Abstract: Provided herein is a method of producing C11, C12, and C13 nylon precursors from oleic acid or esters of oleic acid, the method involving amide formation, ring-closing metathesis, and hydrogenation. Further provided are the products of the method described. Provided herein is a method for producing a lactam, the method comprising the steps of converting oleic acid or an ester of oleic acid into an amide having a general formula of H3C—(CH2)rCH?CH—(CH2)rCONR—(CH2)n—CH?CH2, wherein n is 1, 2, or 3, and R is either hydrogen or benzyl; subjecting the amide to a ring-closing metathesis reaction to produce an intermediate having a general formula of —(CH2)rCONR—(CH2) n—CH?CH2—, wherein n is 1, 2, or 3, R is either hydrogen or benzyl, and both ends are connected to each other; and hydrogenating the intermediate to produce a saturated lactam. In certain embodiments, the saturated lactam has a formula of —NH—(CH2) 10—CO—.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: A harvesting device and methods of harvesting (i.e., dewatering) algae are described. The harvesting device and methods involve the use of stimuli-sensitive hydrogels.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for fatty acid alkanolamide (FAAA) synthesis and isolation from lipid-containing algal biomass, and the products of such methods.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: Facile methods for high-yield furfural and HMF production from biomass sugars are described. The methods generally involve converting the biomass sugars in high yield to their ketose isomers, resulting in furan production under low temperature and pressure conditions with efficient recycling of the process streams.

Abstract: Methods for the recovery of lipids, sugars, and proteins from microbial biomass by enzymatic digestion are disclosed. The methods involve treating microalgae with a fungal acid protease, or with a mixture of at least one protease and at least one amylase.

Abstract: Systems for converting aldose sugars to ketose sugars and separating and/or concentrating these sugars using differences in the sugars' abilities to bind to specific affinity ligands are described.

Abstract: Systems for converting aldose sugars to ketose sugars and separating and/or concentrating these sugars using differences in the sugars' abilities to bind to specific affinity ligands are described.

Abstract: Methods for production of multiple biofuels through thermal fractionation of biomass feedstocks are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for recovering ionic liquids used in the treatment of biomass for production of biofuels and other biomass-based products. Ionic liquid recovery and purification minimizes waste production and enhances process profitability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for lignocellulosic conversion to sugar using an ionic liquid pretreatment for the saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Thus, cellulose, hemicellulose, when hydrolyzed into their sugars, can be converted to ethanol fuel through well-established fermentation technologies. These sugars also form the feedstocks for production of a variety of chemical and polymers. The complex structure of the biomass required pretreatment to enable efficient saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose components to their constituent sugars.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have an inner of a xylose isomerase having a pH of 6 or above, and an outer region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: Systems for converting aldose sugars to ketose sugars and separating and/or concentrating these sugars using differences in the sugars' abilities to bind to specific affinity ligands are described.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for recovering the liquids used in pretreatment of biomass for production of bio-fuels and other biomass based products. Liquid recovery and purifications minimizes waste production and enhances process profitability.

Abstract: Dissolution, partial dissolution or softening of cellulose in an ionic liquid (IL) and its subsequent contact with anti-solvent produces regenerated cellulose more amorphous in structure than native cellulose, which can be separated from the IL/anti-solvent mixture by mechanical means such as simple filtration or centrifugation. This altered morphology of IL-treated cellulose allows a greater number of sites for enzyme adsorption with a subsequent enhancement of its saccharification. The IL-treated cellulose exhibits significantly improved hydrolysis kinetics with optically transparent solutions formed after about two hours of reaction. This provides an opportunity for separation of products from the catalyst (enzyme) easing enzyme recovery. With an appropriate selection of enzymes, initial hydrolysis rates for IL-treated cellulose were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those of untreated cellulose.

Abstract: A method for lignocellulose conversion to sugar with improvements in yield and rate of sugar production has been developed by using ionic liquid pretreatment. This new pretreatment strategy substantially improves the efficiency (in terms of yield and reaction rates) of saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Cellulose and hemicellulose, when hydrolyzed into their sugars, can be converted into ethanol fuel through well established fermentation technologies. These sugars also form the feedstocks for production of variety of chemicals and polymers. The complex structure of biomass requires proper pretreatment to enable efficient saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose components to their constituent sugars. Current pretreatment approaches suffer from slow reaction rates of cellulose hydrolysis (by using the enzyme cellulase) and low yields.

Abstract: A method for lignocellulose conversion to sugar with improvements in yield and rate of sugar production has been developed by using ionic liquid pretreatment. This new pretreatment strategy substantially improves the efficiency (in terms of yield and reaction rates) of saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass. Cellulose and hemicellulose, when hydrolyzed into their sugars, can be converted into ethanol fuel through well established fermentation technologies. These sugars also form the feedstocks for production of variety of chemicals and polymers. The complex structure of biomass requires proper pretreatment to enable efficient saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose components to their constituent sugars. Current pretreatment approaches suffer from slow reaction rates of cellulose hydrolysis (by using the enzyme cellulase) and low yields.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and/or fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars are disclosed.