Patents by Inventor Marshall Medoff

Marshall Medoff 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).

  • Publication number: 20190135541
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under 10 an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Patent number: 10273416
    Abstract: Methods are provided for enhancing oxidative molecular weight reduction in a hydrocarbon-containing material. For example, some methods include (a) providing a first hydrocarbon-containing material comprising a first hydrocarbon, said first hydrocarbon-containing material having been exposed to irradiation from a beam of particles, the beam of particles imparting one or more functional groups to said first hydrocarbon containing material; and (b) oxidizing the first hydrocarbon-containing material with one or more oxidants in the presence of one or more compounds comprising one or more naturally-occurring, non-radioactive group 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 11 elements, the one or more elements participating in a Fenton-type reaction while oxidizing, to produce a second hydrocarbon-containing material comprising a second hydrocarbon, the second hydrocarbon having a molecular weight lower than that of the first hydrocarbon, the functional groups enhancing the effectiveness of the oxidizing reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190112571
    Abstract: The use of cell matter in fermentation mixtures for producing a product is disclosed. In embodiments, the product comprises carbohydrates, alcohols, or organic acids (e.g., lactic acid or succinic acid), or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Michael W. Finn
  • Publication number: 20190093062
    Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190091650
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Marshall MEDOFF
  • Publication number: 20190085361
    Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190084951
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, especially, xylose, which can then be chemically converted to furfural and furfural-derived products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Christopher COOPER, Jihan KHAN
  • Publication number: 20190070471
    Abstract: Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Publication number: 20190055615
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce a product such as a biofuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Seul-a Bae, Randy Valdez, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190048428
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can be useful for separating solids and high molecular weight species from liquids of bioprocessed biomass material slurries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, John M. Cahill
  • Patent number: 10202621
    Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190039023
    Abstract: Materials, such as biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. Conveying systems, such as flowing gas conveying systems and such as closed-loop flowing gas conveying systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • Publication number: 20190024068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising an aglycosylated polypeptide having cellobiase activity, and methods for producing and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Natasha Kreder, James J. Lynch, Sean Landry, Aiichiro Yoshida, Desiree Pangilinan, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Publication number: 20190010662
    Abstract: Materials (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems equipment, and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, using an array of vaults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • Patent number: 10173994
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, especially, xylose, which can then be chemically converted to furfural and furfural-derived products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Christopher Cooper, Jihan Khan
  • Patent number: 10174160
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as aliphatic hydroxy-carboxylic acid and hydroxyl-carboxylic acid derivatives. These aliphatic hydroxy-carboxylic acids are, in turn, polymerized. The polymerization is carried out using a thin film evaporator or a thin film polymerization/devolatilization device. Conversion of lactic acid to poly lactic acid is an especially useful product to this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Patent number: 10176900
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which the equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Patent number: 10163535
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Publication number: 20180355446
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can be useful for separating solids from liquids of bioprocessed biomass material slurries. For example, filtration systems are described that include multiple centrifuges, e.g., multiple tandem centrifuges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Solomon I. RODITI
  • Publication number: 20180345242
    Abstract: Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff