Abstract: A system and method for generating a water-soluble mixture of oligosaccharides for facile conversion to fermentable sugars is provided. The method describes crushing, grinding, or both, a mixture of a cellulose feedstock and a solid acid catalyst, under pressure to induce a solid-solid interaction between the cellulosic feedstock and the solid acid catalyst to induce a chemical reaction to produce a grinded mixture, wherein the crusher assembly comprises rollers, introducing water to separate the grinded mixture into solids and a solution, wherein the solution comprises the oligosaccharides and enzymatically converting the solution to fermentable sugars.

Abstract: Alternative gasoline, diesel fuel, marine diesel fuel, jet fuel, and flexible fuel compositions are disclosed. The compositions include an alcohol and/or a glycerol ether or mixture of glycerol ethers, which can be derived from renewable resources. When combined with gasoline/ethanol blends, glycerol ethers can reduce the vapor pressure of ethanol and increase fuel economy. Added to diesel fuel/alcohol blends, glycerol ethers improve the cetane value of the blends. In jet fuel, glycerol ethers can replace all or part of conventional deicing additives, lowering skin toxicity, and glycerol ethers ability to reduce particulate emissions can lower the appearance of contrails. Used in marine diesel, the reduction in particulate emissions can be environmentally significant. In another embodiment, the alternative compositions comprise gasoline, ethanol, and n-butanol, and in one aspect, the ethanol and/or n-butanol can be derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: A combined anaerobic digester system and gas-to-liquid system is disclosed. The anaerobic digester requires heat, and produces methane. The gas-to-liquid system produces heat, and converts methane to higher-value products, including methanol and formaldehyde. As such, the combination of the two systems results in significant savings in terms of capital and operating expenses. A process for producing bio-formaldehyde and bio-formalin from biogas is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reactor system includes plural batch-cyclic reduction/oxidation (redox) reactors. One reactor is operated in fuel mode while another is operated in air mode, and vice-versa. For each reactor in air mode, air is introduced via air-only tuyeres and via fuel-air tuyeres to oxidize oxidation particles. For each reactor in fuel mode, fuel is introduced via the reactor's fuel-air tuyeres and not via its air-only tuyeres. As a result, air is introduced at a higher rate than fuel is introduced so that the oxidation rate can match the reduction rate. Thus, for example, as few as two reactors can be used for continuous power generation without having to shuttle oxidation particles between reactors.

Abstract: There is provided a process for effecting growth of phototrophic biomass within the reaction zone of a photobioreactor, comprising, after effecting at least a reduction in the molar rate of supply of carbon dioxide to the reaction zone of the photobioreactor, supplying a gaseous photobioreactor exhaust, that includes diatomic (or molecular) oxygen being generated by photosynthesis effected within the reaction zone by the supplied carbon dioxide, to a combustion zone of a combustor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sterilizing liquid media such as saline water using filtration and ozonation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a genetically enhanced Chlorogloeopsis sp. host cell comprising at least one first recombinant gene encoding a first protein for the production of ethanol under the transcriptional control of a first inducible promoter, having at least 85%, 90% or 95% sequence identity to an endogenous inducible promoter of the Chlorogloeopsis sp. host cell.

Abstract: Methods of inoculum scale-up of cyanobacteria to commercial-scale closed photobioreactors for the production of a target molecule such as ethanol.

Abstract: A plasmid vector for the production of compounds in cyanobacteria is described which is capable of being efficiently transformed to and replicating in a broad range of cyanobacterial species.

Abstract: Alternative gasoline, diesel fuel, marine diesel fuel, jet fuel, and flexible fuel compositions are disclosed. The compositions include an alcohol and/or a glycerol ether or mixture of glycerol ethers, which can be derived from renewable resources. When combined with gasoline/ethanol blends, glycerol ethers can reduce the vapor pressure of ethanol and increase fuel economy. Added to diesel fuel/alcohol blends, glycerol ethers improve the cetane value of the blends. In jet fuel, glycerol ethers can replace all or part of conventional deicing additives, lowering skin toxicity, and glycerol ethers ability to reduce particulate emissions can lower the appearance of contrails. Used in marine diesel, the reduction in particulate emissions can be environmentally significant. In another embodiment, the alternative compositions comprise gasoline, ethanol, and n-butanol, and in one aspect, the ethanol and/or n-butanol can be derived from renewable resources.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for removing water from organic solvents, such as ethanol. The processes include distillation in two columns operated at sequentially higher pressure, followed by treatment of the overhead vapor by one or two membrane separation steps.

Abstract: A cyanobacterium for the production of isoprene having an extrachromosomal plasmid harboring a gene for the production of isoprene. Such a cyanobacterium exhibits a higher isoprene production rate than other conventional strains.

Abstract: Cyanobacterial host cells are modified to produce useful chemicals such as 1,3-propanediol and glycerol.

Abstract: Methods are provided for analyses of restriction endonucleases.

Abstract: Silicalite particles, methods of making silicalite particles, systems comprising silicalite particles and methods for using silicalite particles to separate ethanol from water.

Abstract: A liquid agitation system comprising an agitation element designed to agitate and mix a liquid medium when in motion on the surface of the liquid medium, thereby enhancing energy efficiency of mass transfer into and out of the liquid medium, a kit for the liquid agitation system and a method of using the agitation element.

Abstract: There is provided a process of growing a phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone. Gaseous exhaust material is produced with a gaseous exhaust material producing process, wherein the gaseous exhaust material includes carbon dioxide. A discharge of the gaseous exhaust material is supplied to the reaction zone and is modulated. A bypass gaseous exhaust material, being supplied to another unit operation, is also modulated.

Abstract: There is provided a process of growing a phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes an operative reaction mixture. The operative reaction mixture includes the phototrophic biomass disposed in an aqueous medium. Gaseous exhaust material is produced with a gaseous exhaust material producing process, wherein the gaseous exhaust material includes carbon dioxide. When an indication of a change in the molar rate of supply of carbon dioxide, from the gaseous exhaust material producing process, to reaction zone is sensed, at least one input to the reaction zone is modulated.

Abstract: A cyanobacterial host cell, Cyanobacterium sp., that harbors at least one recombinant gene for the production of a chemical compounds is provided, as well as vectors derived from an endogenous plasmid isolated from the cell.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a genetically enhanced cyanobacterium for the production of a first chemical compound, comprising at least one first recombinant gene encoding a first biocatalyst for the production of the first chemical compound, wherein the gene is under the transcriptional control of a Co2+ or Zn2+-inducible promoter. Such a cyanobacterium can provide a tighter control of the production of the first chemical compound.