Patents by Inventor Roberto E. Armenta

Roberto E. Armenta 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: 10907115
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for winterizing oil. The methods include heating the oil to a first temperature and maintaining the oil at the first temperature for a first period of time; reducing the first temperature of the oil after the first period of time to a second temperature over a second period of time, wherein reducing the first temperature produces a first solid fraction and first liquid fraction of the oil; removing the first solid fraction from the oil; reducing the second temperature of the first liquid fraction of the oil over a third period of time to a third temperature, wherein reducing the second temperature of the oil produces a second solid fraction and second liquid fraction of the oil; removing the second solid fraction from the oil; and recovering the second liquid fraction of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MARA RENEWABLES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20210024852
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Dorothy A. Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 10851395
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20200332338
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Publication number: 20200325465
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant microorganisms having two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding xylose isomerase, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the xylose isomerase is an exogenous nucleic acid. Optionally, the recombinant microorganisms include at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylulose kinase and/or at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylose transporter. The provided recombinant microorganisms are capable of growing on xylose as a carbon source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, David Woodhall, Mark Scaife, Roberto E. Armenta, Denise Muise, Holly Rasmussen, Jeremy Benjamin
  • Patent number: 10745642
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms, concentrating the disrupted microorganisms, and extracting lipids from the disrupted microorganisms at high temperature in the presence of a salt and in the absence of solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Dorothy A. Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 10676709
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for obtaining flowable oil comprising the steps of providing a population of oil-producing microorganisms; recovering oil from the microorganisms, wherein the oil is at a first temperature; reducing the first temperature over a first period of time to a second temperature; and applying mechanical energy to the oil during the first period of time thereby producing the flowable oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 10676775
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of culturing a microorganism. The methods include providing a container comprising one or more microorganisms in a medium, which has a first carbon to nitrogen ratio; culturing the microorganisms until the culture reaches a threshold indicator; harvesting a portion of the culture while maintaining the majority of the culture in the container; and adding fresh medium comprising a second carbon to nitrogen ratio to the container with the majority of the culture comprising the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Michael Milway, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Roberto E. Armenta, Laura Purdue
  • Patent number: 10662418
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant microorganisms having two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding xylose isomerase, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the xylose isomerase is an exogenous nucleic acid. Optionally, the recombinant microorganisms include at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylulose kinase and/or at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylose transporter. The provided recombinant microorganisms are capable of growing on xylose as a carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, David Woodhall, Mark Scaife, Roberto E. Armenta, Denise Muise, Holly Rasmussen, Jeremy Benjamin
  • Patent number: 10385370
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20190093043
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for winterizing oil. The methods include heating the oil to a first temperature and maintaining the oil at the first temperature for a first period of time; reducing the first temperature of the oil after the first period of time to a second temperature over a second period of time, wherein reducing the first temperature produces a first solid fraction and first liquid fraction of the oil; removing the first solid fraction from the oil; reducing the second temperature of the first liquid fraction of the oil over a third period of time to a third temperature, wherein reducing the second temperature of the oil produces a second solid fraction and second liquid fraction of the oil; removing the second solid fraction from the oil; and recovering the second liquid fraction of the oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20180291363
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant microorganisms having two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding xylose isomerase, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the xylose isomerase is an exogenous nucleic acid. Optionally, the recombinant microorganisms include at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylulose kinase and/or at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylose transporter. The provided recombinant microorganisms are capable of growing on xylose as a carbon source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: MARA Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, David Woodhall, Mark Scaife, Roberto E. Armenta, Denise Muise, Holly Rasmussen, Jeremy Benjamin
  • Patent number: 10059906
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for winterizing oil. The methods include heating the oil to a first temperature and maintaining the oil at the first temperature for a first period of time; reducing the first temperature of the oil after the first period of time to a second temperature over a second period of time, wherein reducing the first temperature produces a first solid fraction and first liquid fraction of the oil; removing the first solid fraction from the oil; reducing the second temperature of the first liquid fraction of the oil over a third period of time to a third temperature, wherein reducing the second temperature of the oil produces a second solid fraction and second liquid fraction of the oil; removing the second solid fraction from the oil; and recovering the second liquid fraction of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20180208954
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20180179560
    Abstract: Provided herein are eukaryotic microorganisms having a simple lipid profile comprising long chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Also provided are compositions and cultures comprising the eukaryotic microorganisms as well as methods of using the eukaryotic microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Violeta Ugalde, Zachary Sun, Anthony Windust, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 9951326
    Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant microorganisms having two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding xylose isomerase, wherein the nucleic acid encoding the xylose isomerase is an exogenous nucleic acid. Optionally, the recombinant microorganisms include at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylulose kinase and/or at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylose transporter. The provided recombinant microorganisms are capable of growing on xylose as a carbon source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Alexandra Merkx-Jacques, David Woodhall, Mark Scaife, Roberto E. Armenta, Denise Muise, Holly Rasmussen, Jeremy Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20180023032
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for winterizing oil. The methods include heating the oil to a first temperature and maintaining the oil at the first temperature for a first period of time; reducing the first temperature of the oil after the first period of time to a second temperature over a second period of time, wherein reducing the first temperature produces a first solid fraction and first liquid fraction of the oil; removing the first solid fraction from the oil; reducing the second temperature of the first liquid fraction of the oil over a third period of time to a third temperature, wherein reducing the second temperature of the oil produces a second solid fraction and second liquid fraction of the oil; removing the second solid fraction from the oil; and recovering the second liquid fraction of the oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20180023047
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for obtaining flowable oil comprising the steps of providing a population of oil-producing microorganisms; recovering oil from the microorganisms, wherein the oil is at a first temperature; reducing the first temperature over a first period of time to a second temperature; and applying mechanical energy to the oil during the first period of time thereby producing the flowable oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Mara Renewables Corporation
    Inventors: Xuan Jiang, Dorothy Dennis, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Patent number: 9873880
    Abstract: Provided are Thraustochytrid and Thraustochytrium and relevant methods and reagents, including engineered regulatory sequences and genes from and/or operative in Thraustochytrid or Thraustochytrium, selectable markers useful for engineering microorganisms such as Thraustochytrids, means for mutagenizing microorganisms, strains produced by mutagenesis, and methods and compositions related to production of particular compounds in microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: DSM Nutritional Products AG
    Inventors: Mark A. Scaife, Roberto E. Armenta
  • Publication number: 20170356018
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of producing oils with reduced saturated fatty acids. The methods include culturing oil-producing microorganisms in a fermentation medium in the presence of one or more antifoaming agents under a controlled carbon consumption rate, wherein the culturing produces oils comprising fatty acids and wherein less than 35% of the fatty acids in the oil are saturated fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Zhiyong Sun, Alan Sothern, Kevin Berryman, Mercia Valentine, Michael Milway, Laura Purdue, Roberto E. Armenta