Patents by Inventor Sean Dennis

Sean Dennis 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: 20230357803
    Abstract: Improving overall carbon capture and improving overall production yield in chemical manufacturing facilities by integrating microbial fermentation into existing oil and gas infrastructure. Converting carbon sources that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere or discarded as waste to one or more products. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing desirable products, such as ethylene, from industrial waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Zarath Morgan Summers
  • Publication number: 20230357800
    Abstract: Improving overall carbon capture and improving overall production yield in chemical manufacturing facilities by integrating microbial fermentation into existing oil and gas infrastructure. Converting carbon sources that would otherwise be vented to the atmosphere or discarded as waste to one or more products. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing desirable products, such as ethylene, from industrial waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Zarath Morgan Summers
  • Patent number: 11788103
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the combination of a primary fermentation that converts gas to acetate with a secondary fermentation that converts acetate to a target product. Preferably, the gas contains carbon dioxide, such that the disclosure enables the fixation of carbon dioxide into useful products. The fermentations may be any combination of aerobic and anaerobic, batch and continuous. The fermenting microorganisms may typically be bacterial or fungal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Allan Haiming Gao, Robert John Conrado, James Daniel Winkler, Alexander Paul Mueller, Steven Brown, Loan Phuong Tran, Michael Koepke, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
  • Publication number: 20230129301
    Abstract: The disclosure provides genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganisms capable of producing nanobodies. Additionally, the disclosure provides engineered microorganisms comprising one or more disrupted genes to strategically divert carbon flux away from nonessential or undesirable products towards products and/or co-products of interest. The disclosure enables co-production of useful chemicals from gaseous substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Fackler, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Stephanie Rhianon Jones
  • Publication number: 20230092645
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO into one or more first products which, in turn, may be incorporated into an article of manufacture or one or more second products. Further, the disclosure relates to improving carbon capture and/or efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jennifer Rosa Holmgren, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Robert John Conrado, Ralph Dwayne Gillespie
  • Publication number: 20230090600
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for producing an isoprenoid alcohol, isoprenoid alcohol derivative, or a terpene precursor thereof by microbial fermentation. Typically, the method involves culturing a recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate whereby the bacterium produces an isoprenoid alcohol, isoprenoid alcohol derivative, terpene or a precursor thereof. The microorganism may comprise one or more exogenous enzymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Rupert Oliver John Norman, Shivani Garg
  • Publication number: 20230059296
    Abstract: What is described is an integrated steel mill and a bioreactor configured to produce useful products from the waste stream of the steel mill. A waste gas stack which is connected to the steel mill is connected to a heat exchanger to cool the waste gas from the steel mill. The cooled gas is pressurized using a pressurization apparatus connected to the heat exchanger. The pressurized gas is sent to an oxygen removal apparatus connected to the pressurization apparatus. An oxygen depleted waste stream from the oxygen removal apparatus is passed to a bioreactor (connected to the oxygen removal apparatus) where microorganisms ferment the waste stream to products. Optional apparatus such as scrubbers, valves, buffers, are also disclosed. The products of the fermentation in the bioreactor can be ethanol and or acetate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20230050887
    Abstract: The disclosure provides genetically engineered microorganisms capable of producing antigen-binding molecules. Additionally, the disclosure provides engineered microorganisms comprising one or more disrupted genes to strategically divert carbon flux away from undesirable products towards products, and optionally co-products, of interest. Further, the disclosure enables co-production of useful chemicals from gaseous substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Fackler, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Stephanie Rhianon Jones
  • Publication number: 20220333140
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure is capable of utilizing a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO2 concentration modules, one or more O2 separation modules, and/or a water electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO2 to CO conversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Emerson Martin, Jason Carl Bromley, Richard Russell Rosin
  • Publication number: 20220325216
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods to improve the economics of the gas fermentation process. A fermentation process is integrated with an industrial or syngas process and an reverse water gas shift process. An intermittent supply of reverse water gas shift process feedstock from the reverse water gas shift process is provided to the bioreactor for fermentation. The reverse water gas shift process feedstock may supplement or partially displace the C1 feedstock from the industrial or syngas process. Whether the reverse water gas shift process feedstock supplements or displaces the C1 feedstock may be based upon a function of the cost per unit of the C1 feedstock, the cost per unit of the reverse water gas shift process feedstock, and the value per unit of the fermentation product, or may depend upon the target gas ratio of the feedstock to the gas fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Emerson Martin, Jason Carl Bromley, Richard Russell Rosin, Darren Earl Youngs
  • Publication number: 20220325227
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for the integration of a fermentation process with at least one electrolysis process, a CO2 to CO conversion unit, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the disclosure provides process and a system for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2 in a CO2 to CO conversion unit to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation processes or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the disclosure provides a process in which H2 generated by electrolysis is passed to a CO2 to CO conversion unit to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Emerson Martin, Jason Carl Bromley, Richard Russell Rosin
