Patents by Inventor John Ross MacLachlan

John Ross MacLachlan 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: 8528463
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process includes a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lignol Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20120289685
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Christer HALLBERG, Donald O'CONNOR, Michael RUSHTON, Edward Kendall PYE, Gordon GJENNESTAD, Alex BERLIN, John Ross MACLACHLAN
  • Publication number: 20120202260
    Abstract: Processes and systems for concurrent recovery of lignin derivatives and syngas from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The processes and systems therefor generally comprise the steps of: (a) perfusing and cooking the lignocellulosic feedstock with a suitable organic solvent for a suitable period of time thereby producing a cellulosic solids output stream and a spent liquid solvent stream, said spent liquid solvent stream comprising solubilized lignin derivatives and other organic compounds; (b) separating said cellulosic solids output stream and said spent liquid solvent stream; (c) recovering lignin derivatives from the spent liquid solvent stream thereby producing at least a partially de-lignified spent liquid solvent stream; (d) recovering a portion of the organic solvent from the at least partially de-lignified spent liquid solvent stream thereby producing a stillage; and (e) gasifying the cellulosic solids output stream thereby producing a combustible syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventor: John Ross Maclachlan
  • Patent number: 8227004
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process includes a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Lignol Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 8193324
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into one or more of a de-lignified cellulose stream, a sugar stream, small-chain alcohol streams and four structurally distinct classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for recovering small-chain alcohols and optionally a first class of lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for recovering from the liquid fraction at least one of a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives or mixtures thereof, and waste stream comprising a fourth class of lignin derivatives. The fourth processing module may optionally recover the fourth class of lignin derivatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lignol Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennstad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan, Raymond Ma
  • Publication number: 20120094348
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing sugar cane to concurrently produce sugar from cane juice, and ethanol and other co-products from bagasse. The apparatus comprises equipment for separating a cane juice stream and a fibrous bagasse from a sugar cane feed-stock, equipment for refining the cane juice, equipment for processing the fibrous bagasse for recovery therefrom of a cellulosic pulp and a liquor stream, equipment for saccharification and fermentation of the cellulosic pulp to produce a fermentation beer therefrom, and equipment for recovery of an ethanol stream from the fermentation beer. Legacy sugar mills may be retrofitted with a bagasse biorefining apparatus to concurrently produce ethanol and co-products, with existing cane juice extraction and processing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Edward Kendall Pye, Michael Rushton, John Ross Maclachlan
  • Publication number: 20110236946
    Abstract: A process for concurrent production of lignins, fuel alcohol, and biogas from lignocellulosic feedstocks. The process comprises: (1) pretreating a lignocellulosic feedstock to produce a solubilised liquid components stream comprising lignins, lignin-derived compounds, and a cellulosic pulp stream, (2) separating the liquid stream from the cellulosic pulp stream, (3) processing the liquid stream to separate and recover at least lignins, lignin-derived compounds, and semi-solid waste material, (b) processing the cellulosic pulp stream to saccharify and ferment the cellulose pulp to produce a beer which is then separated into fuel-grade alcohol and a waste stillage material, (4) anaerobically digesting the semi-solid waste material from the liquid stream and the waste stillage material to produce a biogas. The rate of anaerobic digestion can be manipulated by controllably supplying a portion of the monosaccharides produced from the cellulosic pulp. The cellulosic pulp stream may also be anaerobically digested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: John Ross Maclachlan, Edward Kendall Pye
  • Publication number: 20090118477
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into one or more of a de-lignified cellulose stream, a sugar stream, small-chain alcohol streams and four structurally distinct classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for recovering small-chain alcohols and optionally a first class of lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for recovering from the liquid fraction at least one of a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives or mixtures thereof, and waste stream comprising a fourth class of lignin derivatives. The fourth processing module may optionally recover the fourth class of lignin derivatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Christer HALLBERG, Donald O'CONNOR, Michael RUSHTON, Edward Kendall PYE, Gordon GJENNSTAD, Alex BERLIN, John Ross MACLACHLAN, Raymond MA
  • Publication number: 20090117226
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Christer HALLBERG, Donald O'CONNOR, Michael RUSHTON, Edward Kendall PYE, Gordon GJENNESTAD, Alex BERLIN, John Ross MACLACHLAN
  • Patent number: 7465791
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Lignol Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20080299629
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20080295980
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: LIGNOL INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan