Patents by Inventor Eric Enqvist

Eric Enqvist 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).

  • Publication number: 20220127295
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a purified lignin salt from alkaline spent liquor from the chemical cooking of lignocellulosic raw materials. The method comprises the steps of decreasing the spent liquor pH to form a lignin precipitate suspension; filtering the lignin precipitate to form a lignin filter cake and a filtrate; mixing the lignin filter cake into a dilution liquid to form an alkalilignin agglomerate colloid; subjecting the alkalilignin agglomerate colloid to large-pore membrane filtration; and recovering a purified lignin salt concentrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Enqvist, Ville Tarvo, Panu Tikka
  • Patent number: 10239904
    Abstract: Lignin-rich starting material is suspended in a first medium, which is acidic and aqueous, to form a aqueous acidic suspension, which is heated and allowed to form two continuous phases, a thermoplastic lignin phase and an aqueous phase. The thermoplastic lignin phase is separated from the aqueous phase and passed through a shape giving process into a second medium which is at a temperature lower than that of the thermoplastic lignin phase and in which the thermoplastic lignin phase is essentially insoluble. Solid lignin formed in the second medium is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventors: Eric Enqvist, Ville Tarvo, Panu Tikka, Tobias Wittmann, Henrik Wallmo, Anders Littorin
  • Publication number: 20170101430
    Abstract: Lignin-rich starting material is suspended in a first medium, which is acidic and aqueous, to form a aqueous acidic suspension, which is heated and allowed to form two continuous phases, a thermoplastic lignin phase and an aqueous phase. The thermoplastic lignin phase is separated from the aqueous phase and passed through a shape giving process into a second medium which is at a temperature lower than that of the thermoplastic lignin phase and in which the thermoplastic lignin phase is essentially insoluble. Solid lignin formed in the second medium is recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Eric Enqvist, Ville Tarvo, Panu Tikka, Tobias Wittmann, Henrik Wallmo, Anders Littorin
  • Patent number: 9200406
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process to break down lignin macromolecules and liberating cellulose fibers in lignocellulosic material using delignifying reactants with a gaseous organic agent as a heating and reaction-accelerating media. Lignocellulosic material is first impregnated with reactant chemicals, e.g. commonly used agents such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Subsequently, the energy required for the delignification reactions is provided through heating with a gaseous organic agent such as methanol or ethanol, condensing and releasing energy to the solid lignocellulosic material. The temperature during the heating step with a gaseous organic agent is higher than the temperature during the impregnation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Valmet Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Enqvist, Panu Tikka, Leopold Heinrich, Matti Luhtanen
  • Publication number: 20090014138
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process to break down lignin macromolecules and liberating cellulose fibers in lignocellulosic material using delignifying reactants with a gaseous organic agent as a heating and reaction-accelerating media. Lignocellulosic material is first impregnated with reactant chemicals, e.g. commonly used agents such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. Subsequently, the energy required for the delignification reactions is provided through heating with a gaseous organic agent such as methanol or ethanol, condensing and releasing energy to the solid lignocellulosic material. The temperature during the heating step with a gaseous organic agent is higher than the temperature during the impregnation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Enqvist, Panu Tikka, Leopold Heinrich, Matti Luhtanen