Abstract: Methods and compositions for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic starting materials are provided herein. Embodiments provide yeast cells of the genus H. polymorpha with one or more modifications, including, for example, an inactive acid trehalase gene, overexpression of xylulokinase, and/or overexpression of heat-shock protein 104.

Abstract: The invention provides microbial strains possessing improved properties for production of aspartate-derived amino acids and chemicals. Methods of making such strains are provided. These methods include altering expression of the aceBAK operon, the glcB gene, or both. Alteration of expression may be accomplished through increased transcription, relief from native transcriptional control, and/or other means. Replacement of native promoters for these genes is also contemplated; for instance, their native promoters may be replaced by the tac promoter (Ptac).

Abstract: A method of converting hydroxymethylfurfural and is derivative species into hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation products is disclosed. The method includes contacting the hydroxymethylfurfural species in a mixture with an enzyme that oxidizes the hydroxymethylfurfural species while controlling hydrogen peroxide in the mixture. In one exemplary embodiment the enzyme is chloroperoxidase and the hydrogen peroxide is metered into the mixture to predominantly and selectively make at least one of formylfuran carboxylic acid or furan dicarboxylic acid. In another embodiment the enzyme is aryl alcohol oxidase and catalase is included in the mixture to remove unwanted hydrogen peroxide by product and the reaction predominantly makes at least one of dimethylfuran or formylfuran carboxylic acid. When the predominant product is a carboxylic acid or furan dicarboxylic acid, it can be recovered in substantially pure form by acid precipitation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for providing novel catalyst supports are included herein. In one embodiment, included herein are yeast cell supports including one or more receptor proteins uniformly displayed on the surface of a yeast cell having the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Each receptor protein is anchored to a ligand that is selective for that protein, and each ligand is, in turn, bound to a catalyst. Both the catalyst support-catalyst combinations and the catalyst supports alone are contemplated by the invention.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate, for example, to methods for reducing the load of organic acids and glycerol in water recycled to the fermentation process. Organic acids and glycerol produced during ethanol fermentation are used as a replacement for carbohydrates for propagation of yeast. The yeast may be sold as a feed product or used in subsequent fermentation.

Abstract: A method for utilizing an industrially convenient fructose source for a dehydration reaction converting a carbohydrate to a furan derivative is provided. Recovery methods also are provided. Embodiments of the methods improve upon the known methods of producing furan derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to discrete particulate composite additives for superabsorbent polymers and includes a method of making same. The discrete particulate composite additives generally comprise a polysaccharide and an inert inorganic component. Advantageously, these discrete particulate composite additives functionally improve superabsorbent performance. They are suitable for a number of applications, including the use and manufacture of hygiene products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of “green” or relatively benign solvents such as ethanol, ethanol/water, isopropyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol/water, ethyl lactate, acetone, butanol, isoamyl alcohol, or ethyl acetate to extract phytosterols from wet corn fiber. The resulting oil product contains free phytosterols and free fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of microbiology and microbial genetics. More specifically, the invention relates to novel bacteria strains and processes employing these strains for the fermentative production of amino acids such as threonine.

Abstract: Novel grain products are disclosed. Modified de-oiled distillers dried grains that include stillage obtained from anaerobic digestion of the oil cake are provided. In various embodiments, the modified de-oiled distillers dried grains may be the stillage from anaerobic digestion of the oil cake only, may also include the ordinary DDGs obtained from fermentation of the endosperm portion of the grain, or may include stillage obtained from further anaerobic digestion of the ordinary DDGs.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the production of ethanol from lignocellulosic starting materials are provided herein. Embodiments of the invention provide methods of manipulating the carbon flux of a host cell transformed with plasmids of the invention. Plasmids of the invention may include nucleotides that encode pyruvate decarboxylase. In one embodiment, a strain of the thermotolerant yeast Hansenula polymorpha that has been transformed with plasmids and polynucleotides of the invention is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to increase the production of an amino acid from Corynebacterium species by way of the amplification of amino acid biosynthetic pathway genes in a host cell chromosome. The invention also provides novel processes for the production of an amino acid by way of the amplification of amino acid biosynthetic pathway genes in a host cell chromosome and/or by increasing promoter strength. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides processes to increase the production of L-lysine in Corynebacterium glutamicum by way of the amplification of L-lysine biosynthetic pathway genes in a host cell chromosome. The invention also provides novel isolated nucleic acid molecules for L-lysine biosynthetic pathway genes of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Abstract: A method for utilizing an industrially convenient fructose source for a dehydration reaction converting a carbohydrate to a furan derivative is provided. Recovery methods also are provided. Embodiments of the methods improve upon the known methods of producing furan derivatives.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for increased production of amino acids from C. glutamicum using sucrose as a carbon source are described. In one aspect, increased production of L-lysine from C. glutamicum is accomplished by using a strain having a mutation in the ptsF gene encoding fructose-PTS enzyme that attenuates or blocks fructose import into the cell when such strain is grown on media containing sucrose as a carbon source and production is increased by providing glucose isomerase in the fermentation media. The glucose isomerase may be exogenously added or expressed in the strain and exported into the media. In certain embodiments the media also contain an invertase. In another aspect increased production of L-lysine is accomplished by making a C. glutamicum strain having the ptsF mutation and a second mutation in a fructose exporter function. The dual mutation retains imported fructose in the cell.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of at least partially purifying HMF from an aqueous mixture containing reactants and products of HMF synthesis from fructose that relies on use of non-functional polymeric resins. A first type of non-functional polymeric resin preferentially adsorbs HMF relative to fructose and is used to remove a majority of fructose from the reaction mixture. HMF is desorbed from the first non-functional polymeric resin with an organic solvent such as acetone. A second type of non-functional polymeric resin preferential adsorbs furfural from an aqueous reaction mixture allowing HMF to pass through. In one embodiment, these non-functional polymeric resins may be used alone in combination with each other to obtain HMF of high purity. In other embodiments, one or more of the foregoing non-functional polymeric resin resins is used in combination with cation exchange chromatography to still further purify the HMF.