Abstract: Disclosed is a method of washing a grain-based substrate, such as a spent grain germ. The grain-based substrate is contacted with steam and maintained in contact with steam for a time and at a pressure sufficient to liberate at least a portion of one odor component present in the substrate. Subsequently, at least a portion of the steam and at least some of the liberated odor component is separated from the balance of the substrate, thereby leaving a washed substrate. An additive, such as a soap or detergent, may be used in connection with the washing step. The grain-based substrate may be used in connection with an animal litter. In one embodiment, a litter is prepared from distiller's dried grain. Surprisingly, washing of the dried grains in accordance with the preferred teachings reduces the odor of the distiller's dried grains and yields a litter with excellent clumping properties.

Abstract: Disclosed is an animal litter that includes a palm oil residue, possibly in combination with another absorbent material such as whole ground grain, virgin germ, seed meal, spent germ or clay. The palm oil residue may be palm kernel cake, palm oil sludge, or palm pressed fiber. Also disclosed are a method for removing animal waste and a process for preparing an animal litter. The method for removal of animal waste includes allowing an animal to excrete waste into a container that includes a litter, the litter comprising a palm oil residue. The process for preparing an animal litter comprises combining the materials that make up the litter to form the litter.

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 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. 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 are a method and an assembly for bulk transport. An inflatable bladder is inserted into a container and disposed proximal and above a gravity-fed aperture. The container may be, for instance, a hopper rail car. A bulk material then is introduced into the container, the bulk material being, for instance, a grain-based material such as corn gluten feed. The bladder is positioned and preferably secured laterally with respect to the aperture to impede access to the aperture by the bulk material. When the container has reached the transport destination, the bladder is deflated. If the bulk material has set up during transport, access to the aperture nonetheless will have been maintained.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pest control agent, a method for preparing a pest control agent, and a method for controlling a pest. Generally, the pest control agent is formed by providing a porous starch and an active control agent absorbed within the porous starch, and compressing the porous starch in the presence of heat to form discrete plural particles. Preferably, one or more binders are employed, as are one or more secondary absorbents/fillers. In highly preferred embodiments of the invention, the pest control agent is prepared via pelletizing in a commercial pellet mill. The particles so prepared should be sufficiently durable to withstand bulk transport, such as by rail car or bag shipment. The particles should, however, release the control agent quickly upon contact with water, such that, for instance, the control agent may be released when the pest control agent is introduced to standing water. It is contemplated that the control agent is preferably a mosquito control agent.

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 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: 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 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 pest control composition that includes a pest control agent, such as citronella oil, and a carrier, the carrier comprising a cellulosic fibrous material and a mineral sorbent material. In preferred embodiments to the invention, the composition is in the form of discrete plural compacted particles. Surprisingly, a pest control composition prepared in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention is substantially dry to the touch and permits sustained release of the pest control agent. Methods for preparing a pest control agents and method for pest control also are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of stabilizing spent filter material that comprises mixing the filter media with a dry media to produce a composition having a moisture content that is sufficiently low to retard microbial growth. The composition comprises spent filter media and a dry material, and preferably comprises diatomaceous earth. Soil is treated by adding the composition as a top dressing, soil amendment, or the like.

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: Saccharide-derivatized oligosaccharides prepared by extruding a reaction mixture comprising a saccharide having a degree of polymerization ranging from 1 to 4 and a starch having a degree of polymerization of at least 200, wherein the extruding imparts sufficient energy and work to derivatize the starch with the saccharide.

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: 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 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 is an aerosol composition that includes water, an organic propellant, molasses components, and a surfactant. The composition preferably further includes an anti-agglomeration agent to inhibit agglomeration of insoluble materials and a sugar stabilizer to inhibit crystallization of sugar in the composition. Also disclosed are methods for feeding an animal by dispensing an aqueous solution of a sugar from an aerosol device, preferably an aerosol device that includes an aerosol composition as described above.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seed coating composition that includes hemicellulose and a material that is beneficial for the growth of the seed. The beneficial material may be a control agent for a biological entity that is detrimental to the growth of the seed. The control agent may be, for instance, a fungicide, herbicide, or insecticide. Also disclosed is a coated seed, the seed including a coating over at least a portion thereof that comprises hemicellulose and, optionally, a control agent. Methods for preparing such coated seeds and for planting such coated seeds also are disclosed.

Abstract: An aqueous emulsion comprises a mixture of water, an aromatic or volatile essential oil flavorant, in particular a citrus oil, and an amount of hemicellulose or hemicellulose hydrolyzate to produce a stable emulsion. The aqueous emulsion may be spray-dried to form an oxygen stable composition. The aqueous emulsion and spray-dried composition may be used to produce products such as citrus oil beverages.