Patents by Inventor Francesco Cherchi

Francesco Cherchi 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: 20170369919
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco COTTI COMETTINI, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Alberto Riva, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Mirko Garbero
  • Patent number: 9752169
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cotti Comettini, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Alberto Riva, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Mirko Garbero
  • Publication number: 20170107664
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Dario GIORDANO, Francesco Cherchi
  • Publication number: 20170073718
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco COTTI COMETTINI, Paolo TORRE, Francesco CHERCHI, Alberto RIVA, Simone FERRERO, Piero OTTONELLO, Mirko GARBERO
  • Patent number: 9528164
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Torre, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Liliane Tonet Rensi, Francesco Cherchi, Dario Giordano
  • Patent number: 9506098
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cotti Comettini, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Alberto Riva, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Mirko Garbero
  • Patent number: 9376693
    Abstract: This invention is to a biomass composition of 5 and 6 carbon sugars, lignin, and cellulose which has been steam exploded and the composition has a very high enzyme accessibility at 24 hours for hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero
  • Publication number: 20160115320
    Abstract: The process for the treatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of: A) Soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock in vapor or liquid water or mixture thereof in the temperature range of 100 to 210° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours to create a soaked biomass containing a dry content and a first liquid; B) Separating at least a portion of the first liquid from the soaked biomass to create a first liquid stream and a first solid stream; wherein the first solid stream comprises the soaked biomass; and C) Steam exploding the first solid stream to create a steam exploded stream comprising solids and a second liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mirko GARBERO, Piero OTTONELLO, Marco COTTI COMETTINI, Simone FERRERO, Paolo TORRE, Francesco CHERCHI, Andrea BONANNI
  • Patent number: 9296830
    Abstract: This specification discloses an improved method for conducting the removal of C5 xylan based sugars from biomass. The improved method involves a series of soakings and washings of the biomass as opposed to conducting one soaking and washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Danilo Defaveri, Luis Oriani
  • Publication number: 20160076067
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco COTTI COMETTINI, Paolo TORRE, Francesco CHERCHI, Alberto RIVA, Simone FERRERO, Piero OTTONELLO, Mirko GARBERO
  • Patent number: 9234224
    Abstract: The process for the treatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of: A) Soaking a ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstock in vapor or liquid water or mixture thereof in the temperature range of 100 to 210° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours to create a soaked biomass containing a dry content and a first liquid; B) Separating at least a portion of the first liquid from the soaked biomass to create a first liquid stream and a first solid stream; wherein the first solid stream comprises the soaked biomass; and C) Steam exploding the first solid stream to create a steam exploded stream comprising solids and a second liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mirko Garbero, Piero Ottonello, Marco Cotti Comettini, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Andrea Bonanni
  • Patent number: 9200302
    Abstract: The process for the hydrolysis of ligno-cellulosic biomass comprises the steps of A) Contacting a ligno-cellulosic feedstock, the feedstock comprised of biomass having a dry content and water with at least a portion of a solvent, the solvent comprised of water soluble hydrolyzed species; wherein at least some of the water soluble hydrolyzed species are the same as the water soluble hydrolyzed species obtainable from the hydrolysis of the biomass in the feedstock; B) maintaining the contact between the feedstock of the feedstock stream and the solvent at a temperature in the range of 20° C. to 200° C. for a time in the range of 5 minutes to 72 hours to create a hydrolyzed product from the biomass in the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Cotti Comettini, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Alberto Riva, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Mirko Garbero
  • Patent number: 9102856
    Abstract: An improved method of conducting the pre-soaking step involving pre-soaking the ligno-cellulosic biomass in a liquid (water) at a temperature in the range of between 100° C. to 150° C. prior to soaking at higher temperatures. This material can then be soaked and soaked liquid filtered by nano-filtration. When nano-filtration is used, the pre-soak temperature can be in the range of 10° C. to 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cherchi, Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Danilo De Faveri, Beatriz Rivas Torres, Liliane Tonte Rensi, Daniele Riva, Federica Bosio
  • Publication number: 20150175984
    Abstract: A process produces at least a first enzyme from a host cell, wherein the first enzyme is capable of hydrolyzing a first pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass. The process comprises the step of cultivating the host cell to produce at least the first enzyme for a cultivation time, wherein the cultivation of the host cell occurs in a sugar depleted cultivation environment comprising the host cell, water and a solid composition comprising a complex sugar of the solid composition and a lignin of the solid composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A
    Inventors: Stefano Paravisi, Laura Volpati, Chiara Giorcelli, Elisa Raccagni, Piero Ottonello, Francesco Cherchi
  • Publication number: 20150136120
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Paolo Torre, Simone Ferrero, Piero Ottonello, Liliane Tonet Rensi, Francesco Cherchi, Dario Giordano
  • Publication number: 20140363856
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Beta Renewables S.p.A.
    Inventors: Edwin Andrew Sisson, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Piero Ottonello, Francesco Cherchi, Giuseppe Grassano, Luis Oriani, Dario Giordano
  • Publication number: 20140339467
    Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a lignin composition having unique characteristics relative to its characteristics as found in its natural environment. The lignin has been modified so that more lignin decomposes at the lower lignin decomposition temperature than decomposes at the higher lignin decomposition temperature and the lignin composition has a very high surface area relative to naturally occurring lignin compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Guliz Arf Elliott, Danilo De Faveri, Francesco Cherchi, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre
  • Patent number: 8771426
    Abstract: The process is for pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock and comprises: soaking a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock wherein the soaked biomass is present as a mixture with a free liquid and wherein the free liquid comprises at least one dissolved compound selected from the group consisting of glucose, xylose and respective oligomers thereof, washing the mixture of the soaked biomass and the free liquid, wherein at least a portion of the free liquid containing at least one dissolved compound selected from the group consisting of glucose, xylose and respective oligomers thereof is separated from the soaked biomass to create a soaked washed biomass and at least one free liquid stream, compressing the soaked biomass to create a released liquid, separating the released liquid from the soaked biomass, and keeping at least a portion of the released liquid separate from any free liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Danilo Defaveri
  • Publication number: 20130313472
    Abstract: This invention is to a biomass composition of 5 and 6 carbon sugars, lignin, and cellulose which has been steam exploded and the composition has a very high enzyme accessibility at 24 hours for hydrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: BETA RENEWABLES, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Torre, Francesco Cherchi, Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero
  • Publication number: 20130168602
    Abstract: An improved method of conducting the pre-soaking step involving pre-soaking the ligno-cellulosic biomass in a liquid (water) at a temperature in the range of between 100° C. to 150° C. prior to soaking at higher temperatures. This material can then be soaked and soaked liquid filtered by nano-filtration. When nano-filtration is used, the pre-soak temperature can be in the range of 10° C. to 150° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cherchi, Piero Ottonello, Simone Ferrero, Paolo Torre, Danilo De Faveri, Beatriz Rivas Torres, Liliane Tonte Rensi, Daniele Riva, Federica Bosio