Patents by Inventor William F. McDonald

William F. McDonald 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: 10731229
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Shannon Scott Urban, Jason L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20180237869
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Shannon Scott Urban, Jason L. Martin
  • Patent number: 9982317
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Poet Research, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Shannon Scott Urban, Jason L. Martin
  • Publication number: 20170191099
    Abstract: A system and method to treat biomass to make bioproducts such as biofuels and biochemical is disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to form a fermentation product or bio-product. The system and method comprises treatment and separation of process streams (e.g. liquids, solids, etc.) to produce bioproducts such as fuel and biochemical as well as to recover/reuse and utilize content of process streams. Lignin is separated from the bioproduct stream (e.g. a solids component) forming a recovered bioproducts; efficient removal of lignin facilitates productive operation of the system. The system disclosed is configured to recover and recycle acid (e.g. phosphoric acid) used as a concentrated acid in the process to pre-treat biomass (for bioprocessing). The acid used in the process is recycled and recovered in order to establish economically attractive biorefinery to make bio-products from biomass (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Arbiom Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Naga Vinod Kumar Bathula, Michael Bowyer, Brandon Kiser, Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Lisette Tenlep, Brie-Anna Walker
  • Publication number: 20170159076
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a lignocellulosic biomass. More specifically, the present invention lies in the field of cellulose solvent- and organic solvent-based lignocellulose fractionation (COSLIF) of lignocellulosic biomasses. In this type of process, a cellulose solvent, such as phosphoric acid or an ionic liquid is used to disrupt the structure of cellulose in a lignocellulosic biomass. Subsequent washing and treatment steps are used to fractionate the biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Arbiom Inc.
    Inventors: Naga Vinod Kumar Bathula, Lisette Tenlep, William F. McDonald, Fan Hu, Aziz Ahmed
  • Patent number: 9663807
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for treating lignocellulosic biomass to be supplied to a fermentation system for production of a fermentation product. The systems and methods comprise pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass and separating the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin. The systems and methods also comprise treating the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a treated component. The biomass comprises lignocellulosic material. Treating the solids component comprises application of an enzyme formulation and makeup water to form a slurry. The enzyme formulation comprises a cellulase enzyme. The makeup water includes a clarified thin stillage composition and/or an anaerobic membrane digester effluent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: POET RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Neelakantam V. Narendranath, William F. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20160369304
    Abstract: A method for treating fermented lignocellulosic biomass to be supplied to a distillation system for production of ethanol is provided. The method includes pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass into pre-treated biomass and separating the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin. The method also includes hydrolysing the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a hydrolysed biomass comprising sugars and lignin and fermenting the hydrolysed solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a fermentation product comprising ethanol and lignin. The method also includes treating the fermentation product and distilling the treated fermentation product to recover the ethanol. The lignocellulosic biomass comprises cellulose, hemi-cellulose and lignin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: POET Research, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Nicholas Paul Stutzman, David Charles Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160348134
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing bioproducts are shown. The systems and methods herein can be configured and used in an integrated biorefinery. The integrated biorefinery may comprise a sugar production facility such as a sugar mill, a production facility for one or more bioproduct(s) such as butanol, and optionally an ethanol production facility employing the system and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: COBALT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Stacy M. Burns-Guydish, Anthony F. Cann, Dhruti Dalal, Lawrence W. Fry, Michael S. Hershkowitz, William F. McDonald, Andrew D. Meyer, Victor O. Nava-Salgado, Brandon T. Olson, Ishmael M. Sonico, David C. Walther, Yongming Zhu
  • Patent number: 9446115
    Abstract: Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: VaxInnate Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Powell, Valerian Nakaar, Langzhou Song, James W. Huleatt, William F. McDonald, Duane D. Hewitt
  • Publication number: 20160158338
    Abstract: Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas J. Powell, Valerian Nakaar, Langzhou Song, James W. Huleatt, William F. McDonald, Duane D. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 9334545
