Ryan A O'Connor

US Patent:

20090176286, Jul 9, 2009

Filed:

Nov 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

12/093630

Inventors:

Ryan P. O'Connor - Broomfield CO, US
Robert Wooley - Golden CO, US
Jeffrey John Kolstad - Wayzata MN, US
Robert Thomas Kean - Minneapolis MN, US
David A. Glassner - Littleton CO, US
Beth Mastel - Excalsior MN, US
Jon Michael Ritzenthaler - Lakeville MN, US
Robert Henry Birk - Midland MI, US
Jeffrey Warwick - Waconia MN, US
James R. Hettenhaus - Charlotte NC, US
Rebecca Kerin Brooks - Afton MN, US

International Classification:

C12P 7/56
C12P 7/10
C07G 1/00
C07H 1/08

US Classification:

435139, 435165, 530500, 536128

Abstract:

The invention herein is an efficient, flexible biomass fractionation process comprising digesting a lignocellulosic-biomass material at about 120-220 C. and a pH of less than about 4, in an aqueous mixture containing an effective concentration of at least one solvent for lignin, and separating to recover a solid phase that contains a large fraction of the cellulose originally in the starting lignocellulosic material and a liquid phase that contains most of the lignin and hemicellulose originally in the starting lignocellulosic biomass. The process can produce a solid phase that contains at least 75% cellulose and less than 10% lignin. The cellulose-rich solid product can be converted very efficiently to glucose. The solid product can also be used in commercial pulp applications, such as papermaking or fluff pulp. Hemicellulose sugars and lignin can be used directly or converted to other products.

US Patent:

20160281117, Sep 29, 2016

Filed:

Mar 28, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/082826

Inventors:

- Atlanta GA, US
David GLASSNER - Littleton CO, US
Ryan O'CONNOR - Minnetrista MN, US

International Classification:

C12P 7/64
C12P 7/10

Abstract:

This invention provides a way to deal with acetic acid derived from biomass, for fermentation of cellulosic sugars. In some variations, a process for producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass comprises: extracting hemicelluloses and acetic acid from lignocellulosic biomass; hydrolyzing the hemicelluloses, using an acid catalyst or enzymes, to generate hemicellulose monomers and more acetic acid; fermenting acetic acid to lipids using a suitable lipid-producing microorganism, thereby reducing acetic acid concentration; fermenting hemicellulose monomers to ethanol using a suitable ethanol-producing microorganism; and recovering the ethanol. The co-fermentation of acetic acid and sugars may be carried out in a single fermentor or in separate fermentors. The invention may be applied to fermentation products other than ethanol. In some embodiments, the fermentation product can act as an extraction solvent to extract lipids from the lipid-producing microorganism, such as a lipid-producing yeast.