  • Publication number: 20220325218
    Abstract: Methods and systems to control flexible gas fermentation platforms for improved conversion of CO2 into products is developed and particularly relates to a control process and system to control a ratio of feedstock gases and maximize the concentration of inert components in a bioreactor tail gas stream and or bioreactor headspace. Improved carbon utilization results though providing the most beneficial ratio of substrates to the bioreactor of the fermentation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Jason Carl Bromley, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Emerson Martin
  • Publication number: 20220325217
    Abstract: An integrated process and system for the production of at least one gas fermentation product from a gaseous stream has been developed. The disclosure provides improved carbon utilization through both the recycle of a bioreactor tail gas via various different flow schemes and the employment of a CO2 to CO conversion system such as a reverse water gas shift unit. Recycling of the bioreactor tail gas and employment of a CO2 to CO conversion process provides for favourable H2:CO molar ratios of the feed to the gas fermentation bioreactor(s) for enhanced production of fermentation products. Bypass embodiments provide for optimal sizing of the reverse water gas shift unit to minimize cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Emerson Martin, Jason Carl Bromley, Darren Earl Youngs, Richard Russell Rosin
  • Publication number: 20220315876
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for methods and a system for storing energy in the form of a biopolymer. The method comprises intermittently processing electric energy generated from a renewable and/or non-renewable energy source in an electrolysis process to produce at least H2, Oor CO; intermittently passing H2, O2, or CO from the electrolysis process to a bioreactor containing a bacterial culture capable of producing a biopolymer; and fermenting the culture. The disclosure further provides a system for storing energy in the form of biopolymer comprising an electrolysis process in intermittent fluid communication with a renewable and/or non-renewable energy source for producing at least one of H2, O2, or CO; a bioreactor, in intermittent fluid communication with the electrolysis process and/or in continuous fluid communication with an industrial plant, comprising a reaction vessel suitable for intermittently growing, fermenting, and/or culturing and housing a microorganism capable of producing a biopolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Xueliang Li
  • Publication number: 20220010350
    Abstract: A fermentation unit and a method of carrying out fermentation are described. The fermentation unit can be transported from one facility to another to carry out a fermentation process. The fermentation unit and method allow for the fermentation of a C1-containing substrate from a source at a particular facility to produce products such as alcohols and acids. Examples of the source of the C1-containing substrate include without limitation steel manufacturing processes, coal and biomass gasification processes, coke manufacturing processes, etc. The fermentation unit can be housed within a container having a volume of less than about 6 m3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20210381010
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO into one or more first products which, in turn, may be incorporated into an article of manufacture or one or more second products. Further, the disclosure relates to improving carbon capture and/or efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Sean Dennis Simpson
  • Patent number: 11155850
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods are described for the efficient evaluation of C1-containing substrates, and especially for such evaluation conducted locally, or on-site, at a prospective facility for implementation of a biological conversion process for desired end product using a C1 carbon source. The exact composition of a given, industrial C1-containing substrate, as well as the range in composition fluctuations, are generally difficult to reproduce at a remote facility (e.g., a laboratory or a pilot-scale or demonstration-scale process), as required for the accurate prediction/modeling of commercial performance to justify large capital expenditures for commercial scale-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Publication number: 20210277430
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems to produce lipid products from a gaseous substrate using a two-stage fermentation process. The method comprises providing a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2 or H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms and fermenting the substrate to produce acetate. The acetate from the first bioreactor is then provided to a second bioreactor, where it is used as a substrate for fermentation to lipids by one or more microalgae. Tail gas from the second bioreactor is recycled to the first bioreactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Robert John Conrado
  • Patent number: 11111510
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for the production of lipid products from a gaseous substrate using a two stage fermentation process. The method comprises providing a gaseous substrate comprising CO, CO2 or H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms, and fermenting the substrate to produce acetate. The acetate from the first bioreactor is then provided to a second bioreactor, where it is used as a substrate for fermentation to lipids by one or more microalgae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited, DBT-IOC Centre for Advanced Bio-Energy Research
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Sebastian Michal Bernasek, Deepak K Tuli
  • Patent number: 11053517
    Abstract: The invention provides for methods by which the economics of the gas fermentation process are improved. The invention provides for the integration of a fermentation process, with an industrial process and an electrolyzer process. The invention provides for the intermittent supply of electrolyzer feedstock from the electrolyzer process to the bioreactor for fermentation. The electrolyzer feedstock may displace at least a portion of the C1 feedstock from the industrial process. The electrolyzer feedstock may supplement the C1 feedstock from the industrial process. Whether or not the electrolyzer feedstock supplements or displaces the C1 feedstock with electrolyzer feedstock may be based upon a function of the cost per unit of the C1 feedstock, the cost per unit of the electrolyzer feedstock, and the value per unit of the fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea