Patents by Inventor Roberta L. Farrell

Roberta L. Farrell 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: 5998197
    Abstract: Ascospores of wood-penetrating, pitch-grading fungi of the class of Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina, eg. Ophiostromas, may be screened to provide fungi combining the properties of good growth on non-sterile wood substrates and minimized or even enhanced brightness effects for use in pitch reduction of wood substrates, eg. logs and wood chips. A new and improved method of isolating such ascospores involving effective suspension in an oil consumable by the fungus, eg. a vegetable oil, and then treatment of the oil with a dispersing agent is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Roberta L. Farrell, Yitzhak Hadar, Philip A. Wendler, Wendy Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5853537
    Abstract: Wood-penetrating fungi of the classes Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina may be used very effectively to degrade pitch in wood forms used in the making of cellulosic products. Such fungi include but are not limited to the blue stain fungi. The process of Ascospore selection may be used to provide fungi which exhibit good growth on wood substrate while having little or no effects on substrate brightness, or even a positive effect on brightness. The treatment positively influences strength properties of ultimate products such as paper. In one embodiment the pulpwood or pulp is treated with a pitch degrading fungus of the genus Ophiostoma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Roberta L. Farrell, Yitzhak Hadar, Johnnie E. Merritt, II, Robert A. Snyder, Philip A. Wendler, Wendy Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5766926
    Abstract: The bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pantoea (Enterobacter) agglomerans, Bacillus cereus, and Xanthomonas campestris are useful in reducing the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in making cellulosic products. Such bacteria are also useful in reducing the color staining by staining fungi of structural wood by inoculating the structural wood or log sources from which it is to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Todd A. Burnes, Roberta L. Farrell, Sara Iverson
  • Patent number: 5711945
    Abstract: The bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens and Xanthomonas campestris are useful in reducing the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in making cellulosic products. Such bacteria are also useful in reducing the color staining by staining fungi of structural wood by inoculating the structural wood or log sources from which it is to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Todd A. Burnes, Roberta L. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5616473
    Abstract: The gene encoding the ligninase rLDM.TM. 6 has been cloned and expressed. The ligninases produced via the processes disclosed herein are useful to degrade or modify lignin in pulp operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Roberta L. Farrell, Paul Gelep, Algis Anilionis, Kashayar Javaherian, Theodore E. Maione, James Rusche, Bruce A. Sadownick, Jennifer A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5609724
    Abstract: Ascospores of wood-penetrating, pitch-grading fungi of the class of Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina, eg. Ophiostromas, may be screened to provide fungi combining the properties of good growth on non-sterile wood substrates and minimized or even enhanced brightness effects for use in pitch reduction of wood substrates, eg. logs and wood chips. A new and improved method of isolating such ascospores involving effective suspension in an oil consumable by the fungus, eg. a vegetable oil, and then treatment of the oil with a dispersing agent is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd
    Inventors: Roberta L. Farrell, Yitzhak Hadar, Philip A. Wendler, Wendy Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5607855
    Abstract: This invention relates to fungi having particularly desirable overall properties for reducing the pitch content of pulpwoods and pulps, and to the preparation and use of such fungi. In particular, the present invention provides a biologically pure cultures of the fungus Ophiostoma piliferum which are characterized by not only growing white or colorless and by having good growth virulence, but which also exhibit exceptional pitch degradation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Wendy C. Zimmerman, Roberta L. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5554535
    Abstract: The white rot fungus Scytinostroma galactinum strain F361 and mutants thereof are particularly effective in selectively grading the lignin component of lignin-containing materials, particularly processed wood pulps including chemical pulps, and also particularly effective in degrading lignin degradation products such as chlorinated degraded lignin by-products as found, for example, in E-1 effluents, and also in degrading chlorine-containing aromatic compounds generally as found in aqueous waste streams containing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Theresa S. Brush, Roberta L. Farrell, Keith A. Krisa, Chittra Mishra
  • Patent number: 5545544
    Abstract: The white rot fungus Scytinostroma galactinum strain F361 and mutants thereof are particularly effective in selectively grading the lignin component of lignin-containing materials, particularly processed wood pulps including chemical pulps, and also particularly effective in degrading lignin degradation products such as chlorinated degraded lignin by-products as found, for example, in E-1 effluents, and also in degrading chlorine-containing aromatic compounds generally as found in aqueous waste streams containing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignees: Sandoz Ltd., The Regents of the Univ. of Minnesota
