Abstract: A process for decreasing the reducing sugars content of light steepwater comprising complementary incubation of light steepwater from a corn steeping process having sulfur dioxide (SO2) content at between about 20 ppm and about 220 ppm for at least about 5 hours. The process is particularly useful for obtaining Pharmaceutical Industry Grade Steepwater.

Abstract: Treatment of cells with lower alcohol provides cells having the reaction rate 350 to 600 times higher than that of cells that are not treated with lower alcohol More specifically, a simple operation of treating cells with lower alcohol provides a catalyst that has a higher activity that that of a cell extract and can be recycled.

Abstract: A microbial consortium, ATCC 202177, is enriched to remove target sulfur compounds from gases in the presence of ammonia, cyanide, carbon monoxide, and other toxic gases and mixtures thereof. The ATCC 202177 consortium is cultured in an anaerobic or aerobic nutrient medium until enough cells of ATCC 202177 are recovered to remove the target sulfur species at a pressure ranging from 1 to 80 atmospheres.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a microorganism in an environmental sample involves contacting the sample with a supercritical fluid to isolate nucleic acid from the microorganism, then detecting the presence of a particular sequence within the isolated nucleic acid. The nucleic acid may optionally be subjected to further purification.

Abstract: Novel compounds isolated from the fermentation of producing cultures of Nodulisporium sp. are antiparasitic and insecticidal agents.

Abstract: A mutant Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 which has the property of sulfur removal and sulfur metabolism by selective cleavage of C-S bonds in organic carbonaceous materials.

Abstract: The cloning of Schwanniomyces glucoamylase and alpha-amylase genes is taught. The genes are expressed in recombinant host cells.

Abstract: A feedstock containing a biomass such as lignocellulosic materials, e.g. forest biomass; agricultural residues; or manures, is pretreated and thereafter is fractionated into cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses. New mutants are disclosed which include Chaetomium cellulolyticum IAF-101 (NRRL 18756), Aspergillus sp. IAF-201 (NRRL 18758), Penicillum sp. IAF-603 (NRRL 18759), and Trichoderma reesei QMY-1. With these new mutants and also known fungi including Pleurotus sajor-caju and other Pleurotus spp. unfractionated predetermined biomass is converted into feed. The same treatment can also be applied to hemicelluloses, and cellullose. Cellulose can also be hydrolyzed by means of a cellulase-system prepared from cellulose and Tricoderma reesei to prepare glucose which can be converted to alcohol with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces spp. and Zymomonas mobilis. The residual microbial biomass of these microorganisms from alcohol fermentation broth is also used as feed.

Abstract: Novel DNA constructs comprising yeast regulatory regions plus the structural coding region for human tumor necrosis factor, are disclosed. These novel constructs are incorporated into a variety of linear and circular plasmids. Such plasmids are used for yeast transformation and ultimately for the production of human tumor necrosis factor by yeast.

Abstract: A microbiological assay based on bioluminesce employing the bioluminescent dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula. An oil well drilling fluid sample is prepared according to E. P. A. procedures to obtain a suspended particulate phase sample. An aliquot of the sample is added to a growth medium containing Pyrocystis lunula in suspension. The mixture is agitated to subject the Pyrocystis lunula to a shear stress. Light emitted as a result of the shear stress on the Pyrocystis lunula is measure and compared with a control to determine if there is diminution of light produced by the Pyrocystis lunula in the mixture. Diminution of light production is an indication of the presence of a toxic substance in the sample.

Abstract: A strain of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been developed which, when grown under defined culture conditions, will produce protein indistinguishable from wheat gluten protein. This new yeast strain was developed by introducing a specially constructed autonomously replicating extrachromosomal genetic element, gluten plasmid pAY31, into the parent yeast strain. This plasmid is a circular DNA molecule, constructed by enzymic fusion of the following elements: (1) the E.

