Patents by Inventor Leonardo Sousa

Leonardo Sousa 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 for pretreating biomass
    Patent number: 9644222
    Abstract: A method for pretreating biomass is provided, which includes, in a reactor, allowing gaseous ammonia to condense on the biomass and react with water present in the biomass to produce pretreated biomass, wherein reactivity of polysaccharides in the biomass is increased during subsequent biological conversion as compared to the reactivity of polysaccharides in biomass which has not been pretreated. A method for pretreating biomass with a liquid ammonia and recovering the liquid ammonia is also provided. Related systems which include a biochemical or biofuel production facility are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Bruce E Dale, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa
  • Methods for pretreating biomass
    Patent number: 8968515
    Abstract: A method of alkaline pretreatment of biomass, in particular, pretreating biomass with gaseous ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Bruce E. Dale, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa
  • METHODS FOR PRETREATING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20140038243
    Abstract: A method for treating biomass is provided, which includes, in a reactor, allowing gaseous ammonia to condense on the biomass and react with water present in the biomass to produce pretreated biomass, wherein reactivity of polysaccharides in the biomass is increased during subsequent biological conversion as compared to polysaccharides in biomass which has not been pretreated. A method for treating biomass with a liquid ammonia and recovering the liquid ammonia is also provided. Related systems which include a biochemical or biofuel production facility are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Bruce E. Dale, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa
  • FRACTIONATED EXTRACTIVE PRODUCTS FROM PLANT BIOMASS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME
    Publication number: 20130244293
    Abstract: A method is provided comprising converting at least a portion of native cellulose I? to cellulose IIII by treating plant biomass with liquid ammonia and/or one or more organic solvents to produce a treated plant biomass containing lignin and a lignin fraction; and extracting lignin and/or other plant cell wall components from the lignin fraction to produce a lignin extract capable of being fractionated. In one embodiment, the lignin extract is fractionated into separate components which are useful in a variety of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHINGAN STATE UNVERSITY
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Albert Cheh, Shishir Chundawat, Bruce E. Dale, Leonardo Sousa
  • Process for producing sugars and ethanol using corn stillage
    Patent number: 8367378
    Abstract: A process for producing sugars from lignocellulosic materials such as corn stover by the addition of corn stillage as a carbon source is disclosed. The sugars are formed by treating the combination of the corn stillage and the lignocellulosic materials with hydrolytic enzymes. The sugars can be fermented to ethanol, and the process improves ethanol production economies with an increased sugar yield from the lignocellulosic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa, Bruce Dale
  • METHODS FOR PRETREATING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20110192559
    Abstract: A method of alkaline pretreatment of biomass, in particular, pretreating biomass with gaseous ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Balan Venkatesh, Bruce E. Dale, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa
  • Process for producing sugars and ethanol using corn stillage
    Publication number: 20090093027
    Abstract: A process for producing sugars from lignocellulosic materials such as corn stover by the addition of corn stillage as a carbon source is disclosed. The sugars are formed by treating the combination of the corn stillage and the lignocellulosic materials with hydrolytic enzymes. The sugars can be fermented to ethanol, and the process improves ethanol production economies with an increased sugar yield from the lignocellulosic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Venkatesh Balan, Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa, Bruce Dale