Monosaccharide Patents (Class 435/105)
  • Publication number: 20120225459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein and a method for the manufacture thereof. The novel protein according to the invention is a recombinant protein with fructanase activity. The recombinant protein according to the invention is an engineered protein derived from recombinant DNA encoding for the protein. The recombinant protein may be or may comprise a fragment of a naturally occurring protein, i.e. of a naturally occurring fructanase protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Steven Lewis Kelly
  • Publication number: 20120220763
    Abstract: Methods for purification and extraction of GM1 ganglioside from cells derived from sheep afflicted with GM1 gangliosidosis or from cells derived from human patients with GM1 gangliosidosis as stable and renewable sources of GM1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Jay S. Schneider, Gerri Henwood, Robert Florentine, Christopher Barber
  • Publication number: 20120214751
    Abstract: Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Avetik MARKOSYAN
  • Patent number: 8241890
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for industrial production of immobilized biocatalysts such as enzymes or microorganisms. In the method, a polyvinyl alcohol gel is produced containing the biocatalysts, and the gel is shaped in a stream of drying air. The device includes a continuous conveyor belt. A casting mechanism is positioned above the belt for applying a mixture containing a biocatalyst to the belt. Positioned for the belt to pass through following the casting mechanism, is a drying channel, a reswelling tank, a wiping and collecting device, a rinse box, and a drying channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lentikat's, A.S.
    Inventor: Radek Stloukal
  • Patent number: 8236546
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Frits Goedegebuur, Peter Gualfetti, Colin Mitchinson, Edmund Larenas
  • Patent number: 8232080
    Abstract: Described herein are variants of H. jecorina CBH I, a Cel7 enzyme. The present invention provides novel cellobiohydrolases that have improved thermostability and reversibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Day, Frits Goedegebuur, Peter Gualfetti, Colin Mitchinson, Paulien Neefe, Mats Sandgren, Andrew Shaw, Jerry Stahlberg
  • Patent number: 8211680
    Abstract: A method is presented for the production of cellulosic ethanol, acetic acid and derivatives from the extract containing fibers and hemicelluloses after steam cooking of biomass in a host plant. The process is integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and eliminate the need for the waste water treatment plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: API Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen, Kimberley Nelson
  • Publication number: 20120164696
    Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant expression of a variant form of a fungal C1 strain ?-glucosidase. The invention also relates to the generation of fermentable sugars from biomass and the production of biofuels by fermentation of the sugars using genetically modified organisms expressing the ?-glucosidase variant. The invention provides methods for producing a fermentable sugar, such as glucose, from cellobiose by contacting cellobiose with a recombinant ?-glucosidase variant protein, such as a variant protein secreted by a recombinant host cell into culture medium. Methods of the invention may be used for conversion of a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar, and ultimately to ethanol or other biofuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Attila Andor
  • Publication number: 20120156734
    Abstract: This invention relates to mutant xylanases, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of using these xylanases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: National Taiwan University, Academica Sinica
    Inventors: Jenn Tu, Chun-Han Ko
  • Publication number: 20120149886
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that express carotenoids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: MICROBIA, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Bailey, Kevin T. Madden, Joshua Trueheart, Reed Doten, Maria Mayorga, Joshua Griffin Dunn, Dan Dueppen
  • Patent number: 8192968
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a fermentation product from a sugar hydrolysate obtained from a feedstock containing hemicellulose, by (i) removing suspended fiber solids from said sugar hydrolysate to obtain a clarified sugar solution; (ii) fermenting xylose in the clarified sugar solution in a fermentation reaction with yeast to produce a fermentation broth comprising the fermentation product; (iii) separating the yeast from the fermentation broth to produce a yeast slurry; (vi) treating the yeast slurry thus obtained with an oxidant to kill microbial contaminants, thereby an oxidant-treated yeast slurry; (v) re-introducing at least a portion of the oxidant-treated yeast back to step (ii) to increase the concentration of yeast in said fermentation reaction; and (vi) recovering the fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Iogen Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Jason B. Edwards, Lisa McMillan, Glenn D. Munkvold, Jan-Maarten Geertman
  • Publication number: 20120129229
    Abstract: Host cells, comprising Kluveryomyces expressing heterologous cellulases produce ethanol from cellulose In addition, multiple host cells expressing different heterlogous cellulases can be co-cultured together and used to produce ethanol from cellulose The recombinant yeast strains and co-cultures of the yeast strains can be used to produce ethanol on their own, or can also be used in combination with externally added cellulases to increase the efficiency of sacchanfication and fermentation processes
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: John McBride, Elena Brevnova, Mark Mellon, Allan Froehlich, Kristen Deleault, Vineet Rajgarhia, Riaan Den Haan, Merja Penttila, Marja Ilmen, Matti Siika-Aho, Jaana Uusitalo, Emily A. Stonehouse, Alan Gilbert, Haowen Xu, Deidre Willes, John Bardsley, Anu Koivula, Sanni Voutilainen
  • Publication number: 20120115192
    Abstract: A process for production of fermentable sugars from biomass using multi-enzyme multi-step system is provided herein. The process disclosed in the present invention provides high yielded sugars in less time period. The multi-enzyme system disclosed in the present invention converts celluloses, hemicelluloses and/or mixture thereof to fermentable sugar with higher efficiency and better economics than the process known in the prior art. Cellulose and hemicelluloses fractions derived from natural sources such as any lignocellulosic biomass are saccharified in a shortened time with higher conversion rates of intermediates with modified enzymatic compositions/groups of the Multi-enzyme system to enhance the rate thus providing an economical cellulose and hemicellulose saccharification process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Arvind Mallinath Lali, Pooja Devidas Nagwekar, Jayesh Suman Varavadekar, Prathamesh Chandrashekhar Wadekar, Swapnali Subhash Gujarathi, Rajeshwar Dattatray Valte, Sachinkumar Hiraman Birhade, Annamma Anil Odaneth
  • Publication number: 20120107881
    Abstract: The present application provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to glucose, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and processes for producing glucose from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CODEXIS, INC.
