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).

  • Publication number: 20210301243
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Takashi MIMITSUKA, Kazumi SUDA, Masashi HIGASA
  • Patent number: 10844444
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
  • Patent number: 10781466
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Minamino, Yuka Asahi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
  • Patent number: 10767236
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa
  • Publication number: 20200263208
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MIZUNO, Takashi MIMITSUKA, Masashi HIGASA, Shinjiro SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20200017886
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kazumi Suda, Masashi Higasa
  • Patent number: 10428358
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
  • Publication number: 20180051350
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170275663
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Atsushi Minamino, Yuka Asahi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa, Katsushige Yamada
  • Publication number: 20170058369
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yuka Asahi, Atsushi Minamino, Jumpei Kishimoto, Masashi Higasa
  • Publication number: 20160168601
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
  • Patent number: 8907047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joonsik Park, Masashi Higasa, Asako Sogame
  • Patent number: 8821813
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8409447
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20130075665
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joonsik Park, Masashi Higasa, Asako Sogame
  • Publication number: 20110177551
    Abstract: 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 sid
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Mimitsuka, Kentaro Ishii, Ken Morita, Masashi Higasa, Kenji Sawai, Hideki Sawai, Katsushige Yamada, Shinichi Minegishi
  • Publication number: 20100294732
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20100255483
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ishii, Masashi Higasa, Shingo Hiramatsu
  • Publication number: 20090297733
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamazaki, Naoki Kawazoe, Masashi Higasa, Giman Jung, Hitoshi Nobumasa, Yuji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20070178240
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamazaki, Naoki Kawazoe, Masashi Higasa, Giman Jung, Hitoshi Nobumasa, Yuji Murakami