Abstract: The present invention is in the field of the preparation of lactic acid by means of fermentation on industrial scale wherein a concentrated raw beet juice having a Brix of at least 60 is used as fermentation substrate. After dilution to the desired initial sugar concentration and addition of nutrients, the juice is fermented to lactic acid and/or lactate by means of a lactic acid-producing microorganism. Said concentrated raw beet juice is prepared by: washing and cutting sugar beet and extracting the cossettes in water, removing the beet pulp from the resulting raw beet juice, and heat treating the raw beet juice at a temperature between 50 and 90 degrees Celsius, and concentrating the raw beet juice to at least 60 Brix.

Abstract: The invention relates to haloalkane dehalogenases and to polynucleotides encoding the haloalkane dehalogenases. In addition methods of designing new dehalogenases and method of use thereof are also provided. The dehalogenases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to host cells transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a eukaryotic xylose isomerase obtainable from an anaerobic fungus. When expressed, the sequence encoding the xylose isomerase confers to the host cell the ability to convert xylose to xylulose which may be further metabolized by the host cell. Thus, the host cell is capable of growth on xylose as carbon source. The host cell preferably is a eukaryotic microorganism such as a yeast or a filamentous fungus. The invention further relates to processes for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, in which a host cell of the invention uses xylose for growth and for the production of the fermentation product. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding eukaryotic xylose isomerases and xylulose kinases as obtainable from anaerobic fungi.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetic modification for industrial applications of moderately thermophilic Bacillus species that are facultative anaerobic and homolactic. The present invention comprises a method for modifying moderately thermophilic Bacillus species that are facultative anaerobic and homolactic by genetic engineering comprising: introducing a DNA cloned in a thermosensitive plasmid system containing a pSH71 replicon or a homologue thereof into cells of a moderately thermophilic Bacillus species that is facultative anaerobic and homolactic; culturing the cells on a selective medium at a permissive temperature for plasmid replication to select transformed cells capable of growing on said selective medium at said permissive temperature; culturing said transformed cells on a selective medium at a non-permissive temperature for plasmid replication to select transformed cells capable of growing on said selective medium at said non-permissive temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides microorganisms, in which the activity of 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase or 2-octaprenylphenol?2-octaprenyl-6-methoxyphenol flavin reductase is reduced or lost, and which have an ability to produce lactic acid, in particular, microorganisms comprising a chromosomal DNA in which a gene encoding a protein having 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase activity or a protein having 2-octaprenylphenol?2-octaprenyl-6-methoxyphenol flavin reductase activity is partially or completely defective; and a process for producing lactic acid using the microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides derivatives of ethanologenic Escherichia coli K011 constructed for the production of lactic acid. The transformed E. coli of the invention are prepared by deleting the genes that encode competing pathways followed by a growth-based selection for mutants with improved performance. These transformed E. coli are useful for providing an increased supply of lactic acid for use in food and industrial applications.

Abstract: Lactic bacterial strains of the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus which are capable of initiating and carrying out a complete malolactic fermentation on direct introduction, in the dried, frozen or lyophilised state, without a previous acclimatization step, at a concentration of between 106 and 5×107 UFC/ml , into a wine with an alcohol content of 10% or more and an average or high pH level. The resistance to alcohol is apparent with an excellent survival rate on inoculation and a rapid start to the fermentation activity such that the strain i) converts at least 5%, preferably at least 10%, of the malic acid into lactic acid in 5 days after inoculation of the wine and ii) converts at least 10%, preferably at least 25%, of the malic acid into lactic acid within 10 days of the inoculation of the wine.

Abstract: Xylose-containing plant material may be hydrolyzed to xylose using a ?-D-xylosidase which exhibits unexpectedly high activity. The enzyme has a kcat value for catalysis of approximately 185 sec?1 for 1,4-?-D-xylobiose (X2) when measured at a pH of 5.3 and a temperature of 25° C.; this is at least 10-fold greater than reported for other xylosidases at 25° C. and their optimal pH. The enzyme also has an isoelectric point of approximately 4.4. When reacted at a pH between about 4.5 and about 7.7, the ?-D-xylosidase exhibits surprisingly high activity for hydrolyzing xylose-containing plant materials to xylose. The xylose released from plant materials may then be converted to other secondary products such as ethanol by fermentation or other reaction. This ?-D-xylosidase may be used alone or in combination with other hydrolytic or xylanolytic enzymes for treatment of lignocellulosic or hemicellulosic plant materials or plant material hydrolysates or xylooligosaccharides.

