Patents by Inventor Sami Turunen

Sami Turunen 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: 20230279448
    Abstract: A method and a process arrangement for improving a solid-liquid separation of solids from a hydrolyzed material formed in an enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material, comprising following step: i) adding a flocculant additive to the hydrolyzed material or to a stream separated from the hydrolyzed material to form a mixture, and ii) separating a solid stream and a liquid stream from the mixture by means of a decantation or gravitational separation. Further is disclosed a solid product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mauno Miettinen, Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen, Meri Ventola
  • Publication number: 20230257586
    Abstract: A wood-derived lignin composition is disclosed. The wood-derived lignin composition comprises: - acid-insoluble lignin in an amount of 80 - 90 weight-% based on the total dry matter content of the lignin composition, wherein the average molecular weight of the lignin is 5000 - 15000 Da; -carbohydrates in an amount of 1.5 - 15 weight-% based on the total dry matter content of the lignin composition; - nitrogen in an amount of 0.2 - 1.5 weight-% based on the total dry matter content of the lignin composition; and wherein weight ratio of oxygen to carbon is at least 0.5 Further is disclosed a method for producing the wood-derived lignin composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen, Vilho Nissinen, Nina Heiming, Lisa Weigand, Mauno Miettinen, Moritz Leschinsky
  • Publication number: 20230225383
    Abstract: A hardwood-derived carbohydrate composition is disclosed. The hardwood-derived carbohydrate composition comprises monomeric sugars in an amount of 50-80 weight-% based on the total dry matter content of the carbohydrate composition, wherein the monomeric sugars include monomeric glucose and monomeric xylose, the amount of monomeric xylose in the carbohydrate composition being 40-60 weight-% based on the total dry matter content of the carbohydrate composition, and the weight ratio of monomeric glucose to monomeric xylose being 0.067-0.2. Disclosed is also a method for producing a wood-derived carbohydrate composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen, Mika Laitila, Meri Ventola, Jere Salminen, Vilho Nissinen
  • Publication number: 20230212618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10), in which lignocellulose material (3) formed by treating plant based raw material (1) is conducted into a separation stage (4). The method comprises at least one solid-liquid separation stage (4) for separating a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or a washing filtrate (12) from lignocellulose material (3), and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or the washing filtrate (12) is recirculated to the lignocellulose material (3) for increasing concentration of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction, and solids (11) and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) are supplied out from the separation stage. Further, the invention relates to the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction and the solid fraction, and their uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Publication number: 20230063154
    Abstract: A method for producing mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) from a wood-based raw material, and wherein method includes: i) providing a wood-based feedstock originating from the wood-based raw material and including wood chips, wherein at most 5 weight-% of the wood chips in the wood-based feedstock are overthick wood chips as specified by SCAN-CM 40:01, and subjecting the wood-based feedstock to at least one pretreatment to form a liquid fraction and a fraction including solid cellulose particles; ii) subjecting the fraction comprising solid cellulose particles to enzymatic hydrolysis to form a lignin fraction and a carbohydrate fraction; iii) subjecting the carbohydrate fraction to catalytical conversion to form a liquid composition of glycols; and iv) recovering mono-ethylene glycol from the liquid composition of glycols. Further is disclosed a corresponding arrangement and mono-ethylene glycol obtainable by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen, Vilho Nissinen, Mika Laitila, Jere Salminen, Meri Ventola, Nina Heiming, Lisa Weigand
  • Patent number: 11591624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treating plant based raw material with an enzymatic hydrolysis, in which the plant based raw material (1) is treated to form lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) and the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) or its fraction (10) is conducted into the enzymatic hydrolysis (4), wherein the method comprises at least one treatment stage (2a,2b,2c) in which the plant based raw material (1) is treated so that the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) contains over 80% fine solid particles which are fiber-like or indefinable particles smaller than 0.2 mm, defined by an optical measurement device, the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) or at least one fraction (10) of the lignocellulosic material is supplied into the enzymatic hydrolysis (4) for forming a lignin based material (5), and at least one solid-liquid separation stage (6) after the enzymatic hydrolysis (4) in which a lignin fraction (7) and a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (8) are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Publication number: 20220259246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for washing a crude lignin slurry (5) formed from plant based raw material, wherein the method comprises separating a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) from the crude lignin slurry (5) by using displacement washing in at least one solid-liquid separation stage (6) so that the crude lignin slurry is prepressed, washed and pressed, and recovering a solid fraction (11) and the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10). Further, the invention relates to the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction and the solid fraction, and their uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Patent number: 11407778
