Patents by Inventor Michael J. Riebel

Michael J. Riebel 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).

  • Patent number: 12359132
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions and methods of simultaneously making two unique biointermediates from a single lignocellulosic biomass feedstock, including a hydrophobic biohydrocarbon and a water insoluble hydrophilic cellulosic biopolymer for use in the production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and other carbon neutral materials commonly derived from petroleum and other fossil resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Comstock IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Bobbili, Kevin Kreisler, Michael J. Riebel, Milton J Riebel, David Winsness
  • Publication number: 20250145830
    Abstract: A method for making crystalline graphite composite includes the following steps: additives are dry blended with a melt-flowable polylignin to form a blend. The blend is heated to create a melted flowable polylignin with the additives dispersed therein. The melted flowable polylignin is then solidified to a grindable form or to a shaped article of polylignin with dispersed additives, after which sufficient heat is provided to thermoset and carbonize the polylignin with dispersed additives. Additional heat is then provided to graphitize the carbonized polylignin and form a crystalline graphite matrix with uniformly dispersed additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2025
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, David Winsness, Milton J. Riebel, Kevin Kreisler
  • Publication number: 20250129396
    Abstract: A self-generated biosolvent from cellulosic biorefining is used to wash/extract and optionally esterify free fatty acids from microbial oil. Free fatty acids or fatty acid esters and a hydrophobic biohydrocarbon are processed to provide a hybrid liquid fuel intermediary whereas the lipid oil is derived from cellulosic sugars and from microbial conversion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and/cellulosic sugar to lipids. In addition, higher utilization of woody biomass for the production of cellulosic sugars can be further converted to lipid oils, and the remaining hemicellulose/lignin fraction is converted to a novel hydrophobic biohydrocarbon and self-generated biosolvent in which both the processed lipid oils and biohydrocarbon can be reacted together to form a new fuel intermediary. The self-generated biosolvent comprising butanol, butanol esters, and additional biochemicals, can penetrate a microbial cell wall structure to provide higher extraction yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: David WINSNESS, Michael J. RIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20250034335
    Abstract: Lignin is recovered from biomass or byproducts from biomass processing through the use of organic solvents and water while modifying the form or composition of the lignin. During the separation and recovery process, the lignin can be modified or integrated into a form which is more suitable for its intended use. As the lignin is suspended or is soluble within the organic solvent, the integration of materials or reactants may be more easily blended or dispersed within the lignin to improve performance, quality and overall production efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: David J. Winsness, Michael J. RIEBEL, Milton J RIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20240191143
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions and methods of simultaneously making two unique biointermediates from a single lignocellulosic biomass feedstock, including a hydrophobic biohydrocarbon and a water insoluble hydrophilic cellulosic biopolymer for use in the production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and other carbon neutral materials commonly derived from petroleum and other fossil resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Rahul Bobbili, Kevin Kreisler, Michael J. Riebel, Milton J. Riebel, David Winsness
  • Publication number: 20230287538
    Abstract: Methods for processing black mass material from lithium-ion battery recycling processes include fractionating the black mass into a lithium fraction, a graphite fraction, and a concentrated metal powder fraction. This is accomplished using a multiphase liquid blend of nonpolar hydrophobic solvent and water to dissolve the lithium and produce a multiphase admixture which, upon gravity separation, produces a graphite layer in the hydrophobic solvent and a mixed metal powder layer that sinks to the bottom of the aqueous layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: Michael J. RIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20230175099
    Abstract: A method is provided for recycling lithium-ion batteries containing plastics, electrolyte, carbon, metals, and lithium. The method includes: Lithium-ion batteries are ground to form ground battery material which is then pyrolyzed at a temperature between about 100° C. and 700° C. for a time sufficient to vaporize about 80 wt % to 100 wt % of electrolytes present in the ground battery material. The resulting material is further ground and screen classified to produce a screen oversize and a screen undersize. The screen oversize comprises metals and plastics, while the screen undersize comprises a black mass material. Lithium dissolution, triboelectric charging and electrostatic separation of the black mass material (not necessarily in that order) produces a liquid comprising dissolved lithium, a graphite product, and a concentrated metal fines product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Rahul Bobbili, Michael J. RIEBEL, David WINSNESS, Milton J. RIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20230113236
    Abstract: A method for making crystalline graphite composite includes the following steps: additives are dry blended with a melt-flowable polylignin to form a blend. The blend is heated to create a melted flowable polylignin with the additives dispersed therein. The melted flowable polylignin is then solidified to a grindable form or to a shaped article of polylignin with dispersed additives, after which sufficient heat is provided to thermoset and carbonize the polylignin with dispersed additives. Additional heat is then provided to graphitize the carbonized polylignin and form a crystalline graphite matrix with uniformly dispersed additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, David Winsness, Milton J. Riebel, Kevin Kreisler
  • Patent number: 11618862
    Abstract: A charcoal replacement solid energy fuel comprises wood particles substantially fully impregnated with a melt-flowable, natural, monolignol biopolymer derived from biomass which can be further processed into various shapes of briquettes, pellets and other shapes for grilling, heating/cooking, green coal energy and other applications. The material and its method of making are environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, and lower cost alternative to charcoal or traditional coal. The melt-flowable monolignol based material impregnated into the wood imparts significant water resistance, UV resistance, antimicrobial functionality, faster lighting and higher BTU/lb energy without the need to add carbonize wood or coal. The impregnated wood granules or particles can then be compressed, without the need for additional binder, into various homogenous charcoal briquette replacements, pellets, or shapes for grilling or green coal energy fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Comstock IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Milton J. Riebel, Michael J. Riebel
