Abstract: A process to stabilize, deodorize, recover energy, reduce pollution potential, and add value to organic waste such as animal manure is described. The process involves the anaerobic digestion of animal manure at low temperatures in intermittently fed sequencing batch reactors. The process of the present application offers several advantages over the prior art processes including (1) the process works very well at low temperatures and therefore does not require pre-heating of the animal manure; (2) the process does not require continuous or daily feeding nor does it require continuous mixing; (3) the process makes use of existing handling and storage equipment at the farm and requires minimal supervision and skill by the operator; (4) the process is very efficient in retaining the slow growing microorganisms in the system and (5) the system is not affected by high concentrations of volatile acids and ammonia or nitrogen. Consequently, the process is low cost and does not interfere with regular farm operations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of conjugated polyene sterol derivatives, the compounds obtained and to their use as fluorescent probes for cellular membranes. The fluorescent probes of the present invention resemble cholesterol both structurally and in amphipathic nature. The probes of the present invention have potential for use in determining cholesterol levels and cholesterol properties and cell membrane properties and can be applied to clinical assays and diagnoses involving cholesterol.