Abstract: Disclosed are a method for the reduction of an oligosaccharide mixture and an oligosaccharide mixture prepared thereby. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a mixture of oligosaccharides having a given DP profile is reduced to a DE of essentially zero by catalytically hydrogenating the mixture under reaction conditions sufficient to preserve the DP profile of the mixture, which reaction conditions typically include a reaction temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and a reaction pressure ranging up to about 1500 psi. Surprisingly, when the mixture is a malto-oligosaccharide mixture, the reduced mixture will have a superior color-fastness and thermal stability as compared to a similar unreduced mixture of malto-oligosaccharides, and also low reactivity towards nitrogen-containing species.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

Abstract: Dextrins are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product prepared thereby will include a dextrin, such as beta-limit dextrin. Upon ultrafiltration of this product, a dextrin-rich fraction may be recovered. If desired, the dextrin-rich fraction may be further purified via diafiltration. Retrograded amylose may be separated from the product of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

Abstract: Maltose products are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product thus prepared may be spray dried, or a high purity maltose product may be obtained therefrom via ultrafiltration. The high purity maltose product has a low content of glucose and saccharides in the DP 3-10 range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a hydroxyalkyl starch. In accordance with the disclosed invention, the method comprises reacting the starch with a starch hydroxylating agent in the presence of an alcohol and an alcohol-soluble alkali metal, at a temperature effective to provide a cold water soluble starch, preferably at a temperature of between about 90° and about 110° C. The starch thus produced will be granular and cold water soluble.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of retarding rootlet formation from one or more plants in a medium that can support the growth thereof, which method includes introducing into the medium a growth inhibiting effective amount of a growth inhibitor which comprises corn steep liquor. In other embodiments, the growth inhibitor is a mixture of a growth medium and lactic acid. In preferred embodiments, the present invention further provides a malting composition that includes a fermentable grain and a growth inhibitor, wherein the growth inhibitor is present in an amount effective to retard rootlet formation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for preparing wine. In accordance with one disclosed method, a high-purity maltose product is added to the must prior to or contemporaneously with fermentation in order to increase the level of fermentable sugar. In accordance with the second embodiment, a high-purity maltose product is added to a fermented wine in order to sweeten the wine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating a grain fiber, in particular corn fiber. In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the fiber is subjected to alkaline hydrolysis in the presence of a hemicellulose ferulate esterase in an aqueous medium. The hemicellulose ferulate esterase is present in an amount effective to catalyze alkaline hydrolysis, and the alkaline hydrolysis is performed under conditions suitable to permit the hemicellulose ferulate esterase to catalyze alkaline hydrolysis. The initial pH of the aqueous medium is alkaline but is sufficiently low to permit the enzyme to have catalytic activity. Preferably, the pH is in the range from 8.0 to 9.5. From the product mixture thus formed, fiber oil, cellulose, hemicellulose, and other materials may be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a starch that includes at least one glucose polymer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The present invention further provides a starch hydrolyzate that includes at least one glucose oligomer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The starch and starch hydrolyzate present invention have improved aqueous solution stability and are less likely to retrograde than are solutions of unbranched linear starches or starch hydrolyzates.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lithographic dampening solution and a method for dampening a lithographic plate. The solution comprises an aqueous solution of a gum, which may be a corn-hull-derived hemicellulose or the enzyme digestion product of a hemicellulose. The method generally comprises dampening a lithographic plate with the disclosed dampening solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are cleansing products that include reduced malto-oligosaccharides. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a cleansing product includes a surfactant and a reduced malto-oligosaccharide. In accordance with another embodiment, the reduced malto-oligosaccharide is an encapsulant for a product carrier in a powdered laundry-type detergent.

Abstract: An animal litter that includes seed meal is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the animal litter comprises discrete plural particles of a seed meal, which particles tend to agglomerate into clumps when wetted. The litter of the invention absorbs liquids such as animal excretions, and substantially reduces the odor thereof. Preferably, the litter further includes a grain germ, such as corn germ.

Abstract: Disclosed are derivatized malto-oligosaccharides and methods for the preparation thereof. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a malto-oligosaccharide is hydrogenated to thereby obtain a hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide, and the resulting hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide is derivatized, such as via oxidation, esterification, etherification, or enzymatic modification. The derivatization of such hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharides results in a surprisingly low level of a formation of by-products and products of degradation. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides is catalytically hydrogenated under reaction conditions suitable to substantially preserve the degree of polymerization (DP) profile of the mixture. The resulting malto-oligosaccharide mixture then is derivatized to form a derivatized malto-oligosaccharide mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

Abstract: Maltose products are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product thus prepared may be spray dried, or a high purity maltose product may be obtained therefrom via ultrafiltration. The high purity maltose product has a low content of glucose and saccharides in the DP 3-10 range.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lithographic dampening solution and a method for dampening a lithographic plate. The solution comprises an aqueous solution of a gum, which may be a corn-hull-derived hemicellulose or the enzyme digestion product of a hemicellulose. The method generally comprises dampening a lithographic plate with the disclosed dampening solution.

Abstract: An animal litter that includes seed meal. The animal litter comprises discrete plural particles of a seed meal, which particles tend to agglomerate into clumps when wetted. The litter of the invention absorbs liquids such as animal excretions, and substantially reduces the odor thereof. Preferably, the litter further includes a grain germ, such as corn germ.

Abstract: Disclosed are cleansing products that include reduced malto-oligosaccharides. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a cleansing product includes a surfactant and a reduced malto-oligosaccharide. In accordance with another embodiment, the reduced malto-oligosaccharide is an encapsulant for a product carrier in a powdered laundry-type detergent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a starch that includes at least one glucose polymer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The present invention further provides a starch hydrolyzate that includes at least one glucose oligomer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The starch and starch hydrolyzate present invention have improved aqueous solution stability and are less likely to retrograde than are solutions of unbranched linear starches or starch hydrolyzates.