Patents by Inventor Masashi Higasa
Masashi Higasa 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: 20210301243Abstract: A method of producing a volatile chemical substance uses a culture apparatus including: a culture tank configured to culture a microorganism having an ability to produce a volatile chemical substance; a delivery line configured to deliver a culture liquid obtained by culture in the culture tank to the storage tank; and a storage tank configured to store a solution containing the chemical substance obtained by culturing the microorganism, the method including culturing the microorganism in the culture tank while retaining the solution in the storage tank, wherein a gas phase portion in the storage tank and a gas phase portion in the culture tank are connected to each other through a gas connection pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Takashi MIMITSUKA, Kazumi SUDA, Masashi HIGASA
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Patent number: 10844444Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid derived from a cellulose-containing biomass includes (a) saccharifying a pretreated product having alignin content of not more than 8.5% obtained by pretreatment of a cellulose-containing biomass, to obtain a saccharified liquid; (b) filtering the saccharified liquid obtained in Step (a) through a microfiltration membrane to allow formation of a cake on a membrane surface in a feed side while obtaining a sugar liquid from a permeate side; and (c) collecting the cake formed on the membrane surface in Step (b) by peeling from the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
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Patent number: 10781466Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes: (A) reacting mannanase with a liquid component obtained by hydrolysis treatment of woody biomass to obtain a saccharified liquid; and (B) filtering the saccharified liquid in Step (A) through a microfiltration membrane and/or ultrafiltration membrane to collect a sugar liquid from a permeate side.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2015Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Atsushi Minamino, Yuka Asahi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
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Patent number: 10767236Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes a step of filtering a saccharified liquid derived from cellulose-containing biomass, through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane; and a two-step washing step of washing the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane after the filtration, with an acid washing liquid and then with an alkali washing liquid; is provided. The method of producing a sugar liquid in which a cellulose-derived sugar liquid is processed through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane is/are effectively washed in a contaminated separation membrane(s).Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa
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Publication number: 20200263208Abstract: A method of producing ethanol includes: a continuous ethanol fermentation step including culturing a microorganism with a fermentation feedstock containing cane molasses as a main component, filtering the resulting culture liquid through a separation membrane to recover a filtrate containing the ethanol and from which the microorganism has been removed; retaining or returning an unfiltered liquid containing the microorganism, in or to the culture liquid; and adding an additional fermentation feedstock to the culture liquid, and an ethanol concentration and purification step including distilling the filtrate collected in the continuous ethanol fermentation step and contains the ethanol, wherein the microorganism causes a centrifugal supernatant of the culture liquid to contain particles having an average particle diameter of 100 nm or more, and particles formed by the microorganism culture and contained in the filtrate containing ethanol have an average particle diameter of 40 to 80 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Takashi MIMITSUKA, Masashi HIGASA, Shinjiro SAWADA
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Publication number: 20200017886Abstract: A method produces an alcohol by continuous fermentation using a fermentation raw material, the method including: culturing a microorganism to obtain a fermented liquid, while supplying the fermentation raw material into a fermenter using a plurality of fermentation raw material supply systems; filtering the obtained fermented liquid through a separation membrane to obtain an alcohol-containing filtered liquid and an unfiltered liquid; and retaining or refluxing the obtained unfiltered liquid in the fermenter, in which the plurality of fermentation raw material supply systems each include a fermentation raw material tank for storing the fermentation raw material the same as each other, and a supply line connecting the fermentation raw material tank and the fermenter; and selecting a fermentation raw material supply system to be allowed to stop supplying the fermentation raw material in rotation from the plurality of fermentation raw material supply systems during the supply of the fermentation raw material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kazumi Suda, Masashi Higasa
