United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Neil M Goldberg

Charles A Mullen

Akwasi A Boateng

Michael F Kozempel

Michael F Dallmer

Arthur I Morgan

Richard J Cook

E Richard Radewonuk

Charles I Onwulata

Peter B Johnson

John Luchansky

Greg Tomes

Philip Wayne Smith

Serin R Rao

Sudhir Seth

David J Milhalcik

Akswasi A Boateng

Alan Oser

Alan H Oser

Methods for producing bio-oil from a feedstock (e.g., lignocellulosic) involving (1) pyrolyzing the feedstock in an inert atmosphere in a reactor to produce bio-oil, bio-char and non-condensable gases; (2) recycling 50 to about 85% of the non-condensable gases to the reactor to produce deoxygenated bio-oil; wherein the method is conducted in the absence of oxygen and wherein the method does not utilize externally added catalysts.

Methods for producing bio-oil

Method of treating a food product in a container to reduce or inhibit a microbial population on the food product, involving applying to the container an antimicrobial solution (applied in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the microbial population), and placing the food product in the container. Also a system for treating food products, involving a bagging system, a spray system, and a rotating assembly for returning a spray wand to a resting position.

Method and apparatus for treatment of food products

A pyrolyzer apparatus (i.e. a 'cracking pipe') comprises a first screen, a second screen, and a catalyst material positioned between the first and second screens. The pyrolyzer is structured so that feedstock is pyrolyzed and pyrolyzer-generated gas is drawn through the first screen, through the catalyst material, and then through the second screen in series. The gas may then be directed to other processing equipment so that bio-oil is extracted from the gas.

Fast pyrolysis catalytic cracking pipe for producing bio-oils

Bio-oil from a feedstock selected from mustard family seeds, mustard family seed presscake, mustard family seed defatted presscake, and mixtures thereof. The bio-oil is produced by a method involving (1) pyrolyzing the feedstock to produce bio-oil, bio-char and non-condensable gases, (2) removing the bio-char from the bio-oil, (3) condensing the bio-oil, and (4) precipitating the bio-oil.

Production of stable pyrolysis bio-oil from mustard family seeds, mustard family seed presscake, and defatted mustard family seed presscake

The killing of microorganisms on the surface of porous and non-porous materials including agricultural commodities is accomplished by use of methods and apparatus which expose the material to controlled applications of a biocidal treatment gas into a sub-atmospheric environment. The material is first exposed to a vacuum then, without an intervening flush step, full treated with an air-free treatment gas prior to being re-exposed to a vacuum. The method and apparatus successfully kill microorganisms both on the surface and within the pores or structural recesses of the material without causing significant deleterious changes to the material.

Method and apparatus for surface treatment of materials

The invention provides an air-assisted wiping device for use in a continuous-spray dryer. The air-assisted wiping device rotates inside the housing to continuously wipe heavy sticky powder from the walls of the housing using a wiper blade. The air-assisted wiping device includes an elongated hollow plenum having a flow-directing slot disposed along its length. Air received into the elongated hollow plenum is passed through the flow-directing slot onto a wiper blade, which is coupled to the elongated hollow plenum. The air discharged onto the wiper blade removes powder that collects on the leading side of the wiper blade.

Air-assisted wiping device

Conventional food treatment processes utilized for food preservation generally involve heat treatment and usually result in some degree of thermal damage. A process has been developed for the non-thermal treatment of liquid food products which results in a significant reduction in the microbial population, thus reducing spoilage and extending shelf life. The novel process involves the rapid application of electromagnetic energy (EME), such as microwave or radio frequency energy, and the simultaneous removal of any thermal energy which may be generated by the process through the use of circulating cooling medium and an efficient heat exchanger.

Non-thermal energy treatment for the reduction of microbial population

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North Wales, PA, United States of America

Neil M Goldberg