Patents by Inventor Ari Ketola

Ari Ketola 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).

  • Patent number: 9670508
    Abstract: The invention is a method of two-phase anaerobic digestion where monitoring and adjusting the nitrogen status (carbon to nitrogen molar ratio, i.e. C/N molar ratio or total or ammoniacal nitrogen content) enables maintaining optimum conditions during the process. The method improves the use of a variety of feedstock materials or facilitates monodigestion of one feedstock. Especially the introduction of nitrogen rich feedstock materials in the process is amended. A community of hydrolyzing and acidogenic microorganisms in the first phase digester performs ammonification i.e. release of organic nitrogen as ammonia. Nitrogen and phosphorus are removed and recovered from the digestate which then undergoes biogasification in the second phase of the process. Reject water from biogasification can be recycled within the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DUCTOR OY
    Inventors: Ari Ketola, Kerttu Koskenniemi, Minna Lahtinen, Jarkko Nummela, Nina Virolainen, Ilkka Virkajärvi
  • Publication number: 20150275234
    Abstract: The invention is a method of two-phase anaerobic digestion where monitoring and adjusting the nitrogen status (carbon to nitrogen molar ratio, i.e. C/N molar ratio or total or ammoniacal nitrogen content) enables maintaining optimum conditions during the process. The method improves the use of a variety of feedstock materials or facilitates monodigestion of one feedstock. Especially the introduction of nitrogen rich feedstock materials in the process is amended. A community of hydrolyzing and acidogenic microorganisms in the first phase digester performs ammonification i.e. release of organic nitrogen as ammonia. Nitrogen and phosphorus are removed and recovered from the digestate which then undergoes biogasification in the second phase of the process. Reject water from biogasification can be recycled within the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Ari Ketola, Kerttu Koskenniemi, Minna Lahtinen, Jarkko Nummela, Nina Virolainen, IIkka Virkajärvi
  • Patent number: 9090862
    Abstract: The invention provides an algae cultivation system and a process for cultivating algae. The algae cultivation system includes a conduit system having a first portion exposed to illumination and a second portion occluded from illumination that is capable of containing and moving a first type of algae, and a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the second portion of the conduit system. The algae cultivation system also includes a vertical conduit connected to the first portion of the conduit system and extending vertically upward from the first portion of the conduit system, a gas collection chamber communicating with an upper end region of the vertical conduit, and an algae processing unit that is capable of processing algae from the first portion of the conduit system, and that directs the extracted sugar, water and nutrients into the second portion of the conduit system to interact with the second type of algae therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ductor Oy
    Inventors: Ari Ketola, Veikko Latvala
  • Publication number: 20150098888
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing ammonia or ammonium from an organic material, the method by contacting the organic material with at least one hydrolytic enzyme, in a medium, to produce a medium including hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed organic material suitable for microbial fermentation. The hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed medium with organic material is then fermented in the presence of at least one microorganism capable of ammonification, wherein the fermenting is under conditions, and for a sufficient period of time, to produce a fermentation product that comprises ammonia or ammonium. The organic material includes nitrogenous compounds suitable for conversion to ammonia or ammonium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Veikko LATVALA, Ari KETOLA, Ilona OSKANEN, Kerttu KOSKENNIEMI, Maiju LAAKSONEN, Elisa LENSU
  • Publication number: 20150093785
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and processes for cultivating algae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ari KETOLA, Veikko LATVALA
  • Publication number: 20140178972
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and processes for cultivating algae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Ari KETOLA, Veikko LATVALA
  • Patent number: 8574889
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing ammonia or ammonium from an organic material, the method by contacting the organic material with at least one hydrolytic enzyme, in a medium, to produce a medium including hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed organic material suitable for microbial fermentation. The hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed medium with organic material is then fermented in the presence of at least one microorganism capable of ammonification, wherein the fermenting is under conditions, and for a sufficient period of time, to produce a fermentation product that comprises ammonia or ammonium. The organic material includes nitrogenous compounds suitable for conversion to ammonia or ammonium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ductor Oy
    Inventors: Veikko Latvala, Ari Ketola, Ilona Oskanen, Kerttu Koskenniemi, Maiju Laaksonen, Elisa Lensu