Patents by Inventor Allan Haiming Gao
Allan Haiming Gao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11932818Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby tail gas from the gas fermentation process is recycled to a dryer of the gasification process. The tail gas from the gas fermentation process is utilized to generate heat which in turn is used to dry feedstock to the gasification process. The heat is typically used to heat a drying gas, such as air, which is then directly or indirectly contacted with the gasification feedstock to dry the gasification feedstock. Dried gasification feedstock provides improved yield and improved quality of syngas as compared to gasification feedstock that is not dried.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado
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Publication number: 20240059628Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for recovering products from a fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of extractive distillation to recover products which have close boiling points, such as ethanol and isopropanol, from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in increased efficiency in the fermentation process. The extractive distillation vessel reactor may be used downstream of a distillation vessel. To minimize stress on the microbial biomass the distillation vessel may be under vacuum. The extractive distillation vessel may be used alongside a separation vessel such that the separation vessel is capable of recycling extractive distillation agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Derek Wayne Griffin, Peng Tian
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Publication number: 20230407346Abstract: The disclosure relates to the system comprising a combination of a primary bioreactor with a secondary bioreactor to convert a gaseous stream comprising CO and optionally H2, or CO2 and H2 to at least one target product. Bioreactors may be any combination of aerobic and anaerobic, batch and continuous. The bioreactors comprise fermenting microorganisms that may typically be bacterial or fungal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, James Daniel Winkler, Alexander Paul Mueller, Steven Brown, Loan Phuong Tran, Michael Koepke, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
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Publication number: 20230398487Abstract: The invention provides for the optimal utilization of gas by a fermentation process, whereby the various components within the gas stream are separated to increase the efficiency of the microorganisms. The invention is capable of tailoring the composition of the gas being used by the fermentation process so as to enhance the production of various products. The invention is capable of applying such controlled separation and utilization of gas to produce different products in two fermentation processes in series. The invention is also capable of applying such controlled separation and utilization of gas to produce one product in a first fermentation process, which may be converted to a different product in a second fermentation process. The invention is additionally capable of mitigating culture inhibition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Sebastian Michal Bernasek, Michael Anthony Schultz
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Patent number: 11807592Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for recovering products from a fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of dehydration to recover products which have close boiling points, such as ethanol and isopropanol, from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass present in the fermentation broth, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in increased efficiency in the fermentation process. The dehydration reactor may be used downstream of a distillation vessel and converts products such as ethanol and isopropanol into ethylene and propylene. The ethylene and propylene can be used to prepare a component of a fuel or can be polymerized. To minimize stress on the microbial biomass the distillation vessel may be under vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Derek Wayne Griffin, Peng Tian
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Patent number: 11788103Abstract: The disclosure relates to the combination of a primary fermentation that converts gas to acetate with a secondary fermentation that converts acetate to a target product. Preferably, the gas contains carbon dioxide, such that the disclosure enables the fixation of carbon dioxide into useful products. The fermentations may be any combination of aerobic and anaerobic, batch and continuous. The fermenting microorganisms may typically be bacterial or fungal.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, James Daniel Winkler, Alexander Paul Mueller, Steven Brown, Loan Phuong Tran, Michael Koepke, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
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Patent number: 11772038Abstract: The invention provides for the optimal utilization of gas by a fermentation process, whereby the various components within the gas stream are separated to increase the efficiency of the microorganisms. The invention is capable of tailoring the composition of the gas being used by the fermentation process so as to enhance the production of various products. The invention is capable of applying such controlled separation and utilization of gas to produce different products in two parallel fermentation processes. The invention is also capable of applying such controlled separation and utilization of gas to produce one product in a first fermentation process, which may be converted to a different product in a second fermentation process. The invention is additionally capable of mitigating culture inhibition.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Sebastian Michal Bernasek, Michael Anthony Schultz
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Patent number: 11772994Abstract: The description describes the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The one or more effluents which can be recycled include a stream comprising microbial biomass, a product stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one fermentation product, a by-product stream comprising fusel oil, and a waste water stream comprising microbial biomass. The stream comprising biomass can be dried before it is passed to the gasification zone. At least a portion of the waste water stream can be passed to the gasification process where one use is to replace at least a portion of the process water. The waste water stream can be further processed to produce a clarified water stream and a biogas stream comprising methane either or both of which can be passed to the gasification process.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao
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Publication number: 20230257667Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Richard Rosin, Gregory Morin, Franz-Marcus Nowak
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Patent number: 11667857Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Richard Rosin, Gregory Morin, Franz-Marcus Nowak
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Publication number: 20230132925Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein provide for the efficient generation of fine bubbles. In particular, systems and methods for use in bioreactors are disclosed herein providing a superior means to produce useful fermentation products by the biological fermentation of fine bubble waste substrates injected into a liquid broth containing a microorganism culture.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Rachel Jane Brenc, Robert John Conrado, Joss Anton Coombes, Elham Ebrahimiaqda, Allan Haiming Gao, Brian Nelson Horton, Xueliang Li, Mayur Sathe, Curtis Paul Studebaker
