Patents by Inventor Minna Lahtinen

Minna Lahtinen 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: 9670508
    Abstract: The invention is a method of two-phase anaerobic digestion where monitoring and adjusting the nitrogen status (carbon to nitrogen molar ratio, i.e. C/N molar ratio or total or ammoniacal nitrogen content) enables maintaining optimum conditions during the process. The method improves the use of a variety of feedstock materials or facilitates monodigestion of one feedstock. Especially the introduction of nitrogen rich feedstock materials in the process is amended. A community of hydrolyzing and acidogenic microorganisms in the first phase digester performs ammonification i.e. release of organic nitrogen as ammonia. Nitrogen and phosphorus are removed and recovered from the digestate which then undergoes biogasification in the second phase of the process. Reject water from biogasification can be recycled within the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DUCTOR OY
    Inventors: Ari Ketola, Kerttu Koskenniemi, Minna Lahtinen, Jarkko Nummela, Nina Virolainen, Ilkka Virkajärvi
  • Publication number: 20150275234
    Abstract: The invention is a method of two-phase anaerobic digestion where monitoring and adjusting the nitrogen status (carbon to nitrogen molar ratio, i.e. C/N molar ratio or total or ammoniacal nitrogen content) enables maintaining optimum conditions during the process. The method improves the use of a variety of feedstock materials or facilitates monodigestion of one feedstock. Especially the introduction of nitrogen rich feedstock materials in the process is amended. A community of hydrolyzing and acidogenic microorganisms in the first phase digester performs ammonification i.e. release of organic nitrogen as ammonia. Nitrogen and phosphorus are removed and recovered from the digestate which then undergoes biogasification in the second phase of the process. Reject water from biogasification can be recycled within the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Ari Ketola, Kerttu Koskenniemi, Minna Lahtinen, Jarkko Nummela, Nina Virolainen, IIkka Virkajärvi
  • Patent number: 8691551
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing phosphate from an organic material, the method including the steps of (a) fermenting an organic material in a medium in the presence of at least one microorganism, wherein the fermenting is under conditions, and for a sufficient period of time, to produce a fermentation product; (b) treating the solids of the fermentation product with acid, in a medium, e.g., aqueous medium, to solubilize phosphates from the fermentation product; wherein the organic material, and thus the solids of the fermentation product, includes bone suitable for extraction of phosphates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ductor Oy
    Inventors: Minna Lahtinen, Elisa Lensu, Laura Tolvanen, Ilona Oksanen, Juha Karjalainen