Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a nanocellulose material, comprising: fractionating a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock in the presence of a solvent for lignin and water, but no acid catalyst, to generate cellulose-rich solids; and then mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form a nanocellulose material comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals. Many organic or inorganic solvents are possible. In some embodiments, the solvent for lignin is an oxygenated organic compound, such as a C1-C18 alcohol, e.g. ethanol, ethylene glycol, propanol, propanediol, glycerol, butanol, or butanediol. The solvent for lignin may be an aromatic alcohol, such as phenol, cresol, or benzyl alcohol. The solvent for lignin may be a ketone, an aldehyde, or an ether, such as methyl ethyl ketone or diethyl ether. The solvent for lignin may be a non-oxygenated alkane, olefin, or aromatic hydrocarbon. In some embodiments, the solvent for lignin is an ionic liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium.

Abstract: The present specification discloses plant agent compositions, articles of manufacture, containers or kits comprising such compositions, and methods and uses to control a causal agent of a plant disease or increasing plant growth and/or fruit production.

Abstract: Acetate is a potent microbial inhibitor which can affect the performance of yeast in ethanolic fermentation. The present disclosure provides a recombinant microbial host cell having (i) a first genetic modification for increasing the activity of one or more proteins that function in a first metabolic pathway to convert acetate into an alcohol in the microbial host cell; (ii) a second genetic modification for increasing the activity of one or more proteins that function in a second metabolic pathway to import glycerol in the recombinant microbial host cell (iii) a third genetic modification for increasing the activity of one or more proteins that function in a third metabolic pathway to convert a C5 carbohydrate into ethanol in the microbial host cell. The recombinant microbial host cell comprises and natively expresses native proteins that function in a fourth native metabolic pathway to produce glycerol in the microbial host cell.

Abstract: A pre-fermented symbiotic matrix based on a cereal suspension containing encapsulated probiotics and prebiotics, the manufacturing process and the corresponding use are disclosed. The invention complements the actual functional food market solving problems inherent to reduced shelf-life of foods due to loss of probiotic viability to values below the minimum limits needed to promote biological activity. The invention also improves the enzymatic process in the preparation of the cereal base and the fermentative process conditions at different levels, namely the ability to control the concentration of sugars in the cereal suspension without adding sugars, increase protein and fiber content, reduce fermentation time to reduce energy consumption during the process and reduce the risk of contamination as well as promote long term microbial stability maintenance.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for producing hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. A process may include introducing biomass to a pretreatment system, and a first separation system forming a pentose-rich stream and a pentose-lean stream. The pentose-lean stream may be introduced to a hydrolysis system forming a hydrolysate and the hydrolysate introduced to a second separation system forming a hexose-rich stream and a lignin stream. Additionally, at least one of the pentose-rich stream or the hexose-rich stream may be introduced to a bioreactor containing microorganisms configured to produce hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to systems for the production of hydrocarbon fuels. A system may include a pretreatment system, a first separation system, a hydrolysis system, a second separation system, and one or more bioreactors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure involve systems and methods that inhibit the production of lactic acid during propagation of yeast and/or during hydrolysis of cellulose by including a sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen.

Abstract: An integrated process and corresponding apparatus that produces a relatively clean, delignified cellulose product from lignocellulosic biomass. The method includes treating a portion of the delignified cellulose itself as a substrate to produce on-site cellulolytic enzymes, including further treating the remaining delignified cellulose with the resulting cellulolytic enzymes for in situ enzymatic hydrolysis. The process and apparatus are useful to produce fermentable sugars for cost-effective manufacturing of fermentable sugars, fuels, bioproducts and chemicals.

Abstract: A method for producing a modified lignin, including reacting one or more kind of a second generation ethanol fermentation residue and a second generation ethanol saccharification residue, with a phenol compound, a modified lignin having a ratio ((2H+G)/S) of a total of twice of a relative existence ratio H (%) of an H-type skeleton and a relative existence ratio G (%) of a G-type skeleton with respect to a relative existence ratio S (%) of an S-type skeleton, obtained from integrated values measured by 31P-NMR, of 2.5 or more, and an existence ratio of an aliphatic hydroxy group obtained by the same method of less than 20%, and a modified lignin-containing resin composition material.

