Patents by Inventor Dario Giordano
Dario Giordano 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: 11174498Abstract: It is disclosed a process for producing a bio-product from a ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the ligno-cellulosic biomass, a gas and steam are introduced in a pressurized reactor operated in a continuous manner at conditions to have a vapor head space. In the pressurized reactor, the vapor head space is maintained at a vapor head space temperature and at a pressure which is at least 1 bar greater than a pure steam equilibrium pressure at the vapor head space temperature. The ligno-cellulosic biomass is then refined by rapidly releasing the pressure while discharging the ligno-cellulosic biomass from the pressurized reactor assembly to create a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, which is then hydrolyzed and converted to the bio-product. Preferably, at least a portion of the gas is air entrapped in the ligno-cellulosic biomass and it is introduced into the pressurized reactor as part of the ligno-cellulosic biomass.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Versalis S.p.AInventors: Daniele Riva, Dario Giordano
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Patent number: 10718070Abstract: It is disclosed a process for increasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Versalis S.p.A.Inventors: Piero Ottonello, Paolo Torre, Stefano Paravisi, Chiara Prefumo, Pietro Pastorino, Dario Giordano
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Patent number: 10590053Abstract: It is disclosed a process to produce a bio-product starting from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, comprising a pre-hydrolysis step of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock in one or more pre-hydrolysis vessels to produce a liquid pre-hydrolyzate comprising water and water soluble hemicellulose, followed by a multi-step hydrolysis of the water soluble hemicellulose. The hydrolysis steps are conducted in separated vessel. The liquid pre-hydrolyzate is subjected to a partial hydrolysis step in a first hydrolysis vessel, to produce a first hydrolyzate. A portion of the first hydrolyzate, comprising remnant water soluble hemicellulose, is recirculated in at least one pre-hydrolysis vessel and subjected to a second hydrolysis step. Another portion of the first hydrolyzate comprising monomeric sugars is removed and converted to the bio-product, preferably after a refining hydrolysis step. The process also produces a hemicellulose-depleted feedstock which is preferably treated to produce a cellulosic pulp.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: VALMET AKTIEBOLAGInventors: Patrizia Ferrando, Marco Bernardi, Dario Giordano, Lari Lammi, Mats Nordgren
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Publication number: 20190194832Abstract: It is disclosed a process for increasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Versalis S.p.A.Inventors: Piero OTTONELLO, Paolo TORRE, Stefano PARAVISI, Chiara PREFUMO, Pietro PASTORINO, Dario GIORDANO
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Publication number: 20190136279Abstract: It is disclosed a process for producing a bio-product from a ligno-cellulosic biomass, wherein the ligno-cellulosic biomass, a gas and steam are introduced in a pressurized reactor operated in a continuous manner at conditions to have a vapor head space. In the pressurized reactor, the vapor head space is maintained at a vapor head space temperature and at a pressure which is at least 1 bar greater than a pure steam equilibrium pressure at the vapor head space temperature. The ligno-cellulosic biomass is then refined by rapidly releasing the pressure while discharging the ligno-cellulosic biomass from the pressurized reactor assembly to create a pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass, which is then hydrolyzed and converted to the bio-product. Preferably, at least a portion of the gas is air entrapped in the ligno-cellulosic biomass and it is introduced into the pressurized reactor as part of the ligno-cellulosic biomass.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.Inventors: Daniele RIVA, Dario GIORDANO
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Patent number: 10233570Abstract: It is disclosed a process for increasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Versalis S.p.A.Inventors: Piero Ottonello, Paolo Torre, Stefano Paravisi, Chiara Prefumo, Pietro Pastorino, Dario Giordano
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Publication number: 20180362423Abstract: It is disclosed a process to produce a bio-product starting from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, comprising a pre-hydrolysis step of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock in one or more pre-hydrolysis vessels to produce a liquid pre-hydrolyzate comprising water and water soluble hemicellulose, followed by a multi-step hydrolysis of the water soluble hemicellulose. The hydrolysis steps are conducted in separated vessel. The liquid pre-hydrolyzate is subjected to a partial hydrolysis step in a first hydrolysis vessel, to produce a first hydrolyzate. A portion of the first hydrolyzate, comprising remnant water soluble hemicellulose, is recirculated in at least one pre-hydrolysis vessel and subjected to a second hydrolysis step. Another portion of the first hydrolyzate comprising monomeric sugars is removed and converted to the bio-product, preferably after a refining hydrolysis step. The process also produces a hemicellulose-depleted feedstock which is preferably treated to produce a cellulosic pulp.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2016Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicant: VALMET AKTIEBOLAGInventors: Patrizia FERRANDO, Marco BERNARDI, Dario GIORDANO, Lari LAMMI, Mats NORDGREN
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Publication number: 20170107664Abstract: It is disclosed a continuous process for pre-treating a ligno-cellulosic feedstock. The ligno-cellulosic feedstock is introduced in a pressurized reactor vessel and subjected to a hydrothermal treatment with steam by inserting steam from at least a two steam streams having different temperatures. The ligno-cellulosic feedstock is then subjected to steam explosion. Preferably, at least a portion of the steam in the reactor is superheated steam and the superheated steam is located in a superheated zone which is in proximity of the outlet of the pressurized reactor vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.Inventors: Dario GIORDANO, Francesco Cherchi
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Publication number: 20170058078Abstract: The present specification discloses a composition comprising a plurality of diols which is useful for the production of polyester bottles, wherein the diols are mainly obtained from the conversion of a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock stream. The composition comprises ethylene glycol and at least one diol selected from the group of diols having a formula of CH(OH)2, wherein n is the total number of carbons and is an integer in the range from 3 to 20, z is an integer in the range from 0 to 2n, and C1 and C2 are each attached to one of the OH groups of the formula (e.g. 1,2-Propylene glycol, 1,2-Butanediol and 1,2-Pentanediol) and wherein the composition is substantially free of diols which absorb light at a wavelength of 275 nm, so that the percent light transmission of the composition at a wavelength of 275 nm is greater than 40%.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.Inventors: Beatriz RIVAS TORRES, Dario GIORDANO, Guido GHISOLFI, Marco BERNARDI, Daniela TODARO, Irene BOZZANO, Tommaso CRIPPA
