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: 20200002734
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steel mill adapted to provide gas stream(s) comprising CO to a microbial fermentation, the steel mill comprising a steel mill structure containing apparatus for a steel manufacturing process wherein said apparatus produces waste gases during various stages of the steel making process, said waste gases being directed into the atmosphere by a waste stack, wherein the waste stack is connected to a fermentation system by a transfer means connected to the waste stack to divert at least a portion of the waste gases to the microbial fermentation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20190323042
    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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Robert John Conrado, Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
  • Patent number: 10435722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing products by microbial fermentation. The method comprises first converting a feed stream containing methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO, of the invention include converting CO H2, and CO2 using a steam reforming zone and a water gas shift zone. The gaseous substrate is then converted to products such as alcohols and/or acids by to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids by fermentation using a carboxydotrophic microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 10383330
    Abstract: Disclosed are antimicrobial emulsions, products comprising the emulsions, and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jianming Li, Sean Dennis Connell
  • Patent number: 10358662
    Abstract: The invention provides schemes for the integration of a fermentation process, with an electrolysis process, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the invention provides process for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2, to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation process or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the invention provides a process whereby, H2 generated by electrolysis is used to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by the electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Robert John Conrado, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea, Michael Emerson Martin
  • Publication number: 20190024133
    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: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Patent number: 10113194
    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: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Bjorn Daniel Heijstra, Sean Dennis Simpson, Nicholas Bourdakos, Jason Carl Bromley, Kai-Ming Yap
  • Patent number: 9890399
    Abstract: Methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke
  • Publication number: 20170342446
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a metabolic profile of an anaerobic microbial fermentation culture. In particular, a metabolic profile of a fermentation process is controlled by controlling the amount of dissolved CO2 provided to a culture. Further provided is a method of producing one or more products by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate through feeding tail gas CO2 from a reactor to a second reactor, or by recycling tail gas CO2 to the same reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Kathleen Frances Smart, Loan Phuong Tran, Paul Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20170321232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing products by microbial fermentation. The method comprises first converting a feed stream containing methane to a gaseous substrate comprising CO, of the invention include converting CO H2, and CO2 using a steam reforming zone and a water gas shift zone. The gaseous substrate is then converted to products such as alcohols and/or acids byto one or more products including alcohols and/or acids by fermentation using a carboxydotrophic microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Michael Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Koepke, JR.
  • Patent number: 9783835
    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 and H2 or mixtures thereof, to a first bioreactor containing a culture or one or more microorganisms, and fermenting the substrate to produce a product comprising 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 yeasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Sebastian Michal Bernasek
  • Publication number: 20170236143
    Abstract: A system and process to generate product brand loyalty and provide incentives at the agent-to-agent level of the supply network tree is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments provide a “dynamic coupon” which is a dynamic electronic file construct that includes a changing value associated with a product/service. The dynamic coupon improves for example the effectiveness of existing cashback coupon programs. The coupon may be integrated into a digital wallet, which may be provided to user members (for example agents in the supply chain) on a loyalty network. Each owner of a digital wallet may have dynamic coupons in their wallet that are accrued based on consumer activity with products or services they are involved with. The coupon may be product specific, attached directly to the finished consumer good/service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Shannon Code, Sean Dennis, Gregory Simon
  • Publication number: 20170218404
    Abstract: The invention provides schemes for the integration of a fermentation process, with an electrolysis process, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the invention provides process for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2, to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation process or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the invention provides a process whereby, H2 generated by electrolysis is used to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by the electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Robert John Conrado, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
  • Publication number: 20170214522
    Abstract: A system and process for converting a digital media file into a digital token is disclosed. The embodiments modify a digital media file so that a set of rules are attached to the digital media file creating a digital token, which can be used to persist the digital media file through a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the network is a distributed ledger or blockchain based network that securely tracks distribution of the digital media file. The digital token may have a value added to it or value may intrinsically exist as the digital token is persisted through the network. The value associated with distribution of the digital media file may be used to reward the owner of the digital media file, distributors of the token, or as an incentive program for commercial transactions and non-commercial transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Shannon Code, Sean Dennis, Gregory Simon
  • Publication number: 20170134162
    Abstract: A system and process for securing digital media file content for persistence is disclosed. Aspects of the system and process protect content from being altered or embedded with malicious code during distribution through a network. A digital media file is embedded with a hash function. In some embodiments, successive frames may be hashed. A copy of the hash function may be retrieved from a trusted source which may be located within a distributed ledger network. Copies of the digital media file and hash function are checked at network member nodes to verify authenticity of the content. During verification, the media file may be checked to verify if successive frames (for example 2 or more) comply with the trusted hash function. Metadata for authenticated media files may provide trusted information about the original media file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Shannon Code, Sean Dennis, Gregory Simon
  • Patent number: 9624512
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of products such as alcohols and acids by microbial fermentation, particularly microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO. It more particularly relates to methods and systems for improving efficiency of products by microbial fermentation. In particular embodiments, the invention provides a method of optimizing production of desired products including the step of ascertaining the proportion of CO converted to CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Joseph Henry Tizard
  • Publication number: 20170098291
    Abstract: A system and process for management of liabilities is disclosed. The embodiments mitigate variance in the assessment of liability values. In an exemplary embodiment, a liability may be created under rules stored in the form of an digital token. The rules may form a smart contract wherein the terms within the contract change automatically based on criteria being met. The token associated with the smart contract may have tangible value that can appreciate/depreciate and may thus be a tradeable asset or commodity. The inventory of liabilities associated with an issuer may thus be tracked and value precisely assessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Shannon Code, Sean Dennis, Gregory Simon
  • Patent number: 9359611
    Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to novel genetically modified microorganisms capable of using CO to produce 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof, novel methyltransferases and nucleic acids encoding same, methods for producing genetically modified microorganisms using said novel methyltransferases, and methods of producing 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Dennis Simpson, FungMin Liew
  • Publication number: 20160122787
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Sebastian Michal Bernasek, Deepak K. Tuli
  • Patent number: D759761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Sean Dennis Connell