Patents by Inventor Yihui Tom Xu
Yihui Tom Xu 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).
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Publication number: 20150060259Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an alcohol, and in particular butanol, from a fermented feed and concentrating thin stillage into syrup includes operation of one or more alcohol recovery distillation columns using the heat supplied by steam generated from concentration of the thin stillage in a multi-train, multi-effect evaporation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventor: Yihui Tom Xu
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Patent number: 8968522Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture of a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a noncondensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is returned to the first distillation column as reflux. A bottom stream from the first distillation column is refined in a second distillation column to obtain a second overhead stream and a second bottoms stream. The extractant may be C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Yihui Tom Xu, William D. Parten
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Patent number: 8968523Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture of a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is refined in a second distillation column; the aqueous phase is returned to the first distillation column. A portion of the wet butanol phase from the decanter is also returned to the first distillation column. The extractant may be C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Yihui Tom Xu, William D. Parten
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Patent number: 8906204Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an alcohol, and in particular butanol, from a fermented feed and concentrating thin stillage into syrup includes operation of one or more alcohol recovery distillation columns using the heat supplied by steam generated from concentration of the thin stillage in a multi-train, multi-effect evaporation system.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventor: Yihui Tom Xu
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Patent number: 8569552Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D Parten, Bruce M Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu, Joseph J Zaher
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Patent number: 8563788Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D Parten, Bruce M Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu, Joseph J Zaher
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Patent number: 8373008Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Butamax (TM) Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Bruce Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu, Joseph J. Zaher
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Patent number: 8373009Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Butamax (TM) Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Bruce Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20130001061Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles GRADY, William D. PARTEN, Bruce M. VRANA, Yihui Tom XU, Joseph J. ZAHER
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Publication number: 20130001062Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: MICHAEL CHARLES GRADY, William D. Parten, Bruce M. Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu, Joseph J. Zaher
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Publication number: 20110315541Abstract: Systems and methods for separating an alcohol, and in particular butanol, from a fermented feed and concentrating thin stillage into syrup includes operation of one or more alcohol recovery distillation columns using the heat supplied by steam generated from concentration of the thin stillage in a multi-train, multi-effect evaporation system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventor: Yihui Tom Xu
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Publication number: 20110288344Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: MICHAEL CHARLES GRADY, William D. Parten, Bruce Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu
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Publication number: 20110288345Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: BUTAMAX(TM) ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLCInventors: Michael Charles Grady, William D. Parten, Bruce Vrana, Yihui Tom Xu
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Publication number: 20110162953Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is returned to the first distillation column as reflux. A bottom stream from the first distillation column is refined in a second distillation column to obtain a second overhead stream comprising butanol and a second bottoms stream comprising the extractant. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Yihui Tom Xu, William D. Parten
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Publication number: 20110162954Abstract: A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is refined in a second distillation column; the aqueous phase is returned to the first distillation column. A portion of the wet butanol phase from the decanter is also returned to the first distillation column. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels LLCInventors: Yihui Tom Xu, William D. Parten