Abstract: This invention provides a polynucleotide that encodes a protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and such protein that can be used for producing D-lactic acid. This polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (a), and it hybridizes under stringent conditions with a probe comprising all or part of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complementary strand thereof and encodes a protein having D-lactate dehydrogenase activity (b).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a chemical product through continuous fermentation which includes filtering a culture of a microorganism or cultured cells with a separation membrane to recover a product from a filtrate and simultaneously retaining a nonfiltered fluid in, or refluxing it to, the culture, and adding fermentation materials to the culture, wherein a porous membrane having an average pore size of 0.01 ?m or more to less than 1 ?m is used as the separation membrane and the filtration is conducted with a transmembrane pressure difference in the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa. According to this method, the fermentation productivity of the chemical product can be largely elevated at high stability and a low cost.

Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, and which liquor comprises lignin, wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterized in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer, with the proviso that the treatment system and does not include a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g.

Abstract: Production of fermentation products, such as ethanol and lactic acid in biofilm reactors by microorganisms immobilised on sterilised granular sludge.

Abstract: Yeast cells having an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene ae modified by reducing L- or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity in the cell. This leads to reduced consumption of lactate by the cell and can increase overall lactate yields in a fermentation process. Cells having the reduced I, or D-lactate:ferricytochrome c oxidoreductase activity can be screened for by resistance to organic acids such as lactic or glycolic acid.

Abstract: Yeast includes an introduced gene coding a Homo sapiens- or frog-derived L-lactate dehydrogenase. It is possible to produce lactic acid, which has a variety of applications, efficiently and more cost-effectively by using the yeast and the method of producing lactic acid by using the yeast.

Abstract: Cells of the species Issatchenkia orientalis and closely related yeast species are transformed with a vector to introduce an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene. The cells produce lactic acid efficiently and are resistant at low pH, high lactate titer conditions.

Abstract: Process for improving the separation efficiency of residual solid matter from the liquid phase of an aqueous acid hydrolysate of a naturally occurring polysaccharide comprising dissolved sugars, and residual acid wherein a flocculating agent(s) is added to the aqueous mixture in an effective amount, and a process of producing fermentation products comprising the steps of, (i) hydrolysing a particulate polysaccharide based plant derived material in an acid medium, and thereby forming an aqueous mixture comprising dissolved sugar and solid matter, (ii) subjecting the aqueous mixture to one or more separation stages in which solid matter are removed from the aqueous phase, (iii) adjusting the pH of the obtained aqueous phase to a pH of at least 4, (iv) fermenting the dissolved sugars of the aqueous phase by a microorganism to produce a fermentation product, (v) isolating the fermentation product, wherein in at least one separation stage in step (ii) a flocculating agent is added to the aqueous mixture in an effe

Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, which liquor comprises water, lignin and BOD, wherein the solids liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises either, (i) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g at a dose of above 2 kg/tonne based on dry weight of suspension, or (ii) a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g and, (iii) an anionic polymer, and/or (iv) a cationic polymer of intrinsic viscosity of below 4 dl/g and a cationic charge density of at least 3 meq/g and/or (v) inorganic coagulants and/or (vi) charged microparticulate material.

