Patents by Inventor Steve Fleurackers

Steve Fleurackers 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: 10287615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing sophorolactone without use of organic solvent, comprising the steps of: —pre-cultivating cells of a Candida species capable of producing sophorolactone, in absence of an oily substrate until a stationary growth phase is obtained, —cultivating said pre-cultivated cells in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one fermentable sugar and substrate; the reaction mixture of sugar, substrate and pre-cultivated cells being present in an amount and conditions such that the cells metabolize the sugar and substrate thereby forming sophorolactone and fatty acid, —continuously feeding said substrate to said cells thereby suppressing the formation of fatty acid and keeping fatty acid levels in the reaction mixture below 10 g/l, resulting in the crystallization of at least part of the sophorolactone present in the reaction mixture, —warming the reaction mixture to a temperature between 60° C. and 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ECOVER CO-ORDINATION CENTER N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Develter, Steve Fleurackers
  • Publication number: 20140194336
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing sophorolactone without use of organic solvent, comprising the steps of: -pre-cultivating cells of a Candida species capable of producing sophorolactone, in absence of an oily substrate until a stationary growth phase is obtained, -cultivating said pre-cultivated cells in an aqueous medium in the presence of at least one fermentable sugar and substrate; the reaction mixture of sugar, substrate and pre-cultivated cells being present in an amount and conditions such that the cells metabolize the sugar and substrate thereby forming sophorolactone and fatty acid, -continuously feeding said substrate to said cells thereby suppressing the formation of fatty acid and keeping fatty acid levels in the reaction mixture below 10 g/l, resulting in the crystallization of at least part of the sophorolactone present in the reaction mixture, -warming the reaction mixture to a temperature between 60° C. and 90° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ECOVER CO-ORDINATION CENTER N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Develter, Steve Fleurackers
  • Patent number: 8530206
    Abstract: The MFE2 gene of a microorganism capable of producing glycolipids, such as, but not limited to C. bombicola is disrupted with the purpose of blocking the beta-oxidation pathway in the strain. Fermentation of a such strain having such disrupted genes on primary or secondary alcohols or diols, preferably on primary alcohols produces short chained glycolipids in high yield and purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ecover Coordination Center N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Develter, Steve Fleurackers, Inge Van Bogaert
  • Publication number: 20110136110
    Abstract: The MFE2 gene of a microorganism capable of producing glycolipids, such as, but not limited to C. bombicola is disrupted with the purpose of blocking the beta-oxidation pathway in the strain. Fermentation of a such strain having such disrupted genes on primary or secondary alcohols or diols, preferably on primary alcohols produces short chained glycolipids in high yield and purity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Inge Van Bogaert, Dirk Develter, Steve Fleurackers