Ethanol Maker Poet Sues Rival for Toxin-Reduction Patent Damages

Poet Holding Co., the world’s top corn-ethanol producer, accused rival Hydrite Chemical Co. of infringing three patents for technology that cleans toxins found in feedstock before it’s transformed into ethanol.

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Poet Research Inc., a Poet subsidiary, said at least three of Hydrite’s Hydri-Maize products marketed for their reduction of toxic moulds in animal-feed byproduct infringe three patents, according to a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

• Poet alleges infringement of US Patent Nos. 11,076,621; 11,800,884; and 11,882,861, which covers grain biorefineries and technology essential to reducing toxicity in feedstock used in the ...