# US 8,465,956 B2 · Bioprocessing

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,465,956 B2
- Document ID: US8465956B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/293,971
- Filed: 2011-11-10
- Published: 2012-04-26
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-20
- Assignees: Xyleco, Inc.
- Applicants: Marshall Medoff; Thomas Craig Masterman; Harrison D. Medoff
- Inventors: Marshall Medoff; Thomas Craig Masterman; Harrison D. Medoff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465956B2

## CPC

- C12M 45/07: {by electrical or electromagnetic forces}
- C12M 25/00: {Means for supporting, enclosing or fixing the microorganisms, e.g. immunocoatings}
- C12N 11/00: Carrier-bound or immobilised enzymes; Carrier-bound or immobilised microbial cells; Preparation thereof
- C12N 11/14: Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier
- C12P 7/02: containing a hydroxy group
- C12P 7/06: Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
- C12P 7/065: {with microorganisms other than yeasts}
- C12P 7/10: substrate containing cellulosic material
- C12P 7/14: Multiple stages of fermentation; Multiple types of microorganisms or re-use of microorganisms
- C12P 19/02: Monosaccharides (2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60)
- C12P 19/14: produced by the action of a carbohydrase {(EC 3.2.x)}, e.g. by alpha-amylase {, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase}
- C12P 2203/00: Fermentation products obtained from optionally pretreated or hydrolyzed cellulosic or lignocellulosic material as the carbon source
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- Y02P 30/20: using bio-feedstock
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Functionalized substrate materials, for example inorganic particles and/or synthetic polymeric particles, are used to enhance bioprocesses such as saccharification and fermentation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fermentation method comprising:
(a) functionalizing inorganic fibers by irradiating the fibers with ionizing radiation and quenching the irradiated fibers; and
(b) contacting a low molecular weight sugar with the functionalized inorganic fibers and a fermenting microorganism immobilized on the fibers, within a medium, for a period of time and under suitable fermentation conditions to convert the low molecular weight sugar to a fermentation product, whereby the immobilization occurs as a result of interaction between functional groups on the functionalized fibers and functional groups on the microorganism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers comprise a synthetic material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight sugar is converted to an alcohol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism comprises a yeast.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of S. cerevisiae and P. stipitis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the microorganism comprises a bacterium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the bacterium comprises Zymomonas mobilis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the low molecular weight sugar is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, xylose, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein irradiating is performed using a particle beam.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a BET surface area of greater than 100 m2/g.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the inorganic fibers comprise a material selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, aragonite clay, orthorhombic clays, calcite clay, rhombohedral clays, kaolin, bentonite clay, dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, magnesium orthophosphate, trimagnesium phosphate, hydroxyapatites, synthetic apatites, alumina, hydrated alumina, silica xerogel, metal aluminosilicate complexes, sodium aluminum silicates, zirconium silicate, silicon dioxide, graphite, wollastonite, mica, glass, fiber glass, silica, talc, carbon fibers, conductive carbon black, ceramic fibers, alumina trihydrate, ground construction waste, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a porosity greater than 70%.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have a porosity greater than 90%.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising recovering the inorganic fibers after fermenting and reusing the inorganic fibers in a second, subsequent fermentation.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are provided in the form of a single or multi-layer sheet.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are provided in the form of a fibrous material that is overlaid, folded, or in the form of a screen or mesh.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers are extruded or coextruded inorganic fibers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the inorganic fibers have nano-scale average particle size.