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).
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Patent number: 11814666Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech NZ, Inc.Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Publication number: 20230113411Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Joss Anton Coombes, Nicholas Bourdakos
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Patent number: 11471786Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220315876Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li
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Publication number: 20220305399Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220298649Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
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Patent number: 11359294Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
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Publication number: 20220010350Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Patent number: 11220700Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignees: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THROUGH ITS CENTER FOR COMMERCIALIZATION, ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLCInventors: Mary Elizabeth Lidstrom, Marina Georgievna Kalyuzhnaya, Derek Wayne Griffin, Nicholas Bourdakos, Philip Thomas Pienkos, Lieve Maria Louisa Laurens
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Patent number: 11155850Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: LanzaTech New Zealand LimitedInventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Publication number: 20200188809Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10610802Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20190249315Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Christophe Mihalcea, Robert Conrado, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li, Sean Simpson
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Publication number: 20190024133Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Patent number: 10113194Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITEDInventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Publication number: 20180264375Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Ha Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
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Publication number: 20160115517Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
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Publication number: 20150111265Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Mary Elizabeth Lidstrom, Marina Georgievna Kalyuzhnaya, Derek Wayne Griffin, Nicholas Bourdakos, Philip Thomas Pienkos, Lieve Maria Louisa Laurens