Program Overview
The Biomaterials and Biochemicals program at NRRI develops new materials and chemicals using principles of green chemistry from our abundant biomass resources. This program has developed a broad patent portfolio around isolation and derivatization of triterpenoids from birch bark for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. NRRI has long-standing collaborations with academia, government, and agrochemical partners to create natural products that can be used to improve agrochemicals, dietary supplements, and nutraceuticals. We have developed new polymers using extracts from corn, cranberry, and tree bark. We assist the cellulosic biorefinery industry in scale-up and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol as well as development of novel binders, polymers, and functional coatings with biorefinery lignin.
Using our fully-equipped analytical chemistry facilities we provide analytical services to biomass energy, biorefinery, and environmental chemistry projects as well.
Program Goals, Impacts
- Research, develop and commercialize potentially useful natural products.
- Produce value-added chemical compounds from natural products.
- Chemical modification of natural sources to produce coatings, adhesives, binder, polymers.
Projects and Partners
- Ocean Spray Cranberries INC, Middleboro, MA. Head of Global Process Development at Ocean Spray Cranberries, Soumya Roy.
- The Actives Factory, Two Harbors, MN. President and CEO, Brian Garhofer
- Western Washington University, College of Science & Engineering, Dr. Gregory O'Neil
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Director, Dr.Louis M Mansky,
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN Department of Chemistry. Head of department, Victor N Nemykin
- University of Coimbra | UC, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Portugal, Dr. Paulo J Oliveira
- Medical School, Duluth Campus, Associate Professor, Jon Holy.
Patents
NRRI Biomaterials and Biochemical Patents
Patents
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.;Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Krasutskyy; Dmytro A. Depolymerization extraction of compounds from birch bark. United States Patent 8,197,870, June 12, 2012.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Khotkevych; Andriy B. Co-production of biodiesel and an enriched food product from distillers grains. United States Patent 7,857,872, December 28, 2010.
- Avilov, Dmytro; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutsky, Pavel A. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. Australian Patent 2003/205244, January 8, 2009.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. European Patent 1465914, December 17, 2008.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent 7,410,958, August 12, 2008.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Nesterenko; Vitaliy V.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Edwardson; Chris F. Birch bark processing and the isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent 7,264,184, September 4, 2007.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent 7,199,114, April 3, 2007.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Nesterenko; Vitaliy V. Process for extracting compounds from plants. United States Patent 7,198,808, April 3, 2007.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Wang; Hong. Compositions including fluorinated peroxides, methods of making, and the use thereof. United States Patent 6,911,561, June 28, 2005.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Nesterenko; Vitaliy V.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Edwardson; Chris F. Birch bark processing and the isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent 6,815,553, November 9, 2004.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V. Isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent 6,768,016, July 27, 2004.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Nesterenko; Vitaliy V.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Edwardson; Chris F. Birch bark processing and the isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent 6,634,575, October 21, 2003.
Patent Applications
- Kolomitsyna; Oksana; Young; Matthew; Hagen; Timothy; Fostnacht; Donald; Singsaas; Eric. Fuel Compositions Based on Binders from Cutin-Containing Materials. United States Patent Application 20190316050 A1, October 17, 2019
- Kolomitsyna; Oksana; Young; Matthew; Hagen; Timothy; Fostnacht; Donald; Singsaas; Eric. Fuel Compositions Based on Binders from Birch Bark. United States Patent Application 20190316052 A1, October 17, 2019
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Krasutskyy; Dmytro A. DEPOLYMERIZATION EXTRACTION OF COMPOUNDS FROM BIRCH BARK. United States Patent Application 20090182158 A1, July 16, 2009
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyn, Igor V.; Holy, Jon M.; Perkins, Edward Leon; Packee, Edmond C.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Therapeutic Triterpenoids. US Patent Application 20090136566, May 28, 2009.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Methods of Manufacturing Bioactive 3-Esters of Betulinic Aldehyde and Betulinic Acid. United States Patent Application 20090023698, January 22, 2009.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyn, Igor V.; Holy, Jon M.; Perkins, Edward Leon; Packee, Edmond C.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Therapeutic Triterpenoids. International Patent Application WO/2007/121352 A3R4, August 28, 2008.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytre A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent Application 20070259842, November 8, 2007.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytre A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent Application 20070259839, November 8, 2007.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyn, Igor V.; Holy, Jon M.; Perkins, Edward Leon; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Therapeutic Triterpenoids. International Patent Application WO/2007/121352, October 25, 2007.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytre A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent Application 20070244081, October 18, 2007.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Methods of Manufacturing Bioactive 3-Esters of Betulinic Aldehyde and Betulinic Acid. International Patent Application WO/2006/105356, October 5, 2006.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Nesterenko; Vitaliy V.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Edwardson; Chris F. Birch bark processing and the isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent Application 20050158414 A1, July 21, 2005
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro, A.; Kacharov, Oleksiy, D.; Kolomitsyn, Igor, V. Method for Obtaining Natural Products from Plant Material. International Patent Application WO/2005/047304, May 26, 2005.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. United States Patent Application 20050059642, March 17, 2005.
- Krasutsky, Pavel A.; Avilov, Dmytro; Sergeeva, Tatiana; Krasutskyy, Dmytro A.; Kolomitsyna, Oksana. Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants. International Patent Application WO/2003/062260, July 31, 2003.
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V. Isolation of natural products from birch bark. United States Patent Application 20030109727 A1, June 12, 2003
- Krasutsky; Pavel A.; Carlson; Robert M.; Kolomitsyn; Igor V.; Wang, Hong. Compositions including fluorinated peroxides, methods of making, and the use thereof. United States Patent Application 20030004369 A1, January 2, 2003
Staff
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Media Coverage
- – How biochar — the ‘Swiss Army knife of climate tools’ — is growing in Minnesota – MPR
- – Minneapolis is on the leading edge of biochar, a carbon sequestering material full of promise and still under research – Star Tribune
- – Whatever happened to … birch bark extracts? – Hometown Focus
- – Northland researchers look to biochar as possible climate solution – Duluth News Tribune
- – Biochar forestry could reduce wildfire risk and capture carbon – Quetico Superior Wilderness News
- – Forest Service partners with researchers to transform wildfire fuel into biochar in Superior National Forest – WTIP