Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the production of an aqueous mixture comprising isopropanol, n-butanol and ethanol, comprising a step in which an aqueous solution containing C5 and/or C6 sugars and acetate is fermented under strict anaerobic conditions in the presence of a fermenting microorganism of the genus Clostridium and in which said aqueous solution has an acetate concentration in the range 0.5 to 10 g/L and a ratio by weight of (acetate)/(sum of C5 and/or C6 sugars) in the range 0.005 to 0.35 g/g.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the production of an aqueous mixture comprising isopropanol, n-butanol and ethanol, comprising a step in which an aqueous solution containing C5 and/or C6 sugars and acetate is fermented under strict anaerobic conditions in the presence of a fermenting microorganism of the genus Clostridium and in which said aqueous solution has an acetate concentration in the range 0.5 to 10 g/L and a ratio by weight of (acetate)/(sum of C5 and/or C6 sugars) in the range 0.005 to 0.35 g/g.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for the production of second generation alcohols and/or solvents starting from cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass wherein the lignocellulosic or cellulosic biomass undergoes a pretreatment before being converted into ethanol after an enzymatic hydrolysis and an ethylic fermentation, wherein glucidic polymers of the pretreated plant are hydrolyzed by cellulases; microorganisms that primarily use hexoses and preferably glucose and mannose are used for the ethylic fermentation; wines, with or without separation of materials in suspension are extracted by distillation; pentoses in the vinasses are fermented by a solventogenic microorganism into a butyl wine, and at least one portion of the butyl wine is recycled upstream from enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: The expression vector includes: the nucleic acids coding for the polypeptides forming a polypeptide complex having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetyl-CoA to be converted to acetoacetate; optionally, at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetate to be converted to acetone; and at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetone to be converted to isopropanol; the expression of the nucleic acids being controlled by a single constitutive promoter located upstream of the abovementioned nucleic acids.

Abstract: The expression vector includes: the nucleic acids coding for the polypeptides forming a polypeptide complex having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetyl-CoA to be converted to acetoacetate; optionally, at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetate to be converted to acetone; and at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetone to be converted to isopropanol; the expression of the nucleic acids being controlled by a single constitutive promoter located upstream of the abovementioned nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of converting biomass to products that can be incorporated into the diesel fuel pool, comprising a first stage of fermentation of renewable raw materials of vegetable origin at the end of which a least one alcohol and at least one compound containing a carbonyl group are obtained, and a second stage corresponding to an acetalization reaction involving said alcohol and said compound containing a carbonyl group.

Abstract: A process for the production of alcohols and/or solvents starting from cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass comprising at least: a) Thermochemical pretreatment of a cellulosic or lignocellulosic substrate; b) Optionally, washing pretreated substrate and setting the pH; c) Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated, optionally washed, substrate, using cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes producing a hydrolyzate and a water-insoluble residue; d) Ethylic fermentation of hexoses in hydrolyzate obtained from c) into ethanol by alcohologenic microorganism and production of ethyl wine; e) One extraction stage comprising e1) Separation and purification of ethanol and/or solvents obtained from d), and e2) Separation of a solid cake containing insoluble residue and production of vinasses; f) Butylic fermentation of pentoses contained in vinasses obtained in e2) by a solventogenic microorganism and production of butyl wine; at least a portion of butyl wine is recycled upstream from at least one enzymatic hydrolys

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating effluents containing 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), or nitric ester of 2-ethylhexane-1-ol, in order to reduce at least partly the concentration thereof, characterized in that it comprises growing, in the presence of a suitable substrate, a Corynebacterium urealyticum CIP-1-2126 bacterium and degrading the 2-EHN contained in the effluents by the biomass of said bacterium thus produced. The invention has application in the Application: depollution of waters and soils polluted by 2-EHN.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating effluents containing 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), or nitric ester of 2-ethylhexane-1-ol, in order to reduce at least partly the concentration thereof, characterized in that it comprises growing, in the presence of a suitable substrate, a Corynebacterium urealyticum CIP-I-2126 bacterium and degrading the 2-EHN contained in the effluents by the biomass of said bacterium thus produced. Application: depollution of waters and soils polluted by 2-EHN.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of converting biomass to products that can be incorporated into the diesel fuel pool, comprising a first stage of fermentation of renewable raw materials of vegetable origin at the end of which a least one alcohol and at least one compound containing a carbonyl group are obtained, and a second stage corresponding to an acetalization reaction involving said alcohol and said compound containing a carbonyl group.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing dicarboxylic acids (DCA) with long hydrocarbon chains, also called diacids, which consists in culturing a mutant strain of Yarrowia lipolytica obtained by mutagenesis directed and more particularly disrupted at least for the POX2, POX3, POX4 and POX5 genes encoding acyl-CoA oxydase, in a medium consisting essentially of an energetic substrate including at least one carbon source and one nitrogen source and in subjecting said strain to a bioconversion substrate selected among n-alkanes of at least 10 carbon atoms, fatty acids of at least 10 carbon atoms, their alkyl esters and natural oils.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor and a method for detecting microbiologically induced corrosion in a metal structure, which consists in performing the following steps: providing a sensor comprising at least a first circular electrode (4) and a ring-shaped electrode (2) concentric with the first electrode, proximate to the structure (30) in contact with a corrosive medium; imparting for a time interval t a conditioning current between the two electrodes so as to initiate corrosion, the current being such that the central electrode is cathode and the ring-shaped electrode is anode; after the time interval t, coupling the two electrodes and measuring the current between the two electrodes; calculating the speed of corrosion from the measurement.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor and a method for detecting microbiologically induced corrosion in a metal structure, which consists in performing the following steps: providing a sensor comprising at least a first circular electrode (4) and a ring-shaped electrode (2) concentric with the first electrode, proximate to the structure (30) in contact with a corrosive medium; imparting for a time interval t a conditioning current between the two electrodes so as to initiate corrosion, the current being such that the central electrode is cathode and the ring-shaped electrode is anode; after the time interval t, coupling the two electrodes and measuring the current between the two electrodes; calculating the speed of corrosion from the measurement.

Abstract: A process for treating hydrocarbon-containing effluents that comprise isoalkanes to reduce the hydrocarbon concentration at least partly is described, characterized in that in the presence of a suitable substrate, a Corynebacterium urealyticum CIP-I-2126 bacterium is grown, and the hydrocarbons that are contained in the effluents are degraded by the biomass of said bacteria that is thus produced. Application for pollution control of water and soil contaminated by hydrocarbons and optionally by ethers that come from a gasoline, kerosene and/or gas oil fraction.

Abstract: A process for the fed batch production of a sophorolipid composition is described, in which culturing takes place of at least one Candida bombicola strain in a culture medium incorporating a sugar and a nitrogen source and said cultured strain is exposed in a reaction zone to a supply of an appropriate substrate under adequate aeration, temperature and pH conditions and at least once the following sequence is performed: a) the strain is continuously supplied with substrate at a supply rate in the reaction zone between 0.

Abstract: A process for the production of sophorolipids by a stock of Candida bombicola or apicola in a medium that contains a source of nitrogen and a substrate is described. The process includes a first fermentation cycle that includes a stage of growth of the stock and a stage of production of a fermentation wort. The following stages are carried out at least once:a) a portion of the wort is drawn off;b) a mineral that contains nitrogen is added to the remaining portion to constitute a second medium;c) a new fermentation cycle is carried out from this second medium, and another wort is produced.Sophorolipids are recovered from these worts of stages (a) and (c). The duration of the first and new fermentation cycles is at least 30 hours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cosmetic and/or dermatological composition comprising at least one sophorolipid in its crude or acid form or associated with a monovalent or divalent salt. The concentrations of the sophorolipid can be 0.01% to 30% by weight. In particular, the composition is in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion, and oil-in-water emulsion or an oil-in-water microemulsion. The sophorolipid-based compositions of the invention have a free radical formation inhibiting activity, an elastase inhibiting activity, or an anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fed batch production process for a composition of sophorosides, in which culturing takes place of at least one Candida bombicola or Candida apicola strain and the cultured strain is exposed in a reaction zone to an excess sugar supply and a continuous supply of at least one appropriate substrate at a supply rate to the reaction zone between 0.01 and 4 grams per hour and per liter of initial reaction volume and for a supply time such that the residual concentration of the substrate in the reaction zone is maintained at a value at the most equal to 18 grams per liter of initial reaction volume for the supply time and the composition of sophorosides produced is recovered.

Abstract: The Clostridium acetobutylicum mutant IFP 904 (ATCC 39058) is obtained by spreading a culture of a strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum at the surface of a solid culture medium containing n-butanol at a specified concentration, growing the strain in the presence of a mutagenic agent and recovering a strain of increased resistance to n-butanol. The resultant mutant can be used to produce a mixture of butanol and acetone of increased concentration.