Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and, more specifically, to a process for the removal of components from a starting material. Optionally, the process is used for the removal of contaminants from ion exchange regenerant material.

Abstract: A method of inverting sucrose, including (i) determining an initial solids concentration of an aqueous sucrose solution, an initial bed volume of a sucrose inversion resin system, a minimum target inversion percentage, a maximum target inversion percentage, a target maximum hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) concentration, a minimum target pH, or a maximum target pH; (ii) contacting the sucrose inversion resin system with the aqueous sucrose solution under conditions of aqueous solution flow rate and aqueous solution temperature to produce an inverted sucrose solution having an inversion percentage, an HMF concentration, and a pH; (iii) observing an instantaneous inversion percentage, an instantaneous HMF concentration, or an instantaneous pH of the inverted sucrose solution; and, if appropriate; (iv) changing at least one of the aqueous solution flow rate or the aqueous solution temperature to yield a product having a desired inversion percentage, HMF concentration, and/or pH.

Abstract: A method for extracting energy from biomass depleted of at least some carbohydrate, at least some oil, or both by a) introducing the biomass into a vertically elongated combustion chamber having i) at least one suspension burner at the top of the combustion chamber which is capable of projecting a flame down the axis of the combustion chamber, ii) a heat transfer apparatus having at least a portion of a heat collection surface located radially from the flame and below the burner, and iii) an exhaust opening located below the flame and below at least a portion of the heat collection surface; b) combusting the biomass to yield a mixture containing hot flue gas and molten ash above the exhaust opening; c) transferring heat from the hot flue gas to at least a portion of the heat collection surface substantially by radiation prior to any substantial contact of ash to a surface of the combustion chamber, to yield a mixture containing warm flue gas and non-molten ash and having a lower molten ash content than the mi

Abstract: We disclose a method of inverting sucrose, including (i) determining an initial solids concentration of an aqueous sucrose solution (solidsi), an initial bed volume (BVi) of a sucrose inversion resin system, a minimum target inversion percentage (invert %min), a maximum target inversion percentage (invert %max), a target maximum hydroxymethylfuran (HMF) concentration (HMFmax), a minimum target pH (pHmin), or a maximum target pH (pHmax); (ii) contacting the sucrose inversion resin system with the aqueous sucrose solution under conditions of aqueous solution flow rate in BVi/hr (ratep) and aqueous solution temperature in ° C.