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Publication number: 20230113411Abstract: This disclosure is related to a process and apparatus for producing and recovering at least one fermentation product from a fermentation process using a C1-containing gas passed to a fermentation bioreactor, that produces a fermentation broth comprising at least one of a first product stream comprising ethanol and water or a second product stream comprising ethanol, acetone, and water or a third product stream comprising ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, and water. The product is recovered by using a shared product recovery system. Particularly, the shared product recovery system selectively recovers at least one enriched product stream selected from an enriched ethanol stream, an enriched acetone stream, an enriched isopropanol stream or combinations thereof. The shared product recovery system includes at least one of a vacuum distillation unit, a rectification unit, an acetone removal unit, a drying unit, an ethanol-acetone separation unit, an extractive distillation unit or combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Joss Anton Coombes, Nicholas Bourdakos
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Patent number: 11471786Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
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Publication number: 20220305399Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Paul Alvin Sechrist, Nicholas Bourdakos, Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao, Jason Carl Bromley, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin, Ignasi Palou-Rivera, Joseph Henry Tizard
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Publication number: 20210371312Abstract: The description describes the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The one or more effluents which can be recycled include a stream comprising microbial biomass, a product stream comprising at least a portion of the at least one fermentation product, a by-product stream comprising fusel oil, and a waste water stream comprising microbial biomass. The stream comprising biomass can be dried before it is passed to the gasification zone. At least a portion of the waste water stream can be passed to the gasification process where one use is to replace at least a portion of the process water. The waste water stream can be further processed to produce a clarified water stream and a biogas stream comprising methane either or both of which can be passed to the gasification process.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao
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Publication number: 20210355055Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for recovering products from a fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of dehydration to recover products which have close boiling points, such as ethanol and isopropanol, from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass present in the fermentation broth, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in increased efficiency in the fermentation process. The dehydration reactor may be used downstream of a distillation vessel and converts products such as ethanol and isopropanol into ethylene and propylene. The ethylene and propylene can be used to prepare a component of a fuel or can be polymerized. To minimize stress on the microbial biomass the distillation vessel may be under vacuum.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Derek Wayne Griffin, Peng Tian
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Publication number: 20210284925Abstract: The disclosure provides for the separation and combustion of at least one hydrocarbon, oxygenate, sulfur compound, and or nitrogen compound, from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas to generate steam. A gasification process and a gas fermentation process may be integrated using tail gas from the fermentation process for the flame to combust tar and other compounds from the syngas generated by a gasification process. Integration may be achieved by removing tar and other compounds from industrial gas or gasification derived syngas using an adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent using tail gas from the gas fermentation process. Tail gas enriched with the desorbed tar and other compounds may be used to generate steam in a steam boiler and the steam may be used for a variety of purposes including power generation to power, for example, a compressor of the gas fermentation process.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Richard Rosin, Gregory Morin, Franz-Marcus Nowak
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Publication number: 20210284926Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby tail gas from the gas fermentation process is recycled to a dryer of the gasification process. The tail gas from the gas fermentation process is utilized to generate heat which in turn is used to dry feedstock to the gasification process. The heat is typically used to heat a drying gas, such as air, which is then directly or indirectly contacted with the gasification feedstock to dry the gasification feedstock. Dried gasification feedstock provides improved yield and improved quality of syngas as compared to gasification feedstock that is not dried.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado
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Patent number: 11097967Abstract: The invention provides for the integration of a gas fermentation process with a gasification process whereby effluent downstream from the gas fermentation process is recycled to the gasification process. The invention is capable of recycling one or more effluents including biogas generated from a wastewater treatment process, tail-gas generated from the fermentation process, unused syngas generated by the gasification process, microbial biomass generated from the fermentation process, microbial biomass generated from a wastewater treatment process, crude ethanol from the product recovery process, fusel oil from the product recovery process, microbial biomass depleted water, wastewater generated from the fermentation process, and clarified water from a wastewater treatment process to a gasification process.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Allan Haiming Gao
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Patent number: 11091415Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for recovering products from a fermentation broth. The disclosure relates to the use of extractive distillation and/or dehydration to recover products which have close boiling points, such as ethanol and isopropanol, from a fermentation broth. In an embodiment, the recovery of product is completed in a manner that minimizes stress on the microbial biomass, such that it remains viable, at least in part, and may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in increased efficiency in the fermentation process. The extractive distillation vessel and/or dehydration reactor may be used downstream of a distillation vessel. To minimize stress on the microbial biomass the distillation vessel may be under vacuum. The extractive distillation vessel may be used alongside a separation vessel such that the separation vessel is capable of recycling extractive distillation agent.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.Inventors: Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, Derek Wayne Griffin, Peng Tian