Patents by Inventor Ari Kotilainen

Ari Kotilainen 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).

  • Publication number: 20210130209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of industrial alkaline streams comprising sulfide and carbonate, comprising the steps of: a) providing an industrial alkaline stream comprising sulfide and carbonate; b) supplying the industrial alkaline stream to a bioreactor comprising sulfide oxidizing bacteria and removing sulfide from the industrial alkaline stream by subjecting said stream to sulfide oxidizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen, and supplying a pH adjustment agent to the bioreactor to maintain a pH in the range in the range 8 to 11, to oxidize the sulfide to elemental sulfur, c) withdrawing from the bioreactor a treated industrial alkaline stream comprising elemental sulfur, wherein a portion of the sulfide oxidizing bacteria is removed from the bioreactor and mixed with the industrial alkaline stream prior to supplying the industrial alkaline stream to the bioreactor in step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Erik VAN ZESSEN, Michel Paulus Maria NOORDINK, Rickard WADSBORN, Olli TIMONEN, Maria BJÖRK, Ari KOTILAINEN
  • Publication number: 20210130208
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the controlling the sodium and sulfur levels in a pulp mill, comprising the steps of: a) providing a pulp mill stream comprising sulfide and having a total alkali concentration of at least 2 Molar; b) supplying a portion of the pulp mill stream to a reactor comprising sulfide oxidizing bacteria and removing sulfide from the pulp mill stream by subjecting said stream to sulfide oxidizing bacteria in the presence of oxygen, and at a pH in the range 8 to 11, to oxidize the sulfide to elemental sulfur, c) withdrawing from the reactor a treated pulp mill stream comprising sulfur, wherein the portion of the pulp mill stream is mixed with a portion of the sulfide oxidizing bacteria present in the reactor prior to supplying the pulp mill stream to the reactor in step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Erik VAN ZESSEN, Michel Paulus Maria NOORDINK, Rickard WADSBORN, Olli TIMONEN, Maria BJÖRK, Ari KOTILAINEN
  • Patent number: 9447540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for dewatering a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose wherein the process comprises the following steps of, providing a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose and liquid, subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow and separating the liquid from the microfibrillated cellulose. The invention also relates to microfibrillated cellulose dewatered according to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Kaj Backfolk, Ari Kotilainen, Valentas Gaidelis, Jonas Sidaravicius
  • Patent number: 9447541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying a slurry comprising cellulose, such as microfibrillated cellulose, wherein the process comprises the following steps: —providing a slurry comprising cellulose and liquid, —subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow, —separating the liquid from the cellulose thus obtaining a liquid depleted slurry, —adding a washing liquid, such as an organic solvent, to the liquid depleted slurry—subjecting the liquid depleted slurry to an electric field inducing the washing liquid of the slurry to flow and—separating the washing liquid from the cellulose, thus obtaining a purified cellulose. The invention also relates to cellulose such as microfibrillated cellulose obtainable from said process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Kaj Backfolk, Ari Kotilainen, Valentas Gaidelis, Jonas Sidaravicius
  • Publication number: 20150308017
    Abstract: A method for drying nanofibrillated polysaccharide to obtain a substantially dry nanofibrillated polysaccharide product, comprising the following steps: (i) providing an aqueous suspension of nanofibrillated polysaccharide; (ii) increasing the solid content of said suspension, thereby forming a high solid content microfibrillated cellulose suspension; and (iii) drying said high solid content microfibrillated cellulose suspension, through a simultaneous heating and mixing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Heidi Saxell, Isto Heiskanen, Lars Axrup, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Veikko Jokela, Esa Saukkonen, Ari Kotilainen, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi
  • Publication number: 20140088301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for dewatering a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose wherein the process comprises the following steps of, providing a slurry comprising microfibrillated cellulose and liquid, subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow and separating the liquid from the microfibrillated cellulose. The invention also relates to microfibrillated cellulose dewatered according to the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Kaj Backfolk, Ari Kotilainen, Valentas Gaidelis, Jonas Sidaravicius
  • Publication number: 20140073774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying a slurry comprising cellulose, such as microfibrillated cellulose, wherein the process comprises the following steps: —providing a slurry comprising cellulose and liquid, —subjecting the slurry to an electric field inducing the liquid of the slurry to flow, —separating the liquid from the cellulose thus obtaining a liquid depleted slurry, —adding a washing liquid, such as an organic solvent, to the liquid depleted slurry—subjecting the liquid depleted slurry to an electric field inducing the washing liquid of the slurry to flow and—separating the washing liquid from the cellulose, thus obtaining a purified cellulose. The invention also relates to cellulose such as microfibrillated cellulose obtainable from said process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Kaj Backfolk, Ari Kotilainen, Valentas Gaidelis, Jonas Sidaravicius