Patents by Inventor Cesar B. Granda
Cesar B. Granda 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).
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Patent number: 10662447Abstract: A process for producing products from biomass comprising fermenting biomass to produce a first product stream comprising carboxylic acid salts; acidifying at least one of the first product stream and a second product stream to produce a third product stream comprising acids; extracting such acids from the third product stream with a solvent; separating the extracting solvent from the acids to produce the separated extracting solvent and a fourth product stream comprising acids; and processing the fourth product stream to produce a fifth product stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Inventors: Michael Kyle Ross, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20140335586Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method comprising: converting at least a portion of the biomass into medium-chain fatty acids or carboxylic acids ranging from C4 to C9; reacting at least a portion of the medium-chain fatty acids or carboxylic acids in a ketonization reactor to produce a ketonization product; and reacting at least a portion of the ketonization product in a hydrodeoxygenation reactor to remove substantially all oxygen and produce a hydrodeoxygenation product comprising n-paraffins. Herein also disclosed is a system comprising: a fermentation unit to convert the biomass into medium-chain fatty acids or carboxylic acids ranging from C4 to C9; a ketonization reactor configured to receive at least a portion of the medium-chain fatty acids or carboxylic acids and to produce a ketonization product; and a hydrodeoxygenation reactor configured to receive at least a portion of the ketonization product and to produce a hydrodeoxygenation product comprising n-paraffins.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: EE-TERRABON BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Jubo ZHANG, Cesar B. GRANDA
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Publication number: 20140178951Abstract: A process for producing products from biomass comprising fermenting biomass to produce a first product stream comprising carboxylic acid salts; acidifying at least one of the first product stream and a second product stream to produce a third product stream comprising acids; extracting such acids from the third product stream with a solvent; separating the extracting solvent from the acids to produce the separated extracting solvent and a fourth product stream comprising acids; and processing the fourth product stream to produce a fifth product stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: EE-TERRABON BIOFUELS, LLCInventors: Michael Kyle ROSS, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20130231467Abstract: A method of solubilizing protein that includes applying an alkali to a protein source to form a slurry; heating the slurry to a temperature sufficient to allow hydrolysis of protein in the protein source to obtain a reaction liquid comprising solubilized proteins, prions, and reactive solids; separating reactive solids from the reaction liquid to produce a separated reaction liquid, wherein the reactive solids comprise unsolubilized proteins; further heating the separated reaction liquid to an elevated temperature and holding for a time period sufficient to destroy prions in the separated reaction liquid, wherein the elevated temperature is between 75° C. and 250° C. and the time period is between 1 second and 5 hours; and neutralizing the reaction liquid with acid or an acid source to produce a neutralized liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: EE-TERRABON, LLCInventors: Mark Thomas Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, Richard Davison, Cesar B. Granda
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Patent number: 8519206Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass that includes converting at least a portion of the biomass into a first product having at least one of a carboxylic acid, a ketone, an ammonium carboxylate salt, and combinations thereof; converting at least a portion of the first product into an alcohol; reacting at least some of the alcohol in an oligomerization reactor as part of a process that produces an oligomerization product.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignees: The Texas A&M University Systems, EE-Terrabon Biofuels LLCInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco, Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John A. Spencer, Rae L. Spencer
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Patent number: 8410321Abstract: A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass, the method including converting biomass into a carboxylic acid; reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester; and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. The steps of reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester, and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce an alcohol, may both be carried out in the same reactor.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: EE-Terrabon Biofuels LLCInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco, Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John A. Spencer, Rae L. Spencer
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Publication number: 20120264184Abstract: A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass, the method including converting biomass into a carboxylic acid; reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester; and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. The steps of reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester, and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce an alcohol, may both be carried out in the same reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicants: Terrabon, Inc., The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John Spencer, Rae Spencer, Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco Vasquez
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Publication number: 20120258508Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass that includes converting at least a portion of the biomass into a first product having at least one of a carboxylic acid, a ketone, an ammonium carboxylate salt, and combinations thereof; converting at least a portion of the first product into an alcohol; reacting at least some of the alcohol in an oligomerization reactor as part of a process that produces an oligomerization product.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicants: Terrabon, Inc., THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventors: Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John Spencer, Rae Spencer, Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco-Vasquez
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Patent number: 8232440Abstract: A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass by converting biomass into a carboxylic acid, reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass by converting at least a portion of the biomass into a carboxylic acid, a ketone, or an ammonium carboxylate salt, reacting at least one of a portion of the carboxylic acid, a portion of the ketone, or a portion of the ammonium carboxylate salt in an oligomerization reactor as at least part of a process that produces an oligomerization product and separating hydrocarbons from the oligomerization product.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Terrabon Mix-Alco, LLCInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco-Vasquez, Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John A. Spencer, Rae L. Spencer
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Publication number: 20120149076Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method comprising a) fermenting biomass to produce a fermentation broth; b) separating the fermentation broth into a liquid stream and a solid or slurry stream; c) passing the liquid stream through a reverse osmosis membrane to obtain a permeate and a retentate; and d) concentrating the retentate. Herein disclosed is a method comprising a) fermenting biomass in a first fermentor to produce a first fermentation broth; b) separating the first fermentation broth into a first liquid stream and a first solid or slurry stream; c) introducing the first solid or slurry stream into a second fermentor to produce a second fermentation broth, wherein the second fermentor comprises a lower fermentation products concentration than the first fermentor; d) separating the second fermentation broth into a second liquid stream and a second solid or slurry stream; and e) passing the second liquid stream through a reverse osmosis membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: TERRABON MIX-ALCO, INC.Inventor: Cesar B. Granda
