Abstract: Objective of the method is a procedure for production of nanocellulose, where energy consumption and other costs of production are lower than in methods presented previously. It is based on separation of minute particles from cellulose or plant based ingredients by effects of light, thermal energy or water-soluble organic solvents. These particles act as precursors of nanocellulose. After separation they form in dry state aerosol, in liquid media a suspension, and combine to chains, microfibrils and secondarily formed fibrils, which form further networks with each other or with other fibers and fibrils. Applications are based on their action as reinforcing structure in composites, paper, cardboard, paints and other materials, on forming thin-layer films for electrical, electronic and medical applications, or on viscosity, surface and permeability properties.

Abstract: Objective of the method is a procedure for production of nanocellulose, where energy consumption and other costs of production are lower than in methods presented previously. It is based on separation of minute particles from cellulose or plant based ingredients by effects of light, thermal energy or water-soluble organic solvents. These particles act as precursors of nanocellulose. After separation they form in dry state aerosol, in liquid media a suspension, and combine to chains, microfibrils and secondarily formed fibrils, which form further networks with each other or with other fibres and fibrils. Applications are based on their action as reinforcing structure in composites, paper, cardboard, paints and other materials, on forming thin-layer films for electrical, electronic and medical applications, or on viscosity, surface and permeability properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food product inducing satiety with the aim of contributing to weight management. The product contains as its essential ingredients viscous soluble dietary fiber or other thickening agent and fat or fatty acids. A preferred component contained in the product is a barley or oat bran concentrate rich in ?-glucan. The product may have a pasty consistency, or it may have a particulate consistency and can be turned to a paste by addition of water.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is a method for separating cellulosic fibres, hemicellulose and lignin from parts of plants containing these, such as stems, leaves and seed coats or hulls of cereal, oilseed, fibre or grassy plants. After appropriate pre-treatments the material is heated in an alkaline solution at lower temperatures than used in the traditional cellulose manufacturing. After this heat treatment, the fibrous and other undissolved materials are separated from the solution and subsequently ground in wet condition, using preferably chafing treatments. For improving the separation, surface active substances can be included in the alkaline heat treatment solution.

Abstract: Technology for separating lignin from alkaline solutions which arise in production of cellulose is presented. Isolated lignin can be applied, for instance, for production of carbon fibre, adhesives and binding materials, antioxidants and organic chemicals. Starting materials are non-woody plant materials, from which lignin is dissolved by sulphur free alkaline solutions at temperatures below 130° C. Lignin is precipitated by acid, and purified by hydrolyzing hemicellulose by acid or by enzymatic reactions or a combination of these. Lignin separated has a closely similar structure as lignin in plant material, and its content of functional atom groups can be controlled by changes in processing conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food product inducing satiety with the aim of contributing to weight management. The product contains as its essential ingredients viscous soluble dietary fibre or other thickening agent and fat or fatty acids. A preferred component contained in the product is a barley or oat bran concentrate rich in ?-glucan. The product may have a pasty consistency, or it may have a particulate consistency and can be turned to a paste by addition of water.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is a method for separating cellulosic fibres, hemicellulose and lignin from parts of plants containing these, such as stems, leaves and seed coats or hulls of cereal, oilseed, fibre or grassy plants. After appropriate pre-treatments the material is heated in an alkaline solution at lower temperatures than used in the traditional cellulose manufacturing. After this heat treatment, the fibrous and other undissolved materials are separated from the solution and subsequently ground in wet condition, using preferably chafing treatments. For improving the separation, surface active substances can be included in the alkaline heat treatment solution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing absorptive substances from lignocellulosic materials, such as straw of cereal plants, peels or hulls of cereal grains, plant leaves, bagasse, jute or wood chips. The method according to the invention comprises as its essential stages an alkaline pretreatment for partial removal of lignin and hemicellulose, an initiation treatment for forming reactive radicals, addition of at least one monomer and cross-linking agent, and finally a polymerization. As a preceding treatment, washing with water for removal of extraneous matter and/or disturbing components can be included, and potentially a wet milling or another defibration for increasing the reactive surface. For initiation, an oxidative chemical such as hydrogen peroxide is suitable, for the monomer especially compounds containing a vinyl group, such as acrylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an oat product enriched in the content of &bgr;-glucan as well as a method for preparing a foodstuff incorporating such an enriched oat preparate. The invention uses dehulled or naked oats, which are subjected to dry milling and dry fractionation at multiple stages without a preceding removal of fat. The oat material is at a first stage subjected to dry milling and dry classification to separate a coarser fraction containing grain cell wall material and starch containing subaleurone layer as a pre-enriched fraction from a finer, endosperm containing fraction. At a second stage said pre-enriched fraction is subjected to dry milling, where the disintegraing action is more effective than at the first stage, and to dry classification for separating a coarser, cell wall material containing fraction as the enriched product from a finer, starch containing fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an organic pigment from starch, and the pigment thus received. According to the invention, starch granules are swollen to increase their volume and plasticity, their stability towards changes in volume and shape is improved by cross-linking, by derivatization, or by making the surface hydrophobic, after which gas bubbles or cavities are formed inside the granules, these bubbles or cavities having a strong light scattering effect. Generating bubbles or cavities can be performed by evaporating water or another liquid, by releasing impregnated gas, by a gas generating reaction, or by displacing absorbed water with a solvent. The product is useful as a white pigment especially in coating of starch, in paints and in cosmetic products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an oat product enriched in the content of &bgr;-glucan as well as a method for preparing a foodstuff incorporating such an enriched oat preparate. The invention uses dehulled or naked oats, which are subjected to dry milling and dry fractionation at multiple stages without a preceding removal of fat. The oat material is at a first stage subjected to dry milling and dry classification to separate a coarser fraction containing grain cell wall material and starch containing subaleurone layer as a pre-enriched fraction from a finer, endosperm containing fraction. At a second stage said pre-enriched fraction is subjected to dry milling, where the disintegraing action is more effective than at the first stage, and to dry classification for separating a coarser, cell wall material containing fraction as the enriched product from a finer, starch containing fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing an organic pigment from starch, and the pigment thus received. According to the invention, starch granules are swollen to increase their volume and plasticity, their stability towards changes in volume and shape is improved by cross-linking, by derivatization, or by making the surface hydrophobic, after which gas bubbles or cavities are formed inside the granules, these bubbles or cavities having a strong light scattering effect. Generating bubbles or cavities can be performed by evaporating water or another liquid, by releasing impregnated gas, by a gas generating reaction, or by displacing absorbed water with a solvent. The product is useful as a white pigment especially in coating of starch, in paints and in cosmetic products.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method for preparing fine-granuled starch from kernels of oats or rice. In the method, the kernels are ground and the starch is separated from the starch containing fraction obtained by the milling. An essential feature of the invention is that a suspension of the said fraction or of starch separated from it is treated with a surface-active agent or a lipolytic enzyme for disintegrating compound granules or aggregates of starch granules. Except the particle size, also functional properties of starch are affected. Disintegration of compound granules is enhanced by alkaline conditions and by mixing of the suspension. The fine-granuled starch obtained can be applied in foods and, for instance, for biodegradable plastics and for surface treatment agents. The invention can be included as a part of an integrated fractionation process, in which, in addition to starch, an oil fraction, an enriched fibre fraction, and a surplus fraction suitable for feed, are obtained.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is a method for producing a product with an enriched content of soluble dietary fiber, such as .beta.-glucan and/or pentosans from a raw material deriving from cereal grains, by using thermal, enzymatic or osmotic treatments or combinations of these. As a first step, suspending of milled cereal or a fraction of cereal in water and when needed, a limited proteolysis is performed in order to improve the solubility of the fiber. Temperature of the mixture is elevated, and the soluble fiber is precipitated with a polar organic solvent on solid carrier particles, which can derive from the raw material or are added in the suspension. A fine fraction, consisting primarily of starch, is separated from the more coarse fraction containing the precipitated fiber, by using methods based on the particle size or density.

Abstract: A process for fractioning crops by using a combined dry and wet milling and extraction methods, whereby extruding or percussive devices and operating methods are used in the dry milling step, and a thermal treatment, solvent extraction and mechanical treatment, which destroy most of the enzymes, are combined in the first wet milling step.

Abstract: A method of producing wood-rottening edible mushrooms on a bed prepared from a carbonhydrate, lignin and protein containing compound material, said bed comprising mainly a cellulose containing material, minor amounts of proteinaceous and farinaceous substance as well as water, the bed is packed and pasteurized, a mushroom mycolim is transferred onto bed by injecting, the mycolium is grown in bed by varying the amount of temperature and light, the bed is removed from package for the production of edible mushrooms. According to the invention the bed material is mixed with minor amounts of peat during the preparation of the material, the total amount of starch and protein is restricted to less than 10% and the pH value of bed is adjusted to less than 5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of dividing blood hemoglobin into heme and globin by suspending blood cells, separated from blood, in an acid aqueous solution, by precipitating the heme by means of carboxymethyl cellulose, and by separating the precipitated heme-CMC complex out from the aqueous solution of globin. The obtained heme-CMC complex can be used as such as raw material for the preparation of medicinal iron supplements, and the globin fraction can be used as an additive in fodder or food.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a procedure for the producing of enzymes which hydrolytically decompose proteins and peptides into amino acids and in which procedure the enzymes are produced in a bacterial culture consisting essentially of one or both of two new bacterial strains. In addition the invention concerns enzymes produced in accordance with the said procedure.

Abstract: Method for preventing moulding or other microbial surface deterioration of foods and feeds due to micro-organisms by using a preservative substance, either a chemically defined food additive or a vegetable extract having microbicidal or microbe-inhibiting effect. The preservative is applied in the form of an aerosol in which a substantial part of the particles or droplets in the aerosol have a diameter less than 5 microns, preferably within the limits 0.2-2 microns. The aim of the present invention is to reduce the economic losses and health risks caused by mould formation and other microbial surface growth on food materials and articles and feeds.