Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) system can comprise a biomass slurry source, a first pump in fluid communication with the slurry source and configured to pressurize a biomass slurry stream from the slurry source to a first pressure, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the first pump to a first temperature, a second pump in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and configured to pressurize a slurry stream received from the first heat exchanger to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second pump and configured to heat a slurry stream received from the second pump to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and a HTL reactor configured to produce biocrude from a slurry stream received from the second heat exchanger.

Abstract: Liquefaction processes are provided that can include: providing a biomass slurry solution having a temperature of at least 300° C. at a pressure of at least 2000 psig; cooling the solution to a temperature of less than 150° C.; and depressurizing the solution to release carbon dioxide from the solution and form at least part of a bio-oil foam. Liquefaction processes are also provided that can include: filtering the biomass slurry to remove particulates; and cooling and depressurizing the filtered solution to form the bio-oil foam. Liquefaction systems are provided that can include: a heated biomass slurry reaction zone maintained above 300° C. and at least 2000 psig and in continuous fluid communication with a flash cooling/depressurization zone maintained below 150° C. and between about 125 psig and about atmospheric pressure. Liquefaction systems are also provided that can include a foam/liquid separation system.

Abstract: The present invention provides the promoter clone discovery of a glucoamylase gene of a starch utilizing yeast strain Schwanniomyces castellii. The isolated glucoamylase promoter is an inducible promoter, which can regulate strong gene expression in starch culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides the promoter clone discovery of an alpha-amylase gene of a starch utilizing yeast strain Schwanniomyces castellii. The isolated alpha-amylase promoter is an inducible promoter, which can regulate strong gene expression in starch culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides the promoter clone discovery of an alpha-amylase gene of a starch utilizing yeast strain Schwanniomyces castellii. The isolated alpha-amylase promoter is an inducible promoter, which can regulate strong gene expression in starch culture medium.

Abstract: The invention includes polynucleotide constructs that contain a polynucleotide promoter sequence from the phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (pgk1) gene from Rhizopus oryzae. The invention also includes methods of expressing a polypeptide in a host cell using a polynucleotide construct containing a 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) gene promoter sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of interest. The invention also includes a system for producing a polypeptide. The system has a first polynucleotide sequence containing a 3-phosphoglycerate kinase gene promoter sequence isolated from a fungal species, and a second polynucleotide sequence which has been isolated from a second species and which encodes a polypeptide. A host cell contains the first polynucleotide sequence operably linked to the second polynucleotide sequence. The host cell is from a different species than the fungal species from which the first polynucleotide sequence is isolated.

Abstract: The present invention provides the promoter clone discovery of a glucoamylase gene of a starch utilizing yeast strain Schwanniomyces castellii. The isolated glucoamylase promoter is an inducible promoter, which can regulate strong gene expression in starch culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides the promoter clone discovery of an alpha-amylase gene of a starch utilizing yeast strain Schwanniomyces castellii. The isolated alpha-amylase promoter is an inducible promoter, which can regulate strong gene expression in starch culture medium.

Abstract: An integrated system for commercial production of a heterologous protein in transgenic plants under conditions of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is provided. CEA comprises growth of plants under defined environmental conditions, preferably in a greenhouse, to optimize growth of the transgenic plant as well as expression of the gene encoding the heterologous protein. The transgenic plants used in the present invention are transformed with an expression vector comprising a CEA promoter operably linked to a gene encoding the heterologous protein of interest, wherein the CEA promoter is selected to maximize heterologous protein production under the defined environmental conditions of CEA.

Abstract: Synergistically functional, yet separable, cis-acting enhancer elements from the rpL34 promoter are disclosed. These enhancer elements of the instant invention may be used in combination with a plurality of promoters to increase gene expression without affecting the intrinsic specificity of the promoters. Also disclosed are methods for using the enhancer elements of the instant invention as well as vectors and transgenic plants comprising the enhancer elements.

Abstract: Porphyridium cruentum is cultured in an enriched seawater medium using a high initial cell concentration until the productivity of polysaccharide production by the alga is maximized. The whole culture is then extracted by making the culture strongly alkaline, and heat treating it. The culture is cooled, acidified and the polysaccharide precipitated by addition of a water-miscible organic solvent such as ethanol. Very high yields of polysaccharide are obtained, in excess of 4.5 grams per liter of culture.