University of Minnesota

General Mills, Inc.

Other

The Pillsbury Company

Hydochar LLC

Kenneth J Valentas

Steven M Heilmann

Frederick J Schendel

Palmer K Strommer

Marc Von Keitz

Michael J Sadowsky

Glenn O Rasmussen

Takuzo Tsuchiya

Israel A Saguy

Shahed Zaman

Marc Gregor Von Keitz

Anthony L Mikula

Zachary Pursell

Brandon Michael Wood

Gabriel Gerner

Lindsey R Jader

Brandon M Wood

Paul A Lefebvre

Scott Plewka

Enrique Rotstein

Disclosed herein are methods of controlling the amount of carboxyl groups attached to a hydrochar, the methods including subjecting a composition that includes a stover composition to hydrothermal carbonization to form a hydrochar, wherein the amount of carboxyl groups attached to the hydrochar can be controlled by the amount of lipids in the composition. Methods of removing ammonia from a gas using disclosed hydrochars and the hydrochars themselves are also disclosed.

Compositions and methods for removing ammonia from gas

The present disclosure provides methods for hydrothermally treating sewage wastes to preferably obtain valuable products, including fatty acids, carbon-neutral combustible hydrochar fuels, heavy metal salts for recycling into industrially important metals, and phosphoric acid and derivatives thereof. Fatty acids can be chemically transformed into useful products such as soaps, cosmetics and liquid transportation fuels such as biodiesel and conventional gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels; hydrochars created in the process can be combusted and the energy created used to generate electricity; heavy metal salts can be chemically reduced to form industrially important metals for use as catalysts; and phosphoric acid and its derivatives have very important roles as fertilizers in agriculture.

Hydrothermal carbonization of sewage wastes

The present invention concerns a process for producing synthetic coal and aqueous liquid plant fertilizing solution products from a fermentation residue such as is left over from the corn based process of producing ethanol. The synthetic coal has a high heat value commensurate with naturally occurring coals and is lower in ash and sulfur content and thus has value as a clean burning energy source. The aqueous fertilizer includes commercially useful amounts of phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen in solution. The process of the invention is also energy efficient in that the products produced thereby involve the use of substantially less energy as compared to the traditional methods of processing fermentation residues in the corn based ethanol production industry.

Methods of producing coal and fertilizers from fermentation residues

Algae-derived synthetic coal and filtrates. The invention described herein provides an algae-derived synthetic coal product and filtrates and process for preparing the same using an improved hydrothermal carbonization process. The synthetic coal product is similar to natural bituminous coal in terms of percent carbon content and energy equivalency while at the same time containing relatively low levels of sulfur and contaminant heavy metals. Unlike natural coal and other fossil fuels, because the carbon of the biomass is formed through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide formed during combustion is a 'carbon neutral' event with little or no 'new' carbon dioxide being added to the earth's atmosphere. The algae-derived filtrates contain useful constituents.

Algal coal and process for preparing same

A process is provided for improving the reliability of sterilization of canned viscous food products by ensuring the proper amount and rate of rotation of cans during heat processing. Improvement in controlling the lethality of microorganisms can be accomplished. The method involves intervallically monitoring the rotation of the canned food in the processing equipment and utilizing the obtained rotation information to correct processing conditions to ensure commercial sterility.

Heat processing of viscous food materials in rotating cans

The food material to be processed is alternately transferred from two sources to an elongated treating chamber. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes rotary valve means employing two pocket areas, each pocket area including a plurality of pockets with each pair of diametrically located pockets having an interconnecting passage. The pockets of one area are angularly displaced or out-of-phase with the pockets of the other area. Owing to the out-of-phase relationship, the food material to be processed is alternately received by one pocket of one area, then by the next pocket of the other area and so on through each revolution of the valve means in which the pockets are contained, the material being discharged in the same out-of-phase relationship through the interconnecting passages and diametrically disposed pockets into the inlet of a pressurized elongated treating chamber.

Apparatus and method for processing food material utilizing out-of-phase

A method is provided for preparing a breading material suitable for use in coating various meat and vegetable products. A mixture including flour, yeast, whey together with various other materials is fed into an elongated treating chamber under pressure. The chamber has an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. A flow of hot gaseous fluid from the direction of the inlet propels the mixture through the elongated chamber and out of the outlet.

Method for preparing breading

Growing community of inventors

Golden Valley, MN, United States of America

Kenneth J Valentas