    Inventors: Ish Kumar Dhawan, Dipnath Baidyaroy, Andrew Shaw, Oleh Tanchak, Christopher Hill, Chengsong Liu, Amala Chokshi, Brian R. Scott
  • Patent number: 8163517
    Abstract: An organic material production system using biomass material includes: a hydrothermal decomposition apparatus (13) that causes the biomass material (11) and hot compressed water (12) to countercurrently contact with each other and undergo hydrothermal decomposition, and that transfers a lignin component and a hemicellulose component into the hot compressed water, so as to separate the lignin component and the hemicellulose component from a biomass solid residue; a cellulose enzymatic saccharification device (17) that treats, with an enzyme, cellulose in the biomass solid residue, so as to enzymatically saccharify the cellulose to a first sugar solution containing hexose; an alcohol fermenter (18) that produces alcohols by fermentation using the obtained first sugar solution; a sulfuric acid decomposition device (33) that decomposes, with sulfuric acid, the hemicellulose component in hot water (30) discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus, which contains the eluted lignin component and the elut
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Genta, Ryosuke Uehara, Seiichi Terakura, Kinya Fujita
  • Patent number: 8158397
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cellulase nucleic acid sequence, designated 029cel, and the corresponding 029cel amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding 029cel, recombinant 029cel proteins and methods for producing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Jones, William D. Grant, Shaun Heaphy, Susan Grant
  • Patent number: 8143050
    Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant expression of a variant form of a fungal C1 strain ?-glucosidase. The invention also relates to the generation of fermentable sugars from biomass and the production of biofuels by fermentation of the sugars using genetically modified organisms expressing the ?-glucosidase variant. The invention provides methods for producing a fermentable sugar, such as glucose, from cellobiose by contacting cellobiose with a recombinant ?-glucosidase variant protein, such as a variant protein secreted by a recombinant host cell into culture medium. Methods of the invention may be used for conversion of a biomass substrate to a fermentable sugar, and ultimately to ethanol or other biofuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Attila Andor
  • Patent number: 8143021
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Novozymes, Inc., Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Junxin Duan, Ye Liu, Lan Tang, Wenping Wu, Jason Quinlan, Randall Kramer
  • Publication number: 20120064580
    Abstract: The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite R flavipes, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite R. flavipes. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Scharf, Drion G. Boucias, Aurelien Tartar, Monique R. Coy, Xuguo Zhou, Tamer Ibrahim Zaki Salem, Sanjay B. Jadhao, Marsha M. Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20120064579
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates to methods for improved production of proteins from a cell culture, particularly to culture components and conditions that can preferentially increase the expression of proteins produced from genes under the control of xylanase gene promoter sequences. The improved methods can be used for the production of enzyme compositions with enhanced xylanase and hemicellulolytic activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Aaron Kelley, Chuanbin Liu, Colin Mitchinson
  • Patent number: 8133716
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an apparatus for treating municipal solid waste, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for treating and recycling municipal solid waste not separately collected, and also for minimizing the amount of final waste to be buried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Biocon, Inc.
    Inventor: Dae-Kyun Shin
  • Publication number: 20120058523
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved systems and methods for reducing costs and increasing yields of cellulosic ethanol. In particular, the present invention provides plants genetically transformed for increased biomass, expression of lignocellulolytic enzyme polypeptides, and/or simplification of harvesting and downstream processing. Also provided are methods for processing biomass from these transgenic plants that involve less severe and/or less expensive pre-treatment protocols that are typically employed. Such methods allow, among other things, reduced costs associated with externally applied lignocellulolytic enzyme polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: EDENSPACE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kirk Pappan, Deisy Corridor, Ramesh Nair, Michael Blaylock, Forrest Chumley, David Lee, Bruce Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20120058524
    Abstract: Methods for increasing yield of fermentable sugars from plant stover are provided. The methods include using plants homozygous for two brown midrib mutations, bm1 and bm3. The methods also include using plants homozygous for a mutation in a gene that results in reduced cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and a mutation in a gene that results in reduced 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde/5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol O-methyltransferase activity. The methods also include using transgenic plants that have reduced cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity and reduced 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde/5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol O-methyltransferase activity in comparison with wild-type plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Willem Evert Vermerris, Michael R. Ladisch, Nathan S. Mosier
  • Patent number: 8129140
    Abstract: A novel thermophilic endo-glucanase, nucleic acid encoding the endo-glucase, and uses thereof in converting ligocellulosic material to fermentable sugars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Academia Sinica
    Inventors: Tuan-Hua David Ho, Su-May Yu, I Son Ng, Chii-Gong Tong
  • Publication number: 20120052534
    Abstract: Provided is a process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to produce glucose from a pretreated cