Patents by Inventor G. Peter van Walsum

G. Peter van Walsum 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).

  • Removal of Contaminants from Liquid-Liquid Extraction Solvent
    Publication number: 20130211138
    Abstract: A method of treating a solvent in a wood processing operation is described. A first organic compound is extracted from an aqueous solution with a solvent. Then, the solvent is contacted with an alkali solution to remove a second organic compound from the solvent. For example, the first organic compound may be acetic acid and the second organic compound may be lignin. In another embodiment, a liquid-liquid extraction solvent used to extract acetic acid from an aqueous solution is rejuvenated by contacting the solvent with an alkali solution to remove a second organic compound from the solvent. The rejuvenated solvent is then recycled for further liquid-liquid extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: G. Peter van Walsum, Adriaan Reinhard Pieter van Heiningen, Joseph Genco
  • Energy densification of biomass-derived organic acids
    Patent number: 8362306
    Abstract: A process for upgrading an organic acid includes neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt and thermally decomposing the resulting salt to form an energy densified product. In certain embodiments, the organic acid is levulinic acid. The process may further include upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: M. Clayton Wheeler, G. Peter van Walsum, Thomas J. Schwartz, Adriaan van Heiningen
  • PRODUCTION OF LACTIC ACID FROM HEMICELLULOSE EXTRACTS
    Publication number: 20110183389
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing lactic acid comprising fermenting sugars derived from biomass using sugar consuming bacteria to produce lactic acid. In certain embodiments, the biomass is woody biomass, and the bacteria are pentose consuming bacteria such as Bacillus coagulans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: G. Peter van Walsum, Sara L. Walton, Adriaan Reinhard Pieter van Heiningen
  • ENERGY DENSIFICATION OF BIOMASS-DERIVED ORGANIC ACIDS
    Publication number: 20110098503
    Abstract: A process for upgrading an organic acid includes neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt and thermally decomposing the resulting salt to form an energy densified product. In certain embodiments, the organic acid is levulinic acid. The process may further include upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: M. Clayton Wheeler, G. Peter van Walsum, Thomas J. Schwartz, Adriaan Reinhard Pieter van Heiningen