Abstract: The invention is directed to a bitumen composition, to a paving, to a roofing, to a method for preparing a bitumen composition, to a method for increasing the stiffness of a bitumen composition, to a method of adjusting the physical properties of a bitumen composition, and to the use of a bitumen composition. The bitumen composition of the invention comprises a lignin compound or derivative thereof, wherein 10 wt. % or more by weight of said lignin compound or derivative thereof is molecularly dissolved in said bitumen composition.

Abstract: A method for the etherification of a carbohydrate is provided, by subjecting the carbohydrate to superheated steam under alkaline conditions in the presence of an etherification agent to obtain a carbohydrate ether.

Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch is described resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprises providing an alkaline starch having a pH, when measured in a 20% (w/v) aqueous dispersion, between 9.1 and 11.2, adjusting the water content of the starch to between 2 and 22 wt. %, heating the starch between 130 and 190° C., especially between 140 and 180° C., for a sufficient time and at a sufficient pressure for the inhibition of the starch to be initiated before the water content has reached a level of 1 wt. % and before the pH has reached a value of 9, continuing heating the starch between 140 and 190° C. until viscostability is achieved, and cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: A colourless resistant starch is produced by a process comprising (i) suspending starch in a C2-C4 alcohol, in particular ethanol, in the presence of 0.01-3.0% (w/w) of acid based on the starch; (ii) heating the suspended starch at a temperature of 70-160° C., in particular 78-120° C., and (c) isolating the resulting product. The resulting starch has a resistant fraction of at least 20%.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bitumen composition, to a paving, to a roofing, to a method for preparing a bitumen composition, to a method for increasing the stiffness of a bitumen composition, to a method of adjusting the physical properties of a bitumen composition, and to the use of a bitumen composition. The bitumen composition of the invention comprises a lignin compound or derivative thereof, wherein 10 wt. % or more by weight of said lignin compound or derivative thereof is molecularly dissolved in said bitumen composition.

Abstract: Method for preparing a branched glucan having a chain comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and a plurality of side-groups linked to said chain via another type of glycoside bonding, which side-groups comprise one or more glucose units, the method comprising contacting a glucose source with a polysaccharide—which polysaccharide is a glucan comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and is essentially linear or branched to a lesser extent than the branched glucan that is to be prepared—in the presence of an acid catalyst under polycondensation conditions, thereby forming the branched glucan.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for processing biomass derived from plants or animals, comprising the steps of: a. pre treating said material with an aqueous solution of acid or base; b. subsequently passaging saturated or super heated steam through said material, wherein the water activity of the process is controlled by means of temperature and pressure of the super heated steam to be less than 1, preferably less than 0.8, more preferably in the range of 0.4-0.8. With such a process it is possible to disintegrate or make more accessible for subsequent treatments the lignocellulose from lignocellulose containing materials, like wood or other plant material, chitin from exoskeletons from Crustacea like crabs and shrimps, and proteins such as keratin from pig hair or chicken feather, for further derivation, like acylation, oxidation, etherification, carboxymethylation or esterification, or further enzymatic hydrolysis, and/or for production of chemicals, e.g.

Abstract: A colourless resistant starch is produced by a process comprising (i) suspending starch in a C2-C4 alcohol, in particular ethanol, in the presence of 0.01-3.0% (w/w) of acid based on the starch; (ii) heating the suspended starch at a temperature of 70-160° C., in particular 78-120° C., and (c) isolating the resulting product. The resulting starch has a resistant fraction of at least 20%.

Abstract: A food is modified by adding bran that has been treated with super-heated steam (SHS) to the food, or replacing the bran that already was present in the food by a cereal bran that has been treated with SHS. The SHS-treated cereal bran may or may not have undergone a pre-treatment with acid, base or water. The SHS-treated cereal bran and food products including such SHS-treated cereal bran have enhanced nutritional value.

