Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel edible fungal products with various colors, flavors, shapes, sizes, densities, and biological activities, and methods of producing these products. An exemplary process uses fungal biomass deactivation and pellet-coating steps which allow control over the texture, flavor, color, and nutrient characteristics of the resulting product. The coating and deactivation process can be utilized in concert with the other methods of this invention to create a wide array of products with novel flavor, texture, and nutrient characteristics, depending on the intended application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cost effective biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) that have desirable material properties similar to petrochemically derived plastics. Synthesis takes place intracellularly in extreme halophiles grown in saline conditions that selectively reduces contamination from other microbes. The industrial scale PHA production systems use low-cost organic waste feedstocks, spent medium treatment and recycling and enzyme recovery and reuse for efficiency and reduced cost compared to existing processes.

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion is a widely used biotechnology for converting food, agricultural, and other organic wastes into biogas energy but produces nutrient-rich liquid effluent (digestate) that often requires costly disposal. Using digestate and similar wastewaters to produces microalgae for biodiesel or biochemical production can provide many economic and environmental benefits by offsetting fossil fuels. However, two aspects of microalgal production severely hinder the sustainability of the technique especially in arid regions: high energy use associated with the harvest of small microalgal cells and large volumes of water required to reduce concentrations of inhibitory compounds such as ammonia. We have compared the nutrient removal and pelletization potential of an easily harvested biofilm of robust and protective fungi evolved to high ammonia environments (ammonia fungi) with less resilient oleaginous microalgae for high strength wastewater treatment and biodiesel production.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: An electrical load driving apparatus, comprising a current distribution apparatus having a power source arranged to deliver an input current into a plurality of branches such that the input current is distributed into a plurality of individual branch currents, wherein each of the plurality of branches includes an inductive arrangement arranged to form an inductive coupling with an associated inductive arrangement of at least one other associated branch, and a plurality of output loads connect to each of the associated branches of the current distribution apparatus.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: A direct solution method based on a versatile amine-thiol solvent mixture which dissolves elemental metals, metal salts, organometallic complexes, metal chalcogenides, and metal oxides is described. The metal containing and metal chalcogenide precursors can be prepared by dissolving single or multiple metal sources, chalcogens, and/or metal chalcogenide compounds separately, simultaneously, or stepwise. Multinary metal chalcogenides containing at least one of copper, zinc, tin, indium, gallium, cadmium, germanium, and lead, with at least one of sulfur, selenium, or both are obtained from the above-mentioned metal chalcogenide precursors in the form of thin films, nanoparticles, inks, etc. Furthermore, infiltration of metal containing compounds into a porous structure can be achieved using the amine-thiol based precursors.

Abstract: An electrical load driving apparatus comprising a thyristor circuit arranged to control a transmission of electric power to an electrical load, wherein the thyristor circuit is connected to a conversion module arranged to convert a characteristic of the thyristor circuit to operate with a load characteristic of the electrical load.

Abstract: Treatment of agricultural biomass without separation of the biomass to extract fermentable feedstock, instead using a hydrolytic process upstream of the fermentation process, provides an efficient and cost-effective process for forming ethanol from agricultural biomass.

Abstract: A fermentation system for production of biogas from solid organic material, the system including at least one fermentation reactor. The fermentation reactor includes a vessel (37) for housing a feed mixture having liquid and solid particles and an outlet port (44), a strainer assembly (33) at the outlet port for filtering processed feed mixture from the vessel, and a biogasification reactor (37) in fluid communication with another fermentation reactor, the other fermentation reactor configured to produce a biomethane. The strainer assembly further includes a mixture driving member (53) positioned in the strainer body (47) adjacent the drain opening (51), the mixture driving member having a driving surface configured to receive the liquid passing through the filter member (60). The driving surface engages the filter member such that solid particles are driven from a surface of the filter member when the driving member is activated.

Abstract: An anaerobic digester system for producing a biogas from organic material is disclosed. The system includes a hydrolysis reactor comprising therein acidogenic and hydrolytic bacterial culture for which the organic material is a hydrolysis substrate, a biogasification reactor comprising therein acetogenic and methanogenic bacterial culture, and a biostabilization reactor comprising therein a methanogenic bacterial culture. The operating conditions of the biostabilization reactor are tailored to increase the digestion rate and energy conversion efficiency of the system. A method of using the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fermentation system for production of biogas from solid organic material, the system including at least one fermentation reactor. The fermentation reactor includes a vessel (37) for housing a feed mixture having liquid and solid particles and an outlet port (44), a strainer assembly (33) at the outlet port for filtering processed feed mixture from the vessel, and a biogasification reactor (37) in fluid communication with another fermentation reactor, the other fermentation reactor configured to produce a biomethane. The strainer assembly further includes a mixture driving member (53) positioned in the strainer body (47) adjacent the drain opening (51), the mixture driving member having a driving surface configured to receive the liquid passing through the filter member (60). The driving surface engages the filter member such that solid particles are driven from a surface of the filter member when the driving member is activated.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the generation of methane by a two phase anaerobic phase system (APS) digestion of organic substrates. Also provided is a device for practicing the methods of the invention. The APS-digester system is a space-efficient, high-rate solids digestion system. The APS-digester system consists of one or more hydrolysis reactors, a buffer tank and one biogasification reactor.

Abstract: A multi-stage process and system for treating organic waste materials includes steps of hydrolyzing the materials in an anaerobic vessel, transferring the liquid product of hydrolysis to an anaerobic digester, and further decomposing the waste materials under aerobic conditions to yield a compost product usable as a soil amendment. Biogas produced by digestion of the hydrolysis liquid product may be burned to generate electricity or heat, and the liquid digester product may be recirculated for use as an inoculant to aid hydrolysis of subsequently processed batches of waste materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the generation of methane by a two phase anaerobic phase system (APS) digestion of organic substrates. Also provided is a device for practicing the methods of the invention. The APS-digester system is a space-efficient, high-rate solids digestion system. The APS-digester system consists of one or more hydrolysis reactors, a buffer tank and one biogasification reactor.

Abstract: A precision gas flow meter that is capable of measuring small flow rates of gasses precisely in the range of 0.01 to 10 L per minute. The meter is designed to measure the gas flow in small volume increments of predetermined value, and therefore can be used to measure a gas flow that is continuous or discontinuous. The flow meter can be used to measure the gas production rates from many processes, including biological reactors, chemical reactors, and thermal-chemical reactors. The device can also be used to meter the gases that are required in small or minute volumes.

Abstract: A precision gas flow meter that is capable of measuring small flow rates of gasses precisely in the range of 0.01 to 10 L per minute. The meter is designed to measure the gas flow in small volume increments of predetermined value, and therefore can be used to measure a gas flow that is continuous or discontinuous. The flow meter can be used to measure the gas production rates from many processes, including biological reactors, chemical reactors, and thermal-chemical reactors. The device can also be used to meter the gases that are required in small or minute volumes.

Abstract: A multi-stage process and system for treating organic waste materials includes steps of hydrolyzing the materials in an anaerobic vessel, transferring the liquid product of hydrolysis to an anaerobic digester, and further decomposing the waste materials under aerobic conditions to yield a compost product usable as a soil amendment. Biogas produced by digestion of the hydrolysis liquid product may be burned to generate electricity or heat, and the liquid digester product may be recirculated for use as an inoculant to aid hydrolysis of subsequently processed batches of waste materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated system for treatment of biodegradable waste, including sewage sludge, forestry waste, food waste, agricultural waste, municipal waste, and the like. The integrated system comprises an anaerobic reactor, at least one aerobic reactor, a filtration device, and a desalinization device.