Abstract: Integrated processes are provided for syngas refining and bioconversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound. In the integrated processes ammonia contained in the syngas is recovered and used as a source of nitrogen and water for the fermentation. The integrated processes first remove tars from syngas by scrubbing using a first aqueous medium under conditions that ammonium bicarbonate is unstable. With tars removed, contact between the syngas and a second aqueous medium enables ammonia and carbon dioxide to be removed from the syngas without undue removal of components adverse to the fermentation, processing or oxygenated product such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylene, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide. At least a portion of the second aqueous medium is supplied as a source of water and ammonia for the fermentation.
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2011
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2013
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Tim Hitchman, Katie Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark A. Wall, Nelson R. Barton
Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism having an excellent ability to specifically oxidize the hydroxymethyl group of glucose, and a method of producing glucuronic acid and/or glucuronolactone by using such a microorganism to directly oxidize glucose, and the invention is directed at a microorganism which produces glucuronic acid directly from glucose and a mutant strain which is capable of specifically oxidizing the hydroxymethyl group of glucose and in which a DNA nucleotide sequence corresponding to 16S rRNA has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing, and the invention is also directed at a method of producing glucuronic acid and/or glucuronolactone by specifically oxidizing the hydroxymethyl group of glucose using the mutant strain, and this invention enables D-glucuronic acid and/or D-glucuronolactone to be produced and furnished easily and safely at a high yield and a low cost.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 21, 2008
Date of Patent:
September 10, 2013
Assignee:
Ensuiko Sugar Refining Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Tetsuya Ito, Yuki Ario, Eriko Kishino, Koki Fujita
Abstract: Techniques, systems, apparatus and material are disclosed for regeneration or recycling of carbon substances into renewable fuel and materials. In one aspect, a method of recycling carbon to produce a renewable fuel can include harvesting carbon donors, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted from an agricultural process. Hydrogen donors, such as from biomass waste, can be dissociated under an anaerobic reaction to produce hydrogen. The harvested carbon dioxide can be reacted with the waste-produced hydrogen under pressure and temperature to generate a renewable fuel, such as methanol fuel.
Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and materials for producing biofuels under nanoscale control (“nanobiofuels”) are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides method for producing a biofuel, including providing a hydrocarbon producing organism; exposing the biological hydrocarbon producing organism to conditions effective to cause substantial release of the hydrocarbon from the biological hydrocarbon producing organism; and isolating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon. At least one of the actions of providing, exposing, and isolating is performed using a corresponding nanoscale control.
Abstract: The invention relates to methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods of the invention include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 23, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 13, 2013
Assignee:
LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
Inventors:
Sean Dennis Simpson, Christophe Collet, Richard Llewellyn Sydney Forster, Michael Charles Milner Cockrem, Simon David Oakley, Michael Kopke
Abstract: Processes and systems for production of bioproducts such as biofuels are provided. The bioproduct production processes and systems utilize pretreatment of a carbohydrate-containing feedstock to produce soluble sugar molecules and continuous conversion of the pretreated feedstock to a bioproduct by an immobilized fermenting microorganism.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 24, 2010
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2013
Assignee:
Cobalt Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
David C. Walther, Hendrik J. Meerman, Stacy M. Burns-Guydish, Richard W. Wilson, Eamon T. Hogg, Gregory W. Luli, Robert Eckert
Abstract: A carbonaceous feedstock can be converted into a chemical product having a higher commercial value, by introducing the carbonaceous feedstock into a plasma torch under conditions selected to generate a synthetic gas mixture having a tailored composition, and then introducing the synthetic gas mixture into a microbial digester configured to convert the synthetic gas mixture into the chemical product. The composition of the synthetic gas mixture produced by the plasma torch can be quickly modified to yield an optimal quality and quantity required by the microbial digester, and the quantity and stoichiometric ratio can be quickly varied if the quantity or composition of the synthetic gas mixture being provided is not appropriate for the microbial digester, enabling greater efficiency to be achieved as compared to systems where the quality and quantity of the synthetic gas mixture cannot be easily changed.
Abstract: Functionalized substrate materials, for example inorganic particles and/or synthetic polymeric particles, are used to enhance bioprocesses such as saccharification and fermentation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 10, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 18, 2013
Assignee:
Xyleco, Inc.
Inventors:
Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Harrison D. Medoff
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2012
Date of Patent:
June 18, 2013
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Nelson Barton, Analia Bueno, Joslin G. Cuenca, Tim Hitchman, Katie A. Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark L. Miller, Mark A. Wall
Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for conversion of cellulosic material, such as chopped straw and corn stover, and household waste, to ethanol and other products. The cellulosic material is subjected to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of chemicals, and a liquid and a fiber fraction are produced. The fiber fraction is subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. The method of the present invention comprises: performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation, and conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurized reactor, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fiber fraction and a liquid fraction; selecting the temperature and residence time for the hydrothermal pretreatment, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fiber fraction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 31, 2012
Date of Patent:
June 11, 2013
Assignee:
Inbicon A/S
Inventors:
Borge Holm Christensen, Lena Holm Gerlach
Abstract: The present invention relates to proteins having an enzymatic activity of reducing substituted alkanones such as 3-methylamino-1-(2-thienyl)-propan-1-one. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids coding for said proteins, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, genetically modified microorganisms and to methods for preparing optically active substituted alkanols, such as, for example, (S)-3-methylamino-1-(2-thienyl)-(S)-propanol.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
June 4, 2013
Assignee:
BASF SE
Inventors:
Michael Breuer, Thomas Friedrich, Maria Kesseler
Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the conversion of biomass to oxygenated organic compound using a simplified syngas cleanup operation that is cost effective and protects the fermentation operation. The processes of this invention treat the crude syngas from the gasifier by non-catalytic partial oxidation. The partial oxidation reduces the hydrocarbon content of the syngas such as methane, ethylene and acetylene to provide advantageous gas feeds for anaerobic fermentations to produce oxygenated organic compounds such as ethanol, propanol and butanol. Additionally, the partial oxidation facilitates any additional cleanup of the syngas as may be required for the anaerobic fermentation. Producer gases and partial oxidation processes are also disclosed.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 28, 2011
Publication date:
May 30, 2013
Applicant:
COSKATA, INC.
Inventors:
RICHARD E. TOBEY, Jianxin Du, Ralph Corley
Abstract: A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass omprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen. The system for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises a first stage comprising a first vessel configured to maintain a medium comprising ethanologen and a second stage comprising a second vessel configured to maintain a medium supplied from the first stage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 3, 2010
Date of Patent:
May 28, 2013
Assignee:
Poet Research, Inc.
Inventors:
Neelakantam V. Narendranath, David Charles Carlson
Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences involved in, or capable of the biosynthesis of polyacetylenic compounds with anti-fungal activity and especially isolated nucleic acid sequences derived from Collimonas fungivorans. Further, the present invention relates to methods for identifying the present isolated nucleic acids, the use thereof for identification of homologous nucleic acids in other organisms or the use thereof for the biosynthesis of polyacetylenic compounds with anti-fungal activity. Further, the present invention relates to novel polyacetylenic compounds with anti-fungal activity. Specifically, the present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding one or more proteins involved in the synthesis of a polyacetylenic compound with antifungal activity wherein said isolated nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid sequence having at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% identity with SEQ ID No. 1.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 14, 2010
Publication date:
May 16, 2013
Applicant:
NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY
Inventors:
Kathryn Fritsche, Johannes Henricus Josephus Leveau, Wietse De Boer, Johannes Antonie Van Veen
Abstract: The disclosure relates to engineered enone reductase polypeptides having improved properties, polynucleotides encoding the engineered polypeptides, related vectors, host cells, and methods for making the engineered enone reductase polypeptides. The disclosure also provides methods of using the engineered enone reductase polypeptides for chemical transformations.
Abstract: A plant for producing an oxygen-containing additive for liquid motor fuels comprises an anaerobic fermentation vessel, a gasholder, a system for removal of sulphuretted hydrogen, and a hotwell. The plant further comprises an aerobic fermentation vessel, a device for liquid substance pumping, a device for liquid aeration with an oxygen-containing gas, a removal system of solid mass residue after fermentation, a gas distribution device; a device for heavy gases utilization; a device for ammonia adsorption by water; a liquid-gas mixer; a cavity mixer, a system that serves superficial active and dispersant matters and a cooler; all of these being connected to each other by pipelines. The technical result being the implementation of a process for producing an oxygen containing additive, which after being added to liquid motor fuels, provides an ecologically beneficial component for motor fuels by ensuring the stability of composition fuel properties during long-term storage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2009
Date of Patent:
April 30, 2013
Assignee:
U.S. Department of Energy
Inventors:
Yury Paul Siryk, Ivan Peter Balytski, Volodymyr George Korolyov, Olexiy Nick Klishyn, Vitaly Nick Lnianiy, Yury Alex Lyakh, Victor Valery Rogulin
Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of obtaining a high quantity of desired acid salt in a form that is relatively easy to recover. Particularly desired as a recovery product is an organic acid. A salt form of the desired organic acid is formed that is relatively high in concentration and that is relatively soluble in an aqueous medium. The method includes a step of fermenting a fermentable carbon source in the fermentation medium in the presence of a magnesium compound containing oxygen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2009
Date of Patent:
April 30, 2013
Assignee:
MBI International
Inventors:
Michael V. Guettler, Robert J. Hanchar, Denise S. Rumler, Susanne Kleff
Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing hydrolysis of a cellulosic material, comprising: hydrolyzing the cellulosic material with an enzyme composition in the presence of a polypeptide having peroxidase activity.
Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of fatty acids directly from soapstock generated in the alkali refining process including the steps of (a) adding a lipase directly to the alkaline soapstock to facilitate hydrolysis of glycerides without prior neutralization, (b) neutralizing and splitting the soaps with strong acids, and (c) separating the fatty acid phase from the aqueous phase by settling and/or centrifugation. A second embodiment is a process in which the soapstock is first neutralized and split with strong acids, followed by adding a lipase to facilitate glyceride hydrolysis, and separating the fatty acid phase. The fatty acids so obtained can be esterified with C1-C6 alcohols using a lipase that is selective for fatty acids and does not transesterify the sterolesters, and the fatty acid esters and sterolesters are separated by distillation. The sterolesters are useful as supplements for food, as pharmaceutical agents for lowering cholesterol and as biofuel and biodiesel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2007
Date of Patent:
April 23, 2013
Assignee:
Cognis IP Management GmbH
Inventors:
Peter Kempers, Ulrich Schörken, Thomas Wolf, Setsuo Sato, Wanderson Bueno de Almeida, Pablo Silva Bizzarri, Alexssander Shigueru Araujo
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 16, 2013
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Tim Hitchman, Katie Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark A. Wall, Nelson R. Barton
Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for the low energy, anaerobic bioconversion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a gaseous substrate stream to oxygenated organic compounds such as ethanol by contact with microorganisms in a deep, stirred tank fermentation system with high conversion efficiency of both hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Gas feed to the reactor is injected using a motive liquid to form a stable dispersion of microbubbles thereby reducing energy costs, and a portion of the off-gases from the reactor are recycled to (i) achieve a conversion of the total moles of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the gas substrate to oxygenated organic compound of at least about 80 percent and (ii) attenuate the risk of carbon monoxide inhibition of the microorganism used for the bioconversion.
Abstract: Bioconversion processes are disclosed that enable high conversion efficiencies of gas substrate containing both carbon monoxide and hydrogen to oxygenated organic compounds via the carbon monoxide and hydrogen pathways using anaerobic, deep, bubble column fermentation in a cost effective manner. The high conversion efficiency processes of this invention comprise the combination of using at least two deep, bubble column reactors in flow series and using certain feed gas compositions and microbubbles while avoiding carbon monoxide inhibition.
Abstract: Yeast comprising at least one gene encoding vanillyl alcohol oxidase, the sequence of which is the sequence SEQ ID No. 1 or any sequence at least 70%, preferably 80%, very preferably 90% homologous to the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, and methods for producing coniferyl alcohol, ferulic acid and vanillin.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 26, 2013
Assignee:
V. Mane Fils
Inventors:
Joseph Zucca, Fanny Lambert, Jean Mane, Frédérique Ness, Michel Aigle
Abstract: Provided herein are exemplary methods for production of biomass with a cyanobacterial isolate having auto-flocculation properties. One exemplary method includes isolating a cyanobacterial strain having a 16S ribosomal RNA sequence corresponding to SEQ. ID. NO. 1 herein, inoculating an algae cultivation system with the cyanobacterial strain, growing the cyanobacterial strain, and harvesting the biomass produced by the cyanobacterial strain. According to a further method, the harvesting of the biomass comprises ceasing agitation of the algae cultivation system, and pooling a slurry of the biomass produced by the cyanobacterial strain. In a further method, the harvesting of the biomass may comprise ceasing agitation within the algae cultivation system and/or allowing the biomass produced by the cyanobacterial strain to settle to near or at a bottom of the algae cultivation system. Also provided herein are exemplary cyanobacterial strains having flocculation properties for production of a biomass.
Abstract: The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. The cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 5, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 19, 2013
Assignee:
DSM IP Assets B.V.
Inventors:
Paul Klaassen, Jan Metske Van Der Laan, Bianca Elisabeth Maria Gielesen, Gijsberdina Pieternella Van Suylekom
Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 5, 2013
Assignee:
E.I. de Pont de Nemours and Company
Inventors:
Robert Dicosimo, John Edward Gavagan, Mark Scott Payne
Abstract: The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) (12), and optionally one or more DXP derived compounds, comprising: (a) a mutant RibB, or functional variant thereof, capable of catalyzing xylulose 5-phosphate and/or ribulose 5-phosphate to DXP, or (b) a YajO, or functional variant thereof, and a XylB, or functional variant thereof.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 16, 2012
Publication date:
February 28, 2013
Applicant:
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Inventors:
James Kirby, Jeffrey L. Fortman, Minobu Nishimoto, Jay D. Keasling
Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods wherein unique and advantageous combinations of gene mutations are used to direct carbon flow from sugars to a single product. The techniques of the subject invention can be used to obtain products from native pathways as well as from recombinant pathways. In preferred embodiments, the subject invention provides new materials and methods for the efficient production of acetate and pyruvic acid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 26, 2013
Assignee:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas B. Causey, Lonnie O'Neal Ingram, Keelnatham Shanmugam, Shengde Zhou
Abstract: The invention relates to processes for converting CO by microbial fermentation to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. More particularly the invention relates to a method for producing one or more products from a CO comprising substrate, the method comprising a natural gas reforming step for producing a syngas stream, and converting at least a portion of CO from the syngas stream to one or more products including ethanol.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 16, 2012
Date of Patent:
February 26, 2013
Assignee:
LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
Inventors:
Sean Dennis Simpson, Richard Llewellyn Sydney Forster, Simon David Oakley, Michael Charles Milner Cockrem, Michael Koepke
Abstract: The present invention particularly discovered strains that are capable of producing a long-chain dicarboxylic acid by culturing microorganisms belonging to Candida vini Candida entamophila, Candida blankii and Pichia farinosa which has the ability to produce a long-chain dicarboxylic acid in a liquid medium containing a straight-chain saturated hydrocarbon (tridecane) as substrate.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 26, 2013
Assignee:
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
Inventors:
Ahmed Kamal, Sheelu Gurrala, Wasantrao Nitin Fadnavis
Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed for use in the production of useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use biomass materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to enhance the production of a product, e.g., the production of ethanol and/or butanol by fermentation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 18, 2010
Date of Patent:
February 19, 2013
Assignee:
Xyleco, Inc.
Inventors:
Marshall Medoff, Thomas Craig Masterman, Harrison D. Medoff
Abstract: Provided herein are isolated laccase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding them. Also provided are mediators for laccase reactions. Also provided herein are methods for using laccases to oxidize lignins and other phenolic and aromatic compounds, such as for bio-bleaching and decolorization of wood pulp under high temperature and pH conditions to facilitate a substantial reduction in use of bleaching chemicals, as well as for treatment of fibers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 19, 2013
Assignees:
Verenium Corporation, BASF SE
Inventors:
Janne S. Kerovuo, Sylke Haremza, Oliver Koch, Tilo Habicher, Dan Robertson, Grace DeSantis, Ryan McCann, Peter Luginbühl
Abstract: Concentrated sugar solutions obtained from polysaccharide enriched biomass by contacting biomass with water and at least one nucleophilic base to produce a polysaccharide enriched biomass comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction and then contacting enriched biomass with a dilute mineral acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or a combination thereof, to produce an intermediate saccharification product, which is contacted with an enzyme consortium to produce a final saccharification product comprising fermentable sugars.
Abstract: The disclosure of the present application provides polypeptide sequences and nucleotide sequences coding for the polypeptide sequences of proteins used in the production of APPA-containing peptides. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, an isolated nucleic acid is disclosed which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having a sequence identity of 60 percent or greater to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2-13, and 15-23.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 21, 2011
Date of Patent:
February 12, 2013
Assignee:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Inventors:
William W. Metcalf, Wilfred A. van der Donk, Junkal Zhang, Benjamin T. Circello, Svetlana A. Borisova
Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 28, 2009
Date of Patent:
January 22, 2013
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Nelson Barton, Analia Bueno, Joslin G. Cuenca, Tim Hitchman, Katie A. Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark L. Miller, Mark A. Wall
Abstract: A process for extracting and recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from cellular biomass comprising the steps of: extracting the polyhydroxyalkanoate with at least one non-halogenated solvent which is non-aggressive to the environment; heating the cellular biomass, in order to form a suspension comprising PHA solvent with the dissolved PHA and insoluble residues; recovering the solvent enriched with PHA; injecting the PHA-enriched solvent in a vapor flow in order to rapidly promote the complete precipitation of PHA in water, while processing the solvent evaporation; depleting the residual solvent; separating the purified PHA particles from the suspension and drying them.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 6, 2006
Date of Patent:
January 22, 2013
Assignee:
PHB Industrial S.A.
Inventors:
Paulo Eduardo Mantelatto, Nazareno Antonio Sertori Durao
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2011
Date of Patent:
January 8, 2013
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Tim Hitchman, Katie Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark A. Wall, Nelson R. Barton
Abstract: Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium was engineered using a combination of directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis to hydroxylate linear alkanes regio- and enantioselectively using atmospheric dioxygen as an oxidant. Mutant 9-10A-A328V hydroxylates octane primarily at the 2-position to form S-2-octanol (40% ee). Another mutant, 1-12G, hydroxylates alkanes larger than hexane primarily at the 2-position, but forms R-2-alcohols (40-55% ee). These biocatalysts are highly active for alkane substrates and support thousands of product turnovers. These regio- and enantio-selectivities are retained in whole-cell biotransformations with E. coli, where the engineered P450s can be expressed at high levels and the expensive cofactor is supplied endogenously.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2011
Date of Patent:
January 1, 2013
Assignee:
The California Institute of Technology
Inventors:
Frances H Arnold, Matthew W Peters, Peter Meinhold
Abstract: An organic material production system using biomass material includes: a hydrothermal decomposition apparatus that causes the biomass material and hot compressed water to countercurrently contact with each other and undergo hydrothermal decomposition, so as to separate the lignin component and the hemicellulose component from a biomass solid residue; a cellulose enzymatic saccharification device that treats, cellulose in the biomass solid residue, so as to enzymatically saccharify the cellulose to a first sugar solution containing hexose; an alcohol fermenter that produces alcohols by fermentation using the obtained first sugar solution; a sulfuric acid decomposition device that decomposes the hemicellulose component in hot water discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus, which contains the eluted lignin component and the eluted hemicellulose component, so as to decompose the hemicellulose component to a second sugar solution containing pentose; and a second alcohol fermenter that produces, usi
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 2012
Date of Patent:
December 18, 2012
Assignee:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mechatronics Systems, Ltd.
Abstract: The invention relates to the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for a bacteria to grow anaerobically (fermentatively) on a glycerol substrate. The method requires culturing bacteria having a functional 1,2-propanediol pathway and a functional type II glycerol dehydrogenase-dihydroxyacetone kinase pathway in a culture medium containing high concentrations of glycerol, a neutral to mildly acidic pII, low levels of potassium and phosphate, and high levels of CO2, such that glycerol is thus converted into a desirable product, such as ethanol, hydrogen, formate, succinate, or 1,2-propanediol.
Abstract: A process for removing water from solid material using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction. In most embodiments, multiple solvents are used to step-wise remove the water from the solids and obtain dry solids. Multiple solvents facilitate the removal of the water from the solids, by step-wise replacing the water with a solvent, replacing that solvent with a different solvent, and then eventually removing the second solvent from the solids. The process utilizes a lesser amount of thermal energy to dry the solids and separate the solvents than conventionally used in drying processes. The first solvent selected has a lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property, than water. Each subsequent solvent has a still lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property then its predecessor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 2010
Date of Patent:
December 4, 2012
Assignee:
KFI Intellectual Properties, L.L.C.
Inventors:
Robert A. Wills, James A. Faulconbridge
Abstract: A process for producing fatty acid by hydrolyzing oil and fat, which comprises: a first step of partially hydrolyzing oil and fat by either of the following method (a) or (b), and a second step of hydrolysis by the other method: (a) enzymatic hydrolysis using an immobilized enzyme which is an enzyme immobilized on a support and (b) high pressure and temperature hydrolysis. A method of efficiently producing fatty acid with a reduced content of trans-unsaturated fatty acid in the constituent fatty acids and having a good appearance with reduced coloring by hydrolysis of oil and fat is provided.
Abstract: Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 2011
Date of Patent:
November 20, 2012
Assignee:
Bunge Oils, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher L. G. Dayton, Tim Hitchman, Katie Kline, Jonathan Lyon, Mark A. Wall, Nelson R. Barton
Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to free molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, proponal, ethanol, and formate.
Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for the increased production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in microorganisms by engineering a microorganism for increased carbon flux towards mevalonate production in the following enzymatic pathways: (a) citrate synthase, (b) phosphotransacetylase, (c) acetate kinase, (d) lactate dehydrogenase, (e) malic enzyme, and (f) pyruvate dehydrogenase such that one of more of the enzyme activity is modulated. In addition, production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids can be further enhanced by the heterologous expression of the mvaE and mvaS genes (such as, but not limited to, mvaE and mvaS genes from the organisms Listeria grayi DSM 20601, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum EG2, and Enterococcus casseliflavus).
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 27, 2012
Publication date:
November 1, 2012
Applicant:
Danisco US Inc.
Inventors:
Zachary Q. Beck, Michael C. Miller, Caroline M. Peres, Yuliya A. Primak, Jeff P. Pucci, Derek H. Wells
Abstract: The invention relates to biological processes for producing one or more desired products, including alcohols such as ethanol and butanol. The processes comprise carrying out first and second fermentations of substrates in first and second bioreactors, wherein each fermentation produces one or more desired products and/or one or more by-products that can be utilized in the other fermentation. A product and/or by-product of the first fermentation is introduced to the second bioreactor during the fermentation, and a product and/or by-product of the second fermentation is introduced to the first bioreactor during the fermentation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2008
Date of Patent:
October 23, 2012
Assignee:
LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
Inventors:
Sean Dennis Simpson, Richard Llewellyn Sydney Forster, Matthew James Rowe, Phuong Loan Tran, Christophe Collet
Abstract: Disclosed is a process for growing the microflora Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, which includes the growing of the microflora in fermentation medium containing non-chloride containing sodium salts, in particular sodium sulfate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process produces microflora having a cell aggregate size useful for the production of food products for use in aquaculture. Further disclosed is a food product which includes Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and mixtures thereof, and a component selected from flaxseed, rapeseed, soybean and avocado meal. Such a food product includes a balance of long chain and short chain omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids.