Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch, specifically thermally inhibited non-pregelatinized granular starch, is described, resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprising providing an alkaline starch, specifically an alkaline non-pregelatinized granular starch, having a pH of at least 8; subjecting the starch to a hydrothermal treatment, specifically to obtain a hydrothermally treated non-pregelatinized granular starch, said hydrothermal treatment being at a temperature of 45-200° C. with steam at a steam pressure of 0.1-15 bar or a gas mixture comprising water vapor at a partial water vapor pressure of 0.1-1 bar; dehydrating the starch, specifically the hydrothermally treated non-pregelatinized granular starch, to a moisture content of 2 wt % or lower and subjecting the starch to a thermal treatment by heating the starch to a temperature of 120-190° C. to obtain viscostability, cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of biogas from biomass, in particular from lignocellulose-containing biomass. According to the invention bio gas is produced from lignocellulose-containing biomass in a process, wherein the cellulose and hemicellulose in the lignocellulose are made accessible for bioconversion.

Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch, specifically thermally inhibited non-pregelatinized granular starch, is described, resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprising providing an alkaline starch, specifically an alkaline non-pregelatinized granular starch, having a pH of at least 8; subjecting the starch to a hydrothermal treatment, specifically to obtain a hydrothermally treated non-pregelatinized granular starch, said hydrothermal treatment being at a temperature of 45-200° C. with steam at a steam pressure of 0.1-15 bar or a gas mixture comprising water vapor at a partial water vapor pressure of 0.1-1 bar; dehydrating the starch, specifically the hydrothermally treated non-pregelatinized granular starch, to a moisture content of 2 wt % or lower and subjecting the starch to a thermal treatment by heating the starch to a temperature of 120-190° C. to obtain viscostability, cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: The invention relates to obtaining furans from biomass. In particular, the invention relates to obtaining furans from polyols, such as tetrahydroxybutane. In accordance with the invention tetrahydroxybutane is converted to furan in the presence of a catalyst. The tetrahydroxybutane may be dissolved in a solvent such as water.

Abstract: The invention relates to obtaining furans from biomass. In particular, the invention relates to obtaining furans from polyols, such as tetrahydroxybutane. In accordance with the invention tetrahydroxybutane is converted to furan in the presence of a catalyst. The tetrahydroxybutane may be dissolved in a solvent such as water.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for processing biomass derived from plants or animals, comprising the steps of: a. pre treating said material with an aqueous solution of acid or base; b. subsequently passaging saturated or super heated steam through said material, wherein the water activity of the process is controlled by means of temperature and pressure of the super heated steam to be less than 1, preferably less than 0.8, more preferably in the range of 0.4-0.8. With such a process it is possible to disintegrate or make more accessible for subsequent treatments the lignocellulose from lignocellulose containing materials, like wood or other plant material, chitin from exoskeletons from Crustacea like crabs and shrimps, and proteins such as keratin from pig hair or chicken feather, for further derivation, like acylation, oxidation, etherification, carboxymethylation or esterification, or further enzymatic hydrolysis, and/or for production of chemicals, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting microbial contamination of a liquid specimen comprising a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, having (i) a hypobaric chamber, (ii) a filter housing comprising a liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material and adapted for being fluidly connected to said hypobaric chamber, and (iii) a vacuum pump adapted for being fluidly connected to said hypobaric chamber, said system further comprising a kit for detection of micro-organisms adsorbed to said adsorbent material, wherein said kit is based on enzymatic detection using chromogenic and/or fluorescent substrate analogs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting microbial contamination of a liquid specimen comprising a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, having (i) a hyperbaric chamber, (ii) a filter housing comprising a liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material and adapted for being fluidly connected to the hyperbaric chamber, and (iii) a manner for pressurizing the hyperbaric chamber. The system also comprises a kit for detection of micro-organisms adsorbed to the adsorbent material, wherein the kit is based on enzymatic detection using chromogenic and/or fluorescent substrate analogues.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for processing biomass derived from plants or animals, comprising the steps of: a. pre treating said material with an aqueous solution of acid or base; b. subsequently passaging saturated or super heated steam through said material, wherein the water activity of the process is controlled by means of temperature and pressure of the super heated steam to be less than 1, preferably less than 0.8, more preferably in the range of 0.4-0.8. With such a process it is possible to disintegrate or make more accessible for subsequent treatments the lignocellulose from lignocellulose containing materials, like wood or other plant material, chitin from exoskeletons from Crustacea like crabs and shrimps, and proteins such as keratin from pig hair or chicken feather, for further derivation, like acylation, oxidation, etherification, carboxymethylation or esterification, or further enzymatic hydrolysis, and/or for production of chemicals, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting microbial contamination of a liquid specimen comprising a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, having (i) a hyperbaric chamber, (ii) a filter housing comprising a liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material and adapted for being fluidly connected to said hyperbaric chamber, and (iii) a means for pressurizing said hyperbaric chamber, said system further comprising a kit for detection of micro-organisms adsorbed to said adsorbent material, wherein said kit is based on enzymatic detection using chromogenic and/or fluorescent substrate analogues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting microbial contamination of a liquid specimen comprising a device for concentrating micro-organisms from a liquid specimen, having (i) a hypobaric chamber, (ii) a filter housing comprising a liquid-permeable bed of an adsorbent material and adapted for being fluidly connected to said hypobaric chamber, and (iii) a vacuum pump adapted for being fluidly connected to said hypobaric chamber, said system further comprising a kit for detection of micro-organisms adsorbed to said adsorbent material, wherein said kit is based on enzymatic detection using chromogenic and/or fluorescent substrate analogues.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of biogas from biomass, in particular from lignocellulose-containing biomass. According to the invention bio gas is produced from lignocellulose-containing biomass in a process, wherein the cellulose and hemicellulose in the lignocellulose are made accessible for bioconversion.