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Patent number: 9533927Abstract: A process for producing polyols from a low viscosity slurry comprising a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass which has been subjected to a fiber shives reduction step is provided. Specifically, a continuous process for catalyzing the formation of polyol products, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, from the low viscosity slurry is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Biochemtex S.p.A.Inventors: Piero Ottonello, Paolo Torre, Dario Giordano, Stefano Paravisi, Chiara Prefumo, Pietro Pastorino
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Patent number: 9528164Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for the improved hydrolysis of glucans to glucose wherein a portion of the glucose is removed from the process to improve the yield of glucose.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Beta Renewables S.p.A.Inventors: Paolo Torre, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Liliane Tonet Rensi, Francesco Cherchi, Dario Giordano
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Publication number: 20160362353Abstract: It is disclosed an integrated process for producing at least a cellulosic pulp comprising cellulose in the form of fibers and a polyols stream from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The process comprises the steps of: a) Treating the ligno-cellulosic feedstock to produce the cellulosic pulp and at least a liquid sugar stream comprising water and monomeric sugars derived from the hemicellulose of the ligno-cellulosic feedstock; b) Catalytically converting the monomeric sugars of the liquid sugar stream to a polyols mixture, comprising primary polyols and secondary polyols; c) Separating at least a portion of the polyols mixture into at least the polyols stream and a residual stream, wherein the polyols stream comprises the majority by weight of the primary polyols and the residual stream comprises the majority by weight of the secondary polyols; d) Recovering a first thermal energy from the residual stream in a first recovery unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.Inventors: Marco BERNARDI, Patrizia FERRANDO, Srinivasan RAGHAVENDRAN, Andrea BONANNI, Alessandra FRATTINI, Dario GIORDANO
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Publication number: 20160264499Abstract: A process for producing polyols from a low viscosity slurry comprising a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass which has been subjected to a fiber shives reduction step is provided. Specifically, a continuous process for catalyzing the formation of polyol products, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, from the low viscosity slurry is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: September 15, 2016Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.Inventors: Piero OTTONELLO, Paolo TORRE, Dario GIORDANO, Stefano PARAVISI, Chiara PREFUMO, Pietro PASTORINO
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Publication number: 20160244894Abstract: It is disclosed a process for increasing the enzymatic accessibility of a thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock which has been thermally treated at a severity factor. The process comprises a step of fiber shives reduction, for reducing the amount of long shives. The thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass after fiber shives reduction is characterized by having an increased glucans accessibility and by forming a slurry having a low viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.Inventors: Piero OTTONELLO, Paolo TORRE, Stefano PARAVISI, Chiara PREFUMO, Pietro PASTORINO, Dario GIORDANO
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Publication number: 20150136120Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for the improved hydrolysis of glucans to glucose wherein a portion of the glucose is removed from the process to improve the yield of glucose.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Paolo Torre, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Liliane Tonet Rensi, Francesco Cherchi, Dario Giordano
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Publication number: 20140363856Abstract: An improved pre-hydrolysis step involving exposing water insoluble pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, with and without enzymes is disclosed. After exposing the water insoluble pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted on the pre-treated material. The result is an increased yield of glucose and often xylose after the enzymatic hydrolysis when compared to a composition which has not been exposed to vacuum conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.Inventors: Edwin Andrew Sisson, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Piero Ottonello, Francesco Cherchi, Giuseppe Grassano, Luis Oriani, Dario Giordano
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Patent number: 5859180Abstract: Process for the solid state polycondensation of polyamide resins by the use in the polycondensation reactor of a quantity of an inert gas such that the ratio by weight between the solid capacity/h at the reactor outlet and that one of gas fed into the reactor is lower than 0.5.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Sinco Engineering S.p.A.Inventors: Dario Giordano, Riccardo Bianchi
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Patent number: 5817747Abstract: Cooling process for polyester and/or polyamide resins downstream of solid-state polycondensation plants in which the cooling is carried out by passing the solid material through two types of equipment in series, of which one is a fluid-bed, the other is a solid/wall cooling equipment. The fluid bed equipment is fed with a stream of inert-gas coming from the solid-state polycondensation reactor, previously subjected to by-products purification, drying and cooling.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Sinco Engineering S.p.A.Inventors: Dario Giordano, Giuseppina Boveri
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Patent number: 5739269Abstract: Process for the production of aromatic polyester resins by polycondensation in the solid state of resins with intrinsic viscosity comprised between 0.1 and 0.45 dl/g, in which the ratio by weight between the hourly flow speed of the inert gas fed to the reactor and the hourly flow speed of the fed polymer is comprised between 0.1 and 0.6.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1997Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Sinco Engineering, S.p.A.Inventors: Hussain Al Ghatta, Dario Giordano
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Patent number: 5714571Abstract: Aromatic polyester resins are continuously crystallized in a fluid bed crystallizer, where the fluidizing gas (nitrogen) enters at a temperature not lower than 195.degree. C. and the average residence time is higher than 5 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1995Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Sinco Engineering S.p.A.Inventors: Hussain Ali Kashif Al Ghatta, Dario Giordano