Patents by Inventor George E. Farina

George E. Farina 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).

  • Patent number: 6063204
    Abstract: A process, system, and apparatus for effectively and economically producing fermentable sugars from cellulosic feedstocks is described. The economic viability of using wood and/or agricultural waste, containing large fractions of cellulose and hemicellulose is highly dependent on the method used for hydrolysis. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods, means, and techniques by which both the pentosans and hexosans comprising the hemicellulose fraction of the selected feedstock and the hexosans comprising the cellulose fraction of the selected feedstock can be quickly and efficiently converted in a single pass through a single device to fermentable sugars containing minimal quantities of degradation products known to inhibit fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: Tennessee Valley Authority, University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina
  • Patent number: 5972118
    Abstract: A process, system, and apparatus for effectively and economically producing fermentable sugars from cellulosic feedstocks is described. The economic viability of using wood and/or agricultural waste, containing large fractions of cellulose and hemicellulose is highly dependent on the method used for hydrolysis. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods, means, and techniques by which both the pentosans and hexosans comprising the hemicellulose fraction of the selected feedstock and the hexosans comprising the cellulose fraction of the selected feedstock can be quickly and efficiently converted in a single pass through a single device to fermentable sugars containing minimal quantities of degradation products known to inhibit fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina
  • Patent number: 5667693
    Abstract: A process for effectively and economically separating an ionic component such as acid from a nonionic component such as sugar in polar solutions using ion exclusion technology whereby the viability of using hydrolysis to convert wood and agricultural waste products such as corn stover into fuel alcohol is substantially effected. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods by which dispersion, caused by shrinkage of resin within ion exclusion columns, is controlled resulting in operation of such columns, over a wide range of process conditions to produce separate and distinct elution profiles for the acid and sugar. Successful operation of these new ion exclusion methods, techniques, and systems can replace lime precipitation which currently is being used in acid hydrolysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignees: Tennessee Valley Authority, University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina
  • Patent number: 5628907
    Abstract: A process for effectively and economically separating an ionic component such as acid from a nonionic component such as sugar in polar solutions using ion exclusion technology whereby the viability of using hydrolysis to convert wood and agricultural waste products such as corn stover into fuel alcohol is substantially effective. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods by which dispersion, caused by shrinkage of resin within ion exclusion columns, is controlled resulting in operation of such columns, over a wide range of process conditions to produce separate and distinct elution profiles for the acid and sugar. Successful operation of these new ion exclusion methods, techniques, and systems can replace lime precipitation which currently is being used in acid hydrolysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina
  • Patent number: 5560827
    Abstract: A process for effectively and economically separating an ionic component such as acid from a nonionic component such as sugar in polar solutions using ion exclusion technology whereby the viability of using hydrolysis to convert wood and agricultural waste products such as corn stover into fuel alcohol is substantially effected. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods by which dispersion, caused by shrinkage of resin within ion exclusion columns, is controlled resulting in operation of such columns, over a wide range of process conditions to produce separate and distinct elution profiles for the acid and sugar. Successful operation of these new ion exclusion methods, techniques, and systems can replace lime precipitation which currently is being used in acid hydrolysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignees: Tennessee Valley Authority, University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina
  • Patent number: 5407580
    Abstract: A process for effectively and economically separating an ionic component such as acid from a nonionic component such as sugar in polar solutions using ion exclusion technology whereby the viability of using hydrolysis to convert wood and agricultural waste products such as corn stover into fuel alcohol is substantially effective. Underlying the gist of this invention are newly discovered methods by which dispersion, caused by shrinkage of resin within ion exclusion columns, is controlled resulting in operation of such columns, over a wide range of process conditions to produce separate and distinct elution profiles for the acid and sugar. Successful operation of these new ion exclusion methods, techniques, and systems can replace lime precipitation which currently is being used in acid hydrolysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Roger D. Hester, George E. Farina, Srikanth Nanguneri