Abstract: Sulphur oxides are generated from a liquid stream of hydrogen sulphide by feeding the liquid stream to a vacuum stripper where the stream is contacted with a stripping gas including steam under reduce pressure. Hydrogen sulphide is transferred to the stripping gas, whereby a loaded stripping gas is obtained. Water in the loaded stripping gas is condensed producing a H2S rich stream. The H2S is then burned in the stream to produce a stream rich in oxides of sulphur.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the conversion of cellulosic biomass, in particular lignocellulose-containing biomass into fermentable sugars. The invention is further directed to apparatus suitable for carrying out such processes. According to the invention biomass is converted into fermentable sugars by contacting in a reactor said biomass with an acid, while passing an inert gas stream capable of taking up water through said reactor, by which the pH in said reactor can be controlled.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the recovery of sulphuric acid from a mixture comprising sulphuric acid and hydrocarbons, in particular carbohydrates. In accordance with the present invention the mixture comprising sulphuric acid and carbohydrates, is contacted with an anion selective membrane, thus producing a sulphuric acid rich filtrate stream and a stream depleted in sulphuric acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removal of sulfur compounds from wastewater, which process provides recovery of elemental sulfur. The process is carried out in two separate anaerobic reactors. In the first reactor organic compounds are converted to acid compounds and sulfur compounds are converted to sulfide compounds. The sulfide compounds are stripped from said first reactor with a stripping gas. Subsequently, the effluent of the first reactor is fed to a second anaerobic reactor, in which organic compounds, such as the acid compounds, are converted to produce biogas, while any unconverted sulfur compounds from the previous step are converted to sulfide compounds as well. Finally, the sulfide compounds are removed from the second reactor in a stripping system, and converted to elemental sulfur in an adsorber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removal of sulfur compounds from wastewater, which process provides recovery of elemental sulfur. The process is carried out in two separate anaerobic reactors. In the first reactor organic compounds are converted to acid compounds and sulfur compounds are converted to sulfide compounds. The sulfide compounds are stripped from said first reactor with a stripping gas. Subsequently, the effluent of the first reactor is fed to a second anaerobic reactor, in which organic compounds, such as the acid compounds, are converted to produce biogas, while any unconverted sulfur compounds from the previous step are converted to sulfide compounds as well. Finally, the sulfide compounds are removed from the second reactor in a stripping system, and converted to elemental sulfur in an adsorber.