Patents by Inventor Nicholas Bourdakos

Nicholas Bourdakos 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: 11814666
    Abstract: A fermentation unit and a method of carrying out fermentation are described. The fermentation unit can be transported from one facility to another to carry out a fermentation process. The fermentation unit and method allow for the fermentation of a C1-containing substrate from a source at a particular facility to produce products such as alcohols and acids. Examples of the source of the C1-containing substrate include without limitation steel manufacturing processes, coal and biomass gasification processes, coke manufacturing processes, etc. The fermentation unit can be housed within a container having a volume of less than about 6 m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LanzaTech NZ, Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20230113411
    Abstract: This disclosure is related to a process and apparatus for producing and recovering at least one fermentation product from a fermentation process using a C1-containing gas passed to a fermentation bioreactor, that produces a fermentation broth comprising at least one of a first product stream comprising ethanol and water or a second product stream comprising ethanol, acetone, and water or a third product stream comprising ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, and water. The product is recovered by using a shared product recovery system. Particularly, the shared product recovery system selectively recovers at least one enriched product stream selected from an enriched ethanol stream, an enriched acetone stream, an enriched isopropanol stream or combinations thereof. The shared product recovery system includes at least one of a vacuum distillation unit, a rectification unit, an acetone removal unit, a drying unit, an ethanol-acetone separation unit, an extractive distillation unit or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Joss Anton Coombes, Nicholas Bourdakos
  • Patent number: 11471786
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
  • Publication number: 20220315876
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods and a system for storing energy in the form of a biopolymer. The method comprises intermittently processing electric energy generated from a renewable and/or non-renewable energy source in an electrolysis process to produce at least H2, Oor CO; intermittently passing H2, O2, or CO from the electrolysis process to a bioreactor containing a bacterial culture capable of producing a biopolymer; and fermenting the culture. The disclosure further provides a system for storing energy in the form of biopolymer comprising an electrolysis process in intermittent fluid communication with a renewable and/or non-renewable energy source for producing at least one of H2, O2, or CO; a bioreactor, in intermittent fluid communication with the electrolysis process and/or in continuous fluid communication with an industrial plant, comprising a reaction vessel suitable for intermittently growing, fermenting, and/or culturing and housing a microorganism capable of producing a biopolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li
  • Publication number: 20220305399
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
  • Publication number: 20220298649
    Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 electrolysis process. The invention is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 electrolysis module. The invention may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or an H2 electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 electrolysis process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
  • Patent number: 11359294
    Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 electrolysis process. The invention is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 electrolysis module. The invention may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or an H2 electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 electrolysis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
  • Publication number: 20220010350
    Abstract: A fermentation unit and a method of carrying out fermentation are described. The fermentation unit can be transported from one facility to another to carry out a fermentation process. The fermentation unit and method allow for the fermentation of a C1-containing substrate from a source at a particular facility to produce products such as alcohols and acids. Examples of the source of the C1-containing substrate include without limitation steel manufacturing processes, coal and biomass gasification processes, coke manufacturing processes, etc. The fermentation unit can be housed within a container having a volume of less than about 6 m3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Patent number: 11220700
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lipids and amino acids from a gaseous substrate comprising methane and oxygen. The process uses a culture of a methanotrophic microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium. The methanotrophic microorganism can be a Methylomicrobium bacterium and more specifically Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The lipid products can be in the cellular membrane of the methanotroph and can be extracted in a separate extraction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THROUGH ITS CENTER FOR COMMERCIALIZATION, ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Mary Elizabeth Lidstrom, Marina Georgievna Kalyuzhnaya, Derek Wayne Griffin, Nicholas Bourdakos, Philip Thomas Pienkos, Lieve Maria Louisa Laurens
  • Patent number: 11155850
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20200188809
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
  • Patent number: 10610802
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and associated method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: LANZATECH, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Ha Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
  • Publication number: 20190249315
    Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 electrolysis process. The invention is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 electrolysis module. The invention may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or an H2 electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 electrolysis process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
  • Publication number: 20190024133
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Patent number: 10113194
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20180264375
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device and associated method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Ha Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
  • Publication number: 20160115517
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of Cl-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a Cl carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial Cl-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of com?mercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20150111265
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing lipids and amino acids from a gaseous substrate comprising methane and oxygen. The process uses a culture of a methanotrophic microorganism in a liquid nutrient medium. The methanotrophic microorganism can be a Methylomicrobium bacterium and more specifically Methylomicrobium buryatense 5GB1. The lipid products can be in the cellular membrane of the methanotroph and can be extracted in a separate extraction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Mary Elizabeth Lidstrom, Marina Georgievna Kalyuzhnaya, Derek Wayne Griffin, Nicholas Bourdakos, Philip Thomas Pienkos, Lieve Maria Louisa Laurens