Abstract: Provided herein are transgenic plants that include increased expression of a coding region encoding a PAE poly-peptide compared to a control plant. In one embodiment, a transgenic plant includes a phenotype of decreased recalcitrance, increased growth, or the combination thereof. Also provided herein are methods for generating transgenic plants, and methods for using transgenic plants. Examples of methods for using transgenic plants include, for instance, processing a transgenic plant described herein to result in a processed pulp, and exposing a plant material obtained from a plant described herein to conditions suitable for the production of a metabolic product.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) to (3): (1): subjecting a cellulose-containing biomass to hydrothermal treatment and thereafter separating the treated cellulose-containing biomass into a hydrothermally-treated liquid and a cellulose-containing solid content; (2): adding a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to the cellulose-containing solid content obtained in (1) to hydrolyze the cellulose and thereafter separating the hydrolysate into a saccharification residue and a sugar liquid; and (3): washing the saccharification residue obtained in (2) with the hydrothermally-treated liquid obtained in (1) to elute the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase adsorbed to the saccharification residue into the hydrothermally-treated liquid and thereafter obtaining a solution component comprising the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase by solid-liquid separation.

Abstract: The present invention provides fungal xylanase and/or xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present invention provides xylanase and xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce xylanase(s) and/or xylosidase(s), as well as enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to fermentable sugars, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and methods for producing fermentable sugars from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures. In some embodiments, the xylanase and xylosidase enzyme(s) are M. thermophila enzymes.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having glucoamylase activity, catalytic domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of degrading or converting biomass material enriched with hemicellulosic material into fermentable sugars.

Abstract: A process for obtaining high ethanol yield from the fermentation of an energy crop and for producing a nutritionally enhanced feed co-product is provided. In particular, the process includes converting non-fermentable polysaccharides in an energy crop into fermentable sugar. The fermentable sugars may be fermented into ethanol thereby enhancing the ethanol yield. In addition, separation of ethanol from the fermentation product yields a whole stillage product having enhanced protein content and reduced fiber content. The process requires little or no modification to the configuration of existing commercial ethanol facilities.

Abstract: Methods of producing renewable materials, such as biofuels, may include separating lignocellulosic feedstock into various fractions, pretreating at least one of the fractions, and further treating the pretreated fraction(s) to produce a renewable material. More particularly, an outer-most stalk tissue, or rind, of the lignocellulosic feedstock having the least-accessible carbohydrates can be separated from the leaves and pith of the feedstock. Then the easily-accessible leaves, pith, and sugars can be processed together, while the rind can either be processed separately to produce a renewable material, or turned into other products. In certain embodiments, a cane tissue fractionation system is included at a front end of a sugar mill.

Abstract: A method to increase ethanol production from a corn dry-mill process is described that comprises adding an enzyme preparation derived from Trichoderma reesei having cellulolytic activity to a saccharification process that includes conventional alpha amylase and glucoamylase. The addition of the cellulolytic enzyme decreases viscosity of the saccharified mash and can increase ethanol yield from a dry grind fermentation by as much as 10% or more. Specific characteristics are provided to show surprising and advantageous results of one particular preparation of cellulolytic enzymes from T. reesei.

Abstract: A method is provided in which pretreated and densified cellulosic biomass particulates can be hydrolyzed at a high solids loading rate as compared with the solids loading rate of loose hydrolysable cellulosic biomass fibers. The resulting high concentration sugar-containing stream can be easily converted to biofuels or to an entire suite of other useful bioproducts.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for production and recovery of ethanol or other volatile organic compounds, such as acetic acid, from solid biomass material. One embodiment comprises introducing a biomass material to a compartment of a solventless recovery system, wherein the biomass material contains one or more volatile organic compounds; contacting the biomass material with a superheated vapor stream in the compartment to vaporize at least a portion of an initial liquid content in the biomass material, said superheated vapor stream comprising at least one volatile organic compound; separating a vapor component and a solid component from the heated biomass material, said vapor component comprising at least one volatile organic compound; and retaining at least a portion of the vapor component for use as part of the superheated vapor stream.

Abstract: A static solid state bioreactor and method of using same. The bioreactor comprises a vessel having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having a sealable opening. A gas distribution system in communication with the upper end and the lower end of the vessel. A liquid distribution system in communication with the upper end of the vessel. A liquid recovery system in communication with the lower end of the vessel. A material removal system disposed at the lower end of the vessel for removing biomass from the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of parent Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits altered stability, in particular at high temperatures and/or at low pH relative, and/or low Ca2+ to the parent alpha-amylase.

Abstract: The disclosure provides thermostable enzymes isolated from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and fragments thereof useful for the degradation of cellulose and/or hemicellulose, including thermostable cellulases and hemicellulases. The disclosure further provides nucleic acids encoding the thermostable enzymes of the disclosure. The disclosure also provides methods for the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose into fermentable sugars using thermostable enzymes of the disclosure. The disclosure also provides enzyme cocktails containing multiple enzymes disclosed herein. The enzymes can be used to release sugars present in cellulose or hemicellulose for subsequent fermentation to produce value-added products.

