Patents Assigned to Biochemtex S.p.A
  • Publication number: 20150337214
    Abstract: This specification discloses a method to convert a lignin biomass feedstream to a converted lignin stream comprising aromatic compounds. The process comprises combining a lignin biomass feedstream comprising lignin, at least one solvent and at least one catalyst in a reaction vessel. Preferably the ratio of moles of catalyst to moles of lignin is in the range of between 4:1 and 15:1. The lignin biomass feedstream is then deoxygenated to a converted lignin stream at a deoxygenation temperature and a deoxygenation pressure for a deoxygenation time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: BIOCHEMTEX S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aaron MURRAY, Steven RYBA
  • Patent number: 9187390
    Abstract: This specification discloses a complete method to manufacture polyester articles from freshly harvested ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process steps include pretreating the biomass and the converting the lignin to one of several possible organic steams by deoxygenating and dehydrogenating the lignin in the presence of a Raney Nickel catalyst, separating the organics, and then processing the organics into polyester feedstocks and converting those feedstocks to polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Biochemtex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aaron Murray, Steven Ryba
  • Publication number: 20150299064
    Abstract: This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The continuous process further utilizes nanoparticles of a crystalline metal oxide. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: BIOCHEMTEX S.P.A.
    Inventors: Krishna SHARMA, Aaron MURRAY, Steven RYBA, Dan GASTALDO, Guliz Arf ELLIOTT
  • Patent number: 9162951
    Abstract: This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Biochemtex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Steven Ryba, Aaron Murray, Guliz Arf Elliott, Dan Gastaldo
  • Patent number: 9139501
    Abstract: This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Biochemtex, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Dan Gastaldo, Steven Ryba, Aaron Murray, Guliz Arf Elliott
  • Publication number: 20150240225
    Abstract: It is disclosed a non-naturally occurring microbial organism comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme, or a portion thereof, selected from the group of ammonia lyase. Preferably, the enzyme is PAL3, and the at least one exogenous nucleic acid is obtained from Arabidopsis thaliana. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism has an increased resistance to biochemical stress compared to the starting microbial organism, as induced for instance by oxidative stress or organic acid stress. Preferably, the non-naturally occurring microbial organism is a yeast and it may be used for fermenting a carbon source obtained from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paola Branduardi, Danilo Porro
  • Publication number: 20150175984
    Abstract: A process produces at least a first enzyme from a host cell, wherein the first enzyme is capable of hydrolyzing a first pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process comprises the step of cultivating the host cell to produce at least the first enzyme for a cultivation time, wherein the cultivation of the host cell occurs in a sugar depleted cultivation environment comprising the host cell, water and a solid composition comprising a complex sugar of the solid composition and a lignin of the solid composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A
    Inventors: Stefano Paravisi, Laura Volpati, Chiara Giorcelli, Elisa Raccagni, Piero Ottonello, Francesco Cherchi
  • Patent number: 9035117
    Abstract: This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Biochemtex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Steven Ryba, Aaron Murray, Guliz Arf Elliott, Dan Gastaldo
  • Publication number: 20140196715
    Abstract: This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream, with little or no acid addition, from an oligomeric sugar solution using the intrinsic features of the mildly pre-treated vegetable or ligno-cellulosic biomass, namely the presence of naturally occurring salts. This is accomplished by lowering the pH of the oligomer sugar solution with little or no addition of an acid and then exposing the biomass with the lowered pH to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze the components of the biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A
    Inventors: Beatriz Rivas Torres, Michelle Marrone, Irene Bozzano