H R D Corporation

The University of Texas System

Other

Synfuels International, Inc.

Sandia Corporation

H R D Coporation

Rayford Gaines Anthony

Abbas Hassan

Aziz Hassan

Gregory G Borsinger

Ebrahim Bagherzadeh

Krishnan Viswanathan

Kenneth R Hall

Jerry A Bullin

Philip T Eubank

Aydin Akgerman

Azziz Hassan

Robert G Dosch

Bedri Bozkurt

Jubo Zhang

Robert G Dosch, Deceased

Abbass Hassan

Chackumcheril Varughese Philip

Greg G Borsinger

C V Philip

Abass Hassan

Krishan Viswanathan

Gregory R Borsinger

Herein disclosed is a method of generating products from microorganisms, comprising super-saturating a liquid medium with a gas consumable by the microorganisms in a high shear device operating at a shear rate of greater than 1,000,000 s&#x2212;1 to produce a gas-super-saturated (GSS) medium, wherein the GSS medium maintains a GSS level for at least 10 minutes; feeding the GSS medium to microorganisms; allowing the microorganisms to grow by consuming the gas and generate products via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis; and recovering the products. In an embodiment, the microorganisms are genetically modified. In an embodiment, the microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, or fungi, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the gas consumable by the microorganisms is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, air, oxygen, methane, and combinations thereof. A suitable system is also discussed in this disclosure.

Microorganism growth and products recovery

Herein disclosed is a method of processing a medium containing algae microorganisms to produce algal oil and by-products, comprising providing the medium containing algae microorganisms; passing the medium through a rotor-stator high shear device; disintegrating cell walls of and intracellular organelles in the algae microorganisms to release algal oil and by-products; and removing the algae medium from an outlet of the high shear device. In an embodiment, disintegration is enhanced by a penetrating gas capable of permeating the cell wall. In an embodiment, enhancement is accomplished by super-saturation of the penetrating gas in the medium or increased gas pressure in a vessel. In an embodiment, the penetrating gas is different from the gas produced by the cell during respiration. A suitable system is also discussed in this disclosure.

System and process for recovering algal oil

Herein disclosed is a method of producing value-added product from light gases, the method comprising: (a) providing light gases comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 compounds and combinations thereof; (b) intimately mixing the light gases with a liquid carrier in a high shear device to form a dispersion of gas in the liquid carrier, wherein the dispersion is supersaturated with the light gases and comprises gas bubbles at least some of which have a mean diameter of less than or equal to about 5 micron(s); (c) allowing the value-added product to form and utilizing vacuum to extract unreacted light gases from the liquid carrier; (d) extracting the value-added product; wherein the value-added product comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of higher hydrocarbons, hydrogen, olefins, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. A system for producing value-added product from light gases is also disclosed.

Enhanced processes to produce value-added products from light gases

A method for hydrocracking a feedstream comprising liquid hydrocarbon by forming a dispersion comprising hydrogen-containing gas bubbles dispersed in the liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than about 5 &#x3bc;m, and introducing the dispersion into a hydrocracker comprising hydrocracking catalyst. A method for hydrocracking by subjecting a fluid mixture comprising hydrogen-containing gas and liquid hydrocarbons to a shear rate greater than 20,000 sto produce a dispersion of hydrogen in a continuous phase of the liquid hydrocarbons, and introducing the dispersion into a fixed bed hydrocracking reactor from which a hydrocracked product is removed. A system for hydrocracking a hydrocarbonaceous feedstream including at least one high shear device capable of producing a tip speed of the at least one rotor of greater than 5.0 m/s, and a hydrocracker containing hydrocracking catalyst and comprising an inlet fluidly connected to an outlet of the high shear device.

System and process for hydrocracking

Herein disclosed is a system for producing an organic, the system including at least one high shear mixing device having at least one rotor and at least one stator separated by a shear gap, wherein the shear gap is the minimum distance between the at least one rotor and the at least one stator; a pump configured for delivering a fluid stream comprising liquid medium and light gas to the at least one high shear mixing device, wherein the at least one high shear mixing device is configured to form a dispersion of the light gas in the liquid medium; and a reactor comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the at least one inlet of the reactor is fluidly connected to the at least one high shear mixing device, and wherein the at least one outlet is configured for extracting the organic therefrom.

Gasification of carbonaceous materials and gas to liquid processes

In this disclosure, a method is described wherein the method comprises mixing a therapeutic gas or a therapeutic liquid or a combination thereof and a liquid carrier in a high shear device to produce a dispersion; and administering the produced dispersion intravenously to a patient; wherein the produced dispersion contains nanobubbles of the therapeutic gas or droplets of the therapeutic liquid with a mean diameter of less than about 1.5 &#x3bc;m. In this disclosure, a system is also described wherein the system comprises a therapeutic gas source or a therapeutic liquid source or a combination thereof; a liquid carrier source; a high shear device (HSD) having an inlet, an outlet, at least one rotor, and at least one stator separated by a shear gap; and a pump configured to control the flow rate and residence time of a fluid passing through the high shear device.

