Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermostable xylanase enzymes are suitable for feed pelleting applications. The novel xylanase enzymes comprise at least 40% of their optimal activity from a pH range from about pH 3.5 to about pH 6.0, and from about 40 to about 60° C., and exhibit at least 30% of their optimal activity after a pre-incubation step for 30 minutes at 70° C. in the presence of 40% glycerol. Also disclosed are modified xylanase molecules comprising either a basic amino acid at position 162 (TrX numbering), or its equivalent position in other xylanase molecules, at least one disulfide bridge, or a combination thereof. The thermostable xylanase molecules of the present invention have a physiological temperature and pH optima and are useful as animal feeds additives since they can withstand the heat associated with feed sterilization and pellet formation, yet they exhibit optimal activity within an animal to aid in breakdown of ingested feed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing xylose from lignocellulosic feedstock. The method comprises disrupting lignocellulosic feedstock; leaching the lignocellulosic feedstock by contacting the feedstock with at least one aqueous solution for a period greater than about 2 minutes to produce a leached feedstock and a leachate; removing the leachate from the leached feedstock; acidifying the leached feedstock to a pH between about 0.5 and about 3 to produce an acidified feedstock, and; reacting the acidified feedstock under conditions which disrupt fiber structure and hydrolyze a portion of hemicellulose and cellulose of the acidified feedstock, to produce a composition comprising xylose and a pretreated feedstock. The xylose may be purified from the pretreated feedstock or it may be converted to ethanol with the pretreated feedstock.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of bleaching chemical pulp with xylanase after chemical bleaching. The method comprises the steps of treating chemical pulp with a first xylanase in a first enzyme treatment stage to produce an enzyme treated pulp, exposing the enzyme treated pulp to a chemical bleaching stage to produce a partially bleached pulp, and treating the partially bleached pulp with a second xylanase in a second enzyme treatment stage at a pH of about 3 to about 8. Further, there is disclosed a method of bleaching pulp comprising the steps of exposing chemical pulp to a chlorine dioxide bleaching stage to produce a partially bleached pulp, treating the partially bleached pulp with a xylanase in an enzyme treatment stage at a pH of about 3 to about 8, then carrying out an alkaline extraction of the pulp. The pulp bleaching method of the present invention may be performed in a pulp mill as part of a complex pulp bleaching process.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of converting cellulose to glucose by treating a pretreated lignocellulosic substrate with an enzyme mixture comprising cellulase enzyme and a modified CBHI, wherein the modified CBHI is present in the enzyme mixture at an amount relative to all CBHI-type enzymes from about 15% to about 100% (w/w), dpending upon the modified CBH1 used. The pretreated lignocellulosic substrate is selected from the group consisting of agricultural residues, residues after starch or sugar removal, dedicated ethanol crops, forestry products, and pulp and paper products, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring the bleach requirement and bleachability of pulp in a pulp mill. The invention enables pulp mill operators to better control bleach plants. In one aspect, the invention comprises a system and method for rapid bleaching of the pulp, and measuring the rapid bleached brightness and lignin content of the pulp. In another aspect, the invention comprises an optical system for use in practicing embodiments of this invention.

Abstract: An improved pretreatment of cellulosic feedstocks, to enable economical ethanol production by enzyme treatment. The improved pretreatment comprises choosing either a feedstock with a ratio of arabinoxylan to total nonstarch polysaccharides (AX/NSP) of greater than about 0.39, or a selectively bred feedstock on the basis of an increased ratio of AX/NSP over a starting feedstock material, and reacting at conditions that disrupt the fiber structure and hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose and hemicellulose. This pretreatment produces a superior substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis, by enabling the production of more glucose with less cellulose enzyme than any known procedures. This pretreatment is uniquely suited to ethanol production. Preferred feedstocks with an AX/NSP level greater than about 0.39 include varieties of oat hulls and corn cobs.

Abstract: An improved pretreatment of cellulosic feedstocks, to enable economical ethanol production by enzyme treatment. The improved pretreatment comprises choosing either a feedstock with a ratio of arabinoxylan to total nonstarch polysaccharides (AX/NSP) of greater than about 0.39, or a selectively bred feedstock on the basis of an increased ratio of AX/NSP over a starting feedstock material, and reacting at conditions that disrupt the fiber structure and hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose and hemicellulose. This pretreatment produces a superior substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis, by enabling the production of more glucose with less cellulase enzyme than any known procedures. This pretreatment is uniquely suited to ethanol production. Preferred feedstocks with an AX/NSP level greater than about 0.39 include varieties of oat hulls and corn cobs.

Abstract: A method, and a specific enzyme mixture, for depilling cotton-containing goods, either as unfinished fabric or as finished garments, to create a smooth surface while minimizing the loss of fabric strength. The method consists essentially of removing less than approximately 3.0% of the initial fabric weight with a Trichoderma cellulase enzyme mixture comprising less than naturally-occuring amounts of CBHI, CBHII, EGI and EGIII protein components, and further consisting essentially of at least 80% endoglucanase II (EGII) as the protein component.