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for recovering chemicals from an alkaline lignin material, the alkaline lignin material (3) which comprises NaOH or KOH is precipitated in presence of an acid in a precipitation stage (6) for forming a precipitated lignin (7), the precipitated lignin (7) is supplied to a separation stage (8) in which a purified lignin (9) is recovered and from which at least one fraction (10) which comprises Na or K is supplied to a crystallization stage (11), and the fraction (10) which comprises Na or K is treated by crystallization in the crystallization stage (11) for forming a crystallized compound (12). Further, the invention relates to use of the purified lignin, and lignin and chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Meri Ventola, Juha Tamper
  • Publication number: 20220134595
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding wood particles into an impregnating stage of a wood treatment process comprises a feed silo (301, 701), at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703) for receiving wood particles into said impregnating stage, and two or more conveyors (302, 303, 304, 501, 502, 503, 702) between said feed silo (301, 701) and said at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703), for transferring wood particles from said feed silo (301, 701) to said at least one impregnating vessel (305, 601, 602, 603, 703). Each of said conveyors (302, 303, 304, 501, 502, 503, 702) is a compressing conveyor for applying pressure to the wood particles on their way through the respective conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Mika Laitila
  • Publication number: 20220097252
    Abstract: Method and control system are provided for controlling values of process parameters of a pretreatment process of wood particles. A sampler is used to obtain a sample of a product flow of said pretreatment process after said wood particles have undergone steam explosion in a hemihydrolysis reactor. A particle measurement device is used to measure one or more characteristics of particles in said sample and to produce one or more pieces of measurement information indicative of the measured characteristics. Said one or more pieces of measurement information are used to select one or more values of one or more of said process parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Mika Laitila, Juha Tamper
  • Patent number: 11267837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for washing a crude lignin slurry (5) formed from plant based raw material, wherein the method comprises separating a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) from the crude lignin slurry (5) by using displacement washing in at least one solid-liquid separation stage (6) so that the crude lignin slurry is prepressed, washed and pressed, and recovering a solid fraction (11) and the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10). Further, the invention relates to the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction and the solid fraction, and their uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Patent number: 11230691
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enzymatic hydrolysis where a plant based feed is hydrolysed using an enzyme to form a hydrolysed product. An additive for preventing enzyme adsorption is fed to an enzymatic hydrolysis stage, the plant based feed, the hydrolysed product, a starting material, and/or a plant based material formed from the starting material. The hydrolysed product is supplied from the enzymatic hydrolysis stage to a first solid-liquid separation stage where a lignin fraction comprising the additive and a liquid composition comprising the enzyme are separated. The liquid composition is mixed with the plant based material in a mixing stage, forming a mixture. A solid and liquid fraction are separated from the mixture in a second solid-liquid separation stage. At least part of the solid fraction comprising the enzyme is fed as the plant based feed to the enzymatic hydrolysis stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Mauno Miettinen, Meri Ventola, Juha Tamper
  • Publication number: 20210371890
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for an enzymatic hydrolysis in which plant based raw material is hydrolysed by means of enzymes in at least one enzymatic hydrolysis stage. A plant based feed (1) is fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2) in which the plant based feed is hydrolysed. A liquid fraction (3) comprising carbohydrates is separated from a solid fraction (4) in a solid-liquid separation stage (11). At least a part (5) of the solid fraction (4) comprising enzymes is recirculated to the plant based feed (1) of the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2) or to the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2), and a rest part (6) of the solid fraction (4) is recovered. Further, the invention relates to the liquid fraction and the solid fraction and their use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen
  • Patent number: 11046983
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for an enzymatic hydrolysis in which plant based raw material is hydrolysed by means of enzymes in at least one enzymatic hydrolysis stage. A plant based feed (1) is fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2) in which the plant based feed is hydrolysed. A liquid fraction (3) comprising carbohydrates is separated from a solid fraction (4) in a solid-liquid separation stage (11). At least a part (5) of the solid fraction (4) comprising enzymes is recirculated to the plant based feed (1) of the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2) or to the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2), and a rest part (6) of the solid fraction (4) is recovered. Further, the invention relates to the liquid fraction and the solid fraction and their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Sami Turunen
