Patents by Inventor Oliver Thum

Oliver Thum 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: 20240002813
    Abstract: Cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, are provided. A glucose dehydrogenase and a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 11685905
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 11421254
    Abstract: A method for oxidizing an alkyl, including a) contacting the alkyl with an aqueous solution comprising a microorganism where the microorganism has a reduced fatty acid degradation capacity compared to its wild type, wherein the fatty acid degradation capacity is reduced by deletion, inhibition or inactivation of a gene encoding an enzyme involved in the ?-oxidation pathway; and the microorganism expresses a recombinant alkane oxidase, and b) contacting the aqueous solution from a) with a water-immiscible organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Haas, Oliver Thum, Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Philip Engel, Christian Gehring, Markus Poetter
  • Publication number: 20210024967
    Abstract: A method for oxidizing an alkyl, including a) contacting the alkyl with an aqueous solution comprising a microorganism where the microorganism has a reduced fatty acid degradation capacity compared to its wild type, wherein the fatty acid degradation capacity is reduced by deletion, inhibition or inactivation of a gene encoding an enzyme involved in the ?-oxidation pathway; and the microorganism expresses a recombinant alkane oxidase, and b) contacting the aqueous solution from a) with a water-immiscible organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas HAAS, Oliver Thum, Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Philip Engel, Christian Gehring, Markus Poetter
  • Patent number: 10626391
    Abstract: The invention provides granules comprising A) at least one enzyme selected from at least one of the groups selected from transferases of EC 2, hydrolases of EC 3, lyases of EC 4 and isomerases of EC 5, B) at least one polymer selected from C1-C10-alkyl acrylate polymer, C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate polymer and C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer, preferably C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer and C) at least one inorganic carrier material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hellmers, Thomas Hueller, Thomas Dassinger, Oliver Thum
  • Publication number: 20200063172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microbial cell for producing at least one L-amino acid from at least one C1-C4 alkane, wherein the cell comprises: (i) an increased expression relative to the wild type cell of Enzyme E1 capable of converting the alkane to a corresponding 1-alkanol; (ii) an increased expression relative to the wild type cell of Enzyme E2 capable of converting the 1-alkanol of (i) to a corresponding aldehyde; and either (iii) (A) an increased expression relative to the wild type cell of Enzyme E3 capable of converting the aldehyde of (ii) to a corresponding alkanoic acid; and a wild-type level expression of Enzyme E4 or an increased expression relative to the wild type cell of Enzyme E4 capable of converting the alkanoic acid of (iii) to a corresponding fatty acyl thioester; or ?(B) an increased expression relative to the wild type cell of Enzyme E5 capable of converting the aldehyde of (ii) to a corresponding fatty acyl thioester; ?and (iv) an increased expression relative to the wi
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Philip Engel, Steffen Schaffer, Oliver Thum, Heiko Andrea, Christian Gehring, Bastian Grund
  • Patent number: 10450590
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an ?,?-alkanediol comprising the steps of a) reacting an alkanoic acid with an alkanol to give an ester, b) oxidizing at least one terminal carbon atom of the ester by contacting with a whole-cell catalyst, which expresses an alkane hydroxylase, in aqueous solution and in the presence of molecular oxygen, to give an oxidized ester, c) hydrogenating the oxidized ester to form the alkanediol and alkanol, and d) removing the alkanol by distillation, forming a reaction mixture depleted with respect to the alkanol, and recycling the alkanol in step b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Haas, Philip Engel, Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Oliver Thum, Christian Gehring
  • Publication number: 20190271020
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Publication number: 20190233856
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of an ABC glucose transporter and, compared to the wild type thereof, an increased activity of at least one non-ABC glucose transporter and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 10174353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing at least one rhamnolipid comprising: contacting a recombinant cell with a medium containing a carbon source; and culturing the cell under suitable conditions for preparation of the rhamnolipid from the carbon source by the cell, wherein the recombinant cell has been genetically modified such that, compared to the wild-type of the cell, the cell has an increased activity of at least one of the enzymes E1, E2 and E3, wherein the enzyme E1 is an ?/? hydrolase, the enzyme E2 is a rhamnosyltransferase I and the enzyme E3 is a rhamnosyl-transferase II, and wherein the carbon source is a C4 molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Philip Engel, Christian Gehring, Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 10053411
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of extracting 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) and/or derivatives thereof from an aqueous solution comprising 3-HPA, the method comprising: (a) contacting the aqueous solution with chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers; (b) separating the 3-HPA bound chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers; and (c) washing the 3-HPA bound chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers at least once with a washing medium; wherein 3-HPA and/or derivatives thereof is in the washing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Tarek Dishisha, Rajni Hatti Kaul, Roya R. R. Sardari, Bastian Grund, Oliver Thum
