Patents by Inventor Bruce A. Ramsay

Bruce A. Ramsay 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: 8273852
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing medium chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (MCL-PHA) with a selected ratio of monomers. A method of controlling the ratio of monomers in MCL-PHA is also provided which includes fermenting naturally occurring microorganisms with a fatty acid substrate, a food source and an additive. The methods provided do not sacrifice cell growth and maintenance and provide high yields of MCL-PHAs. MCL-PHAs are provided that are copolymers of Cn and Cn?2 monomers, where (n is 6-18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Queen's University at Kingston
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Zhiyong Sun, Juliana Ramsay, Bruce A. Ramsay
  • Publication number: 20110166318
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing medium chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (MCL-PHA) with a selected ratio of monomers. A method of controlling the ratio of monomers in MCL-PHA is also provided which includes fermenting naturally occurring microorganisms with a fatty acid substrate, a food source and an additive. The methods provided do not sacrifice cell growth and maintenance and provide high yields of MCL-PHAs. MCL-PHAs are provided that are copolymers of Cn and Cn-2 monomers, where (n is 6-18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Zhiyong Sun, Juliana Ramsay, Bruce A. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 6844380
    Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a thermoplastic starch and synthetic polymer blend, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starch suspension comprising starch, water and a plasticizer, preferably glycerol; (b) obtaining a thermoplastic starch from the starch suspension by causing gelatinization and plasticization of said starch suspension by exerting heat and pressure on said starch suspension in a first extrusion unit; (c) evaporating and venting off residual water from said thermoplastic starch to obtain a substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch; (d) obtaining a melt of a synthetic polymer or polymer blend in a second extrusion unit; and (e) combining the melt obtained from step (d) with the substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch. Also provided are compositions of matter comprising immiscible blends of thermoplastic starches, polymers, and compatibilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Polyvalor, Societe en Commandite
    Inventors: Basil D. Favis, Francisco Rodriguez, Bruce A. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 6605657
    Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a thermoplastic starch and synthetic polymer blend, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starch suspension comprising starch, water and a plasticizer, preferably glycerol; (b) obtaining a thermoplastic starch from the starch suspension by causing gelatinization and plasticization of said starch suspension by exerting heat and pressure on said starch suspension in a first extrusion unit; (c) evaporating and venting off residual water from said thermoplastic starch to obtain a substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch; (d) obtaining a melt of a synthetic polymer or polymer blend in a second extrusion unit; and (e) combining the melt obtained from step (d) with the substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch. Also provided are compositions of matter comprising immiscible blends of thermoplastic starches, polymers, and compatibilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Polyvalor Societe en Commandite
    Inventors: Basil D. Favis, Francisco Rodriguez, Bruce A. Ramsay
  • Publication number: 20030119949
    Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a thermoplastic starch and synthetic polymer blend, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starch suspension comprising starch, water and a plasticizer, preferably glycerol; (b) obtaining a thermoplastic starch from the starch suspension by causing gelatinization and plasticization of said starch suspension by exerting heat and pressure on said starch suspension in a first extrusion unit; (c) evaporating and venting off residual water from said thermoplastic starch to obtain a substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch; (d) obtaining a melt of a synthetic polymer or polymer blend in a second extrusion unit; and (e) combining the melt obtained from step (d) with the substantially moisture-free thermoplastic starch. Also provided are compositions of matter comprising immiscible blends of thermoplastic starches, polymers, and compatibilizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Basil D. Favis, Francisco Rodriguez, Bruce A. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 5110980
    Abstract: Hypochlorite digestion of bacterial biomass to recover intracellular poly-.beta.-hydroxylalkanoic acid (PHA) has not been used on a large scale since it has been widely reported to severely degrade the polymer. The process of the invention proposes to optimize the initial biomass concentration, the digestion time and pH of the hypochlorite solution to minimize degradation. Consequently, PHA of up to 95% purity with an average molecular weight of 600,000 can be recovered from biomass initially containing PHA having a molecular weight of 1,200,000. By incorporating a pretreatment step with an anionic surfactant solution, PHA of 99% purity with a molecular weight of 1.20.times.10.sup.6 was obtained from biomass containing 57% PHA by weight with an initial molecular weight of 1.25.times.10.sup.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique
    Inventors: Bruce A. Ramsay, Juliana Ramsay, Eric Berger, Claude Chavarie, Gerhart Braunegg