IP Library Granted Patent US 12,139,657
Granted Patent B1
US 12,139,657 · App. 17/196,646 · Granted Nov 12, 2024

Emulsifiers and emulsions as by-products of fermentation, compositions comprising same, and methods of use thereof

Inventors: Alex T. McCurdy (Sioux Falls, SD); Steven T. Bly (Sioux Falls, SD)
Assignee: POET Research, Inc.
C09K23/018A23K10/38A23K20/147A23K20/158C09K23/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,139,657
App. No.
17/196,646
Granted
Nov 12, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

Emulsifiers and emulsions obtained as by-products of corn fermentation, compositions comprising the same, and methods of making and using the emulsifiers and emulsions are provided.

Claims (37)

1. A first emulsion composition comprising:

an emulsifier in the form of a second emulsion, wherein the emulsifier includes protein with at least a non-germ protein and grain oil, and wherein the emulsifier is a by-product of a biorefinery process;

a first substance selected from the group consisting of asphalt, paint, livestock feed, agrochemical, lubricant, ink, defoaming agent, and industrial coating; and

a second substance selected from the group consisting of water, solvent, and non-polar liquid; and

wherein the second emulsion includes less than 10% protein by weight, about 30% to about 60% grain oil by weight, and about 40 to about 60 percent water by weight.

2. An emulsion composition comprising:

an emulsifier in the form of a dried emulsion product, wherein the emulsifier includes protein with at least a non-germ protein and grain oil, and wherein the emulsifier is a by-product of a biorefinery process;

a first substance selected from the group consisting of asphalt, paint, livestock feed, agrochemical, lubricant, ink, defoaming agent, and industrial coating; and

a second substance selected from the group consisting of water, solvent, and non-polar liquid; and

wherein the dried emulsion product includes about 2% to about 15% protein by weight, about 60% to about 85% grain oil by weight, and about 0.5% to about 10% water by weight.

3. An emulsion composition comprising:

an emulsifier in the form of a defatted emulsion, wherein the emulsifier includes protein with at least a non-germ protein and grain oil, and wherein the emulsifier is a by-product of a biorefinery process;

a first substance selected from the group consisting of asphalt, paint, livestock feed, agrochemical, lubricant, ink, defoaming agent, and industrial coating; and

a second substance selected from the group consisting of water, solvent, and non-polar liquid; and

wherein the defatted emulsion includes about 2% to about 10% protein by weight, about 5% to about 20% grain oil by weight, about 60% to about 90% water by weight.

4. An emulsion composition comprising:

an emulsifier in the form of a dried defatted emulsion product, wherein the emulsifier includes protein with at least a non-germ protein and grain oil, and wherein the emulsifier is a by-product of a biorefinery process;

a first substance selected from the group consisting of asphalt, paint, livestock feed, agrochemical, lubricant, ink, defoaming agent, and industrial coating; and

a second substance selected from the group consisting of water, solvent, and non-polar liquid; and

wherein the dried defatted emulsion product includes about 10% to about 40% protein on a dry weight basis; about 20% to about 45% grain oil on a dry weight basis, and a moisture content of less than about 15% by weight.

5. An emulsion composition comprising:

an emulsifier in the form of a dried defatted emulsion precipitate product, wherein the emulsifier includes protein with at least a non-germ protein and grain oil, and wherein the emulsifier is a by-product of a biorefinery process;

a first substance selected from the group consisting of asphalt, paint, livestock feed, agrochemical, lubricant, ink, defoaming agent, and industrial coating; and

a second substance selected from the group consisting of water, solvent, and non-polar liquid; and

wherein the dried defatted emulsion precipitate product includes about 30% to about 60% protein on a dry weight basis, about 20% to about 40% grain oil on a dry weight basis, and a moisture content of about 0.5% to about 15% by weight.

6. The emulsion composition of claim 5 , wherein the dried defatted emulsion precipitate product is reconstituted prior to use.

7. The emulsion composition of claim 5 , wherein the emulsifier comprises at least a non-germ protein, and wherein the emulsifier is prepared by a method comprising:

(i) obtaining a syrup from ethanol fermentation;

(ii) centrifuging the syrup to produce a defatted syrup and an emulsion;

(iii) centrifuging the emulsion to produce a defatted emulsion; and

(iv) centrifuging the defatted emulsion to produce the defatted emulsion precipitate product including a protein with at least one non-germ protein.

8. The emulsion composition of claim 7 , wherein the non-germ protein includes at least one of globulin-1 S allele precursor, globulin-1, globulin 2 precursor, globulin-1 S allele, oleosin Zm-I, oleosin Zm-II, zeamatin protein, granule-bound starch synthase, trypsin inhibitor, and gamma zein (16 kDa).

9. The emulsion composition of claim 7 , wherein the emulsifier includes about 30% to about 60% protein on a dry weight basis.

10. The emulsion composition of claim 9 , wherein the emulsifier further comprises minerals and modified lipids produced during fermentation.

11. The emulsion composition of claim 9 , wherein the emulsifier includes about 20% to about 40% grain oil on a dry weight basis.

12. The emulsion composition of claim 11 , further comprising drying the defatted emulsion precipitate product to a moisture content of less than about 15% to produce the emulsifier in the form of the dried defatted emulsion precipitate product.

13. The emulsion composition of claim 7 , wherein the syrup is obtained from a biorefinery process stream selected from the group consisting of beer, whole stillage, thin stillage, and syrup.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2025
From: POET RESEARCH, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 072489/0295 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2021
From: POET RESEARCH, INC.
To: COBANK, ACB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058457/0123 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: MCCURDY, ALEX T.; BLY, STEVEN T.
To: POET RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 055548/0207 →