Patents by Inventor Karen E. Wawrousek

Karen E. Wawrousek 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).

  • Methods and systems for biological coal-to-biofuels and bioproducts
    Patent number: 10557155
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation
    Inventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Alan E. Bland
  • Conversion of carbon dioxide utilizing chemoautotrophic microorganisms systems and methods
    Patent number: 10376837
    Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Bacteria that reduce oxidized nitrogenous species (13) may be used to supply reduced nitrogenous compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation
    Inventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Tengyan Zhang, Alan E. Bland
  • Methods and Systems For Biological Coal-to-Biofuels and Bioproducts
    Publication number: 20160032331
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the biological conversion of pretreated or solubilized coal or waste coal into biofuels. Coal (10) may be pretreated perhaps in a pretreatment reactor (13). Pretreated coal or even solubilized coal may be introduced into a processing reactor such as a bioreactor (16) containing a plurality of microorganisms (9) such as oleaginous microorganisms which can convert at least some of the pretreated or solubilized coal into lipids (19) or biomass (18), which then may be used directly or as a precursor for various products such as biofuels, feedstock, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Alan E. Bland
  • Conversion of Carbon Dioxide Utilizing Chemoautotrophic Microorganisms Systems and Methods
    Publication number: 20160030884
    Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Bacteria that reduce oxidized nitrogenous species (13) may be used to supply reduced nitrogenous compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Karen E. Wawrousek, Patrick Richards, Tengyan Zhang, Alan E. Bland