Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130059346 | Conversion System For Biomass - The efficient production of ethanol from low-cost biomass (e.g., corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, switchgrass and/or paper) has become increasingly important in making ethanol competitive with gasoline and decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign oil. For example, to reduce the cost of transporting biomass to ethanol production facilities, mobile systems for producing ethanol from biomass are provided. Also provided are small-scale ethanol production facilities. For example, instead of transporting biomass to the production facility, the facility is transported to the biomass or is located nearby the source of the biomass. The ethanol production facilities or components thereof may be transported via land, water, or air. Production of other products, such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, hydrogen gas, plastics, polymers, and proteins, can also be made by the methods and facilities. Any product described herein can be made in finished form or un-finished form and moved, e.g., to a fixed facility, e.g., fixed production facility. | 03-07-2013 |
20130065286 | PROCESSING BIOMASS - Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product. | 03-14-2013 |
20130078704 | Processing Chemicals - Methods of processing chemicals change their structure, and in particular increase their solubility and/or rate of dissolution, for intermediates and products made from the structurally changed materials. Many of the methods provide materials that can be more readily utilized in reactions or other processes to produce useful intermediates and products, e.g., energy, fuels, foods or materials. Chemicals that are treated using the processes described herein can be used to form highly concentrated solutions. Treatment can change the functionality of the chemical, and thus the polarity of the chemical, which may render the treated chemical soluble in solvents in which the untreated chemical is insoluble or only sparingly or partially soluble. Methods may in some cases increase the solubility of the chemical in water or aqueous media. The chemical may be, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, or mixtures thereof. | 03-28-2013 |
20130149758 | Conversion System For Biomass - The efficient production of ethanol from low-cost biomass (e.g., corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, switchgrass and/or paper) has become increasingly important in making ethanol competitive with gasoline and decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign oil. For example, to reduce the cost of transporting biomass to ethanol production facilities, mobile systems for producing ethanol from biomass are provided. Also provided are small-scale ethanol production facilities. For example, instead of transporting biomass to the production facility, the facility is transported to the biomass or is located nearby the source of the biomass. The ethanol production facilities or components thereof may be transported via land, water, or air. Production of other products, such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, hydrogen gas, plastics, polymers, and proteins, can also be made by the methods and facilities. Any product described herein can be made in finished form or un-finished form and moved, e.g., to a fixed facility, e.g., fixed production facility. | 06-13-2013 |
20130183720 | PROCESSING BIOMASS - Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce a product or intermediate, e.g., energy, a food, a fuel, or a material. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183721 | COOLING AND PROCESSING MATERIALS - Systems and methods for cooling and processing materials are disclosed. | 07-18-2013 |
20130183748 | DISPERSING FEEDSTOCKS AND PROCESSING MATERIALS - Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified. | 07-18-2013 |
20130189738 | FIBROUS MATERIALS AND COMPOSITES - Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin. | 07-25-2013 |
20130196386 | PROCESSING BIOMASS - Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation. | 08-01-2013 |