Abstract: Use of a non-digestible oligosaccharide or salt thereof for producing an anti proliferative effect in a subject wherein the non-digestible oligosaccharide is of formulae (i) [A]-[B]n Formula 1 wherein A and B are each independently a five or six membered saccharide unit and n is 2 to 10.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A liquid fuel production process from cellulosic biomass comprises the following steps: (1) providing a mixture of cellulose and water; (2) subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis and catalytic hydrogenation under the presence of acid to obtain mono-sugar alcohol and optional solid material lignin, or subjecting the obtained mixture to hydrolysis to obtain monosaccharide; (3) esterifying the obtained mono-sugar with C2-C5 organic acid to obtain a liquid fuel II, or subjecting the obtained mono-sugar alcohol or monosaccharide to dehydration/hydrogenation to obtain an organic liquid fuel I consisting of alkanes. This process avoids the loss of organic carbon atoms during fermentation, and the sugar derived from cellulosic biomass can be converted to organic carbon in the liquid fuel. The lignin produced by the process can be used for preparing aromatics.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for conversion of cellulosic material, such as chopped straw and corn stover, and household waste, to ethanol and other products. The cellulosic material is subjected to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of chemicals, and a liquid and a fiber fraction are produced. The fiber fraction is subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. The method of the present invention comprises: performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation, and conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurized reactor, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fiber fraction and a liquid fraction; selecting the temperature and residence time for the hydrothermal pretreatment, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fiber fraction.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid or a base to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base or acid is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then hydrolyzed to produce an hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from a wash stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis, drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example, as a fertilizer.

Abstract: A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce an enzyme hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from either a stream obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock prior to the step of pretreating, a stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example as a fertilizer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating joined components, purifying liquid, promoting interaction between two or more components and improving combustion. The apparatus has a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor, a shaft coupled with the rotor and a prime mover for rotating the shaft. Fluid within the housing cavitates as the rotor rotates and the protrusions move through the fluid. Cavitation causes joined components within the fluid to separate, kills undesirable organisms within the fluid, promotes interaction of components within the fluid and improves combustion of a liquid fuel. The fluid and components may also be subjected to abrasion and centrifugal and impact forces for separating the components, purifying the fluid, promoting interaction of the components and improving combustion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing corn into one or more corn products including dextrose. In a preferred process, corn is processed and treated with solvent(s) to extract oil. The oil can be subsequently recovered using membrane technology. Zein may also be produced if the solvent is an alcohol. Starch in the deoiled meal is converted to dextrose by liquefaction and saccharification with enzymes. The reaction mixture containing the dextrose and other components is subjected to one or more unit operations such as screening, filtration, and/or membrane technology to produce one or more of corn gluten, soluble protein, dextrose, and fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is in the technical field of physicochemical starch modification and relates to a process for producing thermochemically modified starch, the thin-boiling starches which are obtainable by the inventive process and thermally reversible gel-forming dextrins, and to their use, in particular as gelatin substitute or fat substitute.

Abstract: Production of purified, parenterally administrable starch by washing starch containing more than 85% amylopectin in order to remove surface-localized proteins, lipids and endotoxins, subjecting the starch to a molecular weight reduction by acid hydrolysis, and optionally removing residual water-soluble proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substantially dry fine product comprising fructose, glucose, a sugar alcohol or mixture containing them, prepared by grinding the fructose, glucose, sugar alcohol or mixture containing them substantially autogenously in a counterjet mill and classifying the ground product to a mean particle size of 5-25 .mu.m. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such a fine product and to the use of the product to prepare chocolate or icing, a fondant, hard candy, chewing-gum and a chocolate or truffle filling, and as seed crystals in the production of fructose or said sugar alcohols.

Abstract: Simple and efficient methods for extracting high levels of .beta.-glucans from cereal sources are disclosed. The method employs a strong base, such as sodium hydroxide as an initial solvent. If desired, the extract can be further purified to render a .beta.-glucan preparation which can be used directly or stored for future use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soluble glucose polymer predominantly composed of 1-6 bonds, having a content of reducing sugars of less than 0.5%, as well as a content of products of mollecular weight less than or equal to 182 g, of less than 1%. The invention also relates to the process for preparing this glucose polymer, consisting in subjecting a glucose polymer to a hydrogenation stage and to a molecular sieving state so as to remove the products of molecular weight less than or equal to 182 g.

Abstract: A method of preparing reduced fat foods is provided which employs a fragmented, debranched amylopectin starch precipitate. A debranched amylopectin starch is precipitated and then fragmented to form an aqueous dispersion that is useful in replacing fat in a variety of food formulations. The debranched amylopectin starch can be derived from a starch which contains amylopectin, e.g. common corn starch and waxy maize starch, by gelatinizing the starch followed by treatment with a debranching enzyme, e.g. isoamylase or pullulanase and precipitation of the debranched starch.

