Patents by Inventor Stephen John Benstead

Stephen John Benstead 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: 8697405
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol comprising both gasification and fermentation of feedstocks, and, in particular to a process for the production of ethanol comprising: a) passing a biomass feedstock to a first fermentation step wherein it is subjected to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to 700C to convert the biomass to a solution comprising acetic acid as the predominant product, b) passing a gasifiable feedstock to a gasification step wherein it is subjected to gasification to produce a gaseous mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and c) passing the solution comprising acetic acid from step (a) and the gaseous mixture from step (b) to one or more further fermentation steps wherein they are subject to fermentation to produce ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos USA LLC
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Stephen John Benstead, Neil Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20140038252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol from biomass, and in particular to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol using two separate fermentation step subjecting the biomass feedstock to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to 700° C. and so as to convert the biomass to a product predominantly comprising acetic acid and butyric acid with at least a 2:1 ratio by weight of acetic acid to butyric acid, c) treating the product of stream of step (b) to separate a solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid by: (i) separating a solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid from any residual solids and (ii) separating bacteria and/or pasteurizing or sterilizing the solution from the first fermentation step, and d) in a second fermentation step fermenting the solution comprising the acetic acid and butyric acid from the step (c) to form ethanol and butanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: INEOS BIO SA
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Stephen John Benstead, Neil Turnbull
  • Patent number: 8586335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol from biomass, and in particular to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol using two separate fermentation steps, said process comprising: a) passing a biomass feedstock to a first fermentation step, b) in said first fermentation step subjecting the biomass feedstock to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to 700° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: INEOS Bio SA
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Stephen John Benstead, Neil Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20120255301
    Abstract: A system and process is provided for generating power from a syngas fermentation process. The process includes contacting hot syngas having a temperature above about 1400° F. with cooled syngas to produce a pre-cooled syngas having a temperature of 1400° F. or less at an inlet of a waste heat boiler. A waste heat boiler receives the pre-cooled syngas and is effective for producing waste heat boiler high pressure steam and a cooled syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Peter S. Bell, Kim Ocfemia, Stephen John Benstead, Graeme Parker
  • Publication number: 20120040427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol from biomass, and in particular to a process for the production of ethanol and butanol using two separate fermentation steps, said process comprising: a) passing a biomass feedstock to a first fermentation step, b) in said first fermentation step subjecting the biomass feedstock to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to 700° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Stephen John Benstead, Neil Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20100330640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of ethanol comprising both gasification and fermentation of feedstocks, and, in particular to a process for the production of ethanol comprising: a) passing a biomass feedstock to a first fermentation step wherein it is subjected to anaerobic fermentation at a pH below 6.0 and at a temperature in the range 20 to to convert the biomass to a solution comprising acetic acid as the predominant product, b) passing a gasifiable feedstock to a gasification step wherein it is subjected to gasification to produce a gaseous mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and c) passing the solution comprising acetic acid from step (a) and the gaseous mixture from step (b) to one or more further fermentation steps wherein they are subject to fermentation to produce ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Simpson Bell, Stephen John Benstead, Neil Turnbull