Abstract: Method of delignification of plant material, said method comprising: providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibers and lignin; exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising: alkanesulfonic acid; and a peroxide, wherein said alkylsulfonic acid and peroxide are present in a molar ratio ranging 1:1 to 15:1 and the time of exposure is sufficient to remove substantially all of the lignin present on said plant material. Compositions capable of achieving delignification are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of the invention prepares a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for stimulation. A bottom hole assembly comprising a plug and a perforation tool connected to a wireline is lowered into a wellbore having a casing. An acidic composition is injected into the wellbore; wherein a spacer separates the acidic composition from said bottom hole assembly, but the acidic composition is in direct contact with both the wireline and casing. The spacer may be existing water in the wellbore or water injected into the wellbore. The plug is positioned downhole beyond a location where a first perforation area is to be made in the casing. The perforation tool is activated creating the first perforation area. The acid then contacts the first perforation area and cementitious debris generated from the casing being perforated. The perforation tool is next moved up-hole to a second location and the casing is again perforated to create a second perforation area.

Abstract: A method of the invention prepares a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for stimulation. A bottom hole assembly comprising a plug and a perforation tool connected to a wireline is lowered into the wellbore. Acid is injected into the wellbore such that the acid is in direct contact with the perforation tool, wireline and casing of the wellbore. The plug is positioned downhole beyond a location where a first perforation area is to be made in the casing. The perforation tool is activated creating the first perforation area. The acid then contacts the first perforation area and cementitious debris generated from the casing being perforated. The perforation tool is next moved up-hole to a second location and the casing is again perforated to create a second perforation area. The acid also contacts the second perforated area and cementitious debris generated from the perforated casing. The perforation tool is lastly removed from the wellbore.

Abstract: A one-pot process to separate lignin from a lignocellulosic feedstock includes providing a vessel; providing a lignocellulosic feedstock; providing a composition comprising an acid, a modifying agent comprising a carbonyl-containing nitrogenous base compound, and a peroxide; exposing the lignocellulosic feedstock to the composition in the vessel for a period of time sufficient to remove at least 80% of the lignin present in the lignocellulosic feedstock; and optionally, removing a liquid phase comprising dissolved lignin fragments from a solid phase comprising cellulose fibres.

Abstract: A process to make a yeast-based fertilizer composition from a combination of Brewer's Spent Yeast and a second organism, said process comprising the steps of: providing said live Brewer's Spent yeast material; exposing said live Brewer's Spent yeast material to said second organism, wherein said second organism is capable of degrading proteins and performing aerobic respiration, thereby creating a live mixed culture; incubating said live mixed culture in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing compound thereby creating an incubation mixture; optionally incorporating into said incubation mixture at least one additional nutrient to promote the propagation of said live mixed culture; optionally, injecting air into said incubation mixture so as to minimize and/or substantially inhibit the production of ethanol; wherein said incubation mixture undergoes incubation for a period of time sufficient for said live mixed culture to metabolize said at least one nitrogen-containing compound and for said li

Abstract: Method of delignification of plant material, said method comprising: providing said plant material comprising cellulose fibres and lignin; exposing said plant material requiring to a composition comprising: an acid; a capping agent; and a peroxide; for a period of time sufficient to remove substantially all (at least 80%) of the lignin present on said plant material. Also disclosed are compositions to accomplish such delignification and processes using such.

Abstract: A genetically modified prokaryotic cell which comprises: a cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO) polypeptide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 2, and at least 25% sequence identity to SEQ 2; and a vanin (VNN) polypeptide sequence selected from the group consisting of: a vanin-1 (VNN1) polypeptide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 4, and at least 25% sequence identity to SEQ 4; a vanin-2 (VNN2) polypeptide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 84, and at least 25% sequence identity to SEQ 84; and a vanin-3 (VNN3) polypeptide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 128 and at least 25% sequence identity to SEQ 128.

