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).

  • Equipment protecting enclosures
    Patent number: 9691510
    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, in a vault in which the equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Processing paper feedstocks
    Patent number: 9683250
    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: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 9683249
    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: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, James Lynch
  • CONTROLLING PROCESS GASES
    Publication number: 20170165628
    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, equipment, 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 hazardous gases are removed, destroyed and/or converted. The treatments are efficient and can reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material so that it is easier to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., sugars, alcohols, sugar alcohols and energy, from the lignocellulosic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20170166933
    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: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 9677039
    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 fluid medium and a saccharifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Bioprocessing
    Patent number: 9677043
    Abstract: Bioreactors are disclosed that include a vessel, a jet mixing system comprising a plurality of jet flow agitators disposed in the vessel, each jet flow agitator comprising a shaft, a shroud surrounding the shaft, the shaft having a bore and a plurality of orifices in communication with the bore, and an impeller mounted on the shaft within the shroud, and a gas delivery system configured to supply a process gas to the vessel through the bore such that the gas exits the orifices. The vessel may include a vent, and the gas delivery system may include a source of oxygen in communication with the vessel, an oxygen monitor configured to monitor the oxygen content of a liquid in the vessel, and a controller configured to adjust the oxygen content of the liquid, using the vent and oxygen source, in response to input from the oxygen monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20170159077
    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 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Christopher G.F. Cooper
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20170145404
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed for use in the production of useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use biomass materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to enhance the production of a product, e.g., the production of ethanol and/or butanol by fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Harrison Medoff
  • Treating biomass
    Patent number: 9659748
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials and useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, irradiating methods and systems are described to aid in the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials. The electron beam accelerator has multiple windows foils and these foils are cooled with cooling gas. In one configuration a secondary foil is integral to the electron beam accelerator and in another configuration the secondary foil is part of the enclosure for the biomass conveying system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Anthony Peters, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis, Kenny Kin-Chui Ip
  • EQUIPMENT PROTECTING ENCLOSURES
    Publication number: 20170140845
    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, in a vault in which the equipment is protected from radiation and hazardous gases by equipment enclosures. The equipment enclosures may be purged with gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • AGLYCOSYLATED ENZYME AND USES THEREOF
    Publication number: 20170137797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising an aglycosylated polypeptide having cellobiase activity, and methods for producing and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Natasha Kreder, James Lynch, Sean Landry, Aiichiro Yoshida, Desiree Pangilinan, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Processing materials
    Patent number: 9644244
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20170121737
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to proceed ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • Upgrading process streams
    Patent number: 9637802
    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: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Maia Stapleton Mukherjee, Christopher Cooper
  • Processing materials
    Patent number: 9631208
    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: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman
  • PROCESSING BIOMASS
    Publication number: 20170096718
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for processing cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials into useful intermediates and products, such as energy and fuels. For example, conveying systems and methods, such as highly efficient vibratory conveyors, are described for the processing of the cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Robert PARADIS
  • Controlling process gases
    Patent number: 9611516
    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, equipment, 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 hazardous gases are removed, destroyed and/or converted. The treatments are efficient and can reduce the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic material so that it is easier to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., sugars, alcohols, sugar alcohols and energy, from the lignocellulosic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Robert Paradis
  • Conversion of Biomass
    Publication number: 20170066736
    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, especially, xylose, which can then be chemically converted to furfural and furfural-derived products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall MEDOFF, Thomas Craig MASTERMAN, Christopher COOPER, Jihan KHAN
  • BIOPROCESSING
    Publication number: 20170058253
    Abstract: Functionalized substrate materials, for example inorganic particles and/or synthetic polymeric particles, are used to enhance bioprocesses such as saccharification and fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Harrison Medoff