  • Publication number: 20220403275
    Abstract: A charcoal replacement solid energy fuel comprises wood particles substantially fully impregnated with a melt-flowable, natural, monolignol biopolymer derived from biomass which can be further processed into various shapes of briquettes, pellets and other shapes for grilling, heating/cooking, green coal energy and other applications. The material and its method of making are environmentally friendly, carbon neutral, and lower cost alternative to charcoal or traditional coal. The melt-flowable monolignol based material impregnated into the wood imparts significant water resistance, UV resistance, antimicrobial functionality, faster lighting and higher BTU/lb energy without the need to add carbonize wood or coal. The impregnated wood granules or particles can then be compressed, without the need for additional binder, into various homogenous charcoal briquette replacements, pellets, or shapes for grilling or green coal energy fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Milton J. Riebel, Michael J. Riebel
  • Publication number: 20220081517
    Abstract: Lignin is recovered from biomass or byproducts from biomass processing through the use of organic solvents and water while modifying the form or composition of the lignin. During the separation and recovery process, the lignin can be modified or integrated into a form which is more suitable for its intended use. As the lignin is suspended or is soluble within the organic solvent, the integration of materials or reactants may be more easily blended or dispersed within the lignin to improve performance, quality and overall production efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: DAVID J. WINSNESS, MICHAEL J. RIEBEL, MILTON J. RIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20210221960
    Abstract: Lignin is recovered from biomass or byproducts from biomass processing through the use of organic solvents and water while modifying the form or composition of the lignin. During the separation and recovery process, the lignin can be modified or integrated into a form which is more suitable for its intended use. As the lignin is suspended or is soluble within the organic solvent, the integration of materials or reactants may be more easily blended or dispersed within the lignin to improve performance, quality and overall production efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: David J. Winsness, Michael J. Riebel, Milton J. Riebel
  • Publication number: 20210163745
    Abstract: The following invention generally relates to a melt flowable biocarbon polymeric material derived from a cellulosic ethanol refining co-product, monolignol biopolymer, and a heat processed or thermally modified biomass flour, both of which are reacted together to create a melt flowable biopolymer which has melt flowable properties, process-ability and rheology similar to that of standard petrochemical based thermoplastics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J RIEBEL, Milton J RIEBEL
  • Patent number: 10527398
    Abstract: A tag assembly for measuring a characteristic of a tree includes a band and a shield strip. The band is configured to encircle the tree and has a plurality of tags spaced apart along the band. The shield strip extends along the band to thereby shield a number of tags in the plurality of tags such that the plurality of tags includes shielded tags and unshielded tags. The shield strip prevents the shielded tags from being read or emitting signals and while the unshielded tags can be read or emit signals such that the characteristic of the tree can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Arbre Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Meyers, Matthieu Vollmer, Michael J. Riebel, Milton J. Riebel
  • Publication number: 20190062508
    Abstract: Lignin is recovered from biomass or byproducts from biomass processing through the use of organic solvents and water while modifying the form or composition of the lignin. During the separation and recovery process, the lignin can be modified or integrated into a form which is more suitable for its intended use. As the lignin is suspended or is soluble within the organic solvent, the integration of materials or reactants may be more easily blended or dispersed within the lignin to improve performance, quality and overall production efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: DAVID J. WINSNESS, MICHAEL J. RIEBEL, MILTON J. RIEBEL
  • Patent number: 9587098
    Abstract: Biocomposite compositions and compositions, which include dried distillers solubles, and which can be used in making biocomposite compositions are described. Methods for preparing the compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GS CLEANTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, Jeffrey L. Tate
  • Patent number: 9587099
    Abstract: Biocomposite compositions and compositions, which include dried distillers solubles, and which can be used in making biocomposite compositions are described. Methods for preparing the compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GS CLEANTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, Jeffrey L. Tate
  • Publication number: 20170036421
    Abstract: Biolaminate composite assemblies are provided. Generally, the biolaminate composite assemblies may comprise one or more biolaminate layers and at least one biolaminate layer may comprise polylactic acid. In one embodiment, a biolaminate composite assembly is provided comprising one or more biolaminate layers wherein the biolaminate composite assembly is three-dimensionally formable over a rigid non-plastic substrate. At least one of the biolaminate layers comprises polylactic acid and a natural wax. In another embodiment, a method for forming a biolaminate composite assembly is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, Milton Riebel
  • Publication number: 20160340909
    Abstract: A wall panel system includes a plurality of extruded composite building panels for mounting to a wall that can be repaired or refinished. The panels include a plurality of ribs for contacting the wall and a lip for overlapping one of the plurality of panels immediately below. The wall panel system includes joint clips and flashings that over lap seams between abutting panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: Green Bay Decking, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Riebel, Timothy Dean Lusk
  • Publication number: 20160279593
    Abstract: High surface energy materials with low refractive index and UV transparency wherein multilayers of similar or dissimilar materials are thermally fused together to form various functional optical requirements are provided. In some embodiments, a photocatalytic biopolymer structure comprising of a UV transparent biopolymer in integrating fused nanophotocatalytic minerals such as Tio2 used for various applications is provided. Many embodiments are based on the integration of nanophotocatalytic minerals fused to a biopolymer structure in which the biopolymer structure is UV transparent (UVT) and allows UV light to be transmitted through the biopolymer structure activating the nanophotocatalytic fused layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Michael J. Riebel