Patents by Inventor Wouter Van Hecke

Wouter Van Hecke 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: 12023630
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helmut Elslander, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Helene De Wever, Herman Beckers
  • Publication number: 20230055876
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Patent number: 11484842
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helmut Elslander, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Helene De Wever, Herman Beckers
  • Publication number: 20210348113
    Abstract: A system is for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing of the system to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The system for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency, compared to systems described in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helene DE WEVER, Lambertus BOUWMAN
  • Patent number: 11111473
    Abstract: A method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The method for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency. A related system uses method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Wouter Van Hecke, Helene De Wever, Lambertus Bouwman
  • Publication number: 20200197871
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: VITO NV
    Inventors: Wouter VAN HECKE, Helmut ELSLANDER, Karolien VANBROEKHOVEN, Helene DE WEVER, Herman BECKERS
  • Publication number: 20190249131
    Abstract: A method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation, advantageously multi-stage fermentation. The fermentation is complemented with pervaporation as in situ product recovery technology, combined with a multistage condensation of the permeate. The condensates are separately introduced in the downstream processing to recover the produced products, advantageously solvents. The method for producing products, advantageously solvents, by fermentation is simplified and has an overall improved energy efficiency. A related system uses method for producing products, advantageously solvents, is by fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: VITO NV (Vlaamse Instelling voor Techhnologisch Onderzoek NV)
    Inventors: Wouter van HECKE, Helene de WEVER, Lambertus BOUWMAN
  • Patent number: 9006497
    Abstract: The current invention provides and improved method for hydrolyzing alpha-chlorinated toluene compounds comprising the steps of:—providing an alpha-chlorinated toluene compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is CI and wherein (Ra)n designates that the benzene nucleus may have one or more substituents which may be same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CI, Br and —CmH2m+1, n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and m being an integer, preferably from 1 to 6,—hydrolyzing said compound with water in the presence of a metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: INEOS Chlorotoluenes Limited
    Inventors: Dirk Van Deynse, Koen Van Aken, Wouter Van Hecke
  • Publication number: 20140155657
    Abstract: The current invention provides and improved method for hydrolyzing alpha-chlorinated toluene compounds comprising the steps of:—providing an alpha-chlorinated toluene compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is CI and wherein (Ra)n designates that the benzene nucleus may have one or more substituents which may be same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CI, Br and —CmH2m+1, n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and m being an integer, preferably from 1 to 6,—hydrolyzing said compound with water in the presence of a metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INEOS ChloroToluenes Limited
    Inventors: Dirk Van Deynse, Koen Van Aken, Wouter Van Hecke