Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a dicarboxylic acid comprising fermenting a fungal cell in a vessel comprising a suitable fermentation medium, comprising adding a gas flow which comprises 20 to 35 v/v % of oxygen and less than 0.1v/v % of carbon dioxide to the fermentation medium, and maintaining an average partial carbon dioxide pressure of at least about 0.35 bar in the fermentation medium, and producing the dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous solution or suspension of a &bgr;-lactam nucleus and application thereof. The aqueous solution or suspension of the &bgr;-lactam nucleus is prepared by process wherein an enzymatic deacylation of a &bgr;-lactam compound, which compounds comprises a &bgr;-lactam nucleus with a side chain coupled to it via an amide bond and which deacylation reaction is carried out in a mixture of water and an organic solvent and which deacylation leads to a &bgr;-lactam nucleus and a carboxylic acid, is carried out at a pH value of between 2 and 6 so that the carboxylic acid is extracted in situ to the organic solvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of acquiring granular growth of a microorganism in a reactor containing a liquid medium. Surprisingly, according to the invention, aerobic microorganisms also can be induced to granular growth by maintaining specific culture conditions. During a first step an oxygen-containing gas is supplied and the reactor contents are kept in turbulence. In a second step, after a short settling period, the top part of the reactor medium is discharged.

Abstract: A method is described for the biological treatment of ammonium-rich wastewater in at least one reactor which has a temperature of at least 25° C., which involves the wastewater being passed through the said reactor(s) with a population, obtained by natural selection in the absence of sludge retention, in the suspended state of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to form, in a first stage with the infeed of oxygen, a nitrite-rich wastewater and by the nitrite-rich wastewater thus obtained being subjected, in a second stage without the infeed of oxygen, to denitrification in the presence of an electon donor of inorganic or organic nature, in such a way that the contact time between the ammonium-rich wastewater and the nitrifying bacteria is at most about two days, and the pH of the medium is controlled between 6.0 and 8.5 and the excess, formed by growth, of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria and the effluent formed by the denitrification are extracted.

Abstract: A method is described for the biological treatment of ammonium-rich wastewater in at least one reactor which has a temperature of at least 25.degree. C., which involves the wastewater being passed through the said reactor(s) with a population, obtained by natural selection in the absence of sludge retention, in the suspended state of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria to form, in a first stage with the infeed of oxygen, a nitrite-rich wastewater and by the nitrite-rich wastewater thus obtained being subjected, if required, in a second stage without the infeed of oxygen, to denitrification in the presence of a carbon source such as methanol, in such a way that the contact time between the ammonium-rich wastewater and the nitrifying bacteria is at most about two days, and the pH of the medium is controlled between 6.5 and 8.

Abstract: The invention relates to a three phase separator which comprises a compartment for the substantial separation of the gas-phase, this compartment being equipped with at least one partition which is applied for an internal gaslift circulation.