  • Patent number: 11040950
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus furfural is recovered from a steam stream (3) which is formed in a treatment of a pretreated wood based material (1). The pretreated wood based material (1) which comprises at least carbohydrates is treated in a steam treatment stage (2) in which the steam is released. The steam stream (3) which comprises furfural is supplied out from the steam treatment stage (2). A pretreated and steam-treated wood based material (4) which comprises carbohydrates is supplied out from the steam treatment stage (2), and the steam stream (3) is treated in a recovery stage (12a, 12b) for recovering a furfural based fraction (14a,14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Jere Salminen, Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Meri Ventola, Vilho Nissinen
  • Publication number: 20210062231
    Abstract: A method for treating plant based raw material with an enzymatic hydrolysis. The plant based raw material is treated to form lignocellulosic material. The lignocellulosic material or a solid fraction thereof is subjected to the enzymatic hydrolysis. The method includes treating the plant based raw material in at least one treatment stage for forming the lignocellulosic material including over 80% fine solid particles that are fiber-like or indefinable particles smaller than 0.2 mm and the viscosity of the lignocellulosic material is below 18000 mPas at 15% dry matter content. The method further includes subjecting the lignocellulosic material or at least one solid fraction thereof into the enzymatic hydrolysis for forming a lignin based material. The method further includes subjecting the lignin based material into at least one solid-liquid separation stage after the enzymatic hydrolysis and separating a lignin fraction and a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Patent number: 10858673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treating plant based raw material with an enzymatic hydrolysis, in which the plant based raw material (1) is treated to form lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) and the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) or its fraction (10) is conducted into the enzymatic hydrolysis (4), wherein the method comprises at least one treatment stage (2a,2b,2c) in which the plant based raw material (1) is treated so that the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) contains over 80% fine solid particles which are fiber-like or indefinable particles smaller than 0.2 mm, defined by an optical measurement device, the lignocellulosic material (3a,3b) or at least one fraction (10) of the lignocellulosic material is supplied into the enzymatic hydrolysis (4) for forming a lignin based material (5), and at least one solid-liquid separation stage (6) after the enzymatic hydrolysis (4) in which a lignin fraction (7) and a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (8) are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: UPM KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sami Turunen, Juha Tamper
  • Publication number: 20200123121
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus furfural is recovered from a steam stream (3) which is formed in a treatment of a pretreated wood based material (1). The pretreated wood based material (1) which comprises at least carbohydrates is treated in a steam treatment stage (2) in which the steam is released. The steam stream (3) which comprises furfural is supplied out from the steam treatment stage (2). A pretreated and steam-treated wood based material (4) which comprises carbohydrates is supplied out from the steam treatment stage (2), and the steam stream (3) is treated in a recovery stage (12a, 12b) for recovering a furfural based fraction (14a,14b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Juha Tamper, Jere Salminen, Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Meri Ventola, Vilho Nissinen
  • Publication number: 20190309002
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for recovering chemicals from an alkaline lignin material, the alkaline lignin material (3) which comprises NaOH or KOH is precipitated in presence of an acid in a precipitation stage (6) for forming a precipitated lignin (7), the precipitated lignin (7) is supplied to a separation stage (8) in which a purified lignin (9) is recovered and from which at least one fraction (10) which comprises Na or K is supplied to a crystallization stage (11), and the fraction (10) which comprises Na or K is treated by crystallization in the crystallization stage (11) for forming a crystallized compound (12). Further, the invention relates to use of the purified lignin, and lignin and chemical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mauno Miettinen, Sami Turunen, Meri Ventola, Juha Tamper
  • Patent number: 10435538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite product comprising organic natural fiber material and matrix material, wherein the method comprises mixing the organic natural fiber material with the matrix material in a primary mixing stage to form a mixture. The primary mixing stage comprises a contacting step in which the organic natural fiber material comes in contact with the matrix material that is at least partly in a form of melt, and compression ratio of the organic natural fiber material is less than 8. The method further comprises forming a composite product comprising the mixture. Further, the invention relates to a composite product, a use of the composite product, and a system for manufacturing a composite product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harri Kosonen, Kari Luukko, Sami Turunen, Jere Salminen, Stefan Fors, Petri Myllytie