Patents by Inventor Ching-Whan Ko

Ching-Whan Ko 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).

  • Microbial process for the preparation of acetic acid as well as solvent for its extraction from the fermentation broth
    Patent number: 6368819
    Abstract: A modified water-immiscible solvent useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous streams is a substantially pure mixture of isomers of highly branched di-alkyl amines. This solvent is substantially devoid of mono-alkyl amines and alcohols. Solvent mixtures formed of such a modified solvent with a desired cosolvent, preferably a low boiling hydrocarbon which forms an azeotrope with water are useful in the extraction of acetic acid from aqueous gaseous streams. An anaerobic microbial fermentation process for the production of acetic acid employs such solvents, under conditions which limit amide formation by the solvent and thus increase the efficiency of acetic acid recovery. Methods for the direct extraction of acetic acid and the extractive fermentation of acetic acid also employ the modified solvents and increase efficiency of acetic acid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignees: Bioengineering Resources, Inc., Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Edgar C. Clausen, Ching-Whan Ko, Leslie E. Wade, Carl V. Wikstrom