Patents Examined by Elizabeth A. Hanley
  • Patent number: 4797360
    Abstract: The conversion of sucrose to fructose and ethanol by fermentation using the microorganism "Zymomonas mobilis" and/or the enzyme immobilized levansucrase can be effected at sucrose concentrations greater than 30% where the fermentation is effected at microorganism and/or concentrations 0.01% to 0.5% (by weight) in a fermentation medium with a pH in the range of 4.0 to 7.0 and a temperature range of 35.degree. C. to 40.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventor: Horst W. Doelle
  • Patent number: 4793949
    Abstract: There is disclosed a new vinyl monomer capable of forming polymeric vesicles, micelles, monolayers, and side-chain liquid crystalline polymers. The vinyl monomer is of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is substituted or unsubstituted long chain alkyl or aryl and R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, alkyl, or aryl.The side-chain liquid crystalline polymers can be formed by free radical polymerization or by anionic polymerizations techniques. The different reaction methods give polymers of different configuration; the anionic technique results in a polymer having a nitrogen atom in the backbone. The polymers are useful in film and fiber formation and display good toughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Lon J. Mathias, Robert E. Hermes
  • Patent number: 4792418
    Abstract: To extract and purify of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, without cis-trans conversion, from naturally occurring oils, such as marine animal oil and various vegetable oils a mixture of free fatty acids is first extracted from the oil. The resulting mixture of pure fatty acids is then subjected to separation by means of urea complexing to remove saturated fatty acids and most mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Remaining solvent and urea are then removed from the filtrate which is then subjected to low temperature fractional crystallization in the presence of an organic solvent such as acetone. Substantially pure polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, can be separately precipitated by reducing the temperature of the filtrate in two steps. Alternatively, the volume of the filtrate is reduced in two steps and cooled to form precipitates, which are removed. The final product is a mixture of substantially pure DHA and EPA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Century Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David Rubin, Elyiahu J. Rubin
  • Patent number: 4782020
    Abstract: .alpha.-Hydroxycarboxylic acids are continuously converted into the corresponding optically active .alpha.- aminocarboxylic acids. The conversion is carried out in a membrane reactor in the presence of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide increased in molecular weight by bonding to a water soluble high molecular weight material, a dehydrogenase specific for the .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid, a dehydrogenase specific for the corresponding .alpha.-amino-carboxylic acid and ammonium ions. There is continuously supplied to the membrane reactor an aqueous solution of the .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid to be reacted, a substantially lesser amount of the corresponding .alpha.-ketocarboxy lic acid, and an amount of ammonium ion at least equivalent to the .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid to be reacted. There is maintained over the membrane a difference in pressure 1 and 15 bar. Behind the membrane, there is continuously drawn off a filtrate stream containing the .alpha.-aminocarboxylic acid formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Leuchtenberger, Christian Wandrey, Maria-Regina Kula
  • Patent number: 4778926
    Abstract: Gem-dihalo and gem-tetrahalo-1,12-diamino-4,9-diazadodecane derivatives useful as antiproliferative or antitumor agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Inventors: Fritz Gerhart, Pierre Mamont
  • Patent number: 4776984
    Abstract: For the selective enrichment with fatty acids, of which the first double bond is in the 6 position, of a starting material containing fatty acids of which the first double bond is in the 6 or 9 position, the starting material is treated with a saturated solution of urea in methanol with predetermined ratios of fatty acids to urea so as to separate the fatty acids, other than the .DELTA.6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of an insoluble inclusion complex.The enriched fractions obtained may be treated by high-performance liquid chromatography to isolate substantially pure .gamma.-linolenic acid.The enriched fractions, optionally recombined with glycerol, may be used in medicaments and in nutritive compositions or may even serve as starting product in the synthesis of dihomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Helmut Traitler, Alfred Studer
  • Patent number: 4776983