Abstract: A method of preparing reduced fat foods is provided which employs a retrograded, hydrolyzed, heat-treated, and fragmented, amylose starch. Amylose is precipitated and hydrolyzed with acid or .alpha.-amylase, solubles are removed by a heat treatment and the resulting solids are then fragmented to form an aqueous dispersion that is useful in replacing fat in a variety of food formulations. The amylose can be derived from a native starch which contains amylose, e.g. common corn starch and high amylose corn starch, by gelatinizing the starch followed by precipitation of the amylose.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing a stable, opaque cloud in a fluid which employs partially debranched starch. This starch is prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of the alpha-1,6-D-glucosidic bonds of the starch to form a composition comprising amylopectin, partially debranched amylopectin and up to 65%, by weight, short chain amylose. This invention also provides starches that are useful for forming a stable, opaque cloud in a fluid and a method for preparing these starches, employing an endo-alpha-1,6-D-glucanohydrolase, such as pullulanase or isoamylase.

Abstract: A Penning type plasma discharge is formed in an inert gas between a cathode and anode. A carbon source such as graphite is heated to vaporization temperature, and vaporized carbon atoms caused to flow therefrom into the plasma where they are ionized. The inert gas supply is then removed, and the plasma discharge is sustained by the carbon vapor. A substrate is mounted adjacent to, and at the same electrical potential as, the cathode. With the potential of the plasma being maintained at approximately 70 to 100V relative to the substrate, carbon ions are attracted to and deposited on the substrate to form a diamond layer. The initial inert gas plasma discharge may be used to sputter-clean the surface of the substrate prior to diamond deposition. A dopant or other additive material may be injected into the carbon plasma, thereby enabling the fabrication of microelectric or other devices in the diamond layer.

Abstract: This invention provides partially debranched starch, prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of the alpha-1,6-D-glucosidic bonds of the starch, comprising amylopectin, partially debranched amylopectin and up to 80%, by weight, short chain amylose. This invention also provides a method for preparing this starch, employing an endo-alpha-1,6-D-glucanohydrolase. The starch of this invention is useful for lending a fat-like, lubricating texture to aqueous dispersions, forming stable opaque clouds, forming thermoreversible gels, high strength gels and water-resistant films, and for thickening and bonding.

Abstract: A substantially pure starch extracted from a starch bearing plant having a waxy floury-1 genotype is disclosed. Maize is the preferred plant. The starch exhibits properties similar to chemically modified starches. A sol and foodstuff containing the starch are also disclosed.

Abstract: A substantially pure starch extracted from a starch bearing plant having a dull horny genotype is disclosed. Maize is the preferred plant. The starch exhibits thin-thick properties similar to chemically modified starches. A sol and foodstuff containing the starch are also disclosed.

Abstract: A substantially pure starch extracted from a starch bearing plant having a waxy shrunken-1 genotype is disclosed. Maize is the preferred plant. The sols produced for such starch exhibits superior freeze-thaw stability compared to sols made from chemically modified starches. A thickener composition and foodstuff containing the starch are also disclosed.

Abstract: Low D.E. starch hydrolyzates which can be readily filtered are obtained from non-waxy starches by treatment with bacterial alpha-amylase for an extended period at a temperature above about 95.degree. C.

Abstract: Novel, highly useful, sweet fructose-containing syrups also containing fructooligosaccharides are provided herein by the partial or substantially complete hydrolysis of inulin. The process includes first providing an aqueous solution containing inulin from Jerusalem artichoke tubers or chicory roots. Then the warm aqueous solution of inulin is passed through a column containing a strong acid cation-exchange resin, thereby providing an effluent having a pH of about 2.0-about 3.0. The effluent is then hydrolyzed by heating at a temperature of about 70.degree.-about 100.degree. C., and the hydrolyzate is passed through a column containing of about 6.5-about 7.0. resin, thereby providing an effluent having a pH about 6.5-about 7.0. Optionally, after the hydrolysis step, the hydrolyzate is decolorized by contact with activated or granular charcoal. The effluent is then concentrated to a syrup containing less water than the effluent, e.g. one containing about 40-about 70% solids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and the product resulting from pretreating corn starch with calcium or sodium hypochlorite in a controlled manner wherein the starch in aqueous slurry at about 90.degree. to about 115.degree. F. is contacted with from about 0.1 to 6.0% chlorine based on the weight of starch to tenderize the starch which is thereafter filtered, washed, dried and dextrinized in conventional manner to produce dextrins having excellent clarity, luster and stability in aqueous solutions containing at least 30% by weight of solids.

Abstract: A method of modifying cereal starches to produce a clean, odor-free and without off-taste starch that does not develop objectional characteristics during storage. The modification process comprises an alkali treatment of the starch.

Abstract: A process of preparing a starch hydrolysate from wheat, barley or rye comprising the steps of contacting kernels of wheat, barley or rye with an aqueous solution to hydrate and soften the kernels, gently wet-milling the hydrated and softened kernels, separating fibres and pentosans attached thereto as well as germs and gluten from the wet-milled product to form a starch-containing slurry essentially free of insoluble pentosans, carefully washing the fraction to form a refined, starch-containing product, hydrolysing the refined product to form a starch hydrolysate and finally refining the hydrolysate.