Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Eggeman

Timothy J. Eggeman 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).

  • Publication number: 20150203432
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for recovering an organic acid from a dilute salt solution of the acid, wherein the cation of the salt forms a carbonate salt. The method includes concentrating the solution and combining a tertiary amine, CO2, and a solvent with the solution to form a reaction product medium, an acid/amine complex and a carbonate salt. The acid/amine complex is soluble and the carbonate salt is insoluble in the reaction product medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Gal Mariansky, Eric Gallegos-West-Ling, Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman, Jesse Coutu
  • Publication number: 20140148615
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. An amine, C02 and a water immiscible solvent are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and the amine that is soluble in both an aqueous and a solvent phase. The complex is extracted into the solvent phase which is than distilled to recover the acid or an ester of the acid in a concentrated form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: ZEACHEM, INC.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Gal Mariansky, Kevin Carlin, Erik Gallegos-Westling, Jesse James Coutu, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20130189752
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20130102043
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ZEACHEM, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 8329436
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Zeachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 8236534
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Zeachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20120112127
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 8048655
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7964379
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7888082
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Zeachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20100187472
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7682812
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7601865
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the recovery of an organic acid from a dilute salt solution in which the cation of the salt forms an insoluble carbonate salt. A tertiary amine and CO2 are introduced to the solution to form the insoluble carbonate salt and a complex between the acid and an amine. A water immiscible solvent, such as an alcohol, is added to extract the acid/amine complex from the dilute salt solution to a reaction phase. The reaction phase is continuously dried and a product between the acid and the solvent, such as an ester, is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20090081749
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7507562
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20080193989
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: ZEACHEM, INC.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7351559
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: ZeaChem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Patent number: 7074603
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Zeachem, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman
  • Publication number: 20040225164
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for converting ethane to ethanol through a multi-step process with ethylene as an intermediate. Methods are also disclosed for facilitating the transportation, purification or other treatment of ethylene using a chemical conversion to ethanol and reconversion to ethylene. Methods are also disclosed for converting ethane to ethylene using ethanol as a temporary intermediate to minimize purification, transportation and/or other treatment costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Joe D. Allison, Timothy J. Eggeman, Steven R. McDonald, Kent A. Pennybaker
  • Publication number: 20030104587
    Abstract: A process for producing ethanol by the conversion of carbohydrates from a corn dry milling process in which the bottoms fraction from distillation of ethanol in a conventional yeast fermentation is used in a process including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions. The process results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from bottoms fraction, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts of the process include a high protein content solids fraction produced in the fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Dan W. Verser, Timothy J. Eggeman