Abstract: A biomass solid fuel is provided which, when exposed to rain water, has a reduced COD in discharged water and has low disintegration-property, while suppressing an increase in cost. The present invention relates to a biomass solid fuel obtained by molding pulverized biomass, having a fuel ratio (fixed carbon/volatile matter) of 0.2 to 0.8, dry-basis higher heating value of 4800 to 7000 (kcal/kg), a molar ratio of oxygen O to carbon C (O/C) of 0.1 to 0.7, and a molar ratio of hydrogen H to carbon C (H/C) is 0.8 to 1.3.

Abstract: A biomass solid fuel which, when exposed to rain water, has a reduced COD in discharged water and has low disintegration-property, while suppressing an increase in cost. The biomass solid fuel obtained by molding pulverized biomass particles, such that mutual bonding or adhesion between pulverized biomass particles is maintained after immersion in water.

Abstract: Method for extraction of biomass with water in order to separate hemicelluloses from a fibrous structure. The biomass is impregnated under reduced pressure with the extraction fluid in order to prevent the degradation of the components to be extracted. During extraction the extract is circulated through the fiber matrix in order to remove unwanted components from the extract. The extract is reused for extracting untreated biomass in order to increase the consistency of the extract.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cell for saccharification of a biomass. The recombinant yeast host cell has a genetic modification for expressing a heterologous polypeptide having glucoamylase activity (Rasamsonia emersonii glucoamylase). In some embodiments, the heterologous polypeptide comprises the signal sequence associated with the alpha-mating 1 factor. The present disclosure also concerns a process for saccharification of a biomass using the recombinant yeast host cell as well as a process for fermenting the saccharified biomass into a fermentation product.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to reduce the amount of glycerin produced as a by-product in ethanol fermentation to a significant extent using a transgenic yeast comprising a gene having the pentose assimilating ability and encoding glycerin dehydrogenase having a mitochondrial transport signal introduced thereinto.

Abstract: Waste, such as municipal solid waste (MSF), is separated into a wet fraction and refuse derived fuel (RDF). For example, the waste may be separated in a press. The wet fraction is treated in an anaerobic digester. The RDF is further separated into a cellulosic fraction and a non-cellulosic fraction. The cellulosic fraction is treated by pyrolysis and produces a pyrolysis liquid. The pyrolysis liquid is added to the anaerobic digester.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fractionating whole stillage from an ethanol production facility are provided. Whole stillage undergoes a separation of its liquid portion (thin stillage) from the solid portion (fiber cake). In some embodiments, the solids and liquids in whole stillage may be separated utilizing a screening centrifuge. The fiber cake may be dried to generate a high fiber animal feed. The thin stillage may be provided to a three-phase separator for separation into an oil emulsion, an aqueous clarified stillage, and a protein paste. The protein paste may be dried to generate a high protein animal feed with greater than about 45% protein content. The clarified thin stillage is condensed to yield a syrup with greater than around 60% solids. The oil emulsion is subjected to a pH adjustment to liberate the oil from the emulsion, which is then separated.

Abstract: Increasing of the heating value of combustible biomass through hemicellulose extraction and subsequent press-drying is described. After hemicellulose extraction the remaining biomass is soft and easily press-dried to high dry content of up to 80%. The method involves the removal of most water binding hemicelluloses and retaining most of the lignin in the biomass. Lignin can either be retained in the biomass during the extraction or combining the lignin, which has been separated from the hemicellulose extract, with the extracted biomass.

