Abstract: Biologically pure culture of Aureobasidium sp. SN-124A strain (FERM BP-1429) and artificial mutants thereof according to the present invention show the properties of forming and accumulating erythritol in a culture solution, when aerobically cultured on a liquid culture medium containing an assimilable carbon source and an assimilable nitrogen source, and are useful for the preparation of erythritol by fermentation of sugars. A method for preparing erythritol by fermentation of sugars according to the present invention comprises inoculating microorganism selected from the group consisting of Aureobasidium sp. SN-124A strain (FERM BP-1429) and mutants thereof on a liquid culture medium of pH 4 to 9 containing an assimilable carbon source and an assimilable nitrogen source, and aerobically culturing them at a temperature of 30.degree. to 38.degree. C. to form and accumulate erythritol in said culture medium for collection.

Abstract: Provided is a multistage method and apparatus for concentrating a solution by reverse osmosis, comprising the steps and means for: maximizing the concentration of absolute in a solution in a multistage apparatus having only standard capacity pumps, including steps of providing first concentrating means for concentrating a solution to a first concentration, said first concentrating means comprising a least one concentrating unit which positioned upstream with respect to a direction in which a solution to be concentrated flows, and providing second concentrating means for concentrating the solution that has been concentrated by first concentrating means to a second concentration which is higher than said first concentrating means comprising at least one concentrating unit which is positioned downstream with respect to said direction; said concentrating units comprising consisting essentially of respective membrane modules and respective standard capacity pumps, the membrane module of the concentrating unit of s

Abstract: Biologically pure culture of Aureobasidium sp. SN-124A strain (FERM BP-1429) and artificial mutants thereof according to the present invention show the properties of forming and accumulating erythritol in a culture solution, when aerobically cultured on a liquid culture medium containing an assimilable carbon source and an assimilable nitrogen source, and are useful for the preparation of erythritol by fermentation of sugars. A method for preparing erythritol by fermentation of sugars according to the present invention comprises inoculating microorganism selected from the group consisting of Aureobasidium sp. SN-124A strain (FERM BP-1429) and mutants thereof on a liquid culture medium of pH 4 to 9 containing an assimilable carbon source and an assimilable nitrogen source, and aerobically culturing them at a temperature of 30.degree. to 38.degree. C. to form and accumulate erythritol in said culture medium for collection.

Abstract: In a method for preparing multiple glucosyl branched-cyclodextrins, a debranching enzyme is contacted to a mixture of maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose with a cyclodextrin to obtain a reaction product from which a branched-cyclodextrin is then separated; said branched-cyclodextrin is converted to glycosyl-cyclodextrin under the action of glucoamylase, which is thereafter mixed with maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose; and the resulting mixture is successively acted on by a debranching enzyme and glucoamylase.

Abstract: When an enzymatic reaction is performed in a reaction mixture containing cyclodextrin and a branched maltooligosaccharide or a saccharide mixture of the same in the presence of a branch-splitting enzyme such as pullulanase, a twig branched cyclodextrin, i.e. a branched cyclodextrin of which the branched portion is formed of a moiety of a branched maltooligosaccharide, is formed. This product is a novel compound not known in the prior art and is a useful material in various industrial fields such as foods, cosmetics, medicines and the like by virtue of the unique properties of, for example, clathrate formation and complex formation with atoms or ions of metals.

Abstract: A process for enzymatic preparation of cellooligosaccharide from a cellulose-base substance by the action of cellulase produced by an microorganism belonging to the Genus Cellvibrio, wherein an ultrafiltration reactor is used in combination, so that production inhibition can be removed and cellooligosaccharide can be formed and accumulated. The present process permits preparation of cellobiose in high yield and is very advantageous from an industrial standpoint.

Abstract: Different from conventional heterogeneous multiple-branched cyclodextrins having branches derived from the same kind of saccharide molecule, the inventive heterogeneous multiple-branched cyclodextrin has branches derived from different kinds of saccharides of, one, glucose and, the other, a maltooligosaccharide. The inventive heterogeneous multiple-branched cyclodextrins are more stable than conventional ones and useful as an ingredient of medical, foodstuff and cosmetic preparations. The heterogeneous multiple-branched cyclodextrin can be prepared from a mixture of a maltooligosaccharide and a glucosyl cyclodextrin by the reverse action of debranching enzyme.

Abstract: A process for producing a meat analogue from a starting material having a high protein content comprises injecting the starting material into a mold against a substantially constant back pressure which is provided by a pressurized piston. The starting material is supplied to the mold under continuous high temperature and high pressure, for example, by an extruder, such as a single screw extruder or a twin screw extruder.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient enzymatic method for the preparation of branched cyclodextrins such as glucosyl and maltosyl cyclodextrins. The inventive method comprises the enzymatic reaction of a branch-splitting enzyme and .beta.-amylase simultaneously with a mixture of a cyclodextrin and starch. Alternatively, a branched cyclodextrin is obtained from a mixture of a cyclodextrin and maltose in an enzymatic reaction with pullulanase, optionally, with admixture of an alcohol such as ethyl and propyl alcohols or a glycol such as ethyleneglycol and propyleneglycol to the reaction mixture. A glucosyl cyclodextrin can be obtained by the steps of first subjecting a mixture of a cyclodextrin and maltose to an enzymatic reaction with pullulanase and then subjecting the reaction product to a second enzymatic reaction in the presence of an enzyme mixture composed of takaamylase and glucoamylase and yeast.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a textured okara useful as a food component comprising feeding okara to a twin-screw extruder and heating and applying pressure in said extruder to said okara and forcing said okara through a constricted exit port from said extruder into a cooling die wherein said okara is cooled, and forcing said cooled okara having a textured structure out of the cooling die.

Abstract: A process for the saccharification of starch, which comprises saccharifying a raw and/or gelatinized starch by the use of an amylase produced by a fungus belonging to genus Chalara to produce glucose.According to the process of the present invention, the starch is directly saccharified, and glucose can be obtained efficiently.

Abstract: A process for the separation of one or more kinds of solute in a cryohydrate characterized in that a cryohydrate obtained by freezing a solution together with a high tensile member is passed through pressure-application zones whose inner sectional area is reduced toward the direction in which the high tensile member is pulled to thereby separate fractions having high solute contents from fractions having low solute contents, and apparatus therefor.

Abstract: A process for producing textural protein food material from krills which is characterized by adjusting the pH of the precipitate obtained by centrifuging the uniformly smashed flesh of the krills to not less than 10, returning the pH to near neutral and then freezing the precipitate to effect texturing.

Abstract: Bead-shaped immobilized enzymes are obtained by adding a solution containing an enzyme and at least one water-soluble monomer or polymer to a water insoluble or slightly soluble fluid to form a mixture having enzyme-containing beads therein, freezing the mixture at -200.degree. C to -5.degree. C and subjecting the resultant frozen mixture to ionizing radiation under aerobic conditions to polymerize the monomer or polymer and produce polymer beads containing enzymes immobilized therein. The polymer beads are strong enough to be packed in a column, and continuous enzyme reactions can be carried out with enzymes immobilized in the polymer beads.

Abstract: A method of isomerizing glucose with an enzyme immobilized within a microbial cell has been developed. The immobilized enzyme is prepared by dipping a microbial cell containing glucose isomerase in an aqueous solution containing citric acid and drying it, if necessary. An immobilization of an intracellular enzyme is reinforced by supplemental means such as radiation or others.

Abstract: Water-insoluble enzymes are prepared by mixing an enzyme with at least one water soluble monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, bisacrylamide, acrylic acid, sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate and calcium acrylate, freezing the resulting mixture at a temperature below about -5.degree.C and irradiating the frozen mixture with gamma rays or x-rays under aerobic conditions to polymerize said monomer and entrap the enzyme in the resulting polymer material. The frozen irradiated polymer material can be thawed at room temperature or can be lyophilized to produce a spongelike, membrane form that maintains its structure when immersed in water. Before freezing the enzyme and monomer mixture, an organic substance can be incorporated which promotes polymerization yield and protects the enzyme from radiation inactivation.