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Theresa S. Brush, Roberta L. Farrell, Keith A. Krisa, Chittra Mishra
  • Patent number: 5538752
    Abstract: Compositions comprising melanin or melanin precursors are useful for preventing or controlling decay of substrates such as cellulosic and other porous organic substrates. The compositions provide useful wood preservatives, wound dressings, and the like. In one embodiment, the compositions comprise melanin complexed with metal ions, particularly copper. The compositions may be applied as penetrating or surface treatments. Certain melanins are also particularly useful for removing metal ions from liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignees: Regents of the Univ. of Minnesota, Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Theresa S. Brush, Roberta L. Farrell
  • Patent number: 5532164
    Abstract: Fungi which grow white/colorless and reduce pitch are used to protect structural wood before or after cutting from logs against color staining by staining fungi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Roberta L. Farrell, Chad J. Behrendt
  • Patent number: 5518921
    Abstract: Fungi which grow white/colorless and reduce pitch are used to protect structural wood before or after cutting from logs against color staining by staining fungi. The fungus Phanerochaete gigantea is also useful to facilitate debarking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Roberta L. Farrell, Chad J. Behrendt
  • Patent number: 5476789
    Abstract: Ascospores of wood-penetrating, pitch-grading fungi of the class of Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina, e.g. Ophiostromas, may be screened to provide fungi combining the properties of good growth on non-sterile wood substrates and minimized or even enhanced brightness effects for use in pitch reduction of wood substrates, e.g. logs and wood chips. A new and improved method of isolating such ascospores involving effective suspension in an oil consumable by the fungus, e.g. a vegetable oil, and then treatment of the oil with a dispersing agent is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Roberta L. Farrell, Yitzhak Hadar, Philip A. Wendler, Wendy Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5476790
    Abstract: The fungi Schizophyllum commune, Trichaptum biforme and Phanerochaete gigantea are useful in reducing the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in making cellulosic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Roberta L. Farrell, Sara Iverson
  • Patent number: 5472874
    Abstract: The fungus Phlebia tremellosa is useful in reducing the pitch content of pulps and pulpwoods used in making cellulosic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Roberta L. Farrell, Sara Iverson
  • Patent number: 5427945
    Abstract: The white rot fungus Scytinostroma galactinum strain F361 and mutants thereof are particularly effective in selectively grading the lignin component of lignin-containing materials, particularly processed wood pulps including chemical pulps, and also particularly effective in degrading lignin degradation products such as chlorinated degraded lignin by-products as found, for example, in E-1 effluents, and also in degrading chlorine-containing aromatic compounds generally as found in aqueous waste streams containing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignees: Sandoz Ltd., The Regents of the Univ. of Minnesota
    Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette, Theresa S. Brush, Roberta L. Farrell, Keith A. Krisa, Chittra Mishra
  • Patent number: 5077394
    Abstract: Disclosed are tetraphenyl porphyrins which are beta-substituted by fluoro or chloro and/or bear electronegative substituents on the phenyl including one or two water solubilizing substituents. The new porphorins are particularly suitable as catalysts in a variety of oxidative reactions and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Sandoz Ltd.
    Inventors: David H. Dolphin, Taku Nakano, Thomas K. Kirk, Tilak P. Wijesekera, Roberta L. Farrell, Theodore E. Maione
  • Patent number: 4892941
    Abstract: Disclosed are tetraphenyl porphyrins which are beta-substituted by fluoro or chloro and/or bear electronegative substituents on the phenyl including one or two water solubilizing substituents. The new porphorins are particularly suitable as catalysts in a variety of oxidative reactions and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventors: David H. Dolphin, Taku Nakano, Thomas K. Kirk, Tilak P. Wijesekera, Roberta L. Farrell, Theodore E. Maione
  • Patent number: 4692413
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel process for decolorization of E1 effluent. Specifically, novel enzymes, designated rLDM.TM., and other ligninolytic enzymes present in the extracellular growth medium from a fermentation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, are used to decolorize the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Repligen Corporation
    Inventor: Roberta L. Farrell
  • Patent number: 4690895
    Abstract: The subject invention concerns a novel enzymatic process for bleaching kraft pulp. Specifically, novel enzymes, designated rLDM.TM., and other ligninolytic enzymes present in the extracellular growth medium from a fermentation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, are used to bleach kraft pulp to a desired lighter color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Repligen Corporation
    Inventor: Roberta L. Farrell