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Patent number: 10428358Abstract: A method of producing a chemical product includes cultivating microorganisms or culture cells in a fermentation tank; transferring a culture liquid from the fermentation tank to a membrane separation tank to filter the culture liquid through a separation membrane; and collecting a fermentation product from a filtration liquid as the chemical product while refluxing an unfiltered culture liquid that has not been filtered to be joined to the culture liquid on an upstream side of the membrane separation tank, wherein one portion of the culture liquid to be transferred from the fermentation tank is allowed to bypass the membrane separation tank depending on a pressure at a culture liquid flow-in side of the membrane separation tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
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Publication number: 20180051350Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid derived from a cellulose-containing biomass includes (a) saccharifying a pretreated product having alignin content of not more than 8.5% obtained by pretreatment of a cellulose-containing biomass, to obtain a saccharified liquid; (b) filtering the saccharified liquid obtained in Step (a) through a microfiltration membrane to allow formation of a cake on a membrane surface in a feed side while obtaining a sugar liquid from a permeate side; and (c) collecting the cake formed on the membrane surface in Step (b) by peeling from the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
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Publication number: 20170275663Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes: (A) reacting mannanase with a liquid component obtained by hydrolysis treatment of woody biomass to obtain a saccharified liquid; and (B) filtering the saccharified liquid in Step (A) through a microfiltration membrane and/or ultrafiltration membrane to collect a sugar liquid from a permeate side.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2015Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Atsushi Minamino, Yuka Asahi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
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Publication number: 20170058369Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes a step of filtering a saccharified liquid derived from cellulose-containing biomass, through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane; and a two-step washing step of washing the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane after the filtration, with an acid washing liquid and then with an alkali washing liquid; is provided. The method of producing a sugar liquid in which a cellulose-derived sugar liquid is processed through a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane is/are effectively washed in a contaminated separation membrane(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa
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Publication number: 20160168601Abstract: A method of producing a chemical product includes cultivating microorganisms or culture cells in a fermentation tank; transferring a culture liquid from the fermentation tank to a membrane separation tank to filter the culture liquid through a separation membrane; and collecting a fermentation product from a filtration liquid as the chemical product while refluxing an unfiltered culture liquid that has not been filtered to be joined to the culture liquid on an upstream side of the membrane separation tank, wherein one portion of the culture liquid to be transferred from the fermentation tank is allowed to bypass the membrane separation tank depending on a pressure at a culture liquid flow-in side of the membrane separation tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
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Patent number: 8907047Abstract: A water-soluble nanoparticle complex has a plurality of accumulated nanoparticles and has excellent uniformity and stability by forming a complex of nanoparticles using a water-soluble polymer and which allows for use of nanoparticles in biochemical applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joonsik Park, Masashi Higasa, Asako Sogame
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Patent number: 8821813Abstract: A liquid-feeding chip for feeding a liquid utilizing the action of centrifugal force and gravity by rotating the chip around an axis of rotation, includes a first storage tank (1-1) into which the liquid can be introduced when rotation of the chip is stopped, and two or more liquid-feeding units arranged in a plurality of levels adjacent to each other, each liquid-feeding unit (U-1, U-2, U-3) being composed of a first holding tank (10-1, 20-1, 30-1), a second holding tank (10-2, 20-2, 30-2) positioned in the direction of gravity with respect to the first holding tank, and a channel B (B-1, B-2, B-3) which extends from the first holding tank in the direction of gravity and which connects the first holding tank and the second holding tank, the first holding tank at a first level being connected with a channel A (A-1) which extends from the first storage tank toward an outer circumferential side.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