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Patent number: 8137955Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for heat treatment of a biomass includes allowing biomass in a pretreatment reactor to undergo a pre-treatment reaction process. The pre-treatment reaction process yields pretreated biomass along with soluble components. A first liquid having a first temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the first temperature to a second temperature. At least a portion of the soluble components are captured in the first liquid, and the at least a portion of the soluble components in the first liquid and the first liquid are removed from the pretreatment reactor. A second liquid having a third temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the third temperature to a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being less than second temperature.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: The Texas A&M University SystemInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20110287497Abstract: A method for integrating biological conversion of mixed acids to hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon-like molecules, biofuels, and combinations thereof. The method including introducing fermentation products to at least one microorganism chosen from the group consisting of heterotrophic microorganisms, photo-mixotrophic microorganisms, chemo-autotrophic microorganisms, and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Erik Holtzapple
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Publication number: 20100248318Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of biomass conversion including fermenting biomass to produce a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt and hydrogen gas, recovering the hydrogen gas, and converting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt to an alcohol using the hydrogen gas. In one embodiment, the hydrogen produced by biomass conversion may be converted to an acetate. Another embodiment relates to a biomass conversion system. The system may include: a fermentation unit for fermentation of biomass to a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt in a fermentation broth and for production of a carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas stream, an extraction unit for extracting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt from the fermentation broth, a gas extraction unit for separation of the hydrogen gas and the carbon dioxide, and a production unit for production of an alcohol from the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt using the hydrogen gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMSInventors: Cesar B. Granda, Mark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison
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Publication number: 20100202936Abstract: A process for solubilization of protein including application of an alkali, such as lime, and heating. The process may also involve lime recovery and may be accomplished in a single stage or two stages to separate protein solubilized from labile and recalcitrant sources. Systems and devices for use in such process, including a continuous stirred tank reactor and a plug flow reactor are also involved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicants: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, TERRABON TECHNOLOGY CORP.Inventors: Mark Thomas Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, Richard Davison, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20100185021Abstract: A method of producing alcohols, hydrocarbons, or both from biomass by converting biomass into a carboxylic acid, reacting the carboxylic acid with an olefin to produce an ester and hydrogenolyzing the ester to produce alcohol. A method of producing hydrocarbons from biomass by converting at least a portion of the biomass into a carboxylic acid, a ketone, or an ammonium carboxylate salt, reacting at least one of a portion of the carboxylic acid, a portion of the ketone, or a portion of the ammonium carboxylate salt in an oligomerization reactor as at least part of a process that produces an oligomerization product and separating hydrocarbons from the oligomerization product.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2009Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventors: Michael Kyle Ross, Gary Luce, John Spencer, Rae Spencer, Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda, Sebastian Taco Vasquez
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Publication number: 20100152485Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method converting biomass into useful chemicals are provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes fermenting biomass in one or more fermentors to produce a fermentation broth comprising ammonium carboxylate salts, the fermentors containing an ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate buffer. The method further includes reacting the ammonium carboxylate salts from the fermentors with a high-molecular-weight amine to produce amine carboxylate salt, and thermally cracking the amine carboxylate salt to produce carboxylic acid. In another embodiment, the ammonium carboxylate salts from the fermentors may be reacted with a low-molecular-weight amine to produce a low-molecular-weight-amine carboxylate salt.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison, Cesar B. Granda, Frank K. Agbogbo, Zhihong Fu
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Patent number: 7705116Abstract: A process for solubilization of protein including application of an alkali, such as lime, and heating. The process may also involve lime recovery and may be accomplished in a single stage or two stages to separate protein solubilized from labile and recalcitrant sources. Systems and devices for use in such process, including a continuous stirred tank reactor and a plug flow reactor are also involved.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignees: Texas A&M University System, Terrabon Technology Corp.Inventors: Mark Thomas Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, Richard Davison, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20090114591Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for heat treatment of a biomass includes allowing biomass in a pretreatment reactor to undergo a pre-treatment reaction process. The pre-treatment reaction process yields pretreated biomass along with soluble components. A first liquid having a first temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the first temperature to a second temperature. At least a port of the soluble components are captured in the first liquid, and the at least a portion of the soluble components in the first liquid and the first liquid are removed from the pretreatment reactor. A second liquid having a third temperature is transported into the pretreatment reactor and the pretreated biomass elevates the third temperature to a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being less than second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: The Texas A & M University SystemInventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Cesar B. Granda
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Publication number: 20080176301Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of biomass conversion including fermenting biomass to produce a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt and hydrogen gas, recovering the hydrogen gas, and converting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt to an alcohol using the hydrogen gas. In one embodiment, the hydrogen produced by biomass conversion may be converted to an acetate. Another embodiment relates to a biomass conversion system. The system may include: a fermentation unit for fermentation of biomass to a carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt in a fermentation broth and for production of a carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas stream, an extraction unit for extracting the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt from the fermentation broth, a gas extraction unit for separation of the hydrogen gas and the carbon dioxide, and a production unit for production of an alcohol from the carboxylic acid or carboxylate salt using the hydrogen gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Cesar B Granda, Mark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison