Patents by Inventor Mervi Hujanen

Mervi Hujanen 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: 10501693
    Abstract: A method for producing liquid fuel components from renewable oil. A fresh feedstock including saturated fatty acids is subjected to dilution by an organic lipophilic solvent. The solvent has a low phosphorus and metal impurity content, less than 5 ppm and less than 10 ppm, respectively. Dilution is performed before and/or during purification by at least one pretreatment process for removal of phosphorus and metal impurities. Subsequently, the resulting purified feedstock is fed into at least one post-treatment process suitable for producing liquid fuel components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NESTE OYJ
    Inventors: Marko Laakkonen, Jukka Myllyoja, Blanka Toukoniitty, Mervi Hujanen, Ari Saastamoinen, Alpo Toivo
  • Patent number: 9868922
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovery of lipids from microbial biomass, including providing wet microbial biomass to thermal pretreatment of at least 100° C. in a pressure vessel, subjecting the thermally pretreated microbial biomass to extraction using a liquid hydrocarbon as an extractant, and subsequently, recovering a product containing lipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NESTE OYJ
    Inventors: Olli Aaltonen, Olli Jauhiainen, Mervi Hujanen
  • Patent number: 8845765
    Abstract: A method for recovering lipids from microbial biomass, the method including providing wet microbial biomass which contains lipids to extraction without disrupting the biomass cell walls, and subsequently, extracting the wet microbial biomass with a liquid extractant at elevated temperature of at least 170° C. and elevated pressure. The combination of the temperature and pressure is such that the lipids in the cells are contacted with the extractant. Subsequently the extracted lipids are recovered from or with the extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Annika Malm, Reijo Tanner, Mervi Hujanen
  • Patent number: 8648210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of lipid material originating from biological material. In the method the lipid material comprising acylglycerols and phosphorus impurities and at least one added nonpolar solvent and at least one added polar solvent is provided into a reaction zone whereby at least a two phase system comprising a nonpolar phase and a polar phase is formed. The phase system is heated in the closed reaction zone under mixing at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure wherein said solvents are in subcritical state, preferably of below 100 bar, dependent on the vapor pressure of the selected solvents, until the phosphorus impurity is removed from the polar phase. Subsequently, the nonpolar phase including the purified oil comprising acylglycerols is separated and recovered from said phase system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Mervi Hujanen, Annika Malm, Reijo Tanner
  • Publication number: 20120116103
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of lipid material originating from biological material. In the method the lipid material comprising acylglycerols and phosphorus impurities and at least one added nonpolar solvent and at least one added polar solvent is provided into a reaction zone whereby at least a two phase system comprising a nonpolar phase and a polar phase is formed. The phase system is heated in the closed reaction zone under mixing at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure wherein said solvents are in subcritical state, preferably of below 100 bar, dependent on the vapor pressure of the selected solvents, until the phosphorus impurity is removed from the polar phase. Sub-sequently, the nonpolar phase including the purified oil comprising acylglycerols is separated and recovered from said phase system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Mervi Hujanen, Annika Malm, Reijo Tanner
  • Publication number: 20120110898
    Abstract: A method for recovering lipids from microbial biomass, the method including providing wet microbial biomass which contains lipids to extraction without disrupting the biomass cell walls, and subsequently, extracting the wet microbial biomass with a liquid extractant at elevated temperature of at least 170° C. and elevated pressure. The combination of the temperature and pressure is such that the lipids in the cells are contacted with the extractant. Subsequently the extracted lipids are recovered from or with the extractant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Annika MALM, Reijo Tanner, Mervi Hujanen
  • Publication number: 20120116105
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovery of lipids from microbial biomass, including providing wet microbial biomass to thermal pretreatment of at least 100° C. in a pressure vessel, subjecting the thermally pretreated microbial biomass to extraction using a liquid hydrocarbon as an extractant, and subsequently, recovering a product containing lipids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NESTE OIL OYJ
    Inventors: Olli AALTONEN, Olli Jauhiainen, Mervi Hujanen