Abstract: An arrangement for and a method of biomass hydrolysis includes a feed pump, a pre-hydrolysis reactor and a feed line there-between for feeding fresh biomass slurry to the pre-hydrolysis reactor. The feed pump is a centrifugal feed pump and the pre-hydrolysis reactor is an upflow reactor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing forage material includes crushing a mass of rice peeling and hulling bran into a powder with a grain size of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, hydrothermally processing the rice peeling and hulling bran powder for 1.5 to 2.0 hours at a temperature of between 110 and 120° C., and a pressure of 1 to 2 atmospheres, adding a culture of Trichoderma lignorum 19 in an effective amount proportional to the weight of the rice peelings, hulls and bran mass and maintaining same in an airtight hopper for 24-48 hours to effect a microbial process of saturation and accumulation of protein mass, and thereafter drying at a temperature of 50 to 60° C. until the moisture content is 13 to 14.5 percent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the control of plant fungal pathogens, particularly rusts, by inhibiting one or more biological functions of such plant fungal pathogens, particularly by inhibiting a fungal HXT1 gene using RNA interference (RNAi).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydrolysis of cellulose containing biomass which comprises a liquefaction step in which a first enzyme or first enzyme composition is added to liquefy at least part of the solids present in the biomass and to keep the viscosity of the cellulose containing biomass below 1000 cP, preferably below 800 cP, more preferably below 600 cP in the liquefaction step; followed by a saccharification step in which a second enzyme composition is added to form oligomeric and/or monomeric sugars; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition is different from the second enzyme composition; whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises an endoglucanase; whereby the second enzyme composition comprises a cellulase; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises more endoglucanase than the second enzyme composition (expressed in protein wt %).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for domesticating Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is resistant to fermentation inhibitors, high temperature and high concentration of ethanol. The method comprises a primary domestication and a secondary domestication of the S. cerevisiae, wherein the primary domestication comprises the steps of replacing the fermented mash with fresh liquefied mash and continuing fermentation when the ethanol content in the fermented mash reaches a higher concentration (>12% (v/v)), the replacement is performed for at least 20 times, and the time interval of replacements is 20-30 hours; the secondary domestication comprises the steps of performing high-temperature domestication on the primary domesticated strain by a temperature gradient and replacing the fermented mash for multiple times, wherein the temperature is raised by 0.5° C.-2° C. every 18-24 times of replacement. The domesticated S.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a method for combined preparation of saccharides, alcohols (biofuel) and biodiesel using a composition comprising interior hydrophobic or hydrophilic medium encapsulated by a layer comprising cellulose, cellulose derivative material, and/or starch surrounded by a hydrophilic or hydrophobic medium, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of acid saccharification of biomass and a method of polymerization of furan compounds. The method of acid saccharification of biomass comprises recovering pentose-derived furan compounds produced during the acid saccharification process of biomass. The method of acid saccharification of biomass comprises introducing furan compounds into the acid saccharification process of biomass, to produce and recover furan polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing a downstream product from cellulosic material by: a) contacting the cellulosic material with a polymer and a solvent to form a reaction mixture, where the polymer includes acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone, and each of the ionic monomers independently comprises at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or at least one phosphorous-containing cationic group; b) degrading the cellulosic material in the reaction mixture to produce a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phrase includes one or more sugars, and where the solid phase includes residual cellulosic material; and c) using the one or more sugars to produce the downstream product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the manipulation of cofactor usage in a recombinant host cell to increase the formation of desirable products. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a mutation in one or more native enzymes such that their cofactor specificity is altered in such a way that overall cofactor usage in the cell is balanced for a specified pathway and there is an increase in a specific product formation within the cell. In some embodiments, endogenous enzymes are replaced by enzymes with an alternate cofactor specificity from a different species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a yeast cell, in particular a recombinant yeast cell, the cell lacking enzymatic activity needed for the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis or the cell having a reduced enzymatic activity with respect to the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis compared to its corresponding wild-type yeast cell, the cell comprising one or more heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding an NAD+-dependent acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.10) activity. The invention further relates to the use of a cell according to the invention in the preparation of ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process for alcohol production and organic acid production from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for engineering bacteria, for example, Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, that convert biomass to ethanol at high yield by deleting a single gene. Deletion of subunit A or subunit B of the hfs hydrogenase, but not deletion of subunit C or subunit D, results in an increase in ethanol yield.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for obtaining sugar and lignin fractions from lignocellulosic materials and to a method for producing fermentation products using the sugars obtained from the lignocellulose. The present disclosure relates to a method for improving the sugar yield in the enzymatic hydrolysate by introducing a pre-treatment step of hydrothermal hydrolysis and an alkaline delignification step.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering lipids from microbial biomass, and for producing lipids. In the method, an aqueous suspension includes fermentation broth containing oleaginous yeast biomass which is subjected to hydrothermal treatment and lipids are recovered from the biomass by solvent extraction.

