# US 2005/0101700 A1 · Biopolymer and methods of making it > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2005/0101700 A1 - Document ID: US20050101700A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/868,424 - Filed: 2004-06-14 - Published: 2005-05-12 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-13 - Assignees: Agri-Polymerix, LLC - Inventors: Michael Riebel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20050101700A1 ## CPC - C08L 89/00: Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof - B29C 48/40: using two or more parallel screws {or at least two parallel non-intermeshing screws}, e.g. twin screw extruders - B29C 48/405: Intermeshing co-rotating screws - B29C 48/41: Intermeshing counter-rotating screws - B29C 48/766: {in screw extruders} - C08L 3/02: Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin - C08L 23/10: Homopolymers or copolymers of propene - C08L 97/02: Lignocellulosic material, e.g. wood, straw or bagasse {(manufacture of articles made from lignocellulosic material by dry processes B27N)} - C12F 3/10: from distillery slops - E04F 11/1842: {Balusters; Grille-type elements} - C08L 51/06: grafted on to homopolymers or copolymers of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing only one carbon-to-carbon double bond - C08L 93/00: Compositions of natural resins; Compositions of derivatives thereof (of polysaccharides C08L1/00 - C08L5/00; of natural rubber C08L7/00) - C08L 97/00: Compositions of lignin-containing materials (of polysaccharides C08L1/00 - C08L5/00) - E04F 2011/1897: {mainly of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials} - Y10T 428/249953: Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.] - Y10T 428/28: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C12F: RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS (removal of yeast from wine or sparkling wine C12G1/08); DENATURED ALCOHOL; PREPARATION THEREOF - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a composition, which can be referred to as a biopolymer, including fermentation solid and thermoactive material. The present invention also includes methods of making the biopolymer, which can include compounding fermentation solid and thermoactive material. The present biopolymer can be formed into an article of manufacture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition comprising: about 5 to about 95 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 1 to about 95 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the fermentation solid comprises fermented protein solid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein the fermentation solid comprises distiller's dried grain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein the distiller's dried grain further comprises solubles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein the distiller's dried grain comprises distiller's dried grain-200. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The composition of claim 2, wherein the distiller's dried grain comprises distiller's dried corn. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The composition of claim 6, wherein the distiller's dried corn comprises distiller's dried fractionated corn. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the fermentation solid comprises at least one of distiller's dried grain, distiller's dried grain with solubles, wet cake, and solvent washed wet cake. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the fermentation solid comprises at least one of distiller's dried grain, distiller's dried starchy root crop, distiller's dried tuber, and distiller's dried root. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9, wherein the fermentation solid comprises at least one of distiller's dried cereal grain and distiller's dried legume. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition of claim 10, wherein the fermentation solid comprises distiller's dried corn, distiller's dried sorghum (milo), distiller's dried barley, distiller's dried wheat, distiller's dried rye, distiller's dried rice, distiller's dried millet, distiller's dried oats, and distiller's dried soybean. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9, wherein the fermentation solid comprises distiller's dried root and the distiller's dried root comprises at least one of distiller's dried sweet potato, distiller's dried yam, and distiller's dried cassava. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9, wherein the fermentation solid comprises distiller's dried tuber and the distiller's dried tuber comprises distiller's dried potato. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, comprising: about 50 to about 70 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 20 to about 50 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the thermoactive material comprises at least one of thermoplastic, thermoset material, and resin and adhesive polymer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the thermoactive material comprises at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the thermoactive material comprises at least one of epoxy material and melamine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the thermoactive material comprises at least one of polyester, phenolic polymer, and urea containing polymer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of an integral biopolymer, a composite biopolymer, or an aggregate biopolymer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a composite biopolymer and the composite biopolymer has a granite-like appearance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a pellet, a granule, an extruded solid, an injection molded solid, a hard foam, a sheet, a dough, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is macroscopically homogeneous. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, comprising covalent bonding of the fermentation solid to the thermoactive material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, comprising a melt of the fermentation solid and the thermoactive material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of dye, pigment, hydrolyzing agent, plasticizer, filler, preservative, antioxidants, nucleating agent, antistatic agent, biocide, fungicide, fire retardant, flame retardant, heat stabilizer, light stabilizer, conductive material, water, oil, lubricant, impact modifier, coupling agent, crosslinking agent, blowing or foaming agent, and reclaimed or recycled plastic. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one of plasticizer, light stabilizer, and coupling agent. ### Claim 27 An article comprising a composition, the composition comprising: about 5 to about 95 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 1 to about 95 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 28 A method of making a composition, the method comprising compounding material comprising fermentation solid and thermoactive material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding comprises thermal kinetic compounding. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding comprises twin screw extruding. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein twin screw extruding comprises foaming the composition. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising hardening the composition. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising grinding the hardened composition. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, comprising grinding the composition to form granule. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising forming the composition into pellet. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising forming the composition into sheet. ### Claim 37 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding a mixture comprising: about 5 to about 95 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 0.1 to about 95 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, comprising compounding a mixture comprising: about 50 to about 70 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 20 to about 50 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 39 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding distiller's dried grain and thermoactive material. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, comprising compounding distiller's dried corn and thermoactive material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding thermoactive material and at least one of distiller's dried grain, distiller's dried starchy root crop, distiller's dried tuber, and distiller's dried root. ### Claim 42 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding thermoactive material and at least one of at least one distiller's dried corn, distiller's dried sorghum (milo), distiller's dried barley, distiller's dried wheat, distiller's dried rye, distiller's dried rice, distiller's dried millet, distiller's dried oats, distiller's dried soybean, distiller's dried sweet potato, distiller's dried yam, distiller's dried cassava, and distiller's dried potato. ### Claim 43 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding fermentation solid and at least one of thermoplastic, thermoset material, and resin and adhesive polymer. ### Claim 44 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, comprising compounding fermentation solid and at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy material, melamine, polyester, phenolic polymer, and urea containing polymer. ### Claim 45 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding produces a composition that is macroscopically homogeneous. ### Claim 46 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding induces covalent bonding of the fermentation solid to the thermoactive material. ### Claim 47 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding raises the temperature of the fermentation solid to a temperature greater than Tg of the fermentation solid. ### Claim 48 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein compounding raises the temperature of the fermentation solid to a temperature greater than Tm of the fermentation solid. ### Claim 49 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising coating the compounded composition. ### Claim 50 A method of making a foamed composition, the method comprising: extruding material comprising fermentation solid and thermoactive material; and producing a foamed composition comprising fermentation solid and thermoactive material. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, comprising extruding a composition free of added foaming or blowing agent. ### Claim 52 A method of making an article, the method comprising: forming the article from a composition comprising: about 5 to about 95 wt-% fermentation solid; and about 0.1 to about 95 wt-% thermoactive material. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52, wherein forming comprises one or more of extrusion molding, injection molding, blow molding, compression molding, transfer molding, thermoforming, casting, calendering, low-pressure molding, high-pressure laminating, reaction injection molding, foam molding, and coating. ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) The method of claim 52, further comprising coating the article. ### Claim 55 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, comprising distiller's dried grain and polypropylene and further comprising malaeted polypropylene.