Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound with less acrylic acid as by-product using a Nitrile hydratase (NHase) and Amidase producing microorganism as biocatalyst. Also provided is an aqueous amide compound obtained by the methods of the invention as well as a composition comprising acrylamide or polyacrylamide as well as a dried microorganism exhibiting a NHase/Amidase activity ratio of at least 400 when being brought into contact with a nitrile compound to convert said nitrile compound into an amide compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the acrylic acid concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution. The methods involve a bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein during the bioconversion the content of acrylonitrile is maintained at 0.3 w/w % or more referred to the total weight of the composition in the reactor. Also provided is an aqueous acrylamide solution which is obtained by the methods of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is related to an acrylamide homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing the acrylamide of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing an aqueous acrylamide solution having a low acrylic acid concentration. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the acrylic acid concentration of an aqueous acrylamide solution. The methods involve a bioconversion of acrylonitrile to acrylamide in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein during the bioconversion the content of acrylonitrile is maintained at 0.3 w/w % or more referred to the total weight of the composition in the reactor. Also provided is an aqueous acrylamide solution which is obtained by the methods of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention is related to an acrylamide homopolymer or copolymer obtained by polymerizing the acrylamide of the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound with less acrylic acid as by-product using a Nitrile hydratase (NHase) and Amidase producing microorganism as biocatalyst. Also provided is an aqueous amide compound obtained by the methods of the invention as well as a composition comprising acrylamide or polyacrylamide as well as a dried microorganism exhibiting a NHase/Amidase activity ratio of at least 400 when being brought into contact with a nitrile compound to convert said nitrile compound into an amide compound.

Abstract: Method for immobilizing proteins on a support, wherein the protein is incubated with the support in an aqueous phase in a discontinuous contact vacuum mixer dryer and the immobilized protein is then immediately dried, optionally following an optional washing step, in the same contact vacuum mixer dryer.

Abstract: A flexible disc for rotary accommodation on a coulter mount of a disc coulter relative to a cutting disc for opening of the soil (A), the flexible disc arranged to brush over a cleaning surface of the cutting disc. Furthermore, this invention relates to a disc coulter with an outlet section for feed of seed and/or fertilizer between a cutting disc and an at least partially flexible disc, with a coulter mount for rotational accommodation of the cutting disc for opening the soil (A) and of a flexible disc which brushes over a cleaning surface of a cleaning side of the cutting disc, which side faces the outlet section.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for offering and providing credit card products. The disclosed systems and method provide a credit card product whose credit limit is determined at the time of activation. The applicant receives a credit card that has not been activated. When the applicant contacts the issuer to activate the credit card and learn the credit limit, the actual credit limit for the credit card is determined based on the individual's credit history and answers to risk-splitting questions. After determining the credit limit, a customer account is established and the customer is notified of the credit limit.