Patents by Inventor Jiancai Li
Jiancai Li 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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Publication number: 20240397970Abstract: Methods of making undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolates and protein-fortified beverages incorporating such undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolates are described. Methods include ultrafiltering a liquid whey composition into a liquid whey protein retentate and a liquid whey permeate, and microfiltering the liquid whey protein retentate into a microfiltered whey protein retentate and a microfiltered whey protein permeate. Methods include reducing a pH of the microfiltered whey protein permeate to a pH of less than 3.8, forming a reduced pH whey protein permeate, and ultrafiltering and diafiltrating the reduced pH whey protein permeate into the undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolate. Methods include optionally nanofiltering the undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2023Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Richard K. Merrill, Jiancai Li
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Publication number: 20240397964Abstract: Methods of making undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolates and protein-fortified beverages incorporating such undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolates are described. Methods include ultrafiltering a liquid whey composition into a liquid whey protein retentate and a liquid whey permeate, and microfiltering the liquid whey protein retentate into a microfiltered whey protein retentate and a microfiltered whey protein permeate. Methods include reducing a pH of the microfiltered whey protein permeate to a pH of less than 3.8, forming a reduced pH whey protein permeate, and ultrafiltering and diafiltrating the reduced pH whey protein permeate into the undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolate. Methods include optionally nanofiltering the undenatured pre-acidified whey protein isolate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2023Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Richard K. Merrill, Jiancai Li
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Patent number: 12114675Abstract: Methods of making a powdered milk product as described. The methods may include providing an aqueous milk-sourced mixture, and evaporating water from the aqueous milk-sourced mixture to produce an evaporated milk-sourced mixture having a total solids concentration of 35 wt. % or more. The evaporated milk-sourced mixture may be dried to form the powdered milk product, which may have less than 6 wt. % water. Systems for making the milk powdered product are also described. The systems may include an evaporator to evaporate water from a supply of a milk-sourced mixture to form an evaporated milk-sourced mixture. They may also include a dryer to dry the evaporated milk-sourced mixture and atomize it into the powdered milk product.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Neill Burt, Mark Cramer, Jiancai Li, Richard Merrill
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Publication number: 20240237672Abstract: The present disclosure includes denatured whey protein compositions. The compositions include at least 60 wt. % protein on a dry weight basis, less than 8 wt. % native glycomacropeptide (GMP), greater than 2 wt. % enzymatically hydrolyzed GMP relative to the total weight of the protein, a proteolysis index of at least 8 wt. %, and greater than 50 wt. % denatured whey proteins relative to the total weight of the protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2023Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Paulos Tesfe, Jiancai Li, Bradley Maier, Richard K. Merrill
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Publication number: 20240237673Abstract: The present disclosure includes denatured whey protein compositions. The compositions include at least 60 wt. % protein on a dry weight basis, less than 8 wt. % native glycomacropeptide (GMP), greater than 2 wt. % enzymatically hydrolyzed GMP relative to the total weight of the protein, a proteolysis index of at least 8 wt. %, and greater than 50 wt. % denatured whey proteins relative to the total weight of the protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Paulos Tesfe, Jiancai Li, Bradley Maier, Richard K. Merrill
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Publication number: 20240164396Abstract: Methods of making a powdered milk product as described. The methods may include providing an aqueous milk-sourced mixture, and evaporating water from the aqueous milk-sourced mixture to produce an evaporated milk-sourced mixture having a total solids concentration of 35 wt. % or more. The evaporated milk-sourced mixture may be dried to form the powdered milk product, which may have less than 6 wt. % water. Systems for making the milk powdered product are also described. The systems may include an evaporator to evaporate water from a supply of a milk-sourced mixture to form an evaporated milk-sourced mixture. They may also include a dryer to dry the evaporated milk-sourced mixture and atomize it into the powdered milk product.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Neill Burt, Mark Cramer, Jiancai Li, Richard Merrill
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Publication number: 20240138432Abstract: Protein containing foods are described that include a protein blend having one or more milk proteins. The protein blend is also characterized by less than or about 1500 mg % of calcium. Also described are food products with increased shelf stability. The food product includes a protein blend that includes one or more milk proteins, where the protein blend includes less than or about 5 wt. % lactose. The food product is also characterized by a total protein content of greater than or about 15 wt. %. Further described are methods of making a food product that include combining a protein blend with additional ingredients to form a food mixture, and heating the food mixture to form the food product. The food product includes a total protein content of greater than or about 15 wt. %, and the protein blend includes less than or about 1500 mg % calcium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Jiancai Li, Richard K. Merrill
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Patent number: 11832629Abstract: Methods of making a powdered milk product are described. The methods may include providing an aqueous milk-sourced mixture, and evaporating water from the aqueous milk-sourced mixture to produce an evaporated milk-sourced mixture having a total solids concentration of 35 wt. % or more. The evaporated milk-sourced mixture may be dried to form the powdered milk product, which may have less than 6 wt. % water. Systems for making the milk powdered product are also described. The systems may include an evaporator to evaporate water from a supply of a milk-sourced mixture to form an evaporated milk-sourced mixture. They may also include a dryer to dry the evaporated milk-sourced mixture and atomize it into the powdered milk product.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Neill Burt, Mark Cramer, Jiancai Li, Richard Merrill
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Patent number: 11825860Abstract: The present disclosure includes denatured whey protein compositions. The compositions include at least 60 wt. % protein on a dry weight basis, less than 8 wt. % native glycomacropeptide (GMP), greater than 2 wt. % enzymatically hydrolyzed GMP relative to the total weight of the protein, a proteolysis index of at least 8 wt. %, and greater than 50 wt. % denatured whey proteins relative to the total weight of the protein.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2023Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Paulos Tesfe, Jiancai Li, Bradley Maier, Richard K. Merrill
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Patent number: 11206846Abstract: Methods and systems for making a high-purity ?-lactalbumin composition are described. The composition may be made by providing a whey protein mixture, and adding an alkaline solution to the mixture to make the mixture alkaline and promote the aggregation of ß-lactoglobulin proteins. The alkaline whey protein mixture is filtered into a ß-LG aggregate composition and a ?-LA enriched composition. A final ?-lactalbumin enriched composition sourced from the ?-LA enriched composition is dried into the high-purity ?-lactalbumin composition (a powdered dairy composition) that is at least 70 wt. % ?-lactalbumin on a protein basis. A protease enzyme may optionally be added to the ?-LA enriched composition to form an enzymatically treated ?-LA enriched composition that becomes the source of the final ?-lactalbumin enriched composition.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Jiancai Li, Richard K. Merrill, Ranjeeta Wadhwani
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Patent number: 11208426Abstract: Systems and methods of making lactobionic acid are described. The systems include two-compartment cation bipolar electrodialysis assemblies having at least one cell that includes a cation ion-exchange membrane and a bipolar membrane. The membranes define the borders of a pair of flow channels for a separate (i) caustic stream and (i) purified lactobionic acid stream. Lactobionate ions in the lactobionic acid stream do not cross a membrane in the electrodialysis assembly, which reduces membrane fouling. The methods include passing a lactobionate salt through a two-compartment cation bipolar electrodialysis assembly. The electrodialysis assembly includes at least one two-compartment cation bipolar membrane cell, and separates the lactobionate salt into a caustic compound and the lactobionic acid. The assembly is designed so the lactobionate ions do not cross an ion exchange membrane in the assembly to form the lactobionic acid, which reduces membrane fouling.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Ranjeeta Wadhwani, Richard K. Merrill, Jiancai Li
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Publication number: 20210106016Abstract: Methods of making a powdered milk product are described. The methods may include providing an aqueous milk-sourced mixture, and evaporating water from the aqueous milk-sourced mixture to produce an evaporated milk-sourced mixture having a total solids concentration of 35 wt. % or more. The evaporated milk-sourced mixture may be dried to form the powdered milk product, which may have less than 6 wt. % water. Systems for making the milk powdered product are also described. The systems may include an evaporator to evaporate water from a supply of a milk-sourced mixture to form an evaporated milk-sourced mixture. They may also include a dryer to dry the evaporated milk-sourced mixture and atomize it into the powdered milk product.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Neill Burt, Mark Cramer, Jiancai Li, Richard Merrill
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Publication number: 20200239511Abstract: Systems and methods of making lactobionic acid are described. The systems include two-compartment cation bipolar electrodialysis assemblies having at least one cell that includes a cation ion-exchange membrane and a bipolar membrane. The membranes define the borders of a pair of flow channels for a separate (i) caustic stream and (i) purified lactobionic acid stream. Lactobionate ions in the lactobionic acid stream do not cross a membrane in the electrodialysis assembly, which reduces membrane fouling. The methods include passing a lactobionate salt through a two-compartment cation bipolar electrodialysis assembly. The electrodialysis assembly includes at least one two-compartment cation bipolar membrane cell, and separates the lactobionate salt into a caustic compound and the lactobionic acid. The assembly is designed so the lactobionate ions do not cross an ion exchange membrane in the assembly to form the lactobionic acid, which reduces membrane fouling.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Ranjeeta Wadhwani, Richard K. Merrill, Jiancai Li
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Publication number: 20180317513Abstract: Methods and systems for making a high-purity ?-lactalbumin composition are described. The composition may be made by providing a whey protein mixture, and adding an alkaline solution to the mixture to make the mixture alkaline and promote the aggregation of ß-lactoglobulin proteins. The alkaline whey protein mixture is filtered into a ß-LG aggregate composition and a ?-LA enriched composition. A final ?-lactalbumin enriched composition sourced from the ?-LA enriched composition is dried into the high-purity ?-lactalbumin composition (a powdered dairy composition) that is at least 70 wt. % ?-lactalbumin on a protein basis. A protease enzyme may optionally be added to the ?-LA enriched composition to form an enzymatically treated ?-LA enriched composition that becomes the source of the final ?-lactalbumin enriched composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Jiancai Li, Richard K. Merrill, Ranjeeta Wadhwani
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Patent number: 9578890Abstract: Methods are described for treating a whey protein mixture to increase a relative concentration of ?-lactalbumin protein in the mixture. The methods may include the step of adjusting a temperature of the whey protein mixture to about 10° C. or less, and adjusting the pH of the mixture to greater than 7. The may further include adding a protease enzyme to the whey protein mixture that selectively hydrolyzes ?-lactoglobulin protein in the mixture. The activity of the protease enzyme in the hydrolyzed whey protein mixture may be terminated before a substantial portion of the ?-lactalbumin protein has been hydrolyzed by the enzyme. In some instances, the whey protein mixture may also include glycomacropeptides that are selectively hydrolyzed with the ?-lactoglobulin protein. The ?-lactoglobulin and glycomacropeptide hydrolysates may be separated to produce an enhanced ?-lactalbumin protein composition for infant formula, among other products.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Jiancai Li, Richard K. Merrill
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Publication number: 20160374360Abstract: Nutritional compositions are described that include a casein compound that includes micellar casein, a vegetable oil, a sweetener, and an acidity regulator, among other ingredients. The nutritional compositions may be used as beverage creamers, such as coffee creamers. Also described are methods of making nutritional compounds that include micellar casein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: Leprino Foods CompanyInventors: Richard K. Merrill, Jiancai Li
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Publication number: 20140287095Abstract: Methods are described for treating a whey protein mixture to increase a relative concentration of ?-lactalbumin protein in the mixture. The methods may include the step of adjusting a temperature of the whey protein mixture to about 10° C. or less, and adjusting the pH of the mixture to greater than 7. The may further include adding a protease enzyme to the whey protein mixture that selectively hydrolyzes ?-lactoglobulin protein in the mixture. The activity of the protease enzyme in the hydrolyzed whey protein mixture may be terminated before a substantial portion of the ?-lactalbumin protein has been hydrolyzed by the enzyme. In some instances, the whey protein mixture may also include glycomacropeptides that are selectively hydrolyzed with the ?-lactoglobulin protein. The ?-lactoglobulin and glycomacropeptide hydrolysates may be separated to produce an enhanced ?-lactalbumin protein composition for infant formula, among other products.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: LEPRINO FOODS COMPANYInventors: Jiancai Li, Richard K. Merrill
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Patent number: 8623420Abstract: A biopesticide composition for pest management that includes a sweet whey product and spores mixed with a carrier to form a growing environment in a target region. The growing environment forms a micro-factory that is suitable for spore growth, such that the number of spores substantially increases from a first spore concentration prior to application to the target region to a second spore concentration after a period of time. The biopesticide composition may include other additives that modify the micro-factory in a manner that facilitates spore growth and/or increases the probability that a target pest, e.g., an insect, will come into contact with the spores.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: University of Vermont and State Agriculture CollegeInventors: Scott D. Costa, Stacie Grassano, Jiancai Li
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Publication number: 20100303764Abstract: A biopesticide composition for pest management that includes a sweet whey product and spores mixed with a carrier to form a growing environment in a target region. The growing environment forms a micro-factory that is suitable for spore growth, such that the number of spores substantially increases from a first spore concentration prior to application to the target region to a second spore concentration after a period of time. The biopesticide composition may include other additives that modify the micro-factory in a manner that facilitates spore growth and/or increases the probability that a target pest, e.g., an insect, will come into contact with the spores.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2007Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, TheInventors: Scott D. Costa, Stacie Grassano, Jiancai Li
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Patent number: D1035178Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Inventor: Jiancai Li