Abstract: A method of treating biomass having fermentable material is provided utilizing acid hydrolysis in a countercurrent diffusion treatment structure. By practicing the invention acid usage is minimized, pentose concentration in the hydrolysate solution is maximized, and ethanol, butanol, butanediol, and the alcohols can be produced without the input of any external energy whatsoever into the production method. Biomass is particlized and slurried, and then is continuously subjected to acid hydrolysis at temperature, acid concentration, and residence time conditions sufficient to effect hydrolysis of the hemicellulose in the biomass to effect separation of pentose and hexose sugars into a hydrolysate having insufficient furfural to substantially inhibit fermentation microorganism growth, while not substantially hydrolyzing the cellulose in the biomass.

Abstract: A novel mutant microorganism Pseudomonas sp. CB1 having a registry number ATCC 39381 has been produced by chemical mutagenesis and is effective in removing organic sulfur compounds from carbonaceous materials such as fossil fuels e.g., coal, petroleum and petroleum products.

Abstract: Agricultural waste material, including animal manure and crop wastes, are converted into proteinaceous animal feed products by a fermentation process using the fungus, Chaetomium cellulolyticum.

Abstract: A method for cultivating, under alkaline conditions, microorganisms in a culture medium containing, as a carbon source, the extracted liquor or spent liquor derived from alkaline pulping is presented. In this cultivation, organic acids contained in the extracted liquor or spent liquor can be effectively utilized. Typical microorganisms cultured are bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium and Brevibacterium.

Abstract: An industrial cellulosic pulp material, such as wood pulp and paper stock, pulp sludges resulting from the manufacture of paper, coffee and sugar and starch-rich cellulosic materials, such as, bananas and root crops, is converted into a protein-enriched product having significant amounts of microbial biomass in the form of the fungus, Chaetomium cellulolyticum.

Abstract: The process consists of cultivating, at a temperature below 28.degree. C., the fungus Trichoderma Album in liquid nutrient media, the pH of said media being kept at a value comprised between about 3.7 and 4.8, the dissolved oxygen content being from about 6 to 10 mg/l. The cultivation is carried out with non-traumatizing, efficient stirring and under conditions such that multiplication is practically nil.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing coenzyme Q.sub.10 by cultivating a novel microorganism JY-155 which belongs to the genus Trichosporon (FERM-P4650, ATCC 20566) which we discovered, in a culture medium containing sulfite waste liquor as the carbon source. The microbial cells form and accumulate coenzyme Q.sub.10. These cells are then recovered from the culture and processed to obtain the coenzyme Q.sub.10 as a compound or to obtain it in usable form while still associated with at least some of the cell material.

Abstract: The specification discloses making a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system culture adapted to biodegradation of spent sulfite liquor (SSL) comprising the steps of exposing a mixed culture system (being a sludge from a sewage treatment plant) to increasing concentration of SSL until the fungus becomes acclimatized to SSL of the desired concentration. The resulting biotic population comprises a fungal mixture, of yeast and yeast-like cultures. It was based on an autolytic culture system: Phialophora jeanselmei, Phialophora richardsiae, Hyalodendron liqnicola, Trichosporon infestans and Candida tropicalis. A method and apparatus are disclosed for biodegrading both the soluble substrates in a spent sulfite liquor and the biological solids produced therefrom by a potentially autolytic culture system.

Abstract: Waste water purifying procedure intended to be used in treatment of waste water containing aromatic compounds. In a biofilter in a layer containing bark of wood there is formed a bacterial population comprising one or several of the bactery strains deposited in the Universite of Helsinki Institute of General Microbiology under the deposition codes YM 134-202 and YM 241-268 and which have been formed by packing into biofilters crushed coniferous tree bark and bacteriferous water, ooze, mud or bark residues taken from a water body polluted by chlorinated and unchlorinated phenols and by aromatic carboxylic acids and by thereafter feeding into the biofilters water containing said substances, whereby the bactery strains are characterized by tolerance of the presence of chlorinated and unchlorinated phenols and of aromatic carboxylic acids, and the waste water to be purified is conducted through the biofilter, whereby the waste water is purified by effect of action of the bactery population.