Patents Assigned to Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7196218
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired co-solvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon, are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production. Such increases in efficiency are also obtained where the energy source for the microbial fermentation contains carbon dioxide and the method includes a carbon dioxide stripping step prior to extraction of acetic acid in solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignees: Celanese International Corporation, Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom
  • Publication number: 20040236149
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired co-solvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon, are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production. Such increases in efficiency are also obtained where the energy source for the microbial fermentation contains carbon dioxide and the method includes a carbon dioxide stripping step prior to extraction of acetic acid in solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicants: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom
  • Patent number: 6753170
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired co-solvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon, are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production. Such increases in efficiency are also obtained where the energy source for the microbial fermentation contains carbon dioxide and the method includes a carbon dioxide stripping step prior to extraction of acetic acid in solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignees: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom
  • Patent number: 6368819
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. This solvent is substantially devoid of mono-alkyl amines and alcohols. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired cosolvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon which forms an azeotrope with water are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom
  • Patent number: 6340581
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are designed for converting waste gases from industrial processes such as oil refining, and carbon black, coke, ammonia, and methanol production, into useful products. The method includes introducing the waste gases into a bioreactor where they are fermented to various products, such as organic acids, alcohols, hydrogen, single cell protein, and salts of organic acids by anaerobic bacteria within the bioreactor. These valuable end products are then recovered, separated and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Gaddy
  • Patent number: 6136577
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting waste gases from industrial processes such as oil refining, carbon black, coke, ammonia, and methanol production, into useful products is disclosed. The method includes introducing the waste gases into a bioreactor where they are fermented to various product, such as organic acids, alcohols H.sub.2, SCP, and salts of organic acids by anaerobic bacteria within the bioreactor. These valuable end products are then recovered, separated and purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Gaddy
  • Patent number: 5821111
    Abstract: A process is provided for converting waste biomass to useful products by gasifying the biomass to produce synthesis gas and converting the synthesis gas substrate to one or more useful products. The present invention is directed to the conversion of biomass wastes including municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, plastic, tires, agricultural residues and the like, as well as coal, to useful products such as hydrogen, ethanol and acetic acid. The overall process includes the steps of gasifying the waste biomass to produce raw synthesis gas, cooling the synthesis gas, converting the synthesis gas to the desired product or products using anaerobic bioconversion, and then recovering the product or products. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, waste biomass is converted to synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and, then, the carbon monoxide is converted to hydrogen by an anaerobic microorganism ERIH2, bacillus smithii ATCC No. 55404.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Grady, Guang Jiong Chen
  • Patent number: 5807722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting waste gases from industrial processes such as oil refining, carbon black, coke, ammonia, and methanol production, into useful products. The method includes introducing the waste gases into a bioreactor where they are fermented to various organic acids or alcohols by anaerobic bacteria within the bioreactor. These valuable end products are then recovered, separated and purified. In an exemplary recovery process, the bioreactor raffinate is passed through an extraction chamber into which one or more non-inhibitory solvents are simultaneously introduced to extract the product. Then, the product is separated from the solvent by distillation. Gas conversion rates can be maximized by use of centrifuges, hollow fiber membranes, or other means of ultrafiltration to return entrained anaerobic bacteria from the bioreactor raffinate to the bioreactor itself, thus insuring the highest possible cell concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bioengineering Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Gaddy
  • Patent number: RE39175
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. This solvent is substantially devoid of mono-alkyl amines and alcohols. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired cosolvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon which forms an azeotrope with water are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignees: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom