Patents by Inventor KEITH H. BURLEW

KEITH H. BURLEW 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: 10604774
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes and microorganisms which utilize both protein hydrolysates and carbohydrates from biomass feedstocks to produce renewable hydrocarbon compositions. Advantages of the disclosed methods may be recognized in fuel blends comprising such hydrocarbon compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Larry Cameron Anthony, Tyler T. Ames, Keith H. Burlew
  • Patent number: 10494597
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems for minimizing or reducing contamination in facilities implementing fermentation or distillation processes. In embodiments, the facility is a biofuel plant that produces fermentation product such as product alcohol like butanol. In some embodiments, the methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems are operable to implement clean in place contamination (CIP) mitigation techniques that can also include sterilize in place (SIP) mitigation techniques to decontaminate equipment including surfaces of the equipment that come in contact with materials used in the production of product alcohols. Other cleaning and contamination minimizing techniques are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, Anthony R. Calabria, Duncan Coffey, Benjamin Fuchs, Ana Paula Goes, Adam David Henry, Walter Tamulis, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20180066290
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes and microorganisms which utilize both protein hydrolysates and carbohydrates from biomass feedstocks to produce renewable hydrocarbon compositions. Advantages of the disclosed methods may be recognized in fuel blends comprising such hydrocarbon compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Cameron ANTHONY, Tyler T. AMES, Keith H. BURLEW
  • Patent number: 9840724
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes and microorganisms which utilize both protein hydrolysates and carbohydrates from biomass feedstocks to produce renewable hydrocarbon compositions. Advantages of the disclosed methods may be recognized in fuel blends comprising such hydrocarbon compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Larry Cameron Anthony, Tyler T. Ames, Keith H. Burlew
  • Publication number: 20170253846
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems for minimizing or reducing contamination in facilities implementing fermentation or distillation processes. In embodiments, the facility is a biofuel plant that produces fermentation product such as product alcohol like butanol. In some embodiments, the methods, approaches, devices, equipment, and systems are operable to implement clean in place contamination (CIP) mitigation techniques that can also include sterilize in place (SIP) mitigation techniques to decontaminate equipment including surfaces of the equipment that come in contact with materials used in the production of product alcohols. Other cleaning and contamination minimizing techniques are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, Anthony R. Calabria, Duncan Coffey, Benjamin Fuchs, Ana Paula Goes, Adam David Henry, Walter Tamulis, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20170240930
    Abstract: A method and system for efficiently producing a fermentative product alcohol such as butanol utilizing in situ product extraction are provided. The efficiency is obtained through separating undissolved solids after liquefying a given feedstock to create a feedstock and prior to fermentation, for example, through centrifugation. Removal of the undissolved solids avoids problems associated with having the undissolved solids present during in situ production extraction, and thereby increases the efficiency of the alcohol production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: BRIAN MICHAEL ROESCH, KEITH H. BURLEW, JOHN W. HALLAM, DAVID J. LOWE, JOSEPH J. ZAHER
  • Patent number: 9670511
    Abstract: A method and system for efficiently producing a fermentative product alcohol such as butanol utilizing in situ product extraction are provided. The efficiency is obtained through separating undissolved solids after liquefying a given feedstock to create a feedstock and prior to fermentation, for example, through centrifugation. Removal of the undissolved solids avoids problems associated with having the undissolved solids present during in situ production extraction, and thereby increases the efficiency of the alcohol production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Brian Michael Roesch, Keith H. Burlew, John W. Hallam, David J. Lowe, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 9371547
    Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
  • Patent number: 9175315
    Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Anton, Stephane Francois Bazzana, Keith H Burlew, Jelena Cirakovic, Robert Dicosimo, Bruce A Diner, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Francis J Woerner
  • Publication number: 20150267225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and systems for the production of fermentation products such as alcohols. The present invention also provides methods for separating feed stream components for improved biomass processing and productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, Duncan Coffey, James Timothy Cronin, Benjamin Fuchs, John W. Hallam, Adam Jones, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Mathias E. Stolarski, James Gregory Wood, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20150240267
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes and microorganisms which utilize both protein hydrolysates and carbohydrates from biomass feedstocks to produce renewable hydrocarbon compositions. Advantages of the disclosed methods may be recognized in fuel blends comprising such hydrocarbon compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Larry Cameron Anthony, Tyler T. Ames, Keith H. Burlew
  • Patent number: 9109196
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes employing in situ product removal methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, James Timothy Cronin, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Joseph J. Zaher, Raymond Richard Zolandz
  • Publication number: 20150211026
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and systems for the production of fermentation products such as alcohols. The present invention also provides methods for separating feed stream components for improved biomass processing and productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, Keith H. Burlew, Duncan Coffey, James Timothy Cronin, Benjamin Fuchs, John W. Hallam, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Mathias E. Stolarski, James Gregory Wood, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Patent number: 9040263
    Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Robert Anton, Stephane Francois Bazzana, Keith H. Burlew, Jelena Cirakovic, Robert Dicosimo, Bruce A. Diner, Michael Charles Grady, Brian Michael Roesch, Francis J. Woerner
  • Publication number: 20150010975
    Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
  • Publication number: 20140363865
    Abstract: Fatty acids derived from biomass at a step in a fermentation process can be added to a fermentation medium comprising a recombinant microorganism that produces a product alcohol. At least one of growth rate and fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism is greater in the presence of the fatty acids than the growth rate and the fermentable carbon consumption of the microorganism in the absence of the fatty acids. The addition of the fatty acids can increase glucose consumption, and can improve microorganism biomass production (cell growth/density) and growth rate, thereby reducing production time and increasing productivity of the fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Keith H. BURLEW, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady, Ranjan Patnaik
  • Patent number: 8865443
    Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Keith H. Burlew, Robert Dicosimo, Michael Charles Grady
  • Publication number: 20140106419
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and systems for the production of fermentation products such as alcohols. The present invention also provides methods for separating feed stream components for improved biomass processing and productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Stephane Francois Bazzana, Adam Bernfeld, Keith H. Burlew, Duncan Coffey, James Timothy Cronin, Benjamin Fuchs, John W. Hallam, Adam Jones, David J. Lowe, Brian Michael Roesch, Mathias E. Stolarski, James Gregory Wood, Joseph J. Zaher
  • Publication number: 20140093931
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and the development of microorganisms capable of producing fermentation products via an engineered pathway in the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Dauner, Sunny Xiang Li, Keith H. Burlew
  • Publication number: 20140073021
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of fermentation products such as alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes employing in situ product removal methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: STEPHANE FRANCOIS BAZZANA, ADAM BERNFELD, KEITH H. BURLEW, JAMES TIMOTHY CRONIN, MICHAEL CHARLES GRADY, BRIAN MICHAEL ROESCH, JOSEPH J. ZAHER, RAYMOND RICHARD ZOLANDZ