Patents by Inventor Randy Cortright

Randy Cortright 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: 10619106
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Dally, Warren Lyman, Randy Cortright, Paul Blommel
  • Patent number: 10131604
    Abstract: The present invention provides catalysts, methods, and reactor systems for converting oxygenated hydrocarbons to oxygenated compounds. The invention includes methods for producing cyclic ethers, monooxygenates, dioxygenates, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and alcohols from oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like, using catalysts containing Group VIII metals. The oxygenated compounds produced are useful in the production of liquid fuels, chemicals, and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Blank, Randy Cortright, Taylor Beck, Elizabeth Woods, Michael Jehring
  • Patent number: 10005700
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a Group VIII metal and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9944581
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Held, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright, Matthew Gray
  • Patent number: 9873836
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting biomass to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Blommel, Andrew Held, Ralph Goodwin, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9873837
    Abstract: Methods, reactor systems, and catalysts are provided for converting in a continuous process biomass to fuels and chemicals, including methods of converting the water insoluble components of biomass, such as hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, to volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates, such as alcohols, ketones, cyclic ethers, esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, and mixtures thereof. In certain applications, the volatile C2+O1-2 oxygenates can be collected and used as a final chemical product, or used in downstream processes to produce liquid fuels, chemicals and other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, John Kania
  • Patent number: 9873644
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting carboxylic acids to aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Blommel, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9765261
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, Sean Connolly
  • Publication number: 20170247307
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Held, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright, Matthew Gray
  • Patent number: 9695094
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a NinSnm alloy and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9656937
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Held, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright, Matthew Gray
  • Publication number: 20170137719
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, Sean Connolly
  • Patent number: 9593054
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kania, Paul Blommel, Elizabeth Woods, Brice Dally, Warren Lyman, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9587178
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, Sean Connolly
  • Publication number: 20160362346
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a Group VIII metal and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Publication number: 20160332941
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a NinSnm alloy and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Publication number: 20160319203
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass to produce aqueous and organic products using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Ming Qiao, Elizabeth Woods, Paul Myren, Randy Cortright, Sean Connolly
  • Publication number: 20160304427
    Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Held, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright, Matthew Gray
  • Patent number: 9440892
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a Group VIII metal and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright
  • Patent number: 9403736
    Abstract: Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a NinSnm alloy and a crystalline alumina support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor Beck, Brian Blank, Casey Jones, Elizabeth Woods, Randy Cortright