Abstract: This invention provides processes and apparatus to convert biomass, including wood and agricultural residues, into low-ash biomass pellets for combustion, alone or in combination with another solid fuel. Some embodiments provide processes for producing low-ash biomass from cellulosic biomass, comprising providing an aqueous extraction solution with acetic acid; extracting the feedstock to produce an extract liquor containing soluble ash, hemicellulosic oligomers, acetic acid, dissolved lignin, and cellulose-rich solids; dewatering and drying the cellulose-rich, lignin-rich solids to produce a low-ash biomass; hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers to produce hemicellulosic sugars, wherein additional acetic acid is generated; removing a vapor stream comprising vaporized acetic acid from the extract; and recycling the vapor or its condensate to provide some starting acetic acid for the extraction solution. The disclosed processes can produce clean power from biomass.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a process for the improved hydrolysis of glucans to glucose wherein a portion of the glucose is removed from the process to improve the yield of glucose.

Abstract: A static solid state bioreactor and method of using same. The bioreactor comprises a vessel having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having a sealable opening. A gas distribution system in communication with the upper end and the lower end of the vessel. A liquid distribution system in communication with the upper end of the vessel. A liquid recovery system in communication with the lower end of the vessel. A material removal system disposed at the lower end of the vessel for removing biomass from the vessel.

Abstract: There are provided a novel ribitol dehydrogenase, a residue determining double coenzyme specificity, and a method for preparing L-ribulose using the same, and more particularly, to a ribitol dehydrogenase producing rare sugars, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, a vector including the nucleic acid molecules, a transformant including the vector, a mutant of the ribitol dehydrogenase, and a method for preparing L-ribulose using the ribitol dehydrogenase. The ribitol dehydrogenase having double coenzyme specificity, which is derived from Zymomonas mobilis, can effectively be used for preparing high-priced rare sugars and an investigation of coenzyme specificity determinants for the ribitol dehydrogenase is applied for all of dedydrogenases as a based technique.

Abstract: A method for fractionating a lignocellulosic material, the method comprising; contacting (2) the lignocellulosic material with an ionic liquid (3) and dissolving the lignocellulosic material therein, providing a second liquid (7) which is immiscible with the ionic liquid and is also a non-solvent for cellulose, adding the second liquid to the ionic liquid so as to form a biphasic system (6) which comprises an ionic liquid phase essentially free of lignocellulose and a second liquid phase comprising lignin in solution and cellulose as a precipitate, separating the two phases and recovering (8) the precipitated cellulose from the separated second liquid phase.

Abstract: A method for producing ?-glucanase and xylanase which includes the step of culturing a microorganism classified under the genus Trichoderma using a liquid culture medium which contains (a) a pulp derived from paper which has not been subjected to heat treatment nor alkali treatment as a carbon source, and (b) an ammonia nitrogen or an amino nitrogen as a nitrogen source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A food product comprising digestion resistant or slowly digestible oligosaccharide composition. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process comprising producing an aqueous composition comprising at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process comprising heating an aqueous feed composition with a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, comprising at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the expression of recombinant ?-glucosidase variants, as well as their use in the production of fermentable sugars from cellulosic biomass.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid includes concentrating an aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution with a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane, wherein the concentration is carried out after adding a water-soluble anionic polymer to the aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution to remove a fermentation inhibitor(s) into a permeate side of the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides fungal xylanase and/or beta-xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce xylanase and/or beta-xylosidases, as well as enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to fermentable sugars, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and methods for producing fermentable sugars from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.

Abstract: A method of separating a lignin-rich solid phase from a solution, comprising: pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass with a pretreatment fluid having to remove soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles; separating the pretreated lignocellulosic biomass from the pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles; flocculating the separated pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles using PEO or CPAM as a flocculating agent; and filtering the flocculated separated pretreatment fluid with soluble components, colloidal material and primarily lignin containing particles to remove agglomerates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-cellulase enzyme composition for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass said composition comprising a cellobiohydrolase (CBH) enzyme, an endoglucanase (EG) enzyme and a ?-glucosidase (BG) enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention is to enhance the stability and enzyme activity of an L-arabitol dehydrogenase derived from Neurospora crassa using techniques from quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics and partial mutation techniques. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing an L-arabitol dehydrogenase in which a residue which affects enzyme stability is found through a screening based on quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics, and enzyme activity is enhanced by mutation of the found residue, nucleic acid molecules encoding the L-arabitol dehydrogenase, a vector including the nucleic acid molecules, a transformant including the vector, a mutant of the L-arabitol dehydrogenase and an improved L-arabitol dehydrogenase.

