Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of lignocellulose into an organic acid including an alkaline pretreatment step and a fermentation step, wherein liquid phase obtained in the fermentation step is recycled to the alkaline pretreatment step and/or the fermentation step. Organic acid is recovered as its magnesium of calcium salt from solid phase obtained in the fermentation step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of lignocellulose into an organic acid including an alkaline pretreatment step and a fermentation step, wherein liquid phase obtained in the fermentation step is recycled to the alkaline pretreatment step and/or the fermentation step. Organic acid is recovered as its magnesium of calcium salt from solid phase obtained in the fermentation step.

Abstract: A method for the production of non-ruminant animal feed from plants and/or plant parts of the family of Poaceae includes the steps of: harvesting plants and/or plant parts; extracting protein and fructan from said plants and/or plant parts; separating protein for feeding non-ruminant animals; and separating fructan for feeding non-ruminant animals. The fructan stimulates bacterial growth and protein production in the large intestine of the non-ruminant animals and reduces the concentration of amino acid catabolites in the large intestine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of itaconic acid, which method comprises fermenting a recombinant cell capable of producing itaconic acid in a suitable fermentation medium, thereby to produce itaconic acid, wherein: (a) the recombinant cell: (i) overexpresses cis-aconitate decarboxylase; and (ii) overexpresses a part of the citric acid cycle and/or has reduced activity of a native metabolic route to acetate and/or lactate; and, optionally, (b) the fermentation is carried out under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of itaconic acid, which method comprises fermenting a recombinant cell capable of producing itaconic acid in a suitable fermentation medium, thereby to produce itaconic acid, wherein: (a) the recombinant cell: (i) overexpresses cis-aconitate decarboxylase; and (ii) overexpresses a part of the citric acid cycle and/or has reduced activity of a native metabolic route to acetate and/or lactate; and, optionally, (b) the fermentation is carried out under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: A process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound is disclosed. The process comprises (a) providing, in a crystallisation vessel, a solution of the water-soluble compound in a mixture of water and a solvent in which the water-soluble compound has a lower solubility than in water; (b) passing vapor phase of the mixture through a sorption zone containing a water vapor sorbent to selectively adsorb water from the vapor phase; (c) recycling a part of the vapor phase to the crystallisation vessel or withdrawing vapor phase depleted in water from the process and adding solvent to the crystallisation vessel; (d) allowing solid crystals of the water-soluble compound to precipitate from the solution; and (e) discharging precipitated solid crystals of the water-soluble compound from the crystallisation vessel and discharging a solution of non-crystallised water-soluble compound in water-solvent mixture from the crystallisation vessel.

Abstract: A method for separating amino and/or organic acid-containing particles from a mixture of amino and/or organic acid-containing particles based on density is disclosed, the method comprising: providing a feed of the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles; providing a medium having a selected density effective for particles of a lower density than the selected density to float in the medium for particles of a higher density than the selected density to sink in the medium; combining the feed of the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles with the medium; and separating the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles of the higher density from the amino and/or organic acid-containing particles of the lower density.

Abstract: A process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound is disclosed. The process comprises (a) providing, in a crystallisation vessel, a solution of the water-soluble compound in a mixture of water and a solvent in which the water-soluble compound has a lower solubility than in water; (b) passing vapour phase of the mixture through a sorption zone containing a water vapour sorbent to selectively adsorb water from the vapour phase; (c) recycling a part of the vapour phase to the crystallisation vessel or withdrawing vapour phase depleted in water from the process and adding solvent to the crystallisation vessel; (d) allowing solid crystals of the water-soluble compound to precipitate from the solution; and (e) discharging precipitated solid crystals of the water-soluble compound from the crystallisation vessel and discharging a solution of non-crystallised water-soluble compound in water-solvent mixture from the crystallisation vessel.

