Patents by Inventor Peter J. Fernholz

Peter J. Fernholz 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: 20220267809
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Patent number: 11352649
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20220127550
    Abstract: The invention discloses cleaning compositions which employ a synergistic combination of an ester solvent, preferably a fatty acid methyl ester in combination with one or more linear alkyl amines. The alkyl amines act as to remove and suspend organic oils which have been burnt or adhered to a surface with heat and may even be used alone as a soil removal agent. The cleaning compositions have particular use in cleaning of distillation towers associated with biofuel, and vegetable oil refining, but also find use in cleaning ovens, food cooking surfaces and even dry cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Chris Nagel, Eric Victor Schmidt, Mark Levitt, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 11241723
    Abstract: A clean-in-place process may begin with a pre-rinse step in which soil (e.g., contaminants, residual product) is flushed from industrial equipment prior to circulating a cleaning agent through the equipment. To determine when the equipment has been suitably flushed, pre-rinse fluid exiting the industrial equipment and containing soil may be fluorometrically analyzed. A concentration of the soil is determined from fluorescent emissions emitted by the soil itself. Based on this information, the pre-rinse flushing process can be controlled, for example, to minimize water usage, maximize pre-rinse cleaning, or based on any other suitable metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 11242500
    Abstract: The invention discloses cleaning compositions which employ a synergistic combination of an ester solvent, preferably a fatty acid methyl ester in combination with one or more linear alkyl amines. The alkyl amines act as to remove and suspend organic oils which have been burnt or adhered to a surface with heat and may even be used alone as a soil removal agent. The cleaning compositions have particular use in cleaning of distillation towers associated with biofuel, and vegetable oil refining, but also find use in cleaning ovens, food cooking surfaces and even dry cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Nagel, Eric Victor Schmidt, Mark D. Levitt, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 11226070
    Abstract: During the production of consumable liquids such as milk, soup, and juice, the liquid consumable may be transferred from one location to another location through a fluid conduit. For example, a consumable liquid may be transferred from a storage tank to another destination through piping. At the end of the process, the piping may be purged with a flushing fluid to push the liquid consumable remaining in the piping to the end destination, thus preventing the volume of liquid remaining in the piping from being wasted. To control the flushing processing, fluid flowing through the piping may be fluorometrically analyzed to determine a concentration of product in the fluid. The flushing liquid can then be controlled based on the determined concentration. For example, the supply of flushing liquid may be terminated when the concentration of product falls below a threshold, indicating the flushing liquid is diluting the liquid consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Anthony Erickson, Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20200332318
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: PETER J. FERNHOLZ, JAY KUMMET
  • Patent number: 10731183
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Publication number: 20200148978
    Abstract: The invention discloses cleaning compositions which employ a synergistic combination of an ester solvent, preferably a fatty acid methyl ester in combination with one or more linear alkyl amines. The alkyl amines act as to remove and suspend organic oils which have been burnt or adhered to a surface with heat and may even be used alone as a soil removal agent. The cleaning compositions have particular use in cleaning of distillation towers associated with biofuel, and vegetable oil refining, but also find use in cleaning ovens, food cooking surfaces and even dry cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: CHRIS NAGEL, ERIC VICTOR SCHMIDT, MARK D. LEVITT, PETER J. FERNHOLZ
  • Patent number: 10577571
    Abstract: The invention discloses cleaning compositions which employ a synergistic combination of a ester solvent, preferably a fatty acid methyl ester in combination with one or more linear alkyl amines. The alkyl amines act as to remove and suspend organic oils which have been burnt or adhered to a surface with heat and may even be used alone as a soil removal agent. The cleaning compositions have particular use in cleaning of distillation towers associated with biofuel, and vegetable oil refining, but also find use in cleaning ovens, food cooking surfaces and even dry cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Nagel, Eric Victor Schmidt, Mark Levitt, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20190285230
    Abstract: During the production of consumable liquids such as milk, soup, and juice, the liquid consumable may be transferred from one location to another location through a fluid conduit. For example, a consumable liquid may be transferred from a storage tank to another destination through piping. At the end of the process, the piping may be purged with a flushing fluid to push the liquid consumable remaining in the piping to the end destination, thus preventing the volume of liquid remaining in the piping from being wasted. To control the flushing processing, fluid flowing through the piping may be fluorometrically analyzed to determine a concentration of product in the fluid. The flushing liquid can then be controlled based on the determined concentration. For example, the supply of flushing liquid may be terminated when the concentration of product falls below a threshold, indicating the flushing liquid is diluting the liquid consumable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Peter J. FERNHOLZ, Anthony ERICKSON, Rodney H. BANKS
