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 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 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 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 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.

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: 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: An animal litter that includes seed meal. 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 is a lanthionizing composition that comprises a lanthionizing agent, such as guanidine hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, and a reduced malto-oligosaccharide. Also disclosed is a method for lanthionization, the method comprising applying to the hair the lanthionizing composition of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a concrete composition that comprises water, a cementitious material, and an aggregate material, the aggregate material comprising a granular starch. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the granular starch is a washed, pre-swollen starch, and is added to the composition in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the cementitious material. The starch granules are swollen in the uncured composition but liberate water and shrink to their unswollen size as the concrete cures, thus providing a cured lightweight concrete. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a concrete composition. The disclosed method comprises providing starch granules, mixing the starch granules with water and a cementitious material to form an uncured concrete composition, and subsequently curing the uncured concrete composition thus formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a modified starch hydrolysate that has a relatively reduced tendency to become sticky as compared with the unmodified starch hydrolysate. The method includes the step of compacting a starch hydrolysate, preferably via roller compaction. Also disclosed is a modified starch hydrolysate. The compacted starch hydrolysates may be transported readily, and is useful in numerous applications, including poultry feed 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 is a method for derivatizing a malto-oligosaccharide. The method includes the steps of providing the malto-oligosaccharide and derivatizing the malto-oligosaccharide in an aqueous medium with a cationic agent to form a derivatized malto-oligosaccharides. Malto-oligosaccharides having a high DS sufficient to render the derivatized product suitable for use as a trash scavenger are attainable in accordance with the present inventive method. Also disclosed are a method for trash scavenging, a process for preparing a paper web, in which anionic trash is scavenged prior to withdrawing a paper web from a pulp furnish; and a paper web prepared in accordance with the present inventive process.

Abstract: A grain-based animal litter comprising discrete plural particles of a grain-based substrate, 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-substrate is a grain germ; more preferably, the substrate is a corn germ; most preferably, the substrate is washed, spent grain germ. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grain germ is provided in the form of discrete plural granules, each of which granules includes a cohesiveness agent in an amount sufficient to enhance the cohesiveness of the granule.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a corrugating adhesive. The method includes the steps of partially depolymerizing a hemicellulose precursor that comprises the soluble phase of an extract obtained from a hemicellulose-containing plant source, and mixing the partially depolymerized hemicellulose with starch to form an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition of the invention exhibits superior shear stability properties as compared with prior art adhesive compositions that incorporate pasted starches, and exhibits superior green tack as compared with other hemicellulose-based adhesives. Also disclosed are a corrugated board and a method for preparing same.

Abstract: A grain-based animal litter is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the animal litter comprises discrete plural particles of a grain-based substrate, 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 substrate is a grain germ; more preferably, the substrate is a corn germ; most preferably, the substrate is washed, spent grain germ. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grain germ is provided in the form of discrete plural granules, each of which granules includes a cohesiveness agent in an amount sufficient to enhance the cohesiveness of the granule.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a corrugating adhesive. The method includes the steps of extracting hemicellulose from a hemicellulose-containing plant source, separating the hemicellulose in a soluble phase from the insoluble portion of the hemicellulose-containing plant source, and mixing the hemicellulose-rich phase with starch to form an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition of the invention exhibits superior shear stability properties as compared with prior art adhesive compositions that incorporate pasted starches, and exhibits superior green tack as compared with prior art hemicellulose-based adhesives. Also disclosed are a corrugated board and a method for preparing same.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and process for preparing a hydroxyalkyl starch. In accordance with the disclosed invention, the starch is treated with an enzyme under conditions to increase the susceptibility of the starch to hydroxyalkylation by a hydroxyalkylating agent. After the starch is so treated, the starch is hydroxyalkylated with a hydroxyalkylating agent. The hydroxyalkylation reaction can proceed to provide a starch having an MS greater than about 0.2, while still remaining in granular form in the aqueous suspension. The method of the invention thus provides a granular starch having a higher MS than is otherwise attainable via a reaction in aqueous media.

Abstract: A process for decolorizing an aqueous solution of methyl glucoside, the solution containing at least one color component and at least one sugar component, is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of providing the aqueous solution of MeG; adding to said solution an amount of yeast or other sugar-converting microorganism sufficient to reduce the level of said sugar component; preferably further adding to the solution an amount of activated carbon sufficient to assist the color component in the solution; and recovering the solution to yield a decolorized, low-sugar solution of MeG. Also disclosed is a process comprising the steps of providing a solution containing MeG and dextrose; and adding to the solution an amount of a sugar-converting microorganism sufficient to reduce the level of the dextrose in the solution. Decolorized MeG solutions prepared by the foregoing processes also are disclosed.