Abstract: Producing a resin from an organic waste product includes assessing a weight percent of a first volatile fatty acid and a weight percent of a second volatile fatty acid in a liquid mixture having volatile fatty acids from the organic waste product. The weight percent of the volatile fatty acids is based on the total weight of the carboxylic acids in the liquid mixture, the total weight of volatile fatty acids in the liquid mixture, or the total weight of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids in the mixture. A ratio of the weight percent of the first volatile fatty acid to the weight percent of the second volatile fatty acid in the liquid mixture is adjusted to yield a modified liquid mixture. The modified liquid is combined with polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria to yield a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer; and the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is extracted from the polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria.

Abstract: A glucose production method is characterized in that glucose is produced from organisms that hold at least a disaccharide inside the body, which organisms utilize a cellulose source as food or for nutrients, particularly insects, crustaceans, and mushrooms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for self-sufficient hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material. In an additional aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for the production of an organic product and the organic product produced according to this process.

Abstract: Microorganisms that co-consume glucose with non-glucose carbohydrates, such as xylose, and methods of using same. The microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein or modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoglucose isomerase and a GntR. The PTS protein may be selected from an enzyme I (EI), an HPr, an FPr, and an enzyme IIGlc (EIIGlc). Additional modifications include reduction or ablation of the activity of a pyruvate formate lyase, a lactate dehydrogenase, and a fumarate reductase and inclusion of recombinant pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. The microorganisms are particularly suited to co-consuming glucose and xylose in media containing these substrates and producing ethanol therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for generating sugars from a cellulosic biomass. The methods combine treatment of the biomass using a high-shear milling device and saccharification of the biomass to partially hydrolyze the biomass. The biomass can be saccharified either after or simultaneously with the high-shear milling treatment. The partially hydrolyzed biomass is then separated into a solids stream with saccharification enzymes, and a liquid stream with sugars. The solids stream and associated enzymes are further incubated under saccharification conditions to produce additional sugars, or are recycled and added to fresh biomass, which is saccharified under high-shear milling conditions. The methods result in improved conversion of cellulosic biomass to glucose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydrolysis of cellulose containing biomass which comprises a liquefaction step in which a first enzyme or first enzyme composition is added to liquefy at least part of the solids present in the biomass and to keep the viscosity of the cellulose containing biomass below 1000 cP, preferably below 800 cP, more preferably below 600 cP in the liquefaction step; followed by a saccharification step in which a second enzyme composition is added to form oligomeric and/or monomeric sugars; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition is different from the second enzyme composition; whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises an endoglucanase; whereby the second enzyme composition comprises a cellulase; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises more endogluconase than the second enzyme composition (expressed in protein wt %).

Abstract: Materials and methods are described to produce xylitol from a mixture of hemicellulosic sugars by several routes. Examples include either as a direct co-product of a biorefinery or ethanol facility, or as a stand-alone product produced from an agricultural or forestry biomass feedstock including using, e.g. ethanol waste streams.

