Patents by Inventor Helene DE WEVER

Helene DE WEVER 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).

  • Patent number: 11597902
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing with opposite first and second layers. The first and second layers are spaced apart to define a confined interior space. A semi-permeable membrane is attached to the first layer, the semi-permeable membrane covering a porous area portion of the first layer. An outlet port and an inlet port are in fluid communication with the interior space. The assembly includes a first circulator for circulating a first fluid between the outlet port and the inlet port, and a second circulator for circulating a second fluid along an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The second circulator includes a fluid duct attached to or integrated within the housing. The fluid duct is isolated from the interior space and is porous to provide fluid access to an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane forms a barrier allowing exchange of compounds across the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Willy Doyen, Bart Molenberghs, Helene De Wever, Mahboubi Soufiani Amir, Mohammad Taherzadeh
  • Publication number: 20230055876
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Patent number: 11484842
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helmut Elslander, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Helene De Wever, Herman Beckers
  • Patent number: 11401230
    Abstract: A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Kathy Elst, Helene De Wever
  • Publication number: 20210348113
    Abstract: A system is for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing of the system to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The system for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency, compared to systems described in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helene DE WEVER, Lambertus BOUWMAN
  • Patent number: 11111473
    Abstract: A method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The method for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency. A related system uses method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helene De Wever, Lambertus Bouwman
  • Publication number: 20200354302
    Abstract: A method of recovering an organic acid from an aqueous solution may include extracting the organic acid dissolved in the aqueous solution into a water immiscible extraction phase. The water immiscible extraction phase has an extractant for the organic acid. The method may also include separating the extraction phase from the aqueous solution, adding an alcohol to the extraction phase separated from the aqueous solution, and forming an ester from the organic acid and the alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: VITO NV
    Inventors: Kathy ELST, Helene DE WEVER
  • Publication number: 20200197871
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Publication number: 20190249131
    Abstract: A method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The method for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency. A related system uses method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: VITO NV (Vlaamse Instelling voor Techhnologisch Onderzoek NV)
    Inventors: Wouter van HECKE, Helene de WEVER, Lambertus BOUWMAN
  • Publication number: 20190211298
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing with opposite first and second layers. The first and second layers are spaced apart to define a confined interior space. A semi-permeable membrane is attached to the first layer, the semi-permeable membrane covering a porous area portion of the first layer. An outlet port and an inlet port are in fluid communication with the interior space. The assembly includes a first circulator for circulating a first fluid between the outlet port and the inlet port, and a second circulator for circulating a second fluid along an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The second circulator includes a fluid duct attached to or integrated within the housing. The fluid duct is isolated from the interior space and is porous to provide fluid access to an exterior surface of the semi-permeable membrane. The semi-permeable membrane forms a barrier allowing exchange of compounds across the membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Willy DOYEN, Bart MOLENBERGHS, Helene DE WEVER, Mahboubi SOUFIANI AMIR, Mohammad TAHERZADEH