Abstract: Thermostable cellulase enzyme systems comprising at least one each of a thermostable endoglucanase, an exo-processive-endoglucanase, and a ?-glucosidase carry out the complete, coordinated hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose to monomeric glucose.

Abstract: Methods for producing biofuels that involve enhanced separation of oil in co-product process streams are disclosed. In some embodiments, separation is enhanced by addition of an additive such as a surfactant, yeast and/or salt to the co-product process stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products.

Abstract: A pretreatment composition and pretreatment process utilizing the composition is described. The pretreatment composition includes an aqueous organic solvent in combination with an alkaline component and an oxidizing agent. The pretreatment composition is useful for treating biomass as may be utilized in forming biofuel, paper, or other useful products. The biomass to be treated can include cellulosic biomass, lignocellulosic biomass, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides co-cultures of photosynthetic microorganisms and biofuel producing microorganisms. In certain embodiments, polysaccharide-producing, photosynthetic microorganisms are microalgae having frustules provide a substrate on which biofuel-producing microorganisms can grow. In other embodiments, the photosynthetic microorganisms produce a lipid and the non-photosynthetic microorganisms produce a solvent in which the lipid is soluble.

Abstract: The present invention relates to GH61 polypeptide variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes of producing a fermentation product, comprising liquefying a starch containing material with an alpha-amylase; pre-saccharifying and/or saccharifying and fermenting using a fermentation organism in the presence of a carbohydrate source generating enzyme and a cellulolytic composition The invention also relates to methods of dewatering whole stillage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for enzymatic hydrolysis of granular starch into a soluble starch hydrolysate at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of said granular starch.

Abstract: A dry solids staging fermentation process for producing an end-product, such as ethanol is disclosed said process including an initial fermentation step including combining a first fermentable substrate with one or more starch hydrolyzing enzymes and fermenting organisms in a fermentation vessel and a loading step which includes adding a second fermentable substrate to the fermentation vessel wherein the percent dry solids (% DS) of the fermentation broth increases over time.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a system and a process for the production of ethanol and related products from lignocellulosic biomasses (second generation—2G—ethanol), particularly from sugarcane bagasse and straw, however not limited thereto, integrated with conventional processes for the production of ethanol (first generation—1G—ethanol) such as, for example, from sugarcane juice and/or molasses (a process that is typically Brazilian, either in sugar and ethanol plants or in autonomous distilleries), corn, grain, wheat, sugary sorghum, white beetroot, among others, comprising the recovery/reuse of streams and effluents. More specifically, the present invention refers to an integrated process for the production of ethanol and related products where the said process warrants increased efficiency particularly in the use of the raw material, steam, electric power and treated water.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bioenergy production system with reduced carbon dioxide emissions and process wastes; including a process for producing a bioalcohol and a biogas by subjecting a biomass, such as: herbaceous and woody plants, fruit pulp, freshwater and sea algae, grains, aerobic and anaerobic sludge, saccharides, polyols and carbohydrates, to a combined process of a biosaccharification/alcohol fermentation, including a biomass pretreatment process; and a process for producing a methane biogas with a reduced level of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, via an algae cultivation process with a view to purifying the carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide contained in the biogas; wherein, when the algae to be cultivated is microalgae, biodiesel is produced by subjecting the harvested microalgae to a biodiesel manufacturing process while recycling the glycerol and the saccharide-containing waste produced as byproducts to the biosaccharification/alcohol fermentation process, and when the algae to be cultivated is

