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).
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Publication number: 20230287469Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Norie Anne B. Nolasco, Jacob F. Wallace
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Patent number: 11377675Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Michael C. Perez, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
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Publication number: 20220142031Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventor: Robert J. Schurr
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Publication number: 20210198680Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
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Patent number: 11034968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
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Publication number: 20200232003Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Michael C. Perez, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
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Publication number: 20180066288Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: Norie Anne B. Nolasco, Amit Vasavada, Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr
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Publication number: 20180002711Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
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Publication number: 20160039693Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, Robert J. SCHURR
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Publication number: 20150368132Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, Robert J. Schurr
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Patent number: 9120686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Martin Johnson, Robert J. Schurr
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Publication number: 20150001149Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, ROBERT J. SCHURR
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Patent number: PP34488Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Schurr