Patents by Inventor Michael Charles Grady
Michael Charles Grady 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).
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Publication number: 20170145445Abstract: The present invention relates to the fermentative production of alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes for improving alcohol fermentation employing in situ product removal methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, James Timothy Cronin, Michael Charles Grady, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Joseph J. Zaher, Raymond Richard Zolandz
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Patent number: 9605281Abstract: The present invention relates to the fermentative production of alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes for improving alcohol fermentation employing in situ product removal methods.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, James Timothy Cronin, Michael Charles Grady, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Joseph J. Zaher, Raymond Richard Zolandz
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Patent number: 9371547Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
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Patent number: 9303225Abstract: Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Gail K. Donaldson, Andrew C. Eliot, Dennis Flint, Michael Charles Grady, Mehmedalija Jahic, Lori Ann Maggio-Hall, Vasantha Nagarajan, Ranjan Patnaik
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Patent number: 9206448Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is chemically converted into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be chemically converted into a reaction product, such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amides, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid glycol esters, and hydroxylated triglycerides, and mixtures thereof, which forms a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be chemically converting into the fermentation product extractant.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Anton, Jelena Cirakovic, Bruce A. Diner, Michael Charles Grady, Francis J. Woerner
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Patent number: 9175315Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Anton, Stephane Francois Bazzana, Keith H Burlew, Jelena Cirakovic, Robert Dicosimo, Bruce A Diner, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Francis J Woerner
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Patent number: 9109196Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes employing in situ product removal methods.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, James Timothy Cronin, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Joseph J. Zaher, Raymond Richard Zolandz
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Patent number: 9040263Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Douglas Robert Anton, Stephane Francois Bazzana, Keith H. Burlew, Jelena Cirakovic, Robert Dicosimo, Bruce A. Diner, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Francis J. Woerner
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Publication number: 20150080615Abstract: A process for recovering alcohol from a fatty acid and/or diacid alcohol ester using water in an equal or lesser amount than oil on a mass basis. The process uses multiple reactors with separation of the alcohol product of hydrolysis between successive reactors. The use of low amounts of water allows recovery of the alcohol with a lower evaporation requirement, thus making a more energy efficient process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: STUART B. FERGUSSON, LARIN GODFROY, MICHAEL CHARLES GRADY, DAVID F. KRAYNIE, WILLIAM D. PARTEN, STEPHEN M. TIERI
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Patent number: 8969055Abstract: A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, Ranjan Patnaik
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Publication number: 20150010975Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
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Publication number: 20140363865Abstract: Fatty acids derived from biomass at a step in a fermentation process can be added to a fermentation medium comprising a recombinant microorganism that produces a product alcohol. At least one of growth rate and fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism is greater in the presence of the fatty acids than the growth rate and the fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism in the absence of the fatty acids. The addition of the fatty acids can increase glucose consumption, and can improve microorganism biomass production (cell growth/density) and growth rate, thereby reducing production time and increasing productivity of the fermentation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Keith H. BURLEW, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady, Ranjan Patnaik
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Publication number: 20140335582Abstract: Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Gail K. DONALDSON, Andrew C. Eliot, Dennis Flint, Michael Charles Grady, Mehmedalija Jahic, Lori Ann Maggio-Hall, Vasantha Nagarajan, Ranjan Patnaik
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Patent number: 8865443Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
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Patent number: 8828695Abstract: A method of making butanol from at least one fermentable carbon source that overcomes the issues of toxicity resulting in an increase in the effective titer, the effective rate, and the effective yield of butanol production by fermentation utilizing a recombinant microbial host wherein the butanol is extracted into specific organic extractants during fermentation.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, Mehmedalija Jahic, Ranjan Patnaik
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Publication number: 20140099688Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20140080189Abstract: A method for producing butanol through microbial fermentation, in which the butanol product is removed during the fermentation by extraction into a water-immiscible organic extractant in the presence of at least one electrolyte at a concentration at least sufficient to increase the butanol partition coefficient relative to that in the presence of the salt concentration of the basal fermentation medium, is provided. The electrolyte may comprise a salt which dissociates in the fermentation medium, or in the aqueous phase of a biphasic fermentation medium, to form free ions. Also provided is a method and composition for recovering butanol from a fermentation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, Ranjan Patnaik
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Publication number: 20140073021Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes employing in situ product removal methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: STEPHANE FRANCOIS BAZZANA, ADAM BERNFELD, KEITH H. BURLEW, JAMES TIMOTHY CRONIN, MICHAEL CHARLES GRADY, BRIAN MICHAEL ROESCH, JOSEPH J. ZAHER, RAYMOND RICHARD ZOLANDZ
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Publication number: 20140018581Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 8628643Abstract: A fermentation liquid feed including water and a product alcohol and optionally CO2 is at least partially vaporized such that a vapor stream is produced. The vapor stream is contacted with an absorption liquid under suitable conditions wherein an amount of the product alcohol is absorbed. The portion of the vapor stream that is absorbed can include an amount of each of the water, the product alcohol and optionally the CO2. The temperature at the onset of the absorption of the vapor stream into the absorption liquid can be greater than the temperature at the onset of condensation of the vapor stream in the absence of the absorption liquid. The product alcohol can be separated from the absorption liquid whereby the absorption liquid is regenerated. The absorption liquid can include a water soluble organic molecule such as an amine.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Robert W. Sylvester, Joseph J. Zaher