Abstract: Methods using yeast, enzymes and bacteria to increase ethanol production rates from cellulosic sugars via multiple coupled fermentation processes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process of producing a fermentation product, in particular ethanol. The present disclosure relates also to the use of enzymes for improving the quality of by-products in the fermentative production process and to compositions comprising enzymes capable of degrading components in the fermented mash in the fermentation process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the conversion into biogas of fermentation stillage arising as a waste product of ethanol production. This apparatus comprises a separation unit for the separation of the fermentation stillage into a thin fraction and a thick fraction, at least one biogas reactor for fermenting the thin fraction and/or the thick fraction, and a storage tank. According to a first aspect of the present invention, two biogas reactors are provided, to separate the thin fraction and the thick fraction independently of one another. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a nitrogen sink is provided downstream of the storage tank to provide, from the reactor effluent, process water with low or no nitrogen content which may then be fed to the reactor and/or the bioethanol plant. According to a third aspect the invention is characterized by a combination of a single-stage separation unit and a heavy-duty biogas reactor with a pore-free flow path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making an oil product from plant material that is used to make alcohol (e.g., ethanol) via fermentation. The methods extract oil from the plant material (e.g., corn oil from corn) before exposing to the fermented plant material to distillation temperatures so as to reduce the levels of free fatty acids and/or alcohol esters that can be generated by exposing the oil to distillation temperatures. The present invention also related to oil products made by such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods are provided for improved processing of lignocellulosic biomass. Hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass is subject to separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) or prehydrolysed and subject to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at high initial loadings of cellulase enzymes, at least 15 FPU/g DM. The cellulase enzymes are subsequently recycled and used in subsequent hydrolysis cycles along with a lower dose supplementation of fresh enzyme. Loss of enzyme activity between hydrolysis cycles is offset by improved overall process advantage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of a parent cellobiohydrolase II. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The efficient production of ethanol from low-cost biomass (e.g., corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, switchgrass and/or paper) has become increasingly important in making ethanol competitive with gasoline and decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign oil. For example, to reduce the cost of transporting biomass to ethanol production facilities, mobile systems for producing ethanol from biomass are provided. Also provided are small-scale ethanol production facilities. For example, instead of transporting biomass to the production facility, the facility is transported to the biomass or is located nearby the source of the biomass. The ethanol production facilities or components thereof may be transported via land, water, or air. Production of other products, such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, hydrogen gas, plastics, polymers, and proteins, can also be made by the methods and facilities. Any product described herein can be made in finished form or un-finished form and moved, e.g., to a fixed facility, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Provided are methods and compositions for high yields while using reduced enzyme loads in saccharification and fermentation processes. These methods increase the efficiency of enzymes and result in improved yields and composition of saccharification and fermentation end products.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a soft biomass decomposition method, a production method for a target substance from soft biomass, and an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass. Provided is a soft biomass decomposition method, including a step of bringing an enzyme selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase into contact with soft biomass such as bagasse and rice straw. Also provided is a production method for a target substance from soft biomass by incorporating the soft biomass decomposition method as a step. Further provided is an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material using an enzyme composition in the presence of a reducing agent. The present invention also provides methods for producing a fermentation product and methods of fermenting a cellulosic material using an enzyme composition in the presence of a reducing agent.

Abstract: The Alkcell (alkali-cellulase) Process is a method for the conversion of biomass (cellulosic material) such as agricultural waste, for example, corn stover into glucose. The process uses an alkali pretreatment of biomass followed by hydrolysis with cellulase enzymes to produce glucose. The Alkcell Process uses commonly available materials and methods readily implemented near the biomass growing site. The operating conditions are mild with temperatures not above boiling water solutions, and require half-day conversion to produce glucose in water. Remaining solids can be recycled for additional glucose. An advantage of the Alkcell Process is implementation at or near the biomass growing site that avoids transporting biomass distances to special cellulose processing facilities. The glucose produced can be fermented at existing grain fermenting facilities so that special cellulose handling refineries are not required.

Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is hydrolyzed into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be catalytically (e.g., enzymatically) hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, which form a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be hydrolyzed by contacting the feedstock including the oil with one or more enzymes whereby at least a portion of the oil is hydrolyzed into free fatty acids forming a fermentation product extractant, or the oil can be separated from the feedstock prior to the feedstock being fed to a fermentation vessel, and the separated oil can be contacted with the enzymes to form the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellobiohydrolase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of producing and using the variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to GH61 polypeptide variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a surface of a membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microorganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and polypeptides for detoxifying aldehydes associated with industrial fermentations. In particular, a heat-stable, NADPH- and iron-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase was cloned from Thermoanaerobacter pseudethanolicus 39E and displayed activity against a number of aldehydes including inhibitory compounds that are produced during the dilute-acid pretreatment process of lignocellulosic biomass before fermentation to biofuels. Methods to use the microorganisms and polypeptides of the invention for improved conversion of bio mass to biofuel are provided as well as use of the enzyme in metabolic engineering strategies for producing longer-chain alcohols from sugars using thermophilic, fermentative microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a carbohydrate-binding module amino acid sequence and an alpha-amylase amino acid sequence as well as to the application of such polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzyme stabilizer comprising a lignin derivative produced by reaction between lignin and a hydrophilic compound, and to a method of saccharifying lignocellulosic biomass which employs the enzyme stabilizer. According to the invention it is possible to accomplish effective saccharification of cellulosic biomass with saccharifying enzymes, by enhancing saccharifying enzyme activity and preventing nonspecific adsorption of saccharifying enzyme onto substrate.

Abstract: The saccharification efficiency of cellulase is enhanced within reaction temperature regions of general fermenting microorganisms other than heat-resistant yeast. Cellulosic biomass is saccharified with cellulase in the presence of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 and having a function of enhancing the saccharifying activity of cellulase.

Abstract: Processes are described for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, comprising fractionating lignocellulosic biomass in the presence of a solvent for lignin (such as ethanol), a hydrolysis catalyst (such as sulfur dioxide), and water, to produce a liquor containing hemicellulose, cellulose-rich solids, and lignin; hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce hemicellulosic monomers; saccharifying the cellulose-rich solids to produce glucose; recovering the hemicellulosic monomers and the glucose, separately or in a combined stream, as fermentable sugars; and fermenting the fermentable sugars to a fermentation product having a higher normal boiling point than water. Process integration of mass and/or energy is disclosed in many specific embodiments. The fermentation product may include an organic acid, an alcohol, a diol, or combinations thereof.