Abstract: A process for the crystallization of a water-soluble compound from a solution of water and a solvent is provided. A process for the manufacture of crystalline sucrose from sugar palm juice or sucrose-containing biomass comprising such crystallization process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of lignocellulose into an organic acid including an alkaline pretreatment step and a fermentation step, wherein liquid phase obtained in the fermentation step is recycled to the alkaline pretreatment step and/or the fermentation step. Organic acid is recovered as its magnesium of calcium salt from solid phase obtained in the fermentation step.

Abstract: A process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound from a solution of water and a solvent is provided. A process for the manufacture of crystalline sucrose from sugar palm juice or sucrose-containing biomass comprising such crystallisation process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the combined synthesis of at least two vinylic monomers, at least one of which being an acrylic compound, comprising subjecting a monoconjugated alkene-1-carboxylic compound to reaction with a C2-C4 alkene under conditions of olefin cross-metathesis. The invention is particularly useful for extracting value from protein side streams. Upon protein hydrolysis, suitable amino acids (preferably phenylalanine or tyrosine) are subjected to reductive amination so as to form the corresponding alkene-1-carboxylic acid. Preferably after esterification and separation, this is used in cross-metathesis for the concomitant production of styrene resp. hydroxy styrene, and acrylates. The invention is applicable more widely, to the synthesis of olefins on the basis of carbohydrates, naturally occurring phenolic components, natural protein resources, or amino acids obtained from fermentations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing electricity and conversion products such as ethanol, comprising the steps of: i) separating a starch source into a starch-rich fraction and a residual fraction; ii) heating the starch-rich fraction for the purpose of gelling the starch; iii) releasing the gelled starch from the starch-rich fraction; iva) converting the gelled starch enzymatically into sugars; ivb) converting the sugars fermentatively into the conversion products; v) further processing the conversion products from the conversion medium; vi) generating biogas from residual fraction; vii) generating electricity and heat from biogas and/or residual fraction via cogeneration of heat and electricity; and viii) using the generated heat in one or more steps i) to vi).

Abstract: The present invention relates to fermentation processes for the production of cyanophycin in a microorganism whereby a plant-derived nitrogen source is converted by the microorganism into cyanophycin. The plant-derived nitrogen source preferably is a process stream being obtained in the processing of agricultural crops such as e.g., a by-product in the processing of starch from agricultural crops like corn, potato or cassave. The invention further relates to processes for the conversion of cyanophycin into a variety of compounds including e.g., ornithine, 1,4-butanediamine, n-alkyl amino alcohols, acrylonitrile, as well as cyanophycin derived functionalised poly(aspartic acid)s wherein the arginine residues have been functionalised to ornithine, (N-L-arginino)succinate, N-phospho-L-arginine or agmantine and the lysine residues have been functionalised to N6-hydroxy-L-lysine, 2,5-diaminohexanoate, N6-(L-1,3-dicarboxypropyl), pentanediamine, 5-aminopentanamide or N6-acetyl-L-lysine.

Abstract: Novel methods and novel industrial unicellular microorganism strains, particularly industrial Bacillus strains, are provided for enhanced production of endogenous and exogenous polypeptides. Cloning vehicles containing the gene expressing the polypeptide of interest are introduced into a compatible host. Transformed hosts harboring the introduced vehicle in a stable way by integration of the vehicle into the host cells chromosome are selected. Efficient transfer of the vehicle containing the gene of interest is achieved, with the resulting industrial strain transformants being effective, stable producers of the desired polypeptide product.

Abstract: Novel methods and novel industrial unicellular microorganism strains, particularly industrial Bacillus strains, are provided for enhanced production of endogenous and exogenous polypeptides. Cloning vehicles containing the gene expressing the polypeptide of interest are introduced into a compatible host. Transformed hosts harboring the introduced vehicle in a stable way by integration of the vehicle into the host cells chromosome are selected. Efficient transfer of the vehicle containing the gene of interest is achieved, with the resulting industrial strain transformants being effective, stable producers of the desired polypeptide product.