Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous fermentation medium comprising sulphur in the form of at least one thiocarboxylate, wherein the thiocarboxylate has a chemical structure of Formula I and R?H, alkyl, COOH, COSH, and wherein the alkyl groups may also contain OH, COSH and/or COOH and wherein the concentration of the thiocarboxylate is 2 to 20 mg/L in the fermentation medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of general formula I The present invention also relates to a method of producing N-acetyl homoserine and/or derivatives thereof, the method comprising contacting at least one recombinant cell in an aqueous medium with acetate wherein the recombinant cell comprises an increased activity relative to a wild type cell of (a) an enzyme E1, a homoserine dehydrogenase (EC1.1.1.3) and/or an enzyme E5, an aspartokinase (EC2.7.2.4); and (b) an enzyme E2, a homoserine O-acetyl transferase (EC2.3.1.31) and the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 0.001 g/L in the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of extracting an alkanoic acid and/or ester there of from an aqueous medium, the method comprising: (a) contacting the alkanoic acid and/or ester thereof in the aqueous medium with at least one extracting medium for a time sufficient to extract the alkanoic acid and/or ester thereof from the aqueous medium into the extracting medium, (b) separating the extracting medium with the extracted alkanoic acid and/or ester thereof from the aqueous medium wherein the extracting medium comprises: -a mixture of at least one alkyl-phosphine oxide, preferably Trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO), and at least one alkane wherein the alkane comprises at least 12 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing propanol and/or propionic acid, the method comprising: (b) contacting at least one propionogen to carbon dioxide and to an aqueous medium comprising ethanol and acetate; wherein the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 1 g/L in the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of general formula I The present invention also relates to a method of producing N-acetyl homoserine and/or derivatives thereof, the method comprising contacting at least one recombinant cell in an aqueous medium with acetate wherein the recombinant cell comprises an increased activity relative to a wild type cell of (a) an enzyme E1, a homoserine dehydrogenase (EC1.1.1.3) and/or an enzyme E5, an aspartokinase (EC2.7.2.4); and (b) an enzyme E2, a homoserine O-acetyl transferase (EC2.3.1.31) and the acetate is maintained at a concentration of at least about 0.001 g/L in the aqueous medium.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing aminohexanoic acid and/or aminohexanoic acid ester from synthesis gas, the method comprising: A. contacting the synthesis gas with at least one bacteria capable of carrying out the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway and the ethanol-carboxylate fermentation to produce hexanoic acid; and B. contacting the hexanoic acid with a genetically modified cell to produce aminohexanoic acid and/or aminohexanoic acid ester, wherein the genetically modified cell has an increased activity, in comparison with its wild type, of alkane monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and ?-transaminase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing at least one alcohol from a carbon source, the method comprising: (a) producing the alcohol in an aqueous medium under aerobic conditions; and (b) extracting the alcohol from step (a) from the aqueous medium by: (bi) contacting the alcohol in the aqueous medium with at least one extracting medium for a time sufficient to extract the alcohol from the aqueous medium into the extracting medium, (bii) separating the extracting medium with the extracted alcohol from the aqueous medium wherein the extracting medium comprises:—oleyl alcohol; or—polypropylene glycol and an alkane wherein the alcohol comprises at least 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A preform suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container comprises: a neck portion; a base portion; and a body portion extending between the neck portion and the base portion; the body portion being defined between an inner surface having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and an outer surface also having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape, the inner and outer surfaces being non-concentric, such that a wall thickness of the body portion varies circumferentially around the preform. A preform handling apparatus for retrieving a preform from a mold comprises a take-off device having a preform carrier and a take-off device alignment mechanism for maintaining the preform carrier in alignment with a contact surface of a body portion of the preform regardless of any offset between a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical outer surface of the body portion and a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical inner surface of the body portion.

