrea Gutierrez, Juakim Autio, Janne Asikkala