    Abstract: A process for polymerizing unsaturated fatty acids comprises heating the fatty acids in the presence of a catalytic proportion of an unactivated clay and water. The product polymerizate is distilled to separate unreacted monomer acids which are separately polymerized under similar conditions. Higher overall polymer yields are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Union Camp Corporation
    Inventor: Kathryn S. Hayes
  • Patent number: 4776985
    Abstract: Ethylene and propylene oxide adducts of rosin amides are novel compositions of matter useful for the protection of metal from corrosiion and useful as surface active agents for the emulsification and demulsification of multi-phase liquid systems. These compounds are prepared by the addition of ethylene or propylene oxide (or mixture of the two) under moderate pressures and temperatures, with or without catalysts, to the starting rosin amides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Union Camp Corporation
    Inventors: Gene E. Keyser, Gary D. Fultz
  • Patent number: 4772750
    Abstract: A method for producing amines, the method comprising contacting at reactive conditions at least one alcohol, aldehyde or ketone, or a mixture thereof, with an aminating agent in the presence of a cobalt/copper catalyst, is improved by employing as the catalyst a composition comprising cobalt and copper, the catalyst being prepared by the molten salt impregnation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Clarence E. Habermann
  • Patent number: 4769324
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of ethanol by the fermentation of molasses in the presence of the yeasts S. cerevisiae and Schwanniomyces castellii (R69), which is capable of growing and producing amylase in a molasses-containing meduim. The amylase converts starch and higher sugars in the unfermentable component of the medium to a hexose sugar which is converted to ethanol by S. cerevisiae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Sentrachem Limited
    Inventors: Theresa D. Mackintosh, Ana P. Quintela
  • Patent number: 4767574
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of esters by reaction of an allylic ether with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Group VIII noble metal catalyst and a halide compound to obtain esters. The halide compound is present in an amount sufficient to prevent the catalyst from being converted into a Group VIII metal during the reaction. When the reaction is conducted in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt the ester may be extracted by solvent extraction to minimize catalyst decomposition caused when extractive distillation is used to separate the ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: National Distillers and Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ronnie M. Hanes, Thomas S. Brima
  • Patent number: 4764306
    Abstract: A method of preparing certain bis-quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures is disclosed. The method involves contacting a tertiary amine with a suitable amount of neutralizing acid, e.g. HCl, and subsequently contacting the resulting mixture with a suitable epoxide, e.g. epichlorohydrin, at an elevated temperature and in an amount that e.g. 2-hydroypropylene-bis-1,3-(dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride) is obtained in almost stoichiometric yields. The resulting bis-quaternary ammonium compounds can be incorporated into a hair conditioner whereby a softer feel and better control of hair is obtained.The general structure for the resulting bis-quaternary ammonium compounds is as follows: ##STR1## wherein the R's are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylamidoalkyl, aryalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, and carboxyalkyl and X is a negative radical from the epoxide used, e.g. epichlorohydrin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Login
  • Patent number: 4762788
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process of producing cellulolytic enzymes by fermentation with the Trichoderma reesei fungus.This process includes two steps:(a) a first step of subjecting to aerobian fermentation a culture medium comprising a strain of Trichoderma reesei, nutrition compounds and a small quantity of cellulose and sugar,(b) a second step of contining the aerobian fermentation by adding soluble sugar at a speed such that the sugar concentration in the fermentation zone remains under 0.3% by weight.The cellulolytic enzymes obtained are used in the enzymatic hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Warzywoda, Veronique Ferre, Jacques Pourquie
  • Patent number: 4755467
    Abstract: A method for the simultaneous production of sorbitol and either gluconolactone or gluconate from glucose and fructose. To this end to produce sorbitol and gluconolactone, glucose and fructose are reacted in the presence of a cell or cell-free extract of a bacteria, which contains the enzyme complex glucose/fructose transhydrogenase including the tightly bound co-factor(s), under condition whereby the further metabolism of gluconolactone is substantially prevented. In order to produce sorbitol and gluconate glucose and fructose are reacted in the presence of a cell or cell-free extract of a bacteria which contains an enzyme system comprising the enzyme complex glucose/fructose transhydrogenase including the tightly bound co-factor(s) and the enzyme gluconolactonase. This reaction is carried out under conditions whereby the metabolism of gluconate is substantially prevented. Preferably the bacteria used in this process is of the genus Zymomonas and most preferably of the species Zymomonas mobilis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Unisearch Limited