  • Patent number: 10053713
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing an alkane, comprising contacting the alkane with a type alkB oxidoreductase and using a type alkB oxidoreductase to prepare a mixture of oxidation products of an alkane, wherein the ratio of carboxylic acid to alcohol in the oxidation products is preferably greater than 1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Thomas Haas, Oliver Thum, Frank Erhardt, Eva Maria Wittmann, Christian Gehring, Sabine Hafkemeyer, Thomas Hueller
  • Publication number: 20180170851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of extracting 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) and/or derivatives thereof from an aqueous solution comprising 3-HPA, the method comprising: (a) contacting the aqueous solution with chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers; (b) separating the 3-HPA bound chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers; and (c) washing the 3-HPA bound chitosan and/or chitosan comprising polymers at least once with a washing medium; wherein 3-HPA and/or derivatives thereof is in the washing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Tarek DISHISHA, Rajni Hatti KAUL, Roya R. R. SARDARI, Bastian GRUND, Oliver THUM
  • Patent number: 9919303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing an organic compound from an aqueous solution, comprising the steps of providing the aqueous solution which contains the organic compound, and a hydrophobic organic solution, where the latter comprises a liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger, contacting the aqueous solution and the hydrophobic organic solution, and separating off the hydrophobic organic solution from the aqueous solution, wherein the liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger is a saturated alkanoic acid having at least one alkyl substituent, where the organic compound is an organic compound having at least one positive charge and a neutral or positive total charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Erhardt, Lukas Falke, Ralf Kelle, Harald Haeger, Thomas Haas, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Oliver Thum, Martin Roos, Markus Poetter
  • Publication number: 20170096695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing at least one rhamnolipid comprising: contacting a recombinant cell with a medium containing a carbon source; and culturing the cell under suitable conditions for preparation of the rhamnolipid from the carbon source by the cell, wherein the recombinant cell has been genetically modified such that, compared to the wild-type of the cell, the cell has an increased activity of at least one of the enzymes E1, E2 and E3, wherein the enzyme E1 is an ?/? hydrolase, the enzyme E2 is a rhamnosyltransferase I and the enzyme E3 is a rhamnosyl-transferase II, and wherein the carbon source is a C4 molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: OLIVER THUM, PHILIP ENGEL, CHRISTIAN GEHRING, STEFFEN SCHAFFER, MIRJA WESSEL
  • Publication number: 20170002342
    Abstract: The invention provides granules comprising A) at least one enzyme selected from at least one of the groups selected from transferases of EC 2, hydrolases of EC 3, lyases of EC 4 and isomerases of EC 5, B) at least one polymer selected from C1-C10-alkyl acrylate polymer, C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate polymer and C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer, preferably C1-C10-alkyl acrylate-C1-C10-alkyl methacrylate copolymer and C) at least one inorganic carrier material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Hellmers, Thomas Hueller, Thomas Dassinger, Oliver Thum
  • Publication number: 20160249604
    Abstract: Use of sophorolipids as adjuvants in combination with pesticides as tank mix additive and/or as formulation additive for crop protection and for the industrial non-crop sector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Sabine GIESSLER-BLANK, Martin SCHILLING, Oliver THUM, Ewald SIEVERDING
  • Patent number: 9351485
    Abstract: Use of sophorolipids as adjuvants in combination with pesticides as tank mix additive and/or as formulation additive for crop protection and for the industrial non-crop sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Sabine Giessler-Blank, Martin Schilling, Oliver Thum, Ewald Sieverding
  • Patent number: 9234220
    Abstract: Process for heterogeneously catalyzed preparation of carboxylic acid derivatives using a reactor system comprising at least one reservoir vessel V, feed lines, at least one pump and a reaction vessel R, characterized in that a permanent gas flow through the reaction vessel R is applied through a gas feed line, and in which a reaction chamber in which the heterogeneous catalyst is not introduced in tightly packed form is delimited by at least two filters such that both the mass flow and the gas flow are passed through the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Evonik DeGussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Lutz Hilterhaus, Andreas Liese
  • Publication number: 20150353963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an ?,?-alkanediol comprising the steps of a) reacting an alkanoic acid with an alkanol to give an ester, b) oxidizing at least one terminal carbon atom of the ester by contacting with a whole-cell catalyst, which expresses an alkane hydroxylase, in aqueous solution and in the presence of molecular oxygen, to give an oxidized ester, c) hydrogenating the oxidized ester to form the alkanediol and alkanol, and d) removing the alkanol by distillation, forming a reaction mixture depleted with respect to the alkanol, and recycling the alkanol in step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas HAAS, Philip ENGEL, Jan Christoph PFEFFER, Oliver THUM, Christian GEHRING