Patents by Inventor Michael Milway

Michael Milway 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: 20250194624
    Abstract: Provided herein are fermentation methods that improve the nutritional value and physical properties of microbial oil. Specifically, provided is a method of producing oil with increased omega-7 fatty acids. The method comprises culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium with less than 0.3 mg/L zinc, wherein the culturing produces an oil comprising fatty acids, wherein the oil comprises increased omega-7 fatty acids compared to a control oil. Optionally, the oil is isolated from the microorganisms of the culture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Zachary Sun, Mercia Valentine, Joshua Lowrey, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20250154552
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Publication number: 20250154537
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Robert E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 12262720
    Abstract: Provided herein are fermentation methods that improve the nutritional value and physical properties of microbial oil. Specifically, provided is a method of producing oil with increased omega-7 fatty acids. The method comprises culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium with less than 0.3 mg/L zinc, wherein the culturing produces an oil comprising fatty acids, wherein the oil comprises increased omega-7 fatty acids compared to a control oil. Optionally, the oil is isolated from the microorganisms of the culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Zachary Sun, Mercia Valentine, Joshua Lowrey, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 11959120
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20240060112
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Berryman, Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 11827918
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Berryman, Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20230250455
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 11578304
    Abstract: Provided is a method of culturing one or more microorganisms. The method includes culturing one or more microorganisms in a medium comprising crude glycerol at a first concentration level, feeding to the media an additional amount of crude glycerol, once the first concentration of glycerol is reduced to a first threshold level, at a concentration sufficient to achieve the first concentration level, monitoring the crude glycerol concentration until the first concentration level of the crude glycerol is reduced to the first threshold level. The steps may be repeated until a desired microorganism cell density is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Laura Purdue, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Zhiyong Sun, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20220356506
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Patent number: 11345943
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Publication number: 20210392913
    Abstract: Provided herein are fermentation methods that improve the nutritional value and physical properties of microbial oil. Specifically, provided is a method of producing oil with increased omega-7 fatty acids. The method comprises culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium with less than 0.3 mg/L zinc, wherein the culturing produces an oil comprising fatty acids, wherein the oil comprises increased omega-7 fatty acids compared to a control oil. Optionally, the oil is isolated from the microorganisms of the culture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Zachary Sun, Mercia Valentine, Joshua Lowrey, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20210123083
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Berryman, Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 10920261
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The method includes providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms and medium, wherein the microorganisms and medium form a start volume. The microorganisms and medium are cultured until the culture reaches a threshold indicator, wherein culturing comprises feeding one or more carbon sources to the culture and wherein the culture is at a threshold volume when the threshold indicator is reached. The method also includes harvesting a portion of the threshold volume to leave a residual volume that is 40% or less of the start volume and adding fresh medium to the container in an amount to return the volume of the culture to the start volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Berryman, Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20210040519
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 10851395
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20200332338
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Patent number: 10676775
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Patent number: 10385370
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20180208954
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta