Abstract: The invention relates to microorganisms which normally do not ferment pentose sugar and which are genetically altered to ferment pentose sugar to produce ethanol, and fermentation processes utilizing the same. Examples include Zymomonas mobilis which has been transformed with combinations of E. coli genes for xylose isomerase, xylulokinase, transaldolase, transketolase, L-arabinose isomerase, L-ribulokinase, and L-ribulose 5-phosphate 4-epimerase. Expression of the added genes are under the control of Zymomonas mobilis promoters. These newly created microorganisms are useful for fermenting pentoses and glucose, produced by hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose, to produce ethanol.

Abstract: Alkaline earth silicate solids with a surface area in the range of about 0.1-1000 m.sup.2 /g are used to remove Ag, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr (III) metal ions from contaminated waste waters. The foregoing metal ions are removed from the contaminated waste waters by a process involving the steps of contacting the contaminated waste waters at a pH in the range of 4 to 6 with the alkaline earth silicate solid and thereafter filtering the alkaline earth silicate solid from the contaminated waste waters to remove the metal ions.