Abstract: A fungal microorganism can be engineered by means of genetic engineering to utilise L-arabinose. The genes of the L-arabinose pathway, which were unknown, i.e. L-arabinitol 4-dehydrogenase and L-xylulose reductase, were identified. These genes, together with the known genes of the L-arabinose pathway, form a functional pathway. This pathway can be introduced to a fungus, which is completely or partially lacking this pathway.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences and genetic constructs that can be used to regulate genes encoding enzymes that change carbon flux through metabolic pathways that lead to lactic acid or fumarate production in a host cell, such as a R. oryzae cell, are provided. Methods of manipulating carbon flux in a cell also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides means for the production of desired end-products of in vitro and/or in vivo bioconversion of biomass-based feed stock substrates, including but not limited to such materials as starch and cellulose. In particularly preferred embodiments, the methods of the present invention do not require gelatinization and/or liquefaction of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention herein is an efficient, flexible biomass fractionation process comprising digesting a lignocellulosic-biomass material at about 120-220° C. and a pH of less than about 4, in an aqueous mixture containing an effective concentration of at least one solvent for lignin, and separating to recover a solid phase that contains a large fraction of the cellulose originally in the starting lignocellulosic material and a liquid phase that contains most of the lignin and hemicellulose originally in the starting lignocellulosic biomass. The process can produce a solid phase that contains at least 75% cellulose and less than 10% lignin. The cellulose-rich solid product can be converted very efficiently to glucose. The solid product can also be used in commercial pulp applications, such as papermaking or fluff pulp. Hemicellulose sugars and lignin can be used directly or converted to other products.

Abstract: The invention relates to global transcription machinery engineering to produce altered cells having improved phenotypes and methods for evaluating phenotypic diversity.

Abstract: The subject invention provides at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding an aldouronate-utilization regulon isolated from Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2, a bacterium which efficiently utilizes xylan and metabolizes aldouronates (methylglucuronoxylosaccharides). The subject invention also provides a means for providing a coordinately regulated process in which xylan depolymerization and product assimilation are coupled in Paenibacillus sp. strain JDR-2 to provide a favorable system for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biobased products. Additionally, the nucleic acid sequences encoding the aldouronate-utilization regulon can be used to transform other bacteria to form organisms capable of producing a desired product (e.g., ethanol, 1-butanol, acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, 1,3-propanediol, succinate, lactate, acetate, malate or alanine) from lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: A lactic acid component (e.g., lactic acid or oligo (lactic acid)) can be obtained by extraction from a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less, using at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, mesitylene, ethylbenzene, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and mineral spirit. Furthermore, oligo (lactic acid) can be obtained, by heating a lactic acid fermentation liquor with a pH of 4.8 or less under reduced pressure, and washing, with water, the fermentation liquor containing a produced oligo (lactic acid). Hence, a method is provided for separating a lactic acid component from a lactic acid fermentation liquor, which is free from incorporation of impurities and which includes simple steps.

Abstract: A Clostridium thermocellum thermostable cellulase enzyme with both endocellulase activity and exocellulase activity that is able to degrade cellulose in the absence of scaffolding and other cellulosomic proteins is provided. The use of the enzyme to degrade cellulosic materials to soluble sugars is also provided.

Abstract: Yeast cells are genetically modified to disrupt a native metabolic pathway from dihydroxyacetone to glycerol. In certain aspects, the yeast cell is of the genera Kluyueromyces, Candida or Issatchenkia. In other aspects, the yeast cell is capable of producing at least one organic acid, such as lactate. The yeast cells produce significantly less glycerol than the wild-type strains, and usually produce greater yields of desired fermentation products. Yeast cells of the invention often grow well when cultivated, despite their curtailed glycerol production.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences and genetic constructs that can be used to regulate genes encoding enzymes that change carbon flux through metabolic pathways that lead to lactic acid or fumarate production in a host cell, such as a R. oryzae cell, are provided. Methods of manipulating carbon flux in a cell also are provided.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a product sugar stream from cellulosic biomass is disclosed. In one process, the cellulosic biomass is pretreated at a pH between about 0.4 to 2.0 by adding one or more than one acid to produce a pretreated cellulosic biomass comprising acetic acid. One or more than one base is then added to the pretreated cellulosic biomass to adjust the pretreated cellulosic biomass to a pH of about 4.0 to about 6.0 to produce a neutralized cellulosic biomass comprising inorganic salt and acetate salt. The neutralized biomass is then hydrolyzed by cellulase enzymes to produce a crude sugar stream. Insoluble residue is separated from the crude sugar stream and the resulting clarified sugar stream is treated using ion exclusion chromatography at about pH 5.0 to about 10.0 to produce one or more raffinate streams and a product stream. The raffinate stream comprises inorganic salts and acetate salts, and the product stream comprises sugar.