    Inventors: Robert K. Scopes, Peter L. Rogers, Donald A. Leigh
  • Patent number: 4753885
    Abstract: Foam is controlled in the sugar industry and yeast industry by a process in which oxyalkylation products of the formula IR--O--(X.sub.1).sub.n --(X.sub.2).sub.m --(X.sub.3).sub.p --Zwhere R is alkyl of 6 to 22 carbon atoms or alkylphenyl where alkyl is of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, X.sub.1 and X.sub.3 are ethylene oxide units, n and p are each from 0 to 15 and the sum of n and p is not less than 2, the groups X.sub.2 are propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide units, m is from 0 to 15 and Z is straight-chain or branched alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, allyl or benzyl, having a turbidity point of <75.degree. C., are used as antifoams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfram Dietsche, Klaus Lorenz, Christos Vamvakaris, Albert Hettche
  • Patent number: 4747969
    Abstract: A process for the production of fatty acid mixtures containing a high proportion of C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -fatty acids consisting essentially of (1) transesterifying mixtures consisting essentially of C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -fatty acid alkyl esters with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl with glycerine at 160.degree. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of transesterification catalysts with removal of the C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkanol formed, (2) adding the C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -fatty acid glycerides to a C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 -fatty acid glyceride selected from the group consisting of coconut oil, palm kernel oil and mixtures thereof, (3) subjecting the mixture of glycerides to lipolysis in the presence of an excess of water at 200.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. at the autogenous pressure in the absence of a catalyst until until the required degree of splitting is achieved and (4) recovering a fatty acid mixture containing a high proportion of C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 -fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rupilius, Karl Hentschel
  • Patent number: 4748117
    Abstract: A new method is provided for forming crystals of amphotericin B directly in fermentation broth which crystals are easily separable without use of costly solvent extraction techniques which method includes a direct microbial cell autolysis step to induce crystal formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: Raphael Y. Ko, Laszlo J. Szarka
  • Patent number: 4744926
    Abstract: An extraction process comprises contacting a material to be extracted with an extracting fluid at elevated pressure within a defined space, and separating the extracting fluid and extract, as a mass, from the extracted material while reducing the volume of the defined space and while maintaining the elevated pressure within the defined space. Apparatus for carrying out the process is adapted to separate the extracting fluid and the extract, as a mass, from the extracted material, while maintaining elevated pressure and reducing the volume at the point of separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Vitamins, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne K. Rice
  • Patent number: 4745190
    Abstract: Selective mono- or di-amination of alkanediols is controllably obtained by catalytic reaction with secondary amines at moderate temperature and autogenous pressure, by selection of the catalyst employed. Ruthenium complexes compounded or admixed with selected organic phosphines, such as triphenylphosphine, favor high yields of alkanolamines, while ruthenium complexes in the absence of organic phosphines favor production of alkylenediamines. Iridium complexes with or without organic phosphines in admixture or chemical combination, also promote production of alkylenediamines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Marsella
  • Patent number: 4745058
    Abstract: Cellulose strands are produced by causing a growing medium containing Acetobacter xylinum to flow along a straight-line path over a growing surface. Cellulose fibrils produced by the bacteria arrange themselves in strands on the growing surface. These strands can be converted into threads and/or yarns. The cellulose fibrils produced by Acetobacter xylinum can also be converted to microcrystalline cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Inventor: Philip M. Townsley