Abstract: An improved pre-hydrolysis step involving exposing water insoluble pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, with and without enzymes is disclosed. After exposing the water insoluble pre-treated ligno-cellulosic biomass to vacuum conditions, enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted on the pre-treated material. The result is an increased yield of glucose and often xylose after the enzymatic hydrolysis when compared to a composition which has not been exposed to vacuum conditions.

Abstract: A method for producing an aqueous sugar solution from cellulosic materials comprising the steps of heating ground cellulosic materials with perchloric acid; neutralizing the heated materials with an alkali to yield a salt precipitate; and filtering the salt precipitate off to obtain the aqueous sugar solution.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having catalase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods that involve degrading materials that include lignin. In one aspect, the method generally includes contacting a lignin sample with a lignin depolymerase and contacting the lignin sample with an auxiliary compound. In another aspect, the method generally includes contacting an auxiliary compound with a sample that includes uncleaved lignin macromolecules and at least partially cleaved lignin components in intermolecular association with other lignin components and/or at least a portion of the uncleaved lignin macromolecules. In both aspects, the auxiliary compound dissociates at least partially cleaved lignin components from one another and/or the uncleaved lignin macromolecules.

Abstract: Fusion proteins including a type-II cohesin module that are capable of integrating into native and designer cellulosomes. ?-glucosidases modified to include a type-II cohesin module and polynucleotides encoding same. Multi-enzyme complexes including the fusion proteins, and methods for biomass degradation utilizing same.

Abstract: A process for pretreating a solid, cellulose-containing biomass material which pretreatment comprises contacting the solid biomass material with an Ionic Liquid medium under sub-solvating conditions. The pretreatment results in an opening up of the texture of the solid biomass material, while no or a limited amount of biomass material is dissolved. The Ionic Liquid medium preferably is an inorganic molten salt hydrate. The pretreated biomass material can be as a feedstock in any process that benefits from the change in texture resulting from the pretreatment.

Abstract: A method for on-farm processing a biomass feedstock into a useful industrial chemicals includes the steps of (a) delignifying the biomass feedstock to produce a delignified biomass, (b) subjecting the delignified biomass to cellulase production, (c) subjecting the delignified biomass with attached cellulase to simultaneous cellulolytic and solventogenic reactions to produce useful industrial chemicals (d) collecting and separating the useful industrial chemical from the fermentation broth and (e) collecting the fermentation residues.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a methanol metabolic pathway that can enhance the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of methanol. Such reducing equivalents can be used to increase the product yield of organic compounds produced by the microbial organism, such as adipate, 6-aminocaproate, hexamethylenediamine or caprolactam. Also provided herein are methods for using such an organism to produce adipate, 6-aminocaproate, hexamethylenediamine or caprolactam.

Abstract: A microbial consortium comprises of an Aureobasidium sp. to metabolise a sugar substrate into fructooligosaccaride, glucose and fructose and a Pachysolen sp to metabolise the glucose and the fructose into ethanol.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to polypeptides and polynucleotides from multiple species related to the O-acetylation of polysaccharides in plants. The disclosure also describes plants with reduced polysaccharide O-acetylation, methods related to the generation of plants with reduced polysaccharide O-acetylation, polysaccharides with reduced O-acetylation, and methods of using plants and polysaccharides having reduced O-acetylation.

Abstract: A DNA molecule comprising a fungal gene encoding an enzyme protein capable of converting L-galactonic acid into L-threo-3-deoxy-hexulosonic acid has been cloned and heterologously expressed. The enzyme is involved in the metabolic conversion of sugar acids, which are present in biological waste material such as sugar beet pulp and other pectin comprising material. A microorganism genetically modified to effectively express said enzyme may be used in fermenting biomaterial to desired end products such as ethanol. Alternatively, microorganisms in which the gene has been inactivated may be used to produce L-galactonic acid, which accumulates when the expression of the gene is prevented.

Abstract: A novel polyol oxidase is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Penicillium and is specified by the properties (a) to (e): (a) it has a stable pH of 6.0 or higher and an optimum reaction pH of from 7.0 to 9.0; (b) it has an operating temperature of 50° C. or lower and an optimum reaction temperature of 40° C.; (c) it has a molecular weight of about 113 kDa; (d) it specifically recognizes the structure of a polyol in which the OH groups at positions 2 and 3 are in the L-erythro configuration and reacts with the polyol, but cannot recognize the structure of a polyol in which the OH group at position 4 is in the L-ribo configuration and does not react with the polyol; and (e) it has substrate specificity for D-arabitol, erythritol, D-mannitol, and D-sorbitol, which are listed in descending order of specificity.

Abstract: A method of creating an extract of myceliated agricultural product for human consumption includes providing an agricultural substrate such as rice, where the agricultural substrate has been inoculated by liquid media comprising an aliquot of culture derived from liquid-state fermentation. The culture being selected from the group consisting of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota fungi. Next, the step of enabling mycelium growth on the substrate by controlling temperature, humidity and sterility of the environment. After mycelium growth on the substrate reaches a desired stage, then the step of boiling the substrate in water and separating the water-substrate mixture into aqueous component and non-aqueous components creates an extraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbonic acid-enriched growth medium. The carbonic acid may, for example be provided by feeding the photosynthetic plant cell suspension culture with a carbonic acid solution, a solid or liquid precursor thereof, or a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and one or more other gases. The invention also provides a method for producing a photosynthetic product, the method comprising maintaining a photosynthetic plant or algal cell suspension culture, in the presence of water, light and a carbon source selected from carbon dioxide and carbonic acid, wherein the culture is maintained at a pH of less than 7.0, preferably 4.5 to 5.5.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to variant CBH I polypeptides that have reduced product inhibition, and compositions, e.g., cellulase compositions, comprising variant CBH I polypeptides. The variant CBH I polypeptides and related compositions can be used in variety of agricultural and industrial applications. The present disclosure further relates to nucleic acids encoding variant CBH I polypeptides and host cells that recombinantly express the variant CBH I polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a carbohydrate-binding module amino acid sequence and an alpha-amylase amino acid sequence as well as to the application of such polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, compositions and methods for the conversion of lignocellulosic material to recalcitrant cellulose and hydrolyzed sugars and products produced therefrom (e.g., biofuel, nano-fibrillated cellulose). In particular, the invention provides novel fractionation processes configured to integrate production of hydrolyzed sugars (e.g., for biofuel production) and recalcitrant cellulose (e.g., for nano-fibrillated cellulose production) from lignocellulosic material and methods of using the same (e.g., in the production of biofuel and nano-fibrillated cellulose). The invention is also directed to nanocellulose with morphologies of having a less entangled and slightly branched fibril network, and having the same thermal stability as of that of the initial lignocellulose feedstock.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling and processing materials are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are variants of Humicola grisea Cel7A (CBH1.1), H. jecorina CBH1 variant or S. thermophilium CBH1, nucleic acids encoding the same and methods for producing the same. The variant cellulases have the amino acid sequence of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 7A wherein one or more amino acid residues are substituted.

Abstract: There are provided a novel ribitol dehydrogenase, a residue determining double coenzyme specificity, and a method for preparing L-ribulose using the same, and more particularly, to a ribitol dehydrogenase producing rare sugars, nucleic acid molecules encoding the same, a vector including the nucleic acid molecules, a transformant including the vector, a mutant of the ribitol dehydrogenase, and a method for preparing L-ribulose using the ribitol dehydrogenase. The ribitol dehydrogenase having double coenzyme specificity, which is derived from Zymomonas mobilis, can effectively be used for preparing high-priced rare sugars and an investigation of coenzyme specificity determinants for the ribitol dehydrogenase is applied for all of dedydrogenases as a based technique.

