Abstract: A method is presented for spray-drying whole microorganisms of Fusarium lateritium, Methylophilus methylotrophus, and Pseudomonas putida under conditions that the activity of cyanide hydratase, amidase and D-2-haloalkanoic acid halidohydrolase respectively are retained.

Abstract: A solar steam generator has a hollow steam rotor mounted for rotation in a closed compartment located within a larger housing. The rotor is made of heat conductive material and is supplied with water or other working fluid through an inlet at its central hub. A plurality of steam jet outlets are located around the periphery of the rotor; and they are oriented to cause the rotor to spin as the water or working fluid inside is heated to a boiling temperature. To cause the fluid in the rotor to boil, Fresnel lenses, located in an open end of the housing, focus heat from the sun onto the rotor and the chamber in which it is located. Steam and fluid which exit from the nozzles is recovered in the sealed chamber and is returned through a condenser-reservoir, from which it is supplied back to the water inlet of the rotor.

Abstract: Peroxide, particularly supplied as hydrogen peroxide, is an effective nucleic acid degrading agent and can be used in the recovery of intracellularly produced materials from cell (particularly bacterial) lysates. The degradation or removal of nucleic acids from cell lysates is important because they form solutions of high viscosity which interfere with subsequent processing. Peroxide degradation is particularly useful in the recovery of polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate/valerate from lysates of bacterial cells in which they are produced.

Abstract: Melt processed articles of improved color and odor can be produced from hydroxyalkanoic acid polymers if they are melt processed in the presence of a temperature stable sulphite salt, and compositions for use in such processes are disclosed.