    Abstract: A system for pre-treating biomass for the production of ethanol is provided. The system supplies biomass to a steaming bin, wherein the biomass is mixed with water, and inputting the steamed biomass to a first pretreatment reactor, wherein the steamed biomass comprises liquids and solids. The system removes a bulk of liquids from the solids and feeding the solids into a second pretreatment reactor. The system applies a pressure drop to the solids in the second pretreatment reactor, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the solids, and sending the solids to a fermentation process for ethanol processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson, Wiley D. Bradford
  • Patent number: 9234009
    Abstract: Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: VaxInnate Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Powell, Valerian Nakaar, Langzhou Song, James W. Huleatt, William F. McDonald, Duane D. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 9068206
    Abstract: Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Poet Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Richard Kwiatkowski, William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson
  • Publication number: 20150128932
    Abstract: Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Richard Kwiatkowski, William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson
  • Patent number: 8945380
    Abstract: Systems for treating biomass for the production of ethanol are disclosed. The systems are configured to treat a liquid component separated from biomass to yield sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product. The systems comprise a filter configured to remove particulate matter to provide a filtered component and an apparatus configured to remove inhibitors from the filtered liquid component provide a treated liquid component comprising sugars available for fermentation. Methods for treating for treating biomass useful in the production of a fermentation product are also disclosed. The methods include the steps of filtering a liquid component to remove particulate matter thereby yielding a filtered liquid component, and treating the filtered liquid component to remove inhibitors thereby yielding a treated liquid component comprising sugars available to be fermented into a fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Poet Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Richard Kwiatkowski, William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson
  • Publication number: 20150031858
    Abstract: Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J. Powell, Valerian Nakaar, Langzhou Song, James W. Huleatt, William F. McDonald, Duane D. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 8871221
    Abstract: Compositions that include at least a portion of at least one pathogen-associated molecular pattern and at least a portion of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a Den1 viral envelope protein, a Den2 viral envelope protein, a Den3 viral envelope protein and a Den4 viral envelope protein are employed in methods to stimulate a protective immune response in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Vaxinnate Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Powell, Valerian Nakaar, Langzhou Song, James W. Huleatt, William F. McDonald, Duane D. Hewitt
  • Publication number: 20140311480
    Abstract: A system for pre-treating biomass for the production of ethanol is provided. The system supplies biomass to a steaming bin, wherein the biomass is mixed with water, and inputting the steamed biomass to a first pretreatment reactor, wherein the steamed biomass comprises liquids and solids. The system removes a bulk of liquids from the solids and feeding the solids into a second pretreatment reactor. The system applies a pressure drop to the solids in the second pretreatment reactor, wherein the pressure drop opens up a structure of the solids, and sending the solids to a fermentation process for ethanol processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Andritz (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, David Charles Carlson, Wiley D. Bradford
  • Publication number: 20140234911
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for treating lignocellulosic biomass to be supplied to a fermentation system for production of a fermentation product. The systems and methods comprise pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass and separating the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin. The systems and methods also comprise treating the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a treated component. The biomass comprises lignocellulosic material. Treating the solids component comprises application of an enzyme formulation and makeup water to form a slurry. The enzyme formulation comprises a cellulase enzyme. The makeup water includes a clarified thin stillage composition and/or an anaerobic membrane digester effluent composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Neelakantam V. Narendranath, William F. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20140209092
    Abstract: Methods and systems for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass are disclosed. An acid solution between 1% to 1.6% sulfuric acid is applied to the biomass. The biomass is subjected to an elevated temperature to cause the production of xylose, glucose, and furfural. Adjustments to temperature, acid concentration, and time can generate at least 80% or 90% of theoretical xylose, 45% or 50% of the theoretical glucose, and less than 4000 ppm of furfural in the xylose liquor. A portion of the resulting xylose liquor may be separated from the glucan solids. The xylose liquor, still highly acidic, can be recycled to reduce subsequent acid loading requirements. Makeup acid solution is added to the xylose liquor and subsequent biomass to ensure a proper solids to liquids ratio. The biomass is again treated to higher temperatures to yield sugars. The process may be repeated for each subsequent cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: William F. McDonald, Shannon Scott Urban, Jason L. Martin