Abstract: This invention provides novel strains of the genus Lactobacillus which can be used to produce pharmaceutical products with probiotic properties for human or veterinary use. The strains of this invention possess metabolic features that are particularly suitable for treatment of disorders related to lactose malabsorption and intolerance, fructose malabsorption and intolerance, and bloating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a process for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass for the purpose of reducing processing costs, increasing delignification, reducing side-reactions, in particular reducing hemicelluloses degradation, improving cellulose hydrolysis and increasing the nativity of the obtained lignin, by performing organosolv fractionation of the biomass with a treatment liquid at a temperature below 170° C., wherein the treatment liquid comprises a non-hydroxylic organic solvent, in particular a ketone, water and some acid, and optionally subjecting the cellulose-enriched product stream to enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Provided is a biomass hydrothermal decomposition system which includes: a biomass supply unit that supplies a biomass raw material; hydrothermally decomposing the biomass raw material using pressurized hot water; a hydrothermal decomposition unit that dissolves lignin components and hemicellulose components in the pressurized hot water; a biomass solid fraction discharge unit that discharges a biomass solid fraction from the hydrothermal decomposition unit; an enzymatic liquefaction tank that is in connection with the biomass solid fraction discharge unit, and in which the discharged biomass solid fraction is introduced, and an enzyme is supplied to the biomass solid fraction to liquefy the biomass solid fraction; and a discharge unit that discharges the liquefied biomass solid fraction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for the hydrolysis of mixed biomass. The methods include forming a mixture of at least two modified biomass feedstocks to achieve various benefits, such as maximizing sugar yields and minimizing the formation of degradation products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for enzyme mediated hydrolysis of biomass for production of soluble sugars, wherein the said process comprises of steady addition of small portions of biomass to enzyme solution, enabling rapid solubilization of biomass. The process used for enzymatic saccharification allows for increased biomass loading, enzyme recycle and mitigation of substrate and product inhibitory effect. The recycling of unhydrolysed biomass along with soluble enzyme ensures complete reuse of the said enzyme for effective repeated hydrolysis thereby increasing the overall productivity of enzyme used.

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: In some variations, a process is provided for producing a pulp product at a biorefinery site, comprising: converting a woody cellulosic material to a first pulp stream; converting a non-woody cellulosic material to a second pulp stream; blending the second pulp stream into the first pulp stream; and recovering or further processing the blended pulp stream as a pulp product. Biorefinery site infrastructure may be shared between the woody and non-woody lines. Also, the process may include process integration of mass and/or energy between the woody and non-woody lines. The process may be a retrofit addition to a pulp plant, or a greenfield biorefinery site. The non-woody line also can generate fermentable sugars, for fermentation to ethanol (or other products). Through allocation of carbon credits from the ethanol to the pulp, the final pulp product life-cycle profile can be improved.

Abstract: A hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17 as a biomass processing apparatus that decomposes a biomass material 11 into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin under a high temperature and high pressure condition to remove a lignin component and a hemicellulose component, a biomass solid discharging unit 18 that discharges a biomass solid (a hot-water insoluble component) 20 processed in the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17, and a slurrying vessel 21 communicating with the biomass solid discharging unit 18, into which water 19 is injected and the discharged biomass solid 20 is added to make it slurried are provided to an apparatus body 13, which is a processing vessel having a gas-liquid interface 13a.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing ethanol, including: culturing yeast transformed so as to display an enzyme on the cell surface in a medium containing particles of lignocellulosic biomass, thereby producing ethanol, wherein the enzyme is an enzyme involved in hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass. The present invention makes it possible to provide a method for producing ethanol by which a high ethanol yield can be achieved from lignocellulosic biomass with lower initial cell concentration and added enzyme amount.

Abstract: This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream ligno-cellulosic biomass without enzymes or acid catalysts. This is accomplished by removing the water soluble C5 sugars from the ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstream, lowering the pH of the C5 solution with little or no addition of an acid, thermally treating the remaining ligno-cellulosic biomass, combining the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass with the low pH C5 solution and then exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the components of the ligno-cellulosic biomass. Preferably, the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a fiber shives reduction step to reduce the amount of long fiber shives.

Abstract: Enzyme compositions with enhanced enzyme activity and/or thermophilic and psychrophilic stability are described. Additionally, methods and kits for making and using the enzyme compositions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for a controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock, wherein the process comprises the steps of: loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor; liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at sub- and/or super-critical condition; and removal of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, being the product molecules, to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.