Patents Assigned to Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10844413
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and compositions for the pretreatment of biomass within seconds with low inhibitor formation. The pretreatment process is used to convert biomass to a fuel or other useful chemicals by subjecting the feedstock to a rapid retention time under pressure and temperature and/or chemical reactant. The system includes a continuously-operating valve discharge apparatus to discharge pretreated feedstock while maintaining uniform pressure on the pretreatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 9809867
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions using activated carbon for optimizing purification and clarification of sugar streams produced from cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass. Also provided are methods and compositions for decreasing one or more undesirable products during pretreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SWEETWATER ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice
  • Patent number: 9499635
    Abstract: Provided is a system for localizing and optimizing harvesting of woody biomass by providing a plurality of portable pretreatment units at harvesting or mill sites. The sugars derived from woody waste products can be transported to plants for processing or processing directly by plants located at mill sites to generate biofuels and other chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Arunas Chesonis, Jerry W. Horton
  • Publication number: 20140342423
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and compositions for increasing the rate and/or yield of fermentation processes using blended feedstocks. Also provided are methods, systems, and compositions for decreasing the yield of one or more undesirable products during fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice, Benjamin Stauber
  • Patent number: 8765430
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and compositions for increasing the rate and/or yield of fermentation processes using blended feedstocks. Also provided are methods, systems, and compositions for decreasing the yield of one or more undesirable products during fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice, Benjamin Stauber
  • Publication number: 20140106418
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for higher yields through the addition of pretreatment/hydrolysis extracts in the fermentation process. These fractions increase the rate of growth for biocatalysts and result in improved composition of fermentation end products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice, Benjamin Stauber
  • Publication number: 20140038244
    Abstract: Provided is a system for localizing and optimizing harvesting of woody biomass by providing a plurality of portable pretreatment units at harvesting or mill sites. The sugars derived from woody waste products can be transported to plants for processing or processing directly by plants located at mill sites to generate biofuels and other chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Arunas Chesonis, Jerry W. Horton
  • Patent number: 8563277
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice
  • Publication number: 20130274456
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice
  • Publication number: 20130274455
    Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarad Parekh, Carl P. Felice
  • Patent number: 8529765
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Horton
  • Publication number: 20130210101
    Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and compositions for increasing the rate and/or yield of fermentation processes using blended feedstocks. Also provided are methods, systems, and compositions for decreasing the yield of one or more undesirable products during fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8426161
    Abstract: A method for producing ethanol comprising the steps of providing feedstock, processing the feedstock at a feedstock processing plant adapted to produce sugar water and wet animal feed, separating the sugar water and wet animal feed, transporting the sugar water from the feedstock processing plant to an ethanol producing plant, and producing ethanol from the sugar water. A system for producing ethanol comprising a feedstock provider adapted to provide feedstock, feedstock, a feedstock processing plant adapted to produce sugar water and wet animal feed from the feedstock, a means for transporting the sugar water, and an ethanol producing plant adapted to produce ethanol from the sugar water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Horton
  • Patent number: 8323923
    Abstract: A method for producing ethanol is disclosed that uses a distributed production method where processing and pretreatment of combined liquid and solid material takes place outside of a centralized ethanol producing plant at a distributed feedstock processing plant, and separation of the resulting liquid and solid occurs prior to fermentation using this distributed production method. The resulting process liquid is then transported from each distributed feedstock processing plant to a centralized ethanol producing plant for fermentation, distillation and related processing. This novel distributed process reduces transportation costs, operating costs of ethanol producing plants, increases ethanol production throughput and improves the overall economics of ethanol production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sweetwater Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Horton
  • Publication number: 20100144001
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for the hydrolyzation of ensiled biomass is disclosed. Ensiled biomass is processed in multiple phases, resulting in a liquid precursor hydrozate and a solid precursor hydrozate. The liquid precursor having significant economic value, and being suitable for uses such as, for example, lower cost and improved efficiency ethanol production. A method for lower cost, improved efficiency alcohol production that uses the resulting liquid precursor hydrozate being produced at distributed sources is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: SWEETWATER ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Jerry Wayne Horton