Patents by Inventor Brian Foody

Brian Foody 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: 9574212
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a process for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process describes soaking a lignocellulosic feedstock in an aqueous solution to produce a soaked feedstock. The soaked feedstock is at least partially dewatered and the at least partially dewatered feedstock is subjected to pretreating in the presence of sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. The pretreated feedstock composition is fed to an enzymatic hydrolysis in which the concentration of dissolved solids fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis is at least 50% (w/w) of the concentration of dissolved solids in the pretreated feedstock composition. The cellulose in the pretreated feedstock composition is hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes in the presence of the dissolved solids to produce glucose. The glucose is fermented to produce the fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Jeffrey S. Tolan, Daniel MacDonald, Patrick J. Foody
  • Publication number: 20160312249
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process comprises soaking a lignocellulosic feedstock in an aqueous solution to produce a soaked feedstock. The soaked feedstock is at least partially dewatered and the at least partially dewatered feedstock is subjected to pretreating in the presence of sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid or a combination thereof to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. The pretreated feedstock composition is fed to an enzymatic hydrolysis in which the concentration of dissolved solids fed to the enzymatic hydrolysis is at least 50% (w/w) of the concentration of dissolved solids in the pretreated feedstock composition. The cellulose in the pretreated feedstock composition is hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes in the presence of the dissolved solids to produce glucose. The glucose is fermented to produce the fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Jeffrey S. Tolan, Daniel MacDonald, Patrick J. Foody
  • Publication number: 20150344378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating steam and recovering salts during a lignocellulosic conversion process. The process comprises de-salting a still bottoms stream; incinerating a stream comprising lignin and the de-salted still bottoms stream in an incinerator; and utilizing the heat generated from said incinerating to produce steam. Further provided is a process that comprises feeding a concentrated still bottoms stream to a crystallizer and forming insoluble solids therein comprising salts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for recovering salts from a lignocellulosic conversion process, which process comprises the addition of solvent to a still bottoms stream to precipitate salts therefrom. Also provided is a still bottoms composition, a fertilizer product and a composition for incineration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Griffin, Ziyad Rahme, Patricia Dawn MacLean, Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 9108894
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for forming a biogenic carbon-based fuel or a fuel intermediate from biogenic carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The hydrogen is sourced from a process that produces hydrogen and fossil carbon dioxide from a fossil-fuel hydrocarbon and separates the fossil carbon dioxide from the hydrogen. The process may further comprise carrying out or arranging for one or more parties to carry out at least one step that contributes to a reduction in the GHG emissions of the biogenic carbon-based fuel, or a fuel made from the fuel intermediate, of at least 20% relative to a gasoline baseline. In various embodiments this includes (a) introducing the fossil carbon dioxide underground, and/or (b) using a biogenic carbon-based product selected from a chemical and energy product produced from the non-fossil organic material to displace the use or production of a corresponding fossil-based product. Methods of using the present invention to enable fuel credit generation are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J Foody, Brian Foody
  • Publication number: 20150225233
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewable hydrogen can be added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the hydrocarbons. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 9102951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating steam and recovering salts during a lignocellulosic conversion process. The process comprises de-salting a still bottoms stream; incinerating a stream comprising lignin and the de-salted still bottoms stream in an incinerator; and utilizing the heat generated from said incinerating to produce steam. Further provided is a process that comprises feeding a concentrated still bottoms stream to a crystallizer and forming insoluble solids therein comprising salts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for recovering salts from a lignocellulosic conversion process, which process comprises the addition of solvent to a still bottoms stream to precipitate salts therefrom. Also provided is a still bottoms composition, a fertilizer product and a composition for incineration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Griffin, Ziyad Rahme, Patricia Dawn MacLean, Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 9040271
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: IOGEN Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 8987509
    Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream containing same comprising the steps of: (a) evaporating the aqueous stream to produce a vapour stream comprising the volatile carboxylic acid that has been vapourized and water vapour, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate; (b) contacting the vapour stream with an organic solvent so as to extract the volatile carboxylic acid present in the vapour stream, thereby producing a liquid stream comprising the organic solvent and the volatile carboxylic acid, and a water vapour stream, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C. and is insoluble in water; and (c) separating the volatile carboxylic acid from the organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tolan, Brian Foody, Vijay Anand, Daphne Wahnon
  • Patent number: 8981146
