Patents Assigned to American Process, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120009632
    Abstract: A method for the production of alcohol and other bioproducts hemicelluloses extracted from biomass prior to thermal conversion of the biomass to energy. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the energy loss from extracting hemicelluloses. Also disclosed is a Stepwise enzymatic break down of cellulose fibers from a pulping operation which is performed with the redeployment of equipment and vessels contained within typical existing pulp and paper manufacturing mills. The preferred feedstock is highly delignified pulp from acid or alkaline pulping process or from bleaching stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: American Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen
  • Patent number: 8038842
    Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in a batch or continuous process in a treatment with vaporous mixture of aliphatic alcohol, sulfur dioxide and water. Cooking conditions are varied to get different proportions of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Chemical recovery through pressure release is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: American Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen, Adriaan van Heiningen
  • Patent number: 8030039
    Abstract: A method for the production of fermentable sugars and high viscosity cellulose from lignocellulosic material in a batch or continuous process is provided. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated in a fashion that cellulose is removed as pulp, cooking chemicals can be reused, lignin is separated for the production of process energy, and hemicelluloses are converted into fermentable sugars, while fermentation inhibitors are removed. High yield production of alcohols or organic acids can be obtained from this method using the final reaction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: American Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen
  • Publication number: 20110195468
    Abstract: A system or plant and method for the production of pure alcohol, acetic acid or its derivatives from the extract containing hemicelluloses filtered after extraction of woody biomass or directly extracted from woody biomass. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and reduce the loading to the effluent plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: American Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen
  • Publication number: 20110003352
    Abstract: A method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic materials into reactive chemical feedstock in a batch or semi continuous process by the stepwise treatment with aqueous aliphatic alcohols in the presence of sulfur dioxide or acid. Lignocellulosic material is fractionated in a fashion that cellulose is removed as pulp, or converted to esterified cellulose, cooking chemicals are reused, lignin is separated in the forms of reactive native lignin and reactive lignosulfonates and hemicelluloses are converted into fermentable sugars, while fermentation inhibitors are removed. In an integrated vapor compression stripper and evaporator system, aliphatic alcohol is removed from a liquid stream and the resulting stream is concentrated for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: AMERICAN PROCESS, INC.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen, Rolf Ryham