Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in a first aspect, to the use of inverting beta-xylosidase enzymes to reduce byproduct formation and increase the yield of fermentation products, as well as, in a second aspect, to the use of retaining beta-xylosidase enzymes to improve production of alkyl-beta-xylopyranoside compounds, in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation reactions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in a first aspect, to the use of inverting beta-xylosidase enzymes to reduce byproduct formation and increase the yield of fermentation products, as well as, in a second aspect, to the use of retaining beta-xylosidase enzymes to improve production of alkyl-beta-xylopyranoside compounds, in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation reactions.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes comprising providing a fermentation medium comprising a fermentable carbon source, a recombinant microorganism comprising an engineered butanol biosynthetic pathway, and butanol; contacting said fermentation medium with an extractant composition comprising an effective amount of antioxidant or antioxidant-like compound, whereby at least a portion of the butanol in the fermentation medium partitions into the extractant; recovering at least a portion of the butanol and extractant composition from the fermentation medium; recycling the extractant composition recovered in (c) one or more times in the fermentation medium; optionally adjusting the effective amount of antioxidant or antioxidant-like compound in the extractant composition, whereby the rate of oxidation or effect of oxidized products in the recycled extractant composition is substantially reduced and/or avoided such that the extractant composition may be recycled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus' are disclosed for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of biomass providing for the compartmentalization of the saccharification process and the fermentation process resulting in decreased enzymatic end-product inhibition.

Abstract: In an alcohol fermentation process, oil derived from biomass is chemically converted into an extractant available for in situ removal of a product alcohol such as butanol from a fermentation broth. The glycerides in the oil can be chemically converted into a reaction product, such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty amides, fatty acid methyl esters, fatty acid glycol esters, and hydroxylated triglycerides, and mixtures thereof, which forms a fermentation product extractant having a partition coefficient for a product alcohol greater than a partition coefficient of the oil of the biomass for the product alcohol. Oil derived from a feedstock of an alcohol fermentation process can be chemically converting into the fermentation product extractant.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: This invention provides for recombinant anaerobic acetogenic bacterial cells having one or more nucleic acids whereby isoprene, mevalonate and/or other industrial bio-products are produced in a substantially oxygen-free culture condition using synthesis gas as energy and/or carbon source.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes comprising providing a fermentation medium comprising a fermentable carbon source, a recombinant microorganism comprising an engineered butanol biosynthetic pathway, and butanol; contacting said fermentation medium with an extractant composition comprising an effective amount of antioxidant or antioxidant-like compound, whereby at least a portion of the butanol in the fermentation medium partitions into the extractant; recovering at least a portion of the butanol and extractant composition from the fermentation medium; recycling the extractant composition recovered in (c) one or more times in the fermentation medium; optionally adjusting the effective amount of antioxidant or antioxidant-like compound in the extractant composition, whereby the rate of oxidation or effect of oxidized products in the recycled extractant composition is substantially reduced and/or avoided such that the extractant composition may be recycled.

Abstract: Mechanical milling of biomass as a pretreatment to render the biomass readily saccharifiable requires high energy input. Preceding mechanical milling by treatment with anhydrous ammonia was found to greatly reduce the energy requirement for fine milling, providing a more economical pretreatment process for commercial use.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of ammonia and optionally an additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin without loss of hemicellulose. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in a first aspect, to the use of inverting beta-xylosidase enzymes to reduce byproduct formation and increase the yield of fermentation products, as well as, in a second aspect, to the use of retaining beta-xylosidase enzymes to improve production of alkyl-beta-xylopyranoside compounds, in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation reactions.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one or more alkylamine and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one of more sulfide (hydrosulfide) salt and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of ammonia and optionally an additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin without loss of hemicellulose. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one or more alkylamine and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution, under alkaline conditions, in the presence of one or more organo-mercaptan and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of ammonia and optionally an additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin without loss of hemicellulose. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one or more alkylamine and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.