  • Patent number: 10323797
    Abstract: During the production of consumable liquids such as milk, soup, and juice, the liquid consumable may be transferred from one location to another location through a fluid conduit. For example, a consumable liquid may be transferred from a storage tank to another destination through piping. At the end of the process, the piping may be purged with a flushing fluid to push the liquid consumable remaining in the piping to the end destination, thus preventing the volume of liquid remaining in the piping from being wasted. To control the flushing processing, fluid flowing through the piping may be fluorometrically analyzed to determine a concentration of product in the fluid. The flushing liquid can then be controlled based on the determined concentration. For example, the supply of flushing liquid may be terminated when the concentration of product falls below a threshold, indicating the flushing liquid is diluting the liquid consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Anthony Erickson, Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20190119704
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: PETER J. FERNHOLZ, JAY KUMMET
  • Patent number: 10260025
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of activator complexes to enhance lower temperature cleaning in alkaline peroxide cleaning systems. Compositions including at least one of an activator complex, an active oxygen source, and a source of alkalinity are applied to the surface to be cleaned at temperatures between about 5° C. and about 50° C. The methods and compositions of the present invention provide for enhanced soil removal with reduced energy, water, and chemistry consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Erickson, Thomas R. Mohs, Peter J. Fernholz, Robert J. Ryther
  • Publication number: 20190039102
    Abstract: A method of cleaning equipment such as heat exchangers, evaporators, tanks and other industrial equipment using clean-in-place procedures comprising applying a pre-treatment solution prior to the application of an override use solution. A gas generating use solution is present in either the pretreatment or the override use solution. The gas generating use solution is capable of releasing gas on and in a soil, resulting in a soil disruption effect and enhanced cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Anthony W. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10190138
    Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to replace antibiotic compounds and still eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same can replace or act as a substitute for antibiotics, but do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Jay Kummet
  • Patent number: 10099264
    Abstract: A method of cleaning equipment such as heat exchangers, evaporators, tanks and other industrial equipment using clean-in-place procedures comprising applying a pre-treatment solution prior to the application of an override use solution. A gas generating use solution is present in either the pretreatment or the override use solution. The gas generating use solution is capable of releasing gas on and in a soil, resulting in a soil disruption effect and enhanced cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fernholz, Anthony W. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20180221923
    Abstract: A clean-in-place process may begin with a pre-rinse step in which soil (e.g., contaminants, residual product) is flushed from industrial equipment prior to circulating a cleaning agent through the equipment. To determine when the equipment has been suitably flushed, pre-rinse fluid exiting the industrial equipment and containing soil may be fluorometrically analyzed. A concentration of the soil is determined from fluorescent emissions emitted by the soil itself. Based on this information, the pre-rinse flushing process can be controlled, for example, to minimize water usage, maximize pre-rinse cleaning, or based on any other suitable metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20180127688
    Abstract: The invention discloses cleaning compositions which employ a synergistic combination of a ester solvent, preferably a fatty acid methyl ester in combination with one or more linear alkyl amines. The alkyl amines act as to remove and suspend organic oils which have been burnt or adhered to a surface with heat and may even be used alone as a soil removal agent. The cleaning compositions have particular use in cleaning of distillation towers associated with biofuel, and vegetable oil refining, but also find use in cleaning ovens, food cooking surfaces and even dry cleaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Chris Nagel, Eric Victor Schmidt, Mark Levitt, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Patent number: 9937535
    Abstract: A clean-in-place process may begin with a pre-rinse step in which soil (e.g., contaminants, residual product) is flushed from industrial equipment prior to circulating a cleaning agent through the equipment. To determine when the equipment has been suitably flushed, pre-rinse fluid exiting the industrial equipment and containing soil may be fluorometrically analyzed. A concentration of the soil is determined from fluorescent emissions emitted by the soil itself. Based on this information, the pre-rinse flushing process can be controlled, for example, to minimize water usage, maximize pre-rinse cleaning, or based on any other suitable metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Erickson, Peter J. Fernholz