Patents by Inventor Pim Van Hoek

Pim Van Hoek 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: 9428776
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cargill Incorporated
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian J. Rush
  • Publication number: 20140377794
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian J. Rush
  • Patent number: 8828707
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian Rush
  • Patent number: 8137953
    Abstract: Yeast cells having an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene ae modified by reducing L- or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity in the cell. This leads to reduced consumption of lactate by the cell and can increase overall lactate yields in a fermentation process. Cells having the reduced L- or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity can be screened for by resistance to organic acids such as lactic or glycolic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Cargill Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Miller, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Benjamin Matthew Hause, Pim Van Hoek, Catherine Asleson Dundon
  • Publication number: 20110229873
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristors Aristidou, Brian Rush
  • Patent number: 7939298
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill Inc.
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian Rush
  • Publication number: 20090253189
    Abstract: Yeast cells having an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene ae modified by reducing L- or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity in the cell. This leads to reduced consumption of lactate by the cell and can increase overall lactate yields in a fermentation process. Cells having the reduced I, or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity can be screened for by resistance to organic acids such as lactic or glycolic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Matthew Miller, Pirkko Suominen, Aristos Aristidou, Benjamin Matthew Hause, Pim Van Hoek, Catherine Asleson Dundon
  • Patent number: 7232664
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: NatureWorks LLC
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian Rush
  • Publication number: 20040043444
    Abstract: Specific oxygen uptake (OUR) is used as a process control parameter in fermentation processes. OUR is determined during at least the production phase of a fermentation process, and process parameters are adjusted to maintain the OUR within desired ranges. The invention is particularly applicable when the fermentation is conducted using a microorganism having a natural PDC pathway that has been disrupted so that it no longer functions. Microorganisms of this sort often produce poorly under strictly anaerobic conditions. Microaeration controlled by monitoring OUR allows the performance of the microorganism to be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Pim Van Hoek, Aristos Aristidou, Brian Rush