Patents by Inventor John Mark Lawther

John Mark Lawther 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: 20220333037
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of extracting and refining wax from plant material. Briefly, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing plant material comprising cuticular wax, (b) disassociating cuticular wax from the plant material by subjecting said plant material to a dry mechanical treatment and suspending the dry mechanically treated material, or a fraction thereof, in an aqueous solution comprising protease and/or pectinase enzymes, thereby obtaining a sample comprising plant derived cuticular wax and dewaxed plant material in an aqueous suspension, (c) solubilizing the plant derived cuticular wax by increasing the temperature of the sample, (d) separating the suspension into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction comprising melted plant derived cuticular wax, (e) adjusting the pH and temperature of the liquid fraction to pH 5.5 or lower and 50° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Patent number: 11407961
    Abstract: A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: JENA TRADING APS
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20220235291
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of extracting and refining wax from plant material. Briefly, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing plant by material comprising cuticular wax, (b) disassociating cuticular wax from the plant material, thereby obtaining a sample comprising plant derived cuticular wax and dewaxed plant material in an aqueous suspension, (c) solubilizing the plant derived cuticular wax by increasing the temperature of the sample, (d) separating the suspension into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction comprising melted plant derived cuticular wax, (e) mixing the liquid fraction with a capturing agent, wherein the capturing agent has a boiling point above 85° C. at ambient pressure, (f) separating the mixture into an aqueous fraction and a capture fraction comprising capturing agent and plant derived cuticular wax, (g) recovering the plant derived cuticular wax from the capture fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20220081833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an improved cellulose pulp consisting of cellulose fibers of a desired length, such as cellulose fibers having a length-weighted average fiber length Lc(l)>0.6 mm and its use in cellulose pulp-comprising products, such as packaging material with improved properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Per VINTHER, John Mark LAWTHER
  • Publication number: 20210403828
    Abstract: The invention concerns plant wax extracts and a method for extracting wax from plants, such as agricultural biowaste and in particular from cereal straw, including a first dry mechanical treatment step to separate a wax enriched fraction from a straw fraction low in wax and a second wet step including enzymatic treatment of the wax enriched fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20200318031
    Abstract: A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark LAWTHER
  • Patent number: 10723972
    Abstract: A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: JENA TRADING APS
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20170253831
    Abstract: The invention concerns plant wax extracts and a method for extracting wax from plants, such as agricultural biowaste and in particular from cereal straw, including a first dry mechanical treatment step to separate a wax enriched fraction from a straw fraction low in wax and a second wet step including enzymatic treatment of the wax enriched fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20170107451
    Abstract: A method and an plant for separating wax from a dried wax coated plant material, comprising mechanically processing the plant material in a dry process by using an apparatus adapted for deforming at least the outer surface of the plant material, so that the wax coating is cracked and released from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; separating the plant material in a separator into a portion A comprising plant material with a relatively high content of cracked and released wax coating and a relatively low content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material, and a portion B comprising respectively a relatively low content cracked and released wax coating and a relatively high content of the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material; liquefying the wax contained in portion A, and separating the liquefied wax from the remaining, partly de-waxed, plant material in portion A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: JENA TRADING APS
    Inventors: Per Vinther, John Mark Lawther
  • Patent number: 9458366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid adhesive composition comprising a partly hydrolyzed protein component, having a degree of hydrolysis (DH) in the range 0.2-2; a metal silicate component; optionally, an exogenic protein hydrolyzing component; and wherein the liquid adhesive composition has a solid content in the range 15-80% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Bollerup Jensen A/S
    Inventors: Mette Bjerregaard Blomgreen, Michael Østerby, John Mark Lawther
  • Publication number: 20140363614
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid adhesive composition comprising a partly hydrolyzed protein component, having a degree of hydrolysis (DH) in the range 0.2-2; a metal silicate component; optionally, an exogenic protein hydrolyzing component; and wherein the liquid adhesive composition has a solid content in the range 15-80% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mette Bjerregaard Blomgreen, Michael Østerby, John Mark Lawther
  • Patent number: 7910143
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of soluble dietary fiber from oat and barley grains using enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, wherein the grain is milled and any endosperm depleted fractions thereof being rich in B-glucans are recombined, without further heat treatment, dispersed in water and then subjected to sequential enzymatic treatment with starch degrading enzymes, followed by an optional step of enzyme inactivation by wet heat treatment, and a subsequent step wherein the hydrolysate mixture is spontaneously or centrifugally separated into at least 3 distinct fractions: a first fraction, which comprises the soluble dietary fiber complex, containing more than 20% B-glucan on a dry matter basis, a second aqueous fraction, and a third fraction comprising most of the protein and oil together with the insoluble fibrous material from the milled grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Biovelop International B.V.
    Inventors: Sten Kvist, John Mark Lawther
  • Patent number: 7858139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a stable emulsion/dispersion of an oil and an aqueous phase, wherein a ?-glucans rich substrate, derived from oat or barley grain, is the active emulsifying component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Biovelop AB
    Inventors: Sten Kvist, John Mark Lawther
  • Patent number: 7709033
    Abstract: A process for the fractionation of valuable fractions from cereal brans (e.g. wheat, barley and oat brans, and rice polish) is described. In particular, this invention describes a two step process, in which the said bran is first subjected to a combination of enzymatic treatment and wet milling, followed by sequential centrifugation and ultrafiltration, which aims at physically separating the main bran factions, i.e. insoluble phase (pericarp and aleurone layer), germ-rich fraction, residual endosperm fraction and soluble sugars. A second step consists of fractionating cereal brans substantially free of soluble compounds, hence insoluble phase from the above-mentioned first step, by enzymatic treatment with xylanases and/or beta-glucanase and wet milling, followed by sequential centrifugation and ultrafiltration, which aims at physically separating the main fractions, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Biovelop International B.V.
    Inventors: Sten Kvist, Tommie Carlsson, John Mark Lawther, Fernando Bastile DeCastro
  • Patent number: 7413662
    Abstract: A modified sorptive lignocellulosic fibre material with hydroxyl groups on the lignocellulosic fibres doubly modified by esterification with a combination of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acid ester groups. A process for the preparation of the sorptive material. The sorptive fibre material is effective for the removal of oils and other contaminants including heavy metals from a fluid such as contaminated water by a combined sorption of hydrophobic contaminants and ion exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Danish Plant Fibre Technologies Holding A/S
    Inventors: Per Berre Eriksen, John Mark Lawther, Peter Larsen
  • Publication number: 20080017581
    Abstract: A modified sorptive lignocellulosic fibre material with hydroxyl groups on the lignocellulosic fibres doubly modified by esterification with a combination of monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acid ester groups. A process for the preparation of the sorptive material. The sorptive fibre material is effective for the removal of oils and other contaminants including heavy metals from a fluid such as contaminated water by a combined sorption of hydrophobic contaminants and ion exchange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Danish Plant Fiber Technologies Holding A/S
    Inventors: Per Berre Eriksen, John Mark Lawther, Peter Larsen
  • Publication number: 20030146164
    Abstract: A material for absorbing hydrophobic water-immiscible liquids comprises lignocellulosic plant material which has been rendered relatively more absorbent to hydrophobic water-immiscible liquids by esterification of hydroxyl groups in the lignin of the lignocellulose material. The esterification in one aspect is by acetylation of the hydroxyl groups. Absorbing articles and methods for use with hydrophobic water-immiscible liquids are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: DAVID J. ROBSON, JOHN MARK LAWTHER, SARA A. HUGHES