Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of the p H of a liquefaction process. Presented is a method for treatment of a biomass feedstock wherein the biomass feedstock is subjected to liquefaction, at a p H of at most 4, by treatment with hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at subcritical and/or supercritical conditions to improve the conversion efficiency. The present invention is also directed to quenching of a liquefaction process according to above, preventing, minimizing or eliminating clogging and/or fouling of sticky biomass components in process equipment during processing as according to above, and to the use of additives in a biomass liquefaction process.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for a controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock, wherein the process comprises the steps of: loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor; liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at sub- and/or super-critical condition; and removal of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, being the product molecules, to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for a controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock, wherein the process comprises the steps of: loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor; liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at sub- and/or super-critical condition; and removal of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, being the product molecules, to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for quenching a hydrothermal, dilute acid hydrolysis reaction of a biomass feedstock, wherein degradation of an aqueous monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture is slowed down or stopped by flash cooling of the aqueous monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, and wherein the flash cooling ensures that a fraction of dissolved and volatile degradation byproducts are removed by a forming vapor stream, and wherein a lignin component, if present, is solidified into a structure with good de-watering characteristics, allowing for subsequent removal of the lignin component by separation, said process resulting in a hydrolyzed solution of sugar monomers and/or oligomers.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process involving liquefaction of a biomass slurry by treatment in hot compressed water (HCW), said process comprising: —a first decomposition step being performed at an average pH level of at most 4.5, wherein a hemicellulose fraction in the biomass slurry is decomposed to water soluble mono- and/or oligomers, and wherein a cellulose fraction undergoes a pre-treatment for decrystallization of the cellulose polymer; —a separation step; and —a second decomposition step, wherein the cellulose fraction in the biomass slurry is decomposed to water soluble mono- and/or oligomers; wherein both of the first and second decomposition steps are performed at sub-critical temperatures implying relatively moderate conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of the p H of a liquefaction process. Presented is a method for treatment of a biomass feedstock wherein the biomass feedstock is subjected to liquefaction, at a p H of at most 4, by treatment with hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at subcritical and/or supercritical conditions to improve the conversion efficiency. The present invention is also directed to quenching of a liquefaction process according to above, preventing, minimizing or eliminating clogging and/or fouling of sticky biomass components in process equipment during processing as according to above, and to the use of additives in a biomass liquefaction process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of hyperpolarized 129Xe and to a method for the production of a contrast agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds of formula (I) and (II), compositions comprising compounds of formula (II) and their use as contrast agents in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopy (MRS).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of performing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy adapted for a hyperpolarized sample. The methods comprise the steps of hyperpolarizing a sample using DNP, wherein at least a portion of the NMR active nuclei receives hyperpolarization; performing NMR spectroscopy on the sample with the use of sequences of rf-pulses, wherein the pulse sequences comprises at least two rf-pulses, either on the same nuclei or on different nuclei, and wherein the pulse sequence is adapted for a hyperpolarized sample; and analyzing at least two of the NMR spectra to obtain a characterization of the sample, or to obtain an interim result to be used in the NMR spectroscopy step.

Abstract: An in vitro assay method which comprises the use of an assay reagent containing at least one NMR active nucleus, and hyperpolarising at least one NMR active nucleus of the assay reagent; and analysing the assay reagent and/or the assay by NMR spectroscopy and/or NMR imaging. The assay reagent may contain an artificially high concentration of an NMR active nucleus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and method for dissolving solid polarised material while retaining a high level of polarisation. In an embodiment of the present invention a material is polarised in a strong magnetic field in a cryostat 2 and then brought into solution while still inside the cryostat 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of performing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy adapted for a hyperpolarized sample. The methods comprise the steps of hyperpolarizing a sample using DNP, wherein at least a portion of the NMR active nuclei receives hyperpolarization; performing NMR spectroscopy on the sample with the use of sequences of rf-pulses, wherein the pulse sequences comprises at least two rf-pulses, either on the same nuclei or on different nuclei, and wherein the pulse sequence is adapted for a hyperpolarized sample; and analysing at least two of the NMR spectra to obtain a characterization of the sample, or to obtain an interim result to be used in the NMR spectroscopy step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of hyperpolarized 129Xe and to a method for the production of a contrast agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for providing contrast agent for e.g. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) applications. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of obtaining (100) a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of a substrate compound, hydrogenating (105) the substrate with hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) to form a hydrogenated contrast agent and exposing (110: 705) the contrast agent to a magnetic field cycling profile adapted for enhancing the contrasting effects of the contrast agent. The magnetic field cycling profile comprises an initial decrease of the magnetic field followed by at least one increase of the magnetic field, which increase should be arranged as to give a non-adiabatic (diabatic) remagnetisation of the contrast agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for providing contrast agent for e.g. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) applications. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of obtaining (100) a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of a substrate compound, hydrogenating (110) the substrate with hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) to form a hydrogenated contrast agent and exposing (120) the contrast agent to a oscillating magnetic field in combination with a stationary magnetic field. The apparatus comprises a magnetic treatment unit (240) equipped with means for producing an oscillating and a stationary magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for providing contrast agent for e.g. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) applications. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of obtaining (100) a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of a substrate compound, hydrogenating (110) the substrate with hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) to form a hydrogenated contrast agent and exposing (120, 305) the contrast agent to a sequence of pulses of magnetic field. The apparatus comprises a magnetic treatment unit (240) equipped with means for producing pulses of magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of an MR contrast agent, said process comprising: i) obtaining a solution in a solvent of a hydrogenatable, unsaturated substrate compound and a catalyst for the hydrogenation of said substrate compound; ii) introducing said solution in droplet form into a chamber containing hydrogen gas (H2) enriched in para-hydrogen (p-1H2) and/or ortho-deuterium (o-2H2) whereby to hydrogenate said substrate to form a hydrogenated imaging agent; iii) optionally subjecting said hydrogenated imaging agent to a magnetic field having a field strength below earth's ambient field strength; iv) optionally dissolving said imaging agent in an aqueous medium; v) optionally separating said catalyst from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; vi) optionally separating said solvent from the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium; and vii) optionally freezing the solution of said imaging agent in said aqueous medium.

Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample by (i) reacting ortho-deuterium enriched hydrogen with a hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor to produce a hydrogenated (i.e. deuterated) MR imaging agent; (ii) optionally, subjecting the hydrogenated MR imaging agent to a low magnetic field;(iii) administering the hydrogenated MR imaging agent to the sample; (iv) exposing the sample to radiation of a frequency selected to excite nuclear spin transitions of selected non-zero nuclear spin nuclei in said hydrogenated MR imaging agent; (v) detecting magnetic resonance signals of the selected non-zero nuclear spin nuclei from the sample; and (vi) optionally, generating an image or biological functional data or dynamic flow data from the detected signals.