Abstract: Three novel types of release agents comprising waste products of several useful product-making processes well known in the art are disclosed. The first type of release agent is comprised of desugared sugar beet molasses, which is a waste product in the process of removing sugar from sugar beet molasses. The second type of release agent is sugar cane molasses. The third type of agent is a class of compositions comprising steepwater, brewers condensed solubles and distillers solubles.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite structures prepared using a hemicellulose-based adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, a laminate composed of plural laminae which have been bonded to one another using a hemicellulose-based adhesive is provided. The laminate is useful as a separator or partition in a shipping vessel. Most preferably, the hemicellulose-based adhesive contains one or more bonding agents and water., the hemicellulose being present in an amount of at least 10% by dry basis weight of the bonding agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are drilling fluids suitable for use in connection with oil well drilling. The drilling fluids of the invention include in one embodiment a liquid base, an alkyl glucoside, such as methyl glucoside, and a borehole stability agent that includes a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, a hemicellulose-containing material, or a mixture of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes a liquid base and desugared molasses solids, preferably in combination with an alkyl glucoside and more preferably in further combination with one of the aforementioned borehole stability agents. The drilling fluids of the invention surprisingly have a reduced tendency to swell shale as compared with known drilling fluids. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and process. The drilling apparatus includes a drill string, which may be conventional, that is fluidically coupled to a source of drilling fluid, the source of drilling fluid including the drilling fluid of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a starch that includes at least one glucose polymer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The present invention further provides a starch hydrolyzate that includes at least one glucose oligomer having greater than 4% alpha 1-6 glycosidic linkages. The starch and starch hydrolyzate present invention have improved aqueous solution stability and are less likely to retrograde than are solutions of unbranched linear starches or starch hydrolyzates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cold-water soluble starch and a process for preparing same. Generally, the process comprises providing a hydroxyalkyl starch and applying a shearing force to the starch in an extruder in the presence of moisture, the force and the moisture each being sufficient to gelatinize at least substantially all of the granules of the starch to thereby form a sheared starch. The starch is heated to its gelatinization temperature after the starch has passed partially through the barrel of the extruder, with the moisture being maintained at a level sufficiently high to allow gelatinization but sufficiency low to protect the starch from becoming too sticky to extrude. The extruded starch product thus formed may be used in connection with a number of film-forming, coating, and other applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are derivatized malto-oligosaccharides and methods for the preparation thereof. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a malto-oligosaccharide is hydrogenated to thereby obtain a hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide, and the resulting hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide is derivatized, such as via oxidation, esterification, etherification, or enzymatic modification. The derivatization of such hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharides results in a surprisingly low level of a formation of by-products and products of degradation. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides is catalytically hydrogenated under reaction conditions suitable to substantially preserve the degree of polymerization (DP) profile of the mixture. The resulting malto-oligosaccharide mixture then is derivatized to form a derivatized malto-oligosaccharide mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are drilling fluids suitable for use in connection with oil well drilling. The drilling fluids of the invention include in one embodiment a liquid base, an alkyl glucoside, such as methyl glucoside, and a borehole stability promoter that includes a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, a hemicellulose-containing material, or a mixture of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes a liquid base and molasses solids, preferably in combination with an alkyl glucoside and more preferably in further combination with one of the aforementioned borehole stability promoters. In another embodiment, the drilling fluid includes sorbitol, preferably in conjunction with a borehole stability promoter. The drilling fluids of the invention surprisingly have a reduced tendency to swell shale as compared with known drilling fluids. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and process.

Abstract: Disclosed is an animal feed. The animal feed includes fat, preferably vegetable oil; a solid nutritive source; such as a whole seed or grain or a fraction thereof; and a binder, the binder comprising hemicellulose. Also disclosed are methods for preparing an animal feed and for feeding an animal. When formulated into pellets, the disclosed animal feeds have excellent durability, such that pellet fracture and dust formation are minimized.

Abstract: Dextrins are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product prepared thereby will include a dextrin, such as beta-limit dextrin. Upon ultrafiltration of this product, a dextrin-rich fraction may be recovered. If desired, the dextrin-rich fraction may be further purified via diafiltration. Retrograded amylose may be separated from the product of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed are dust suppressant and aggregate stabilization compositions. In accordance with the subject disclosure, hemicellulose is used as a dust suppressant and/or as a stabilization composition for aggregates such as a road bed or soil field. Other ingredients may be used in a composition in conjunction with hemicellulose. For instance, a lignin compound may be used to enhance dust suppression and/or aggregate stabilization. A surfactant may be used to decrease the viscosity of the composition. A crosslinking agent may be used to enhance the water resistance of the composition. A chloride salt may be added to increase the hygroscopicity of the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sorbent that includes spent grain germ, seed meal, or a mixture thereof. The sorbent may be used to introduce a material into an environment. For instance, the sorbent may be used to introduce a control agent, such as an insecticide or larvicide, into an environment. The sorbent also may be used to remove an unwanted material from an environment. For instance, the sorbent may be used to sorb oil or a hazardous chemical that has been spilled. The disclosed sorbents are biodegradable over a wide range of environmental conditions.

Abstract: An animal litter that includes seed meal is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the animal litter comprises discrete plural particles of a seed meal, which particles tend to agglomerate into clumps when wetted. The litter of the invention absorbs liquids such as animal excretions, and substantially reduces the odor thereof. Preferably, the litter further includes a grain germ, such as corn germ.

Abstract: Disclosed are derivatized malto-oligosaccharides and methods for the preparation thereof. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a malto-oligosaccharide is hydrogenated to thereby obtain a hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide, and the resulting hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharide is derivatized, such as via oxidation, esterification, etherification, or enzymatic modification. The derivatization of such hydrogenated malto-oligosaccharides results in a surprisingly low level of a formation of by-products and products of degradation. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides is catalytically hydrogenated under reaction conditions suitable to substantially preserve the degree of polymerization (DP) profile of the mixture. The resulting malto-oligosaccharide mixture then is derivatized to form a derivatized malto-oligosaccharide mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are starch granules prepared via treating starch with a glucoamylase enzyme. The starch granules prepared in accordance with the present invention are hydrophobic relative to native starch granules, and are suitable for use in numerous applications. Also disclosed are a porous starch product, a delayed release product, and a method for absorbing fluid from the skin. The delayed release product comprises a product carried within the pores of the porous granular starch. The method for absorbing fluid comprises applying a fluid-absorbing effective amount of the dried, ground granules.

Abstract: Disclosed are saccharide-derivatized oligosaccharides. The derivatized oligosaccharides preferably are prepared by extruding a malto-oligosaccharide mixture with a saccharide or mixture of saccharides having a DP ranging from 1 to 4. The products are low in digestibility, and thus in various embodiments are suitable for use as bulking agents, for controlled energy release products, and for other purposes.

Abstract: Dextrins are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product prepared thereby will include a dextrin, such as beta-limit dextrin. Upon ultrafiltration of this product, a dextrin-rich fraction may be recovered. If desired, the dextrin-rich fraction may be further purified via diafiltration. Retrograded amylose may be separated from the product of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means to concentrate, dry and formulate biomaterials such as polysaccharides, gums and related biopolymers, and microorganisms such as cells, spores, and the like from dilute solutions using spent germ and other oil bearing residues. In addition, the spent germ can serve as a carrier for such biomaterials. The sorbed materials are useful in animal feeds.

Abstract: Disclosed are animal litters, processes for preparing animal litters, and methods for removal of animal waste. The disclosed litters are made from ingredients including plant meal, grain germ, citrus residue, and grain bran, usually in combination with a cohesiveness agent and a microbial inhibitor. The litters are provided in the form of discrete plural articles which tend to agglomerate when wetted.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for the reduction of an oligosaccharide mixture and an oligosaccharide mixture prepared thereby. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a mixture of oligosaccharides having a given DP profile is reduced to a DE of essentially zero by catalytically hydrogenating the mixture under reaction conditions sufficient to preserve the DP profile of the mixture, which reaction conditions typically include a reaction temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and a reaction pressure ranging up to about 1500 psi. Surprisingly, when the mixture is a malto-oligosaccharide mixture, the reduced mixture will have a superior color-fastness and thermal stability as compared to a similar unreduced mixture of malto-oligosaccharides, and also low reactivity towards nitrogen-containing species.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fluid absorber, a method for preparing a fluid absorber, and a method for absorbing fluid from the skin. The disclosed method for preparing a fluid absorber generally comprises the steps of selecting a starch and an enzyme for hydrolysis of the starch, determining a fluid absorption optimum hydrolysis level for the starch, and ezymatically hydrolyzing the starch to approximately the optimum level thus determined. The starch alternatively may be hydrolyzed with acid hydrolysis without the use of an enzyme catalyst. The disclosed method for absorbing fluid from the skin includes the step of applying a fluid absorbing effective amount of a fluid absorber thus prepared. Absorption properties of the fluid absorber of the invention are comparable to or exceed those of commercially available skin fluid absorbers, such as talc and unmodified corn starch.