Abstract: Sugar mixtures containing nonfermentable oligomers are fermented in the presence of certain enzymes that depolymerise the oligomers simultaneously with the fermentation process.

Abstract: A method of producing an organic acid by staining a yeast population with a stain capable of internal pH (pHi)-dependent fluorescence, to yield a stained yeast population; determining a gate pH and a corresponding fluorescence parameter of the stained yeast population; and sorting the cells of the stained yeast population such that the cells having a pHi above the gate pH are retained and the cells having a pHi below the gate pH are discarded, to yield a yeast population for the production of the organic acid. Also, a method of producing an organic acid by performing the above steps, followed by isolating individual cells of the yeast population, to yield individual yeast cells for the production of an organic acid; culturing an individual yeast cell, to yield a cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid; and incubating the cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid in a medium containing an organic acid precursor, to produce the organic acid.

Abstract: Methods for hydrolyzing lignocellulose are provided, comprising contacting the lignocellulose with at least one chemical treatment. Methods for pretreating a lignocellulosic material comprising contacting the material with at least one chemical are also provided. Methods for liberating a substance such as an enzyme, a pharmaceutical, or a nutraceutical from plant material are also provided. These methods are more efficient, more economical, and less toxic than current methods.

Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process comprises a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.

Abstract: A process of producing fermentation product comprising the steps of, (i) forming an acidified suspension of particulate plant derived material comprising a first polysaccharide which is more readily hydrolysable and a second polysaccharide which is more difficult to hydrolysable, (ii) allowing the first polysaccharide to undergo hydrolysis by action of the acid at a temperature of at least 50° C.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for the production of lactic acid or a salt thereof, wherein starch is subjected to a process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, the method comprising saccharifying starch in a medium comprising at least a glucoamylase and simultaneously fermenting the starch using a microorganism, and optionally isolating lactic acid from the medium, characterized in that a moderately thermophilic lactic acid-producing microorganism is used. The invention further relates to a method of performing said process in the presence of a moderately thermophilic lactic acid producing microorganism, which has been adapted to have its maximum performance at the working pH.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for the production of lactic acid or a salt thereof wherein starch is subjected to a process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, the method comprising saccharifying starch in a medium comprising at least a glucoamylase and simultaneously fermenting the starch using a microorganism, and optionally isolating lactic acid from the medium, characterized in that a moderately thermophilic lactic acid-producing microorganism is used. The invention further relates to a method of performing said process in the presence of a moderately thermophilic lactic acid producing microorganism, which has been adapted to have its maximum performance at the working pH.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences and genetic constructs that can be used to regulate genes encoding enzymes that change carbon flux through metabolic pathways that lead to lactic acid or fumarate production in a host cell, such as a R. oryzae cell, are provided. Methods of manipulating carbon flux in a cell also are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fungal host cells that are transformed with a nucleic acid construct encoding a fungal oxygen-binding proteins or fragments thereof that comprise the oxygen-binding domain. Upon transformation of the host cell with the construct, the oxygen-binding protein confers to the host cell improved fermentation characteristics as compared to untransformed host cells. These characteristics include e.g. increases in oxygen uptake rates, biomass densities, volumetric productivities and/or product yields. The invention further relates to fermentation processes in which the host cells are used and to fungal oxygen binding proteins, in particular fungal flavohemoglobins and hemoglobin domains, and to nucleotides sequences encoding these proteins.

Abstract: A DNA molecule comprising a fungal gene encoding an enzyme protein capable of converting L-galactonic acid into L-threo-3-deoxy-hexulosonic acid has been cloned and heterologously expressed. The enzyme is involved in the metabolic conversion of sugar acids, which are present in biological waste material such as sugar beet pulp and other pectin comprising material. A microorganism genetically modified to effectively express said enzyme may be used in fermenting biomaterial to desired end products such as ethanol. Alternatively, microorganisms in which the gene has been inactivated may be used to produce L-galactonic acid, which accumulates when the expression of the gene is prevented.

