Abstract: A method for preparing a hyper-cellulolytic catabolite derepressed mutants of ascomycetes fungus, especially variants of Penicillium funiculosum. Selection media used to isolate such variants include amorphous cellulose and a high concentration of glucose. Cellulase activities of mutant ID-10, in particular such as FPase and ?-glucosidase were 1.5 times higher than Penicillium funiculosum MRJ-16 (parent). Furthermore, fungal mutant morphology was changed and no pH adjustment was required throughout the enzyme production process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process of xylitol production from pure xylose, xylose containing liquid extract from the acid pretreated biomass (LEPB) and co-production of ethanol and xylitol from dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass by natural S. cerevisiae DBT-IOC S24 (MTCC25086). The present invention also discloses a process of xylitol production wherein a thermo and inhibitor tolerant S. cerevisiae DBT-IOC S24 (MTCC25086) natural strain has been induced to produce xylitol from xylose at defined process parameters using xylose containing diluted acid pretreated biomass as well as from xylose containing synthetic media in presence of glucose, lignocelluloses biomass derived xylitol inducer maintaining aeration at 1VVM and pH at 5.0 in the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining a high titer of enzyme mixture comprising cellulases, hemicellulases and ?-glucosidases in reutilization of waste water generated during hot water extraction of lignocellulosic biomass or biorefinery waste water using Penicillium funiculosum MRJ-16 mutant strain. The cellulose or lignocellulosic biomass used in the fermentation process is selected from the group consisting of rice straw, wheat straw, corn stover, cotton stalk or a combination thereof. The enzyme mixture obtained by the present process is used for the saccharification of acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a booster composition for enhancing the biogas yield and stabilizing the operation of a biomethanation plant, a method for the preparation of said booster composition and a method for enhancing the biogas yield and stabilizing the operation of a biomethanation plant using said composition by ameliorating the effect of shock conditions like pH and temperature. The booster composition comprises of specifically defined constituents selected from controlled release agents, redox potential balancers, direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) improvers, micronutrient balancers, and Co-factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of second generation ethanol production from a lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises subjecting a slurry of pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass comprising C5 and C6 sugars in a fermentor; preferentially fermenting mainly C5 sugars by incubating the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass of step (i) with first cellulase enzyme, co-fermenting microorganism, nutrient in the fermentor at 30-37° C. for a period of 16 to 24 hours; adding second cellulase enzyme to the fermentation broth of step (ii) and increasing the temperature to 45-55° C. for hydrolysis; allowing the fermentation broth of step (iii) to cool to a temperature of 35-38° C.; and preferentially fermenting C6 sugars by incubating the broth of step (iv) with a second dose of co-fermenting microorganism for a period of 6-8 hours to obtain ethanol. The process results in high ethanol productivity in shortest duration of time.

Abstract: An advantageous process for pre-treating lignocellulosic biomass to hydrolysable polysaccharide enriched biomass with reduced amount of inhibitors of catalysis comprising steps of: providing a feedstock comprising cellulosic biomass; chopping of cellulosic biomass to have a cellulosic biomass feed material of uniform size; feeding of uniform sized feed material to a horizontal counter current extraction unit; removing excess of water from the feed material obtained from the extraction unit; soaking the extruded feed material obtained from the extraction unit; optionally removing excess of water from the feed material obtained after acid soaking; steam pre-treating the feed material obtained after removing excess of water from the acid soaked feed material; neutralizing the slurry obtained from the steam pre-treating; and optionally saccharifying the neutralized slurry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for simultaneous production of citric acid and cellulolytic enzymes. The batch process comprising (i) adding slurry of a pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass or cellulose in a fermentation media; (ii) inoculating 10% (v/v) active liquid seed culture of Penicillium funiculosum MRJ-16 in the fermentation media of step (i); (iii) subjecting the culture of step (ii) to fermentation in an aerated fermenter at a temperature of 28-33° C. for a duration of 96 hours; and (iv) collecting enzyme broth after fermentation of step (iii) to obtain citric acid and cellulolytic enzymes. The batch and fed-batch process of the present invention results in high titer production of citric acid and cellulolytic enzymes in a single step and using single microbial strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for bio-assisted treatment of spent caustic obtained from hydrocarbon and gas processing installations. The present invention also relates to method for recovery of caustic and recovery of sulfur from spent caustic. According to present invention, the sulfide removal is about 96% and the sulphur formation and deposition on the electrode lies in range of 72±8%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing or preventing the formation or activity of a corrosion-associated biofilm on a metal surface, wherein the method comprises contacting the metal surface with a liquid composition comprising biocidal preparation. The present invention also relates to a microbicidal composition comprising at least one alcohol, one liquid hydrocarbon, a bacteriophage immobilized on a magnetic nanocomposite, at least one phage releasing reagent and one stabilizer. The microbicide composition and method of the present invention reduces biofilms on surfaces, and consequently, reduces, mitigates, or eliminates MIC in internal surface of the oil transporting pipelines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biomimetic-hybrid solvent system for simultaneous capture of H2S and CO2 from any gaseous composition. The present invention also relates to a process for upgradation of biogas to bio CNG by removing gaseous contaminants, including microbial removal of H2S, to obtained purified CO2. The biomimetic-hybrid solvent system contains three components selected from tertiary amine compounds, a functional colloidal fluid, and an enzyme mimic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cellulases enzymes production by Penicillium funiculosum MRJ-16 using minimum media components and/or low cost media components like cellulose or pretreated lignocellulosic biomass as carbon source and soya flour or defatted soya flour or de-oiled soya cake as nitrogen source. The present invention also provides a method for production of high titer of cellulases and hemicellulases enzymes using Penicillium funiculosum MRJ-16 using minimum media and/or low cost media components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and a method for mitigating formation or activity of a corrosion-associated biofilm on metal surfaces of pipelines. The pipelines are first treated with pigs i.e. bi-di pigs for removing/disturbing biofilm, followed by microbial treatment i.e. application of microbecidal composition. The microbecidal composition comprising at least one alcohol, one corrosion inhibitor, one surfactant, one biocide and a lignin-based nanoparticle. The lignin-based nano particle is functionalized with amine functionalizing agent. The present composition and method is eco-friendly, as low concentration is sufficient and further, regular dosing is not required for MIC control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage process for production of drop-in fuels/alcohols (methanol, ethanol or butanol) from volatile fatty acids produced either synthetically from fossil resources or as metabolic intermediates in acidification step of anaerobic digestion process from waste biomass and organic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuous production of second-generation ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass via continuous simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) process, wherein the process includes a first fermentor vessel for selectively fermenting C5 sugars and then Continuous transferring the fermented biomass to a second fermentor vessel for hydrolyzing the fermented biomass and then Continuous transferring the hydrolysate to a third fermentor vessel for selectively fermenting C6 sugars to obtain ethanol. Overall, the ethanol yield achieved was up to 70% for both C5 and C6 sugars from pretreated biomass; and C5 utilization exceeded 95% after SSCF.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a membrane-less reactor design for microbial electrosynthesis of alcohols from carbon dioxide (CO2). The membrane-less reactor design thus facilitates higher and efficient CO2 transformation to alcohols via single pot microbial electrosynthesis. The reactor design operates efficiently avoiding oxygen contact at working electrode without using membrane, in turn there is an increase in CO2 solubility and its bioavailability for subsequent CO2 conversion to alcohols at faster rate. The present invention further provides a process of operation of the reactor for biotransformation of the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a formulation to stabilize lignocellulolytic enzyme mixture. This invention in particular relates to a formulation composed of lignocellulolytic enzyme with critical dosages of molasses either with petrochemical waste or glycerol as an additive to improve enzyme stability in a synergistic manner.

Abstract: A process for treatment of hydrocarbon refinery wastewater producing a low bio-sludge, the process including utilizing microbial consortia comprising at least one species of Pseudomonas and at least one species of Bacillus in a ratio of 10:1 to 1:10. The species of Pseudomonas and species of Bacillus have constitutive expression of at least one hydrocarbon degrading gene. The species of Pseudomonas are selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas stutzeri (MTCC 25027), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 5389), Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IOC DHT (MTCC, 5385), Pseudomonas putida IOCR1 (MTCC 5387), Pseudomonas putida IOC5a1 (MTCC 5388) and a mutant thereof. The species of Bacillus are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 25026), Bacillus substilis (MTCC 5386), Bacillus thermoleovorans (MTCC 25023), Bacillus stearothermophilus (MTCC 25030), Lysinibacillus sp. (MTCC 25029), Lysinibacillus sp. (MTCC 5666) and a mutant thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass via modified simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF), wherein the process includes transferring or recirculation of residual biomass from a first batch of SSCF to a second batch of SSCF at the time of enzymatic hydrolysis and then transferring the residual biomass in part or completely from the second batch of SSCF to a third batch of SSCF process to its hydrolysis reaction step. Overall, the average ethanol yield from three conjugative batch of SSCF is 5.06% higher compare to the single batch of SSCF without adding any additional enzyme, and hydrolysis time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method of second generation ethanol production from a lignocellulosic biomass. The process comprises subjecting a slurry of pre-treated lignocellulosic biomass comprising C5 and C6 sugars in a fermentor; preferentially fermenting mainly C5 sugars by incubating the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass of step (i) with first cellulase enzyme, co-fermenting microorganism, nutrient in the fermentor at 30-37° C. for a period of 16 to 24 hours; adding second cellulase enzyme to the fermentation broth of step (ii) and increasing the temperature to 45-55° C. for hydrolysis; allowing the fermentation broth of step (iii) to cool to a temperature of 35-38° C.; and preferentially fermenting C6 sugars by incubating the broth of step (iv) with a second dose of co-fermenting microorganism for a period of 6-8 hours to obtain ethanol. The process results in high ethanol productivity in shortest duration of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to development of high performing oil soluble and water dispersible corrosion inhibitor composition for mitigating internal corrosion of crude oil pipelines during storage and transportation of crude oils. The developed composition consists of acid-amine complex as corrosion inhibiting agent, mixture of organic acids as dispersing agent and ester derivative of alkylated phenol for better film formation. The present invention further relates to a process of preparation of the oil soluble and water dispersible corrosion inhibitor composition and subsequently a process for protecting the corrosion of internal metal surface of crude oil transportation pipelines using the corrosion inhibitor composition.