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Patent number: 8409447Abstract: A separation chip for separating an insoluble component from a suspension using centrifugal force by rotation, includes a suspension holding tank, a separation liquid holding tank, and an insoluble component holding tank arranged in order from an inner circumferential side during rotation, wherein the suspension holding tank and the insoluble component holding tank are connected to each other, the insoluble component holding tank and the separation liquid holding tank are connected to each other by a narrow portion, and in the insoluble component holding tank, a connecting portion with the suspension holding tank is positioned further toward an outer circumferential side than the narrow portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20130075665Abstract: A water-soluble nanoparticle complex has a plurality of accumulated nanoparticles and has excellent uniformity and stability by forming a complex of nanoparticles using a water-soluble polymer and which allows for use of nanoparticles in biochemical applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Joonsik Park, Masashi Higasa, Asako Sogame
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Publication number: 20110177551Abstract: To control flow velocity of a culture liquid inside a membrane separation tank without giving influences to culture conditions in the fermentation tank, and also suppress precipitation of microorganisms or culture cells so that the production efficiency of the chemical product can be improved, in a method for producing a chemical product including the steps of: cultivating microorganisms or culture cells in a fermentation tank; transferring a culture liquid from the fermentation tank to a membrane separation tank so as to filter the culture liquid through a separation membrane; and collecting a fermentation product from a filtration liquid as the chemical product while refluxing an unfiltered culture liquid that has not been filtered so as to be joined to the culture liquid on an upstream side of the membrane separation tank, one portion of the culture liquid to be transferred from the fermentation tank is allowed to bypass the membrane separation tank depending on a pressure at the culture liquid flow-in sidType: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
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Publication number: 20100294732Abstract: A separation chip for separating an insoluble component from a suspension using centrifugal force by rotation, includes a suspension holding tank, a separation liquid holding tank, and an insoluble component holding tank arranged in order from an inner circumferential side during rotation, wherein the suspension holding tank and the insoluble component holding tank are connected to each other, the insoluble component holding tank and the separation liquid holding tank are connected to each other by a narrow portion, and in the insoluble component holding tank, a connecting portion with the suspension holding tank is positioned further toward an outer circumferential side than the narrow portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20100255483Abstract: A liquid-feeding chip for feeding a liquid utilizing the action of centrifugal force and gravity by rotating the chip around an axis of rotation, includes a first storage tank (1-1) into which the liquid can be introduced when rotation of the chip is stopped, and two or more liquid-feeding units arranged in a plurality of levels adjacent to each other, each liquid-feeding unit (U-1, U-2, U-3) being composed of a first holding tank (10-1, 20-1, 30-1), a second holding tank (10-2, 20-2, 30-2) positioned in the direction of gravity with respect to the first holding tank, and a channel B (B-1, B-2, B-3) which extends from the first holding tank in the direction of gravity and which connects the first holding tank and the second holding tank, the first holding tank at a first level being connected with a channel A (A-1) which extends from the first storage tank toward an outer circumferential side.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2008Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
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Publication number: 20090297733Abstract: A lab-on-chip substrate includes a resin having a silicon content of 10% or less by weight as its base material and a hydrophilic polymer covalently bound onto the surface thereof by high-energy ray irradiation suitable for a protein-processing chip. The lab-on-chip substrate is resistant to washing and usable for an extended period of time without adsorption of proteins on the base material surface, i.e., a protein electrophoretic polymeric chip having a microchannel allowing high-accuracy analysis of trace amounts of proteins because of reduction in the amount of detection noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamazaki, Naoki Kawazoe, Masashi Higasa, Giman Jung, Hitoshi Nobumasa, Yuji Murakami
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Publication number: 20070178240Abstract: The present invention relates to a lab-on-chip substrate, comprising a resin having a silicon content of 10% or less by weight as its base material and a hydrophilic polymer covalently bound onto the surface thereof by high-energy ray irradiation, and in particular, to a protein-processing chip. The present invention provides a lab-on-chip substrate resistant to washing and usable for an extended period of time without adsorption of proteins on the base material surface, i.e., a protein electrophoretic polymeric chip having a microchannel allowing high-accuracy analysis of trace amounts of proteins because of reduction in the amount of detection noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2005Publication date: August 2, 2007Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamazaki, Naoki Kawazoe, Masashi Higasa, Giman Jung, Hitoshi Nobumasa, Yuji Murakami