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: Disclosed is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

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 drilling fluids that include carboxyalkylated corn hulls in an amount effective to inhibit fluid loss from a wellbore formation. The carboxyalkylated corn hulls are heat stable and surprisingly effective at inhibiting fluid loss. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and a drilling process.

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 is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a paper web. The paper web is prepared from a low-grade furnish, which contains low-grade pulps, such as recycled pulp and/or groundwood pulp, and which, in one preferred embodiment, is a newsprint furnish. In accordance with the disclosed process, a pre-flocculated filler is added to the furnish prior to forming the paper web from the furnish. Filler will be retained in the web, and retention of undesired components of the furnish in the web will be reduced as compared with newsprint in which a filler is incorporated via conventional processes. Another embodiment contemplates the incorporation of a pre-flocculated coated broke slurry into a paper furnish prior to paper formation. The paper web formed via the process of the invention will have improved properties as a result of the incorporation of the pre-flocculated filler or treated broke into the web.

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 is a method for inhibiting the freeze-clumping of an aggregate material, such as coal. The invention contemplates applying to the coal an anti-icing material, the anti-icing material comprising molasses solids, such as desugared sugar beet molasses solids or sugar cane molasses solids and/or an aqueous solution of glucose, fructose, or of DP 2-5 polymers thereof. The anti-icing material has a viscosity sufficient to adhere to the aggregate material to an extent suitable to inhibit freeze-clumping thereof. Also disclosed is a clump-inhibited aggregate material that comprises an aggregate of units of a material in combination with an anti-icing material as heretofore described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition that includes a material that is susceptible to degradation and a preserving agent in an amount effective to preserve the material comprising one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. The preserving agent can include a single reduced malto-oligosaccharide species or a plurality of such species. Further disclosed is a method of preserving a material. The method generally includes contacting the material with a preserving agent containing a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species. Solutions, powders, glasses, gels, and the like containing the chemically reactive material(s) and a preserving effective amount of one or more reduced malto-oligosaccharide species may be prepared.

Abstract: Maltose products are prepared by hydrolyzing starch with an enzyme that consists essentially of a beta-amylase enzyme. The product thus prepared may be spray dried, or a high purity maltose product may be obtained therefrom via ultrafiltration. The high purity maltose product has a low content of glucose and saccharides in the DP 3-10 range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a hydroxyalkyl starch. In accordance with the disclosed invention, the method comprises reacting the starch with a starch hydroxylating agent in the presence of an alcohol and an alcohol-soluble alkali metal, at a temperature effective to provide a cold water soluble starch, preferably at a temperature of between about 90° and about 110° C. The starch thus produced will be granular and cold water soluble.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a malto-oligosaccharide derived glycoside. Generally, the method comprises providing a malto-oligosaccharide and glycosylating the malto-oligosaccharide with an alcohol or a thiol under conditions suitable to form a malto-oligosaccharide derived glycoside. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a mixture of malto-oligosaccharide derived glycosides by providing a mixture of malto-oligosaccharides and glycosylating the malto-oligosaccharides with an alcohol or a thiol under substantially anhydrous conditions to form a mixture of malto-oligosaccharide derived glycosides.

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: 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: Disclosed are methods for preparing wine. In accordance with one disclosed method, a high-purity maltose product is added to the must prior to or contemporaneously with fermentation in order to increase the level of fermentable sugar. In accordance with the second embodiment, a high-purity maltose product is added to a fermented wine in order to sweeten the wine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating a grain fiber, in particular corn fiber. In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the fiber is subjected to alkaline hydrolysis in the presence of a hemicellulose ferulate esterase in an aqueous medium. The hemicellulose ferulate esterase is present in an amount effective to catalyze alkaline hydrolysis, and the alkaline hydrolysis is performed under conditions suitable to permit the hemicellulose ferulate esterase to catalyze alkaline hydrolysis. The initial pH of the aqueous medium is alkaline but is sufficiently low to permit the enzyme to have catalytic activity. Preferably, the pH is in the range from 8.0 to 9.5. From the product mixture thus formed, fiber oil, cellulose, hemicellulose, and other materials may be obtained.

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 are a lithographic dampening solution and a method for dampening a lithographic plate. The solution comprises an aqueous solution of a gum, which may be a corn-hull-derived hemicellulose or the enzyme digestion product of a hemicellulose. The method generally comprises dampening a lithographic plate with the disclosed dampening solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are cleansing products that include reduced malto-oligosaccharides. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a cleansing product includes a surfactant and a reduced malto-oligosaccharide. In accordance with another embodiment, the reduced malto-oligosaccharide is an encapsulant for a product carrier in a powdered laundry-type detergent.