Patents by Inventor Blake Simmons

Blake Simmons 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).

  • Ammonium based ionic liquids useful for lignocellulosic processing
    Patent number: 12049654
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for ionic liquid processing of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Parthasarathi Ramakrishnan, Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • Renewable aromatics from lignocellulosic lignin
    Patent number: 12012429
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh, Ning Sun, Jian Shi, Anthe George, Manali Sawant, Seema Singh, Blake Simmons
  • HIGH GRAVITY, FED-BATCH IONIC LIQUID BASED PROCESS FOR DECONSTRUCTING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20220170053
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for preparing a fermentation product. The methods include pre-treating a mixture of biomass and ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a choline cation and the biomass comprises polysaccharide and lignin. The methods further include forming hydrolysates from the introduction of glycoside hydrolase to the pre-treated mixture at conditions sufficient to produce a sugar composition mixture for fermentation steps. The present invention provides methods for loading biomass mixtures in a batch-fed process, wherein the biomass slurries can be loaded into water or a concentrated sugar composition for hydrolysate production. The methods can be performed in a one-pot process, wherein the ionic liquids are present in the mixtures throughout each step. Aspects of the invention provide compositions of sugar composition mixtures and fermentation product mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Feng Xu, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • Biochemical upgrading of high-protein biomass and grain products
    Patent number: 11312978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of upgrading biomass to provide useful chemical intermediates, fuels, amino acids, nutrients, etc. In particular examples, the biomass is a by-product of ethanol production and is mainly used as high-protein feed. Described herein are methods for upgrading such biomass, such as by implementing pre-treatment conditions and by employing fermentation conditions including modified organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Wesley Davis, Blake Simmons, Mary Bao Tran-Gyamfi, Benjamin Chiau-Pin Wu
  • RENEWABLE AROMATICS FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC LIGNIN
    Publication number: 20210284676
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh, Ning Sun, Jian Shi, Anthe George, Manali Sawant, Seema Singh, Blake Simmons
  • Switchable ionic liquids for biomass pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis
    Patent number: 11118204
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing a sugar composition. The method includes: forming a mixture including polysaccharide biomass and an ionic liquid solution, wherein the ionic liquid solution contains water and an ionic liquid, and wherein the ionic liquid contains a dicarboxylic acid anion and a cation. The pH of the mixture is greater than or equal to about 10, and the molar ratio of the dicarboxylic acid anion to the cation is at least about 1:2. The method further includes: maintaining the mixture under conditions sufficient to dissolve at least a portion of the polysaccharide present in the polysaccharide biomass; reducing the pH of the mixture containing the dissolved polysaccharide to at least about 7; adding at least one glycoside hydrolase to the mixture having the reduced pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Liszka, Kenneth Sale, Blake Simmons
  • High gravity, fed-batch ionic liquid based process for deconstructing biomass
    Patent number: 11118197
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for preparing a fermentation product. The methods include pre-treating a mixture of biomass and ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid comprises a choline cation and the biomass comprises polysaccharide and lignin. The methods further include forming hydrolysates from the introduction of glycoside hydrolase to the pre-treated mixture at conditions sufficient to produce a sugar composition mixture for fermentation steps. The present invention provides methods for loading biomass mixtures in a batch-fed process, wherein the biomass slurries can be loaded into water or a concentrated sugar composition for hydrolysate production. The methods can be performed in a one-pot process, wherein the ionic liquids are present in the mixtures throughout each step. Aspects of the invention provide compositions of sugar composition mixtures and fermentation product mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Xu, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • Methods of synthesizing ionic liquids from primary alcohol-containing lignin compounds
    Patent number: 11028249
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • AMMONIUM BASED IONIC LIQUIDS USEFUL FOR LIGNOCELLULOSIC PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20210155964
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for ionic liquid processing of biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Parthasarathi Ramakrishnan, Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • Renewable aromatics from lignocellulosic lignin
    Patent number: 10934321
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh, Ning Sun, Jian Shi, Anthe George, Manali Sawant, Seema Singh, Blake Simmons
  • Ammonium based ionic liquids useful for lignocellulosic processing
    Patent number: 10907184
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for ionic liquid processing of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Parthasarathi Ramakrishnan, Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • BIOCHEMICAL UPGRADING OF HIGH-PROTEIN BIOMASS AND GRAIN PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20200370071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of upgrading biomass to provide useful chemical intermediates, fuels, amino acids, nutrients, etc. In particular examples, the biomass is a by-product of ethanol production and is mainly used as high-protein feed. Described herein are methods for upgrading such biomass, such as by implementing pre-treatment conditions and by employing fermentation conditions including modified organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan Wesley Davis, Blake Simmons, Mary Bao Tran-Gyamfi, Benjamin Chiau-Pin Wu
  • Biochemical upgrading of high-protein biomass and grain products
    Patent number: 10683519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of upgrading biomass to provide useful chemical intermediates, fuels, amino acids, nutrients, etc. In particular examples, the biomass is a by-product of ethanol production and is mainly used as high-protein feed. Described herein are methods for upgrading such biomass, such as by implementing pre-treatment conditions and by employing fermentation conditions including modified organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Wesley Davis, Blake Simmons, Mary Bao Tran-Gyamfi, Benjamin Chiau-Pin Wu
  • Ionic liquid-tolerant cellulase enzymes
    Patent number: 10378000
    Abstract: The present invention provides ionic liquid-tolerant cellulases and method of producing and using such cellulases. The cellulases of the invention are useful in saccharification reactions using ionic liquid treated biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John Gladden, Joshua Park, Steven Singer, Blake Simmons, Ken Sale
  • Sugar extraction and ionic liquid recycling using alkaline solutions
    Patent number: 10358685
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining a monosaccharide from a lignocellulosic material in a form suitable for use as a carbon source in a reaction. In some embodiments, the monosaccharide is in a form suitable for use in a fermentation reaction, e.g., to produce an alcohol such as ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Ning Sun, Bradley M. Holmes, Kim Tran, Anthe George, Blake Simmons
  • RENEWABLE AROMATICS FROM LIGNOCELLULOSIC LIGNIN
    Publication number: 20190153011
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Seema Singh, Patanjali Varanasi, Blake Simmons
  • Renewable aromatics from lignocellulosic lignin
    Patent number: 10233292
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Seema Singh, Patanjali Varanasi, Blake Simmons
  • METHODS OF SYNTHESIZING IONIC LIQUIDS FROM PRIMARY ALCOHOL-CONTAINING LIGNIN COMPOUNDS
    Publication number: 20190062519
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh
  • Renewable aromatics from lignocellulosic lignin
    Patent number: 10208076
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products and polysaccharide biomass components. Recycling of ionic liquids can be included in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Seema Singh, Patanjali Varanasi, Blake Simmons
  • AMMONIUM BASED IONIC LIQUIDS USEFUL FOR LIGNOCELLULOSIC PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20180355392
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for ionic liquid processing of biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Parthasarathi Ramakrishnan, Tanmoy Dutta, Blake Simmons, Seema Singh