Abstract: A process for producing thermally inhibited starch is described resulting in a viscostable starch product. The process comprises providing an alkaline starch having a pH, when measured in a 20% (w/v) aqueous dispersion, between 9.1 and 11.2, adjusting the water content of the starch to between 2 and 22 wt. %, heating the starch between 130 and 190° C., especially between 140 and 180° C., for a sufficient time and at a sufficient pressure for the inhibition of the starch to be initiated before the water content has reached a level of 1 wt. % and before the pH has reached a value of 9, continuing heating the starch between 140 and 190° C. until viscostability is achieved, and cooling and optionally further processing the starch.

Abstract: Method for preparing a branched glucan having a chain comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and a plurality of side-groups linked to said chain via another type of glycoside bonding, which side-groups comprise one or more glucose units, the method comprising contacting a glucose source with a polysaccharide—which polysaccharide is a glucan comprising a plurality of glucose units linked by alpha 1,4-glycoside bonds and is essentially linear or branched to a lesser extent than the branched glucan that is to be prepared—in the presence of an acid catalyst under polycondensation conditions, thereby forming the branched glucan.

Abstract: Esterification of a carbohydrate using an acylating agent can effectively be performed using a process comprising: (a) combining the carbohydrate with the acylating agent, (b) adjusting the moisture content of the combination below 40 wt. %, and (c) subjecting the combination to superheated steam. The carbohydrate is especially starch and the acylating agent is in particular an acid, such as an organic acid, amino acid, or diacid.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in an applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing anti-caries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing antdaries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for processing biomass derived from plants or animals, comprising the steps of: a. pre treating said material with an aqueous solution of acid or base; b. subsequently passaging saturated or super heated steam through said material, wherein the water activity of the process is controlled by means of temperature and pressure of the super heated steam to be less than 1, preferably less than 0.8, more preferably in the range of 0.4-0.8. With such a process it is possible to disintegrate or make more accessible for subsequent treatments the lignocellulose from lignocellulose containing materials, like wood or other plant material, chitin from exoskeletons from Crustacea like crabs and shrimps, and proteins such as keratin from pig hair or chicken feather, for further derivation, like acylation, oxidation, etherification, carboxymethylation or esterification, or further enzymatic hydrolysis, and/or for production of chemicals, e.g.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a barrier composition, to a vehicle comprising said barrier composition, to a layer comprising said barrier composition, to a foodstuff comprising said vehicle or layer, to a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition comprising said vehicle or layer, to a method for protecting one or more active ingredients, and to the use of said barrier composition. The barrier composition of the invention comprises: a hydrophobic organic phase; and 0.1-75 vol. %, based on the total volume of the barrier composition, of biodegradable solid plate-like particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in an applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing anti-caries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications.

Abstract: Filters used in the beverage industry fouled by polyphenol-protein complexes and carbohydrate polymers can be cleaned by treating the filters either with the following methods: Solubilization of at least part of the carbohydrate polymers followed by a treatment of the resulting polyphenol protein complex with an oxidative chemical. Treatment of the fouled filters through a back-wash method using an oxidative chemical. In both cases it is not necessary to rinse the membranes after cleaning with a reductive chemical.

Abstract: Esterification of a carbohydrate using an acylating agent can effectively be performed using a process comprising: (a) combining the carbohydrate with the acylating agent, (b) adjusting the moisture content of the combination below 40 wt. %, and (c) subjecting the combination to superheated steam. The carbohydrate is especially starch and the acylating agent is in particular an acid, such as an organic acid, amino acid, or diacid.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hybrid inducible release vehicle, to a method for preparing such a vehicle, and to the use thereof. The hybrid inducible release vehicle of the invention comprises a gel, which gel comprises a cross-linked carbohydrate and/or protein polymer and an inorganic carrier, and at least one active ingredient bound to said inorganic carrier, wherein the release of the active ingredient is triggered by contact of the vehicle with an external stimulus.