Patents by Inventor Michael Cockrem

Michael Cockrem 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: 20230059296
    Abstract: What is described is an integrated steel mill and a bioreactor configured to produce useful products from the waste stream of the steel mill. A waste gas stack which is connected to the steel mill is connected to a heat exchanger to cool the waste gas from the steel mill. The cooled gas is pressurized using a pressurization apparatus connected to the heat exchanger. The pressurized gas is sent to an oxygen removal apparatus connected to the pressurization apparatus. An oxygen depleted waste stream from the oxygen removal apparatus is passed to a bioreactor (connected to the oxygen removal apparatus) where microorganisms ferment the waste stream to products. Optional apparatus such as scrubbers, valves, buffers, are also disclosed. The products of the fermentation in the bioreactor can be ethanol and or acetate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20200002734
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steel mill adapted to provide gas stream(s) comprising CO to a microbial fermentation, the steel mill comprising a steel mill structure containing apparatus for a steel manufacturing process wherein said apparatus produces waste gases during various stages of the steel making process, said waste gases being directed into the atmosphere by a waste stack, wherein the waste stack is connected to a fermentation system by a transfer means connected to the waste stack to divert at least a portion of the waste gases to the microbial fermentation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 10435722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing products by microbial fermentation. The method comprises first converting a feed stream containing methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO, of the invention include converting CO H2, and CO2 using a steam reforming zone and a water gas shift zone. The gaseous substrate is then converted to products such as alcohols and/or acids by to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids by fermentation using a carboxydotrophic microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 9981898
    Abstract: The present invention relates, in part, to an improved process for oxidation of alcohols containing oxidatively sensitive functional groups, using inexpensive reagents under mild reaction conditions to provide high yields of carbonyl products such as aldehydes or ketones. In certain embodiments, an aldehyde product is obtained by contacting an oxidatively sensitive alcohol, such as an alkenol, with an oxidant and a TEMPO catalyst under conditions sufficient to convert the alkenol to the aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: PROVIVI, INC.
    Inventors: Vu Bui, Peter Meinhold, Pedro Coelho, Keith M. Wampler, Michael Cockrem
  • Patent number: 9890399
    Abstract: Methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20170321232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing products by microbial fermentation. The method comprises first converting a feed stream containing methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO, of the invention include converting CO H2, and CO2 using a steam reforming zone and a water gas shift zone. The gaseous substrate is then converted to products such as alcohols and/or acids byto one or more products including alcohols and/or acids by fermentation using a carboxydotrophic microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150353965
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods of the invention include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 9127296
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, the disclosure relates to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20130316424
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods of the invention include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20120259138
    Abstract: A method of producing succinic acid (SA) includes providing fermentation derived diammonium succinate (DAS) containing solution, converting the DAS containing solution to a solution containing a half-acid, half-salt of succinic acid (MXS) by reactive evaporation, crystallizing MXS from the MXS containing solution by cooling and/or evaporative crystallization, converting MXS to SA by biopolar membrane electrodialysis, anion exchange, cation exchange, or a combination thereof, and crystallizing SA from SA the containing solution generated during conversion of the MXS to SA by cooling and/or evaporative crystallization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: BioAmber International S.à.r.I.
    Inventors: Dilum Dunuwila, Michael Cockrem