How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently
A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly.
Original patent title: “USRE50567E1 - Fermentation product production processes”
A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly. Granted to Novozymes North America Inc in 2025 with 33 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method to improve the production of ethanol from starch-based materials like corn. It involves a specific sequence: first, liquefying starch using an alpha-amylase enzyme, then adding a protease enzyme to break down proteins in the mixture. By degrading these proteins before the saccharification step—where sugars are generated—the process becomes more efficient. Finally, the mixture is fermented by an organism to produce alcohol, which can then be distilled.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover processes that omit the specific protease treatment step before saccharification.
- Does not cover production of ethanol from non-starch sources like cellulose or sugar cane juice.
- Does not cover fermentation processes that do not use alpha-amylase for initial liquefaction.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific timing of the protease addition. By treating the liquefied mash with a protease after liquefaction but before saccharification, the process clears away protein obstacles that typically hinder the efficiency of the sugar-generating enzymes.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Industrial corn-to-ethanol biorefineries
Biofuel production facilities using starch-containing agricultural waste
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is central to the fuel ethanol industry, which relies on maximizing yield from corn feedstocks. By optimizing the breakdown of proteins that would otherwise interfere with enzyme performance, this process allows plants to produce more fuel from the same amount of raw material, directly impacting the economics of renewable energy production.
Filed
February 7, 2006
Granted
September 2, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Novozymes is a global leader in industrial enzymes and continues to refine these biochemical pathways. Major ethanol producers and agricultural processing companies utilize these enzyme-based methods to optimize their fermentation yields.
Market impact
This patent reinforces the standard operating procedures for modern dry-grind ethanol plants. It helps maintain high throughput and yield in the biofuel sector, ensuring that starch-to-ethanol conversion remains a commercially viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method to improve the production of ethanol from starch-based materials like corn. It involves a specific sequence: first, liquefying starch using an alpha-amylase enzyme, then adding a protease enzyme to break down proteins in the mixture. By degrading these proteins before the saccharification step—where sugars are generated—the process becomes more efficient. Finally, the mixture is fermented by an organism to produce alcohol, which can then be distilled.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific timing of the protease addition. By treating the liquefied mash with a protease after liquefaction but before saccharification, the process clears away protein obstacles that typically hinder the efficiency of the sugar-generating enzymes.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover processes that omit the specific protease treatment step before saccharification.
- Does not cover production of ethanol from non-starch sources like cellulose or sugar cane juice.
- Does not cover fermentation processes that do not use alpha-amylase for initial liquefaction.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$11K – $35K
Midpoint $22K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
33 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Smith, M. T., Ress, J., Wenger, K. S., & Festersen, R. M. (2025). How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently (U.S. Patent No. RE50,567). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE50567/io-electric-toothbrush
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Enzymes Help Turn Corn Into Ethanol More Efficiently cover?
A process for making ethanol from starch by using specific enzymes to break down proteins, which helps the fermentation process run more smoothly.
Who owns patent US RE50567?
Novozymes North America Inc owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 2, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is central to the fuel ethanol industry, which relies on maximizing yield from corn feedstocks. By optimizing the breakdown of proteins that would otherwise interfere with enzyme performance, this process allows plants to produce more fuel from the same amount of raw material, directly impacting the economics of renewable energy production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover processes that omit the specific protease treatment step before saccharification.
Patent monitoring