Patents by Inventor Shulin Chen

Shulin Chen 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: 8287732
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of lipid-extracted algae biomass and recycling nutrients are provided. The lipid-extracted algae biomass is hydrolyzed prior to anaerobic digestion, and the products generated by anaerobic digestion are further processed to yield by-products that are of use either for external use or as process inputs to carry out specific steps within an integrated algal growth and anaerobic digestion process designed to minimize economic costs, required costly inputs while improving upon system capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Quanbao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20120118035
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Quanbao Zhao, Stephen W. Dvorak, Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Bryan J. VanLoo
  • Patent number: 8158089
    Abstract: Particular aspects provide a method for recovering phosphate, comprising: obtaining an effluent or wastewater, etc. having calcium-sequestered phosphate; adding to the effluent or wastewater a calcium chelating or sequestration agent suitable to chelate or sequester Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate to facilitate release of phosphate from the calcium-sequestered phosphate; transferring, facilitated by said Ca++ ion capture and in the presence of sufficient concentrations of NH4+ and Mg2 ions, of the phosphate into struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate or MgNH4PO4.6H2O), or hydrated magnesium ammonium complex of phosphate; and recovering the struvite, or the formed hydrated magnesium ammonium complex. Preferably, the method further comprises acidification of the effluent or wastewater to facilitate release of Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate and chelation of sequestration of the Ca++ ions by the calcium chelating or sequestration agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Washington State University Research Foundation, Multiform Harvest, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianxi Zhang, Keith E. Bowers, Joseph H. Harrison, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20120083023
    Abstract: Oleaginous yeast strains are used to hydrolyze biomass (e.g. wheat straw) that has been pretreated using dilute acid, in order to produce lipids. The lipids may be used as feedstock for producing biofuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Xiaochen YU, Yubin ZHENG, Shulin CHEN
  • Patent number: 7989195
    Abstract: A multiphase culturing process for high density heterotrophic microalgal growth uses crude glycerol as the primary carbon source and produces ?-3 fatty acids. The process uses multiphase growth conditions that decouple the phases of increasing cell density and increasing cell size and fatty acid production. The entire process is integrated with biodiesel production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Zhanyou Chi, Zhiyou Wen, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20110091954
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the treatment of lipid-extracted algae biomass and recycling nutrients are provided. The lipid-extracted algae biomass is hydrolyzed prior to anaerobic digestion, and the products generated by anaerobic digestion are further processed to yield by-products that are of use either for external use or as process inputs to carry out specific steps within an integrated algal growth and anaerobic digestion process designed to minimize economic costs, required costly inputs while improving upon system capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Shulin Chen, Craig Frear, Quanbao Zhao
  • Patent number: 7909995
    Abstract: An economical, integrated system works in series with anaerobic digestion of animal waste to recover nitrogen and phosphorous, while also scrubbing the produced biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Washington State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Anping Jiang, Tianxi Zhang, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20110027827
    Abstract: Disclosed is a culture system for the production of algae biomass to obtain lipid, protein and carbohydrate. By integrating heterotrophic processes with a phototrophic process in parallel, this system provides year around production in colder climates. By integrating heterotrophic processes with a phototrophic process in series, this system creates a two-stage, separated mixed-trophic algal process that uses organic carbon and nutrients for the production of seed in the heterotrophic process, followed by release of cultured seed in large-scale phototrophic culture for cell biomass accumulation. Organic carbon source including waste materials can be used to feed the heterotrophic process. The production capacity ratio between the heterotrophic and the phototrophic processes can be adjusted according to season and according to the availability of related resources. The systems are used for producing and harvesting an algal biofuel feedstock as well as other potential high-value products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Zhanyou Chi, Yubin Zheng, Ben Lucker, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20100223839
    Abstract: A selective pyrolysis process for the production of bio-oils enriched in pyrolytic sugars and phenols and conversion of these compounds into second generation bio-fuels is disclosed herein. One embodiment of the process comprises pre-treating a biomass with superheated steam or gases in a selected range of temperatures, followed by fast pyrolysis using synthesis gas as a carrier, and a two-step condensation operation. The aqueous phase from the second condenser can then be reformed to produce hydrogen or can be gasified together with the charcoal to produce syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Manuel Garcia-Perez, Robert L. Johnson, Shi-Shen Liaw, Shulin Chen, Jieni Lian, Shuai Zhou, Oisik Das, Zhouhong Wang
  • Publication number: 20100159557
    Abstract: Filamentous fungi are grown in pellet form by culturing the filamentous fungi in liquid culture under one or more of the following conditions: 1) with addition of particulate substrates: 2) using spores which have been stored for a period of time prior to inoculation; and 3) using high spore inoculum concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Yan Liu, Wei Liao, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20090209014
    Abstract: A multiphase culturing process for high density heterotrophic microalgal growth uses crude glycerol as the primary carbon source and produces ?-3 fatty acids. The process uses multiphase growth conditions that decouple the phases of increasing cell density and increasing cell size and fatty acid production. The entire process is integrated with biodiesel production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Zhanyou Chi, Zhiyou Wen, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20090206028
    Abstract: An economical, integrated system works in series with anaerobic digestion of animal waste to recover nitrogen and phosphorous, while also scrubbing the produced biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Anping Jiang, Tianxi Zhang, Craig Frear, Shulin Chen
  • Publication number: 20090013742
    Abstract: Particular aspects provide a method for recovering phosphate, comprising: obtaining an effluent or wastewater, etc. having calcium-sequestered phosphate; adding to the effluent or wastewater a calcium chelating or sequestration agent suitable to chelate or sequester Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate to facilitate release of phosphate from the calcium-sequestered phosphate; transferring, facilitated by said Ca++ ion capture and in the presence of sufficient concentrations of NH4+ and Mg2 ions, of the phosphate into struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate or MgNH4PO4.6H2O), or hydrated magnesium ammonium complex of phosphate; and recovering the struvite, or the formed hydrated magnesium ammonium complex. Preferably, the method further comprises acidification of the effluent or wastewater to facilitate release of Ca++ ions from the calcium-sequestered phosphate and chelation of sequestration of the Ca++ ions by the calcium chelating or sequestration agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicants: Washington State University Research Foundation, Multiform Harvest, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianxi Zhang, Keith E. Bowers, Joseph H. Harrison, Shulin Chen