Patents by Inventor ROBERT J. SCHURR

ROBERT J. SCHURR 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: 20230287469
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Norie Anne B. Nolasco, Jacob F. Wallace
  • Patent number: 11377675
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Michael C. Perez, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
  • Publication number: 20220142031
    Abstract: A novel variety of the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (syn. H. lacustris), named ‘KAS1601-WG7’ is primarily characterized by a yellow and motile cell body during propagation transitioning to a red and motile cell body under pigment accumulation conditions. The cells contain negligible chlorophyll. It has fast growth under heterotrophic cultivation for ease of propagation and shows high carotenogenesis under dark heterotrophic cultivation. The highly pigmented non-encysted cells are attractive for ease of extraction and for high digestibility, including as whole cells, to release a mixture of oils, proteins, pigments, and other components desirable for use in food, feeds, cosmetics and dietary supplements, and excellent storage as biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Robert J. Schurr
  • Publication number: 20210198680
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell producing the product of interest in the dark in a culture medium comprising an organic acid as a fixed carbon source, wherein the microalgal cell is a facultative heterotroph. The product of interest can be a microalgal biomass, a pigment, terpene, recombinant molecule, biogas, or a precursor thereof. In an embodiment, the culture medium comprises urea as a primary source of nitrogen. In one embodiment, the microalgal cell belongs to the order Chlamydomonadales. A method of identifying and isolating a microalgal cell having a preferred characteristic that is suitable for synthesis of a product of interest is also provided, the method comprising identifying and isolating a non-mutagenized or recombinant microalgal cell from a microalgal culture using a fluorescence activated cell sorting technique and/or a phototaxic response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Patent number: 11034968
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell producing the product of interest in the dark in a culture medium comprising an organic acid as a fixed carbon source, wherein the microalgal cell is a facultative heterotroph. The product of interest can be a microalgal biomass, a pigment, terpene, recombinant molecule, biogas, or a precursor thereof. In an embodiment, the culture medium comprises urea as a primary source of nitrogen. In one embodiment, the microalgal cell belongs to the order Chlamydomonadales. A method of identifying and isolating a microalgal cell having a preferred characteristic that is suitable for synthesis of a product of interest is also provided, the method comprising identifying and isolating a non-mutagenized or recombinant microalgal cell from a microalgal culture using a fluorescence activated cell sorting technique and/or a phototaxic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Publication number: 20200232003
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Michael C. Perez, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
  • Publication number: 20180066288
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microbe that produces the product of interest, the method comprising culturing the microbe in a culture medium, wherein the culture medium is produced by a method comprising the steps of: a) providing a lignocellulosic biomass, b) hydrolyzing the lignocellulosic biomass to produce a lignocellulosic hydrolysate comprising a simplified sugar produced from at least a portion of the lignocellulosic compound, c) optionally, treating a portion of the lignocellulosic hydrolysate to convert a portion of the lignocellulosic compound and/or the simplified sugar to a non-sugar agent; d) optionally, mixing the treated portion of the lignocellulosic hydrolysate, if produced, with the untreated portion of the lignocellulosic hydrolysate, e) producing a culture medium comprising the lignocellulosic hydrolysate obtained after step b) or comprising the mixture obtained after steps c) and d).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Norie Anne B. Nolasco, Amit Vasavada, Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr
  • Publication number: 20180002711
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell producing the product of interest in the dark in a culture medium comprising an organic acid as a fixed carbon source, wherein the microalgal cell is a facultative heterotroph. The product of interest can be a microalgal biomass, a pigment, terpene, recombinant molecule, biogas, or a precursor thereof. In an embodiment, the culture medium comprises urea as a primary source of nitrogen. In one embodiment, the microalgal cell belongs to the order Chlamydomonadales. A method of identifying and isolating a microalgal cell having a preferred characteristic that is suitable for synthesis of a product of interest is also provided, the method comprising identifying and isolating a non-mutagenized or recombinant microalgal cell from a microalgal culture using a fluorescence activated cell sorting technique and/or a phototaxic response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Publication number: 20160039693
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes biologics and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced or metals recovered from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, Robert J. SCHURR
  • Publication number: 20150368132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes microbial consortia and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, Robert J. Schurr
  • Patent number: 9120686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes microbial consortia and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Martin Johnson, Robert J. Schurr
  • Publication number: 20150001149
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes microbial consortia and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, ROBERT J. SCHURR
  • Patent number: PP34488
    Abstract: A novel variety of the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (syn. H. lacustris), named ‘KAS1601-WG7’ is primarily characterized by a yellow and motile cell body during propagation transitioning to a red and motile cell body under pigment accumulation conditions. The cells contain negligible chlorophyll. It has fast growth under heterotrophic cultivation for ease of propagation and shows high carotenogenesis under dark heterotrophic cultivation. The highly pigmented non-encysted cells are attractive for ease of extraction and for high digestibility, including as whole cells, to release a mixture of oils, proteins, pigments, and other components desirable for use in food, feeds, cosmetics and dietary supplements, and excellent storage as biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Schurr