High shear application in medical therapy

Herein disclosed is a method of processing oil, comprising providing a high shear device comprising at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; contacting a gas with an oil in the high shear device, wherein the gas is an inert gas or a reactive gas; and forming a product, wherein the product is a solution, a dispersion, or combination thereof. Herein also disclosed is a high shear system for processing oil, comprising; at least one high shear device, having an inlet and at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; a gas source fluidly connected to the inlet; an oil source fluidly connected to the inlet; and a pump positioned upstream of a high shear device, the pump in fluid connection with the inlet and the oil source.

High shear application in processing oils

Herein disclosed in a method comprising: shearing a feed comprising a solid component in a high shear device to produce a product, at least a portion of which comprises sheared solids; and separating at least some of the sheared solids from the product to produce a component-reduced product, wherein the solid component in the feed stream comprises a first particle density, and wherein the sheared solids in the product comprise a second particle density greater than the first particle density. In some embodiments, the solid component of the feed comprises gas trapped therein, and wherein at least a portion of said gas is released from the solid component upon shearing. Herein also is disclosed a method of comminuting solids in a feed stream comprising a solid component by processing the feed stream in a high shear device to produce a product stream comprising comminuted solids.

Method of high shear comminution of solids

Herein disclosed is a reactor comprising a housing; an inlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the inlet tube section is within the reactor housing; an outlet tube having a section with perforations along its length, wherein the outlet tube section is within the reactor housing; and at least one cylinder made of sintered metal contained within the reactor housing, wherein the sintered metal is catalytically active. In some cases, the sintered metal in the reactor comprises a porous metallic multifunctional (PMM) catalyst. Other reactor designs and the method of use are also described herein.

Reactor and catalyst for converting natural gas to organic compounds

Herein disclosed is a method, comprising: forming a dispersion under high shear comprising gas bubbles of an oxidant dispersed in a liquid phase, wherein the bubbles have a mean diameter of less than 1.5 micron; and contacting the dispersion with an oxidation catalyst to produce a product stream, wherein the product stream comprises a substance selected from the group consisting of dicarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, 2-methylbenzoic acid, 3-methylbenzoic acid, 4-methylbenzoic acid, and phthalic anhydride. In some cases, forming the dispersion under high shear comprises introducing the oxidant and the liquid phase into a high shear device comprising at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator. Herein also disclosed is a system for producing a substance selected from the group consisting of dicarboxylic acid, benzoic acid, 2-methylbenzoic acid, 3-methylbenzoic acid, 4-methylbenzoic acid, and phthalic anhydride.

High shear system and method for the production of acids

A method for producing a product comprising at least one selected from Chydrocarbons, oxygenates, and combinations thereof from light gas comprising one or more of carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and methanol by forming a dispersion of light gas in a liquid feed, wherein the dispersion is formed at least in part with high shear forces and wherein at least one of the liquid feed and the light gas is a hydrogen source. A system for carrying out the method is also presented.

System and process for production of liquid product from light gas

A method for culturing algae comprising, forming an emulsion comprising a gaseous stream and a media utilizing a high shear device, wherein the emulsion comprises gas bubbles, and wherein the high shear device comprises at least one toothed rotor and at least one stator; introducing the emulsion into a bioreactor; and introducing an algae into the bioreactor for growing the algae culture. Additionally, a method for producing liquids from an algae culture, the method comprising forming an emulsion comprising a buffer and algal components, wherein the emulsion comprises algal component globules; separating algal hydrocarbons; and processing algal hydrocarbons to form liquid hydrocarbons. Additionally, a system for producing liquids from an algae culture comprising at least one high shear device.

Algae processing

Herein disclosed is an apparatus that includes a porous rotor positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding an interior space, wherein the porous rotor includes sintered metal or ceramic; an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the porous rotor are separated by an annular space; and a motor configured for rotating the porous rotor about the axis of rotation.

Apparatus and method for gas separation

Herein disclosed is a system for applying shear stress ex-situ to a fluid. In some embodiments, the system comprises a shear device; and at least one device configured for intravenous administration of the fluid to a patient, the devices defining a fluid passage configured to be sterilized and maintained sterile during use, the fluid comprising at least one therapeutic fluid, blood, or a combination thereof. The shear device of the system is in fluid communication with the at least one device configured for intravenous administration of the fluid to a patient. Herein also disclosed is a method of preparing a fluid for intravenous administration to a patient.

Applying shear stress for disease treatment

A reactor comprising at least one contact surface made from, coated with, or impregnated by a catalyst, wherein the contact surface comprises a sintered metal or a ceramic, and wherein the reactor is configured to subject a reactant stream to shear. A system for carrying out a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction, the system comprising a reactor as described above and a pump configured for delivering reactants to the at least one reactor. A method for carrying out a heterogeneously-catalyzed reaction by introducing reactants into a reactor comprising at least one contact surface made from, coated with, or impregnated by a catalyst under conditions which promote production of a desired product, wherein the contact surface comprises a sintered metal or a ceramic, and forming a dispersion of reactants within the reactor, wherein the dispersion comprises droplets or gas bubbles of reactant with an average diameter of less than about 5 &#x3bc;m.

Growing community of inventors

College Station, TX, United States of America

Rayford Gaines Anthony