Abstract: Microbial starter cultures. More specifically, a method for preparing a microbial starter culture wherein the microorganism is inoculated in a culture medium comprising at least one 5 yield enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of a purine base, a pyrimidine base, a nucleoside and a nucleotide. Such microbial starter cultures are useful in the manufacturing of food, feed and pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: A recombinant prototrophic micro-organism such as a yeast is provided which over-expresses the activity of an enzyme catalysing the conversion of glucose-1 phosphate to glucose-6 phosphate in the galactose uptake and metabolism pathway. Suitably the increased enzyme activity is due to over-expression of the gene PGM2. This produces increased uptake of galactose and increased ethanol production when the organism is grown on a galactose containing medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the purification of an ?-hydroxy acid on an industrial scale, in which the method involves: (a) subjecting an aqueous stream containing mainly ?-hydroxy (1) to an extraction step, with the formation of an aqueous place containing mainly ?-hydroxy acid (2), (b) concentrating the aqueous phase containing mainly ?-hydroxy acid (2) by means of evaporation of water under reduced pressure, with the formation of a concentrated ?-hydroxy acid solution in water (3), and (c) subjecting the concentrated ?-hydroxy acid solution (3) to a crystallization, with formation of pure ?-hydroxy acid (4), where (i) the concentrated ?-hydroxy acid solution (3) is directly cooled in a melting crystallization device, and/or (ii) the concentrated ?-hydroxy acid solution (3) is diluted with water and crystallization is brought about in one or more cooling crystallization devices and/or evaporative crystallization devices, and/or (iii) crystallization is brought about in one or more adiabati

Abstract: Yeast strains transformed with at least one copy of a gene coding for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and further modified for the production of lactic acid with high yield and productivities, are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to L-lactic acid producing bacterial strains, including Lactobacilli such as NRRL B-30568 (ADM B64), NRRL B-30569 (ADM DEC2-2B), NRRL B-30570 (ADM RP1A-4E), NRRL B-30571 (ADM RP2-1C), NRRL B-30572 (ADM RP3-1E), NRRL, B-30573 (ADM RP4A-2C), NRRL B-30574 (ADM LC49.25), NRRL B-30575 (ADM LC54.62) and mutations thereof. The present invention also relates to processes of producing L-lactic acid by culturing these strains. The present invention also relates to a method of making a bacterial strain that is capable of producing an increased yield or optical purity of L-lactic acid relative to these strains.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyester, the process comprising the steps of (1) fermenting a saccharide with a microorganism to obtain at least one substituted ?-hydroxy acid represented by the formula: HO—CHR—COOH (wherein R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and (2) polymerizing the substituted ?-hydroxy acid or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a complex of an organic amine and lactic acid in a reactor, characterized in that a water-miscible organic amine is brought into contact with magnesium lactate in an aqueous medium in the reactor to form the complex and precipitated magnesium hydroxide, after which the magnesium hydroxide is separated from the complex.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of the preparation of lactic acid by means of fermentation, more particularly it is directed to processes to separate the biomass from the lactic acid-containing fermentation product by means of flocculation. We have found that for the separation of biomass from lactate and lactic acid-containing fermentation broth the following process is very convenient and suitable; a) Subjecting the fermentation broth to an alkalifying step, b) adding one or more flocculants, and c) separating the biomass flocs from the lactate and lactic acid-containing fermentation broth. With this process even bacteria-based fermentation broths can be suitably handled efficiently and economically.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials related to the production of lactic acid. Specifically, the invention provides methods for producing lactic acid using a crabtree-negative yeast, such as of the Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Candida, Trichosporon and Yamadazmya genera, which have been transformed with a lactate dehydrogenase gene.

Abstract: A method for production of lactic acid involving extracting protein from a natural renewable feedstock, preferably extracted from lignocellulose sources such as soybean hull, separating the feedstock into liquid and solid substrate feedstock, steam exploding the solid substrate feedstock by placing the solid feedstock in a pressure chamber, pressurizing the steam chamber with saturated steam, maintaining the pressure until the solid feedstock reaches temperatures in excess of the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure, and explosively decompressing the pressure to a pressure no greater than atmospheric pressure. Hydrolyzing the steam-exploded feedstock by either acid hydrolysis or enzyme hydrolysis, and fermenting the resulting hydrolyzed feedstock to produce lactic acid. The hydrolyzing and fermenting steps may be carried out simultaneously, followed by recovering the lactate from the resultant material.