Patents by Inventor Takafumi Kiuchi

Takafumi Kiuchi 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: 9617565
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., EHIME PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Natsuki Maekawa, Yasuhiko Katoh, Takafumi Kiuchi, Praneetrattananon Suthasinee, Shinji Okamoto, Kazuko Hirayama, Syunsuke Miyaoka, Hideaki Tadanobu, Masahiko Sudo
  • Patent number: 9321011
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a membrane separation apparatus and a membrane separation method capable of reducing energy consumption, [Solution] A membrane separation apparatus (10) includes: a membrane separator (20) supplied with a fluid (X) containing a component (A) and a component (B) and separating the fluid (X) into a fluid (Y) having a higher concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) and a fluid (Z) having a lower concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) by using a separation membrane; a first compressor (21) adiabatically compressing the fluid (Y); a first heat exchanger (11) to which the fluid (Y) adiabatically compressed by the first compressor (21) is introduced as a heat source; and a second heat exchanger (12) to which the fluid (Z) is introduced as a heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Ryohta Hidaka, Yoichi Ishibashi, Yasuki Kansha, Atsushi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9308469
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for producing ethanol and a device for producing ethanol that are suitable to the recycled use of an enzyme. The device is configured from: a vacuum distillation tower (11) into which an ethanol-fermented liquid generated by saccharification fermentation of a biomass starting material is introduced, and with the interior in a state that is at a lower pressure than atmospheric pressure, that subjects the ethanol-fermented liquid to distillation, distilling ethanol vapor that contains water vapor, and removing as a bottom product the enzyme-containing concentrated waste liquid that is roused for saccharification fermentation of the biomass starting material; and a fractionating tower (12) for fractionating the ethanol vapor distilled from the vacuum distillation tower (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Ryohta Hidaka, Yoichi Ishibashi, Tomonori Sumi, Yasuhiko Katoh, Yasuki Kansha, Atsushi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9187768
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., EHIME PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Natusuki Maekawa, Yasuhiko Katoh, Takafumi Kiuchi, Praneetrattananon Suthasinee, Shinji Okamoto, Kazuko Hirayama, Syunsuke Miyaoka, Hideaki Tadanobu, Masahiko Sudo
  • Publication number: 20150132817
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Natsuki MAEKAWA, Yasuhiko KATOH, Takafumi KIUCHI, Praneetrattananon SUTHASINEE, Shinji OKAMOTO, Kazuko HIRAYAMA, Syunsuke MIYAOKA, Hideaki TADANOBU, Masahiko SUDO
  • Patent number: 8722372
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing an ethanol which facilitates the processing of a solid component as a residue generated upon processing, while improving the recovery rate of heat energy contained in leftover food. The method for recovering and producing ethanol and oil is a method for producing ethanol by saccharification, fermentation, and distillation of leftover food. In this method, a three-phase centrifuge for performing separation into three phases of an oil component, an aqueous solution component, and a solid component is used in a step of solid-liquid separation of any one of a saccharified liquid, a fermented liquid, and a distillation waste liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd., Nittetsu Plant Designing Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Yasuhiko Kato, Yasufumi Hajima, Norio Yoshitake, Shigeru Mitarai
  • Publication number: 20130175158
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for producing ethanol and a device for producing ethanol that are suitable to the recycled use of an enzyme. The device is configured from: a vacuum distillation tower (11) into which an ethanol-fermented liquid generated by saccharification fermentation of a biomass starting material is introduced, and with the interior in a state that is at a lower pressure than atmospheric pressure, that subjects the ethanol-fermented liquid to distillation, distilling ethanol vapor that contains water vapor, and removing as a bottom product the enzyme-containing concentrated waste liquid that is roused for saccharification fermentation of the biomass starting material; and a fractionating tower (12) for fractionating the ethanol vapor distilled from the vacuum distillation tower (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Ryohta Hidaka, Yoichi Ishibashi, Tomonori Sumi, Yasuhiko Katoh, Yasuki Kansha, Atsushi Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20130171707
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: Ehime Prefecture, Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Natusuki Maekawa, Yasuhiko Katoh, Takafumi Kiuchi, Praneetrattananon Suthasinee, Shinji Okamoto, Kazuko Hirayama, Syunsuke Miyaoka, Hideaki Tadanobu, Masahiko Sudo
  • Publication number: 20130153498
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a membrane separation apparatus and a membrane separation method capable of reducing energy consumption, [Solution] A membrane separation apparatus (10) includes: a membrane separator (20) supplied with a fluid (X) containing a component (A) and a component (R) and separating the fluid (X) into a fluid (Y) having a higher concentration of the component (A) than the fluid (X) and a fluid (Z) having a lower concentration, of the component (A) than the fluid (X) by using a separation membrane; a first compressor (21) adiabatically compressing the fluid (Y); a first heat exchanger (11) to which the fluid (Y) adiabatically compressed by the first compressor (21) is introduced as a heat source; and a second heat exchanger (12) to which the fluid (Z) is introduced as a heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Ryohta Hidaka, Yoichi Ishibashi, Yasuki Kansha, Atsushi Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20120034667
    Abstract: To provide a method for producing an ethanol which facilitates the processing of a solid component as a residue generated upon processing, while improving the recovery rate of heat energy contained in leftover food. The method for recovering and producing ethanol and oil is a method for producing ethanol by saccharification, fermentation, and distillation of leftover food. In this method, a three-phase centrifuge for performing separation into three phases of an oil component, an aqueous solution component, and a solid component is used in a step of solid-liquid separation of any one of a saccharified liquid, a fermented liquid, and a distillation waste liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Takafumi Kiuchi, Yasuhiko Kato, Yasufumi Hajima, Norio Yoshitake, Shigeru Mitarai