Abstract: A transformed microorganism capable of converting an aldopentose to a ketopentose at a higher rate than the equivalent microorganism prior to transformation.

Abstract: A method for the production of an arabinoxylan-enriched preparation from a pentosan fraction derived from a wheat flour comprising the following sequential steps: mixing the pentosan fraction with water to obtain a pentosan slurry; centrifuging the slurry to obtain liquid and solid phases; and drying the liquid phase to provide the arabinoxylan-enriched preparation. Also provided are methods for the production of: a starch- and protein-enriched intermediate from wheat flour; a glucose-enriched preparation from wheat flour; and a starch- and protein-enriched material from wheat flour. Furthermore, there is provided a use of an arabinoxylan-enriched preparation in one or more of: food, immune stimulants, prebiotics, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and food supplements. There is also an apparatus for the production of an arabinoxylan-enriched preparation from a pentosan fraction of wheat flour.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel marine microorganism which can metabolize 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and use of the same. The novel marine microorganism belongs to Vibrio sp. which utilizes 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose (3,6-L-AHG) as a single carbon source to convert 3,6-L-AHG to ribose and 3,6-anhydrogalactonic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: In some variations, the invention provides a process for fractionating biomass, comprising: fractionating the biomass in the presence of a solvent for lignin, sulfur dioxide, and water, to produce a liquor containing hemicellulose, cellulose-rich solids, and lignin; hydrolyzing the hemicellulose contained in the liquor, to produce hemicellulosic monomers; hydrolyzing the cellulose-rich solids to produce glucose; and recovering the hemicellulosic monomers and the glucose, as fermentable sugars, wherein a metal sulfite or metal bisulfite additive is introduced to react directly or indirectly with lignin to produce sulfonated lignin. The disclosed processes may enhance lignin separations as well as promote the co-product potential of lignin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified actinobacteria for the production of an enzyme having chitosanase activity. The genetically modified actinobacteria have a reduced (or abolished) activity of the CsnR polypeptide. Such reduced activity can be obtained by reducing the capacity of expressing the csnR gene, its corresponding transcript or expressing a dominant-negative CsnR polypeptide. Such genetically modified actinobacteria are less dependent (and, in some embodiment, totally independent) on the presence of chitosan in the culture medium for producing an enzyme having chitosanase activity. In addition, the genetically modified bacteria produce less proteases in the culture medium and ultimately provide a chitosanase end-product with higher purity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Non-food plant biomass is subjected hot-water extraction in a pressurized vessel at an elevated temperature up to about 250° C. without addition of reagents, to yield an aqueous extract containing hemicellulosic components and a lignocellulosic residue. The process leaves the lignocellulose substantially intact, but with the hemicellulosic content largely removed. The separated aqueous extract or liquor is concentrated and purified, and long-chain sugars are reduced into monomer saccharides. The lignocellulosic residue may be further processed, to yield a useful fibrous material that is highly resistant to sorption of water. This material may be used for composite materials that resist water degradation, or may be used to produce a higher thermal-yield, water-resistant fuel, or may be used as bioconversion feedstock for producing high-value, lignocellulosic derivatives.

Abstract: A process for the fermentative production of at least one organic compound having at least 3 C atoms or having at least 2 C atoms and at least one 1 N atom, comprising the following steps: a1) milling a starch feedstock, thus obtaining a millbase which comprises at least part of the nonstarchy solid constituents of the starch feedstock; a2) suspending the millbase in an aqueous liquid and hydrolysis of the starch portion in the millbase by enzymatic liquefaction and, if appropriate, subsequent saccharification, whereby a first liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides is obtained; and b) addition of the liquid (1) which comprises mono- or oligosaccharides together with metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharides or together with a composition which comprises metabolizable mono-, di- or oligosaccharide in a concentration of at least 50% by weight and which is essentially free from solids which are insoluble in water to a fermentation medium comprising a microorganism which is capable of overproduc