Bryan D Bals

US Patent:

20090318670, Dec 24, 2009

Filed:

Apr 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/226850

Inventors:

Bruce E. Dale - Mason MI, US
Bryan Bals - East Lansing MI, US
Venkatesh Balan - East Lansing MI, US

International Classification:

C07K 1/00

US Classification:

530344

Abstract:

A process for extracting an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution from a plant biomass after an Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) process step, is described. The proteins can be separated before or after a hydrolysis of sugar precursors (carbohydrates) from the biomass to produce sugars for fermentation to produce ethanol. The proteins are useful as animal feeds because of their amino acid food values.

US Patent:

20130196398, Aug 1, 2013

Filed:

Apr 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/458830

Inventors:

Bryan Bals - East Lansing MI, US
Farzaneh Teymouri - Okemos MI, US
Tim Campbell - East Lansing MI, US
Bruce Dale - Mason MI, US

International Classification:

C12P 19/14
C12M 1/00
C12P 7/16
C12P 7/14

US Classification:

435160, 435 99, 435162, 4352891

Abstract:

A method is provided in which pretreated and densified cellulosic biomass particulates can hydrolyzed at a high solids loading rate as compared with the solids loading rate of loose hydrolysable cellulosic biomass fibers. The resulting high concentration sugar-containing stream can be easily converted to biofuels or an entire suite of other useful bioproducts.

US Patent:

20090053771, Feb 26, 2009

Filed:

Aug 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/229225

Inventors:

Bruce Dale - Mason MI, US
Venkatesh Balan - East Lansing MI, US
Shishir Chundawat - East Lansing MI, US
Bryan Bals - South Bend IN, US

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University - East Lansing MI

International Classification:

C12P 19/00
C12P 7/06

US Classification:

435 72, 435161

Abstract:

A process for hydrolyzing whole grain or whole plant biomass after an Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) process step is described. The process preferably uses a biomass that is hydrolyzed using a different combination of enzymes (amylase, cellulase and hemicellulase) to sugars for fermentation to produce ethanol. Harvesting the whole plant inclusive of grains and stalk for ethanol bio-processing is an economical route for future biorefineries. In addition to sugars, various value-added products like proteins and oil can be co-generated.

US Patent:

20200332376, Oct 22, 2020

Filed:

Jun 17, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/903598

Inventors:

- East Lansing MI, US
- Bozeman MT, US
- Madison WI, US
Shannon S. Stahl - Madison WI, US
Bryan D. Bals - Indianapolis IN, US

International Classification:

C13K 13/00
C07F 1/08
C07F 13/00
B01J 31/18
D21B 1/02
C13K 1/02
B01J 31/22

Abstract:

An improved alkaline pretreatment of biomass is provided that uses a homogenous catalyst with one or more metals and metal coordinating ligands, wherein the homogeneous catalyst is used with at least two oxidants in an oxidation reaction to catalytically pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. In one embodiment, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen are utilized as co-oxidants during alkaline-oxidative pretreatment to improve biomass pretreatment and increase enzymatic digestibility. In one embodiment, the homogenous catalyst is copper (II) 2,2′-bipyridine (Cu(bpy)). Related methods are also disclosed to improve the economic feasibility of production of lignocellulose derived sugars.