Abstract: There is provided a method of oxidising at least one organic substance in aerobic conditions to produce at least one alcohol, amine, acid, aldehyde, and/or ketone, the method comprising: (a) producing ethanol and/or acetate from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, comprising (i) contacting the carbon source with a reaction mixture comprising —a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; —free oxygen; and —a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase, wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol; and (b) contacting the acetate and/or ethanol from step (a) with the organic substance and with a third microorganism capable of oxidising the organic substance to produce the alcohol, amine, acid, aldehyde, and/or ketone and wherein the acetate is a co-substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing at least one alkane, the method comprising, —producing at least one carboxylic acid from a carbon source using a genetically modified microorganism, and —performing Kolbe electrolysis on the carboxylic acid to produce the alkane, wherein the alkane comprises at least 6 carbon atoms and the carboxylic acid comprises at least 4 carbon atoms and wherein the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, hexanoate and combinations thereof and the microorganism is capable of producing the carboxylic acid using ethanol-carboxylate fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing propanol and/or propionic acid from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, the method comprising: (a) step of producing ethanol and/or acetate from the carbon source in aerobic conditions, comprising (i) contacting a reaction mixture comprising a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; free oxygen; and a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol; and (b) step of contacting the acetate and/or ethanol from step (a) with a third microorganism capable of converting the acetate and/or ethanol to propanol and/or propionic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing at least one amino acid from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, the method comprising: (a)step of producing ethanol and/or acetate from the carbon source in aerobic conditions, comprising (i)contacting a reaction mixture comprising—a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; —free oxygen; and —a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol; and (b)step of contacting the acetate and/or ethanol from step (a) with a third microorganism capable of converting the acetate and/or ethanol to at least one amino acid.

Abstract: A reaction mixture for producing ethanol and/or acetate from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, wherein the mixture comprises a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; free oxygen; and a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing at least one rhamnolipid comprising: (a) contacting a recombinant cell with a medium containing a carbon source; wherein the recombinant cell has been genetically modified such that, compared to the wild-type of the cell, the cell has an increased activity of at least one of the enzymes E1, E2 and E3, wherein the enzyme E1 is an ?/? hydrolase (RHIA), the enzyme E2 is a rhamnosyltransferase I (RHIB) and the enzyme E3 is a rhamnosyltransferase II (RHIC), and wherein the carbon source is an alkane and/or alkanoic acid comprising 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided a mixed culture of a first and second microorganism in an aqueous medium, wherein the first microorganism is an acetogenic microorganism capable of converting a carbon source comprising CO and/or CO2 to acetate and/or ethanol, the second microorganism is a non-acetogenic microorganism capable of metabolising acetate and/or ethanol and the first and second microorganisms are in a homogenous mixture and wherein the aqueous medium comprises oxygen. There is also provided a method of producing substituted and/or unsubstituted organic compounds using the mixed culture.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing aminohexanoic acid and/or aminohexanoic acid ester from synthesis gas, the method comprising: A. contacting the synthesis gas with at least one bacteria capable of carrying out the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway and the ethanol-carboxylate fermentation to produce hexanoic acid; and B. contacting the hexanoic acid with a genetically modified cell to produce aminohexanoic acid and/or aminohexanoic acid ester, wherein the genetically modified cell has an increased activity, in comparison with its wild type, of alkane monooxygenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and ?-transaminase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing valeric acid, heptanoic acid, esters and/or salts thereof from a carbon source, the method comprising a step of contacting at least one microorganism with the carbon source in an aqueous medium, wherein the carbon source is ethanol and propionic acid and the concentration of propionic acid is about ?10 g/L.

Abstract: A reaction mixture for producing ethanol and/or acetate from a carbon source in aerobic conditions, wherein the mixture comprises a first acetogenic microorganism in an exponential growth phase; free oxygen; and a second acetogenic microorganism in a stationary phase wherein the first and second acetogenic microorganism is capable of converting the carbon source to the acetate and/or ethanol.