    Abstract: A process for recovering a volatile carboxylic acid from an aqueous stream comprising same, the process comprising the steps of: (i) steam stripping the carboxylic acid from the aqueous stream, which aqueous stream is produced by a conversion process using a lignocellulosic feedstock as a substrate, the steam stripping comprising contacting the aqueous stream with steam by flowing the aqueous stream and the steam countercurrent to one another, thereby producing a vapor stream comprising vaporized carboxylic acid and steam and a stripped aqueous stream; (ii) extracting the vaporized carboxylic acid with an organic solvent by contacting the vapor stream with the organic solvent to produce (a) a stream comprising the organic solvent and the carboxylic acid and (b) the steam at least substantially depleted of the carboxylic acid, wherein the organic solvent has an atmospheric boiling point of at least about 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tolan, Brian Foody, Vijay Anand
  • Patent number: 8980599
    Abstract: A process for the production of glucose from a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises enzymatically hydrolyzing the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock with cellulase enzymes to produce a hydrolyzate slurry comprising glucose and unhydrolyzed cellulose and fermenting the hydrolyzate slurry in a fermentation reaction to produce a fermentation broth comprising alcohol. A process stream is obtained comprising unhydrolyzed cellulose, which is then subjected to a denaturing step, preferably comprising exposing the unhydrolyzed cellulose to elevated temperatures, thereby producing a heat-treated stream comprising the unhydrolyzed cellulose. The heat-treated stream comprising unhydrolyzed cellulose is then further hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes to hydrolyze the cellulose to glucose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tolan, Brian Foody, Stephen Rowland
  • Patent number: 8945373
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 8911979
    Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Jeffrey S. Tolan, Ziyad Rahme, Vijay Anand
  • Publication number: 20140248676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating steam and recovering salts during a lignocellulosic conversion process. The process comprises de-salting a still bottoms stream; incinerating a stream comprising lignin and the de-salted still bottoms stream in an incinerator; and utilizing the heat generated from said incinerating to produce steam. Further provided is a process that comprises feeding a concentrated still bottoms stream to a crystallizer and forming insoluble solids therein comprising salts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for recovering salts from a lignocellulosic conversion process, which process comprises the addition of solvent to a still bottoms stream to precipitate salts therefrom. Also provided is a still bottoms composition, a fertilizer product and a composition for incineration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Griffin, Ziyad Rahme, Patricia Dawn MacLean, Brian Foody
  • Publication number: 20140242659
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Iogen Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Patent number: 8753854
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewable hydrogen can be added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the hydrocarbons. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Foody
  • Publication number: 20140134678
    Abstract: A process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to produce a hydrolysis product from a pre-treated cellulosic feedstock is provided. The process comprises introducing an aqueous slurry of the pre-treated cellulosic feedstock at the bottom of a hydrolysis reactor. Axial dispersion in the reactor is limited by avoiding mixing and maintaining an average slurry flow velocity of about 0.1 to about 20 feet per hour, such that the undissolved solids flow upward at a rate slower than that of the liquid. Cellulase enzymes are added to the aqueous slurry before or during the step of introducing. An aqueous stream comprising hydrolysis product and unhydrolyzed solids is removed from the hydrolysis reactor. Also provided are enzyme compositions which comprise cellulase enzymes and flocculents for use in the process. In addition, a kit comprising cellulase enzymes and flocculent is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Ziyad Rahme, Jeffrey S. Tolan
  • Patent number: 8658026
    Abstract: According to the present invention, organic material is converted to a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons under conditions to hydrogenate the hydrocarbons with the renewable hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Patrick J. Foody
  • Publication number: 20130011886
    Abstract: The present invention comprises pretreating a lignocellulosic feedstock with acid at a pH between about 2.0 and about 3.5 to produce a composition comprising an acid pretreated feedstock. The acid pretreated feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed with cellulases and ?-glucosidase. The glucose is fermented by microorganisms to produce a fermentation broth comprising the fermentation product, followed by recovery of the fermentation product. The steps of enzymatically hydrolyzing and fermenting are conducted at a pH below about 4.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tolan, Brian Foody
  • Publication number: 20120329096
    Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Jeffrey S. Tolan, Ziyad Rahme, Vijay Anand
  • Patent number: 8298796
    Abstract: A method for producing glucose from a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock with acid to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. A calcium-containing stream is provided that comprises calcium that is obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock and a calcium carbonate-containing stream is obtained by precipitation of the calcium from the calcium-containing stream. The pH of the pretreated feedstock is adjusted with (a) the calcium carbonate-containing stream; (b) a calcium hydroxide-containing stream that is derived from said calcium carbonate-containing stream by subjecting said calcium carbonate-containing stream to calcination; or (c) a combination of the calcium carbonate-containing stream and the calcium hydroxide-containing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Tolan, Brian Foody