Patents by Inventor Thomas Craig Masterman

Thomas Craig Masterman 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).

  • UPGRADING PROCESS STREAMS
    Publication number: 20180193801
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. Systems, methods and equipment are described for upgrading process streams using electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Maia Stapleton MUKHERJEE, Christopher COOPER
  • Processing paper feedstocks
    Patent number: 10017801
    Abstract: Methods of processing paper feedstocks are provided, as well as intermediates and products made using such methods. Certain types of paper feedstocks, in particular highly pigmented papers, and/or highly loaded papers such as paper that has been color printed, e.g., magazines, and high basis weight coated papers, e.g., magazine stock, are utilized to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20180187218
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can be useful in enhancing sugar yields from biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Christopher G.F. Cooper
  • Processing facility
    Patent number: 10011625
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce a product or intermediate, e.g., energy, a food, a fuel, or a material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20180179571
    Abstract: Feedstocks, obtained at least in part from a plant material that has been modified with respect to its wild type, are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems are described that can treat such feedstock materials, e.g., to reduce the recalcitrance of the feedstock, and use the treated feedstock materials to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by saccharification and/or fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20180155745
    Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing hydrocarbon-containing materials
    Patent number: 9969938
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks are processed to produce useful intermediates or products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can process a petroleum-containing feedstock, such as oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, and other naturally-occurring and synthetic materials that include both hydrocarbon components and solid matter, to obtain a useful intermediate or product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 9963730
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for processing biomass materials that are disposed in one or more structures or carriers, e.g., a bag, a shell, a net, a membrane, a mesh or any combination of these. Containing the material in this manner allows it to be readily added or removed at any point and in any sequence during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, James Lynch
  • Production of products from biomass
    Patent number: 9963727
    Abstract: The processes disclosed herein include saccharifying cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic biomass and fermenting the sugars to produce a sugar alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Jaewoong Moon, Aiichiro Yoshida
  • Saccharifying biomass
    Patent number: 9957580
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20180105842
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a liquid medium and a saccharifying agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • AN APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO A FERMENTATION BROTH
    Publication number: 20180105786
    Abstract: According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for aerobic fermentation of an aqueous sugar solution is provided. The system includes a vessel, at least one air diffuser in fluid communication with an interior of the vessel, and at least one blower that is configured to deliver air to the at least one air diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis, Aiichiro Yoshida, Karen Heinze
  • Upgrading process streams
    Patent number: 9925496
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. Systems, methods and equipment are described for upgrading process streams using electrodialysis or electrodialysis reversal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Maia Stapleton Mukherjee, Christopher Cooper
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 9920335
    Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20180038048
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, novel systems, methods and equipment for conveying and/or cooling treated biomass are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • PROCESSING MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20180036706
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, while cooling equipment and the biomass to prevent overheating and possible distortion and/or degradation. The biomass is conveyed by a conveyor, which conveys the biomass under an electron beam from an electron beam accelerator. The conveyor can be cooled with cooling fluid. The conveyor can also vibrate to facilitate exposure to the electron beam. The conveyor can be configured as a trough that can be optionally cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20180030655
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fuels are provided. These methods use often difficult to process lignocellulosic materials, for example crop residues and grasses. The methods can be readily practiced on a commercial scale in an economically viable manner, in some cases using as feedstocks materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing materials
    Patent number: 9873897
    Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a liquid medium and a saccharifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • RECONFIGURABLE PROCESSING ENCLOSURES
    Publication number: 20180016745
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or other materials are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which the walls and optionally the ceiling include discrete units. Such vaults are re-configurable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • COMPOSITIONS FOR ENHANCED ENZYME PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20180010088
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions to induce production of proteins, e.g., enzymes, e.g., amylases or biomass degrading enzymes in a host cell, and methods for increasing the yield of the proteins, e.g., enzymes produced. Such compositions comprise a caramelized sugar product. The methods described herein can also be used to enhance processing of biomass materials, e.g., to produce sugar products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Aiichiro Yoshida, Jaewoong Moon, Christopher G. Bergeron, James J. Lynch