Abstract: A genetically modified prokaryotic cell which comprises: a vanin (vnn) polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: vanin-1 (vnn1), wherein said vnn1 polynucleotide sequence has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 3 or SEQ 98, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 3 or SEQ 98; vanin-2 (vnn2), wherein said vnn2 polynucleotide sequence has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 100, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 100; and vanin-3 (vnn3), wherein said vnn3 polynucleotide sequence has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 141, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 141; or a cysteamine dioxygenase (ado) polynucleotide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 1, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 1; and a flavin-containing monooxygenase 1 (fmol) polynucleotide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 5 or SEQ 99, and at least 70% of sequence identity to SEQ 5 or SEQ 99.

Abstract: Methods for the fracking or stimulation of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided in multiple embodiments. According to one method, it comprises the steps of: providing a wellbore having a casing; inserting a plug in the wellbore at a predetermined location; inserting a perforating tool and an acidic composition into the wellbore; wherein the acidic composition includes a corrosion inhibiting composition comprising at least two compounds selected from: Group A-I, and wherein at least two compounds are selected from different groups of the Groups A-I.

Abstract: An aqueous composition comprising: sulfuric acid; a heterocyclic compound; an alkanesulfonic acid; and a peroxide. Said composition being capable of delignifying biomass under milder conditions than conditions under which kraft pulping takes place.

Abstract: A genetically modified ethanologenic organism which comprises: at least one endoglucanase (cen-like) polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: an endoglucanase A-like (cenA-like) polynucleotide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 1; and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 1; an endoglucanase B-like (cenB-like) polynucleotide sequence which has least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 3; and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 3; and an endoglucanase C-like (cenC-like) polynucleotide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 5; and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 5; a ?-glucosidase 1 (bgl1) polynucleotide sequence which has at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 9 or SEQ 20; and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 9 or SEQ 20; and an exoglucanase (cex-like) polynucleotide sequence which has least 70% sequence coverage to

Abstract: A genetically modified ethanologenic organism which comprises: a. an exoglucanase (cex-like) polynucleotide sequence with at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 1 or SEQ 68, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 1 or SEQ 68; and b. a ?-glucosidase 1 (bg11) polynucleotide sequence with at least 70% sequence coverage to SEQ 3 or SEQ 14, and at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ 3 or SEQ 14.

Abstract: In one example, a process to make biogas includes providing a digester which comprises at least one organic material rich in nitrogen and at least one inoculum capable of converting a portion of said at least one organic material into methane under anaerobic conditions; providing a biomass which is depleted of lignin; adding said biomass to said digester; allowing sufficient time for the digester to degrade at least a portion of said biomass and at least a portion of said organic material to yield a biogas composition comprising methane; capturing said biogas composition; and storing said biogas. Also disclosed, are methods and uses associated with the use of a cellulosic component processed to be depleted of lignin which comprises approximately between 10% to 50% of the amount of lignin present in a biomass component prior to a delignification treatment, as additive to organic waste in a bio-digester.

Abstract: In one example, a process includes providing a system with a first vessel and a second vessel; providing a biomass comprising lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose fibers into said first vessel; providing an aqueous acidic composition comprising an acid; providing a modifier component; providing a peroxide component; exposing said biomass to said sulfuric acid, modifier and peroxide components, creating a reaction mass; mixing said reaction mass; and allowing said sulfuric acid component and peroxide component to come into contact with said biomass for a period of time sufficient to a delignification reaction to occur and remove a pre-determined amount of said lignin from said biomass. The pre-determined amount may be assessed by determining a first remaining peroxide concentration in the reaction mass, with a suitable apparatus, when said first remaining peroxide concentration is reached, the biomass is transferred to said second vessel.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes providing a recalcitrant biomass; exposing said highly recalcitrant biomass to a delignification reaction wherein said delignification reaction comprising the exposure of said highly recalcitrant biomass to an acidic composition comprising a modified Caro's acid for a period of time sufficient to yield a treated cellulose which has a final lignin content of up to 100% less than the initial lignin content of the biomass; providing a digester whose contents comprises at least one inoculum comprising a microbial community capable of converting organic material into methane under anaerobic conditions; adding said treated cellulose to said digester; allowing sufficient time for the digester to degrade at least a portion of said treated cellulose and optionally, at least a portion of said organic material to yield a biogas composition comprising methane; capturing said biogas composition; and storing said biogas.

Abstract: A method for converting a lignin-derived material into at least one esterified lignin derivative, said method comprising the steps of: providing said lignin-derived material selected from the group consisting of: lignin monomers; lignin depolymerization products; and combinations thereof; providing an acidic composition having a pH of less than 1, said acidic composition comprising: an acid selected from the group consisting of: sulfuric acid; an alkylsulfonic acid; and an arylsulfonic acid; and an alcohol selected from the group consisting of C1-C8 linear alcohol and C3-C8 branched alcohol and mixtures thereof; combining said lignin-derived material with said acidic composition into a reaction mixture; heating up said mixture to a temperature ranging from 25° C. to 120° C.; and allowing sufficient time of reaction to convert at least a portion of said lignin-derived material into said at least one esterified lignin derivative.

Abstract: Method for controlled delignification of lignocellulosic feedstock and conversion of lignin depolymerization products into at least one ester compound, said method comprising the steps of: providing an acidic composition having a pH of less than 1, said acidic composition comprising: an acid selected from the group consisting of: sulfuric acid; an alkylsulfonic acid; and an arylsulfonic acid; a source of peroxide; an alcohol selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 linear alcohol and C3-C6 branched alcohol and mixtures thereof; exposing said lignocellulosic feedstock to said acidic composition for a period of time sufficient for the acidic composition to react with the lignocellulosic feedstock to obtain a liquid phase containing lignin depolymerization products and diester compounds and a solid phase comprising cellulose fibers; optionally, separating the liquid phase from the solid phase recovering a mixture of diesters, lignin monomers and cellulose fibers; and optionally, separating said lignin depo

Abstract: A method of the invention prepares a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for stimulation. A bottom hole assembly comprising a plug and a perforation tool connected to a wireline is lowered into a wellbore having a casing. An acidic composition is injected into the wellbore; wherein a spacer separates the acidic composition from said bottom hole assembly, but the acidic composition is in direct contact with both the wireline and casing. The spacer may be existing water in the wellbore or water injected into the wellbore. The plug is positioned downhole beyond a location where a first perforation area is to be made in the casing. The perforation tool is activated creating the first perforation area. The acid then contacts the first perforation area and cementitious debris generated from the casing being perforated. The perforation tool is next moved up-hole to a second location and the casing is again perforated to create a second perforation area.

Abstract: A method of the invention prepares a hydrocarbon-bearing formation for stimulation. A bottom hole assembly comprising a plug and a perforation tool connected to a wireline is lowered into the wellbore. Acid is injected into the wellbore such that the acid is in direct contact with the perforation tool, wireline and casing of the wellbore. The plug is positioned downhole beyond a location where a first perforation area is to be made in the casing. The perforation tool is activated creating the first perforation area. The acid then contacts the first perforation area and cementitious debris generated from the casing being perforated. The perforation tool is next moved up-hole to a second location and the casing is again perforated to create a second perforation area. The acid also contacts the second perforated area and cementitious debris generated from the perforated casing. The perforation tool is lastly removed from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for the fracking or stimulation of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said method comprising the steps of: providing a wellbore in need of stimulation; inserting a plug in the wellbore at a predetermined location; inserting a perforating tool and a spearhead or breakdown acid into the wellbore; positioning the tool at said predetermined location; perforating the wellbore with the tool thereby creating a perforated area; allowing the spearhead acid to come into contact with the perforated area for a predetermined period of time sufficient to prepare the formation for fracking or stimulation; removing the tool from the wellbore; and initiating the fracking of the perforated area using a fracking fluid. Also disclosed is a corrosion inhibiting composition for use with the acid composition.