Patents by Inventor Kenton Kimmel

Kenton Kimmel 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: 20240033696
    Abstract: The present specification generally relates to mixing systems using impellers which entrain gas into the liquid both at the surface and below the surface where it is dispersed into the circulation produced by the impellers. In particular, the invention pertains to the use of multiple vertical agitators in a single fermenter tank to allow the hydrostatic head to remain constant as scale increases, thereby preventing an increase in dissolved carbon dioxide. In addition, multiple agitators allow for wider fermenters without the issue of tip-speed induced bacterial shear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Joshua Hlebak, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20230265237
    Abstract: The present specification generally relates to a method for the oxidative conditioning of a microbial cell wall, and its eventual lysis. In particular, the specification pertains to an oxidative lysis solution and methodology, wherein the selective lysis solution is capable of conditioning and lysing the cell wall of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing microbes, while having a limited effect on the degradation of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer solids contained therein, thereby allowing for the further high yield recovery, and purification of high molecular weight PHA biopolymer solids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Anna Coragliotti, Garrett Sell, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 11459590
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20210340581
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20210332395
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10941426
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20210054420
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to processes for the production and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources. In several embodiments, PHAs are produced at high efficiencies from carbon-containing gases through the utilization of a regenerative polymerization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel, Evan Creelman
  • Publication number: 20200190544
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20200172942
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10538792
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: NEWLIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10494652
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20180119181
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20180119182
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9868967
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9850508
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20160145655
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9243266
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20150140621
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to processes for the production and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources. In several embodiments, PHAs are produced at high efficiencies from carbon-containing gases through the utilization of a regenerative polymerization system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel, Evan Creelman
  • Publication number: 20150072385
    Abstract: Several embodiments of the invention relate generally to a system and methods for the treatment of gaseous emissions comprising methane and one or more non-methane compounds that can influence the metabolism of methane-oxidizing microorganisms. In several embodiments, there is provided a system and methods for the treatment of methane emissions through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms to generate functionally consistent and harvestable products. Certain embodiments of the invention are particularly advantageous because they reduce environmentally-destructive methane emissions and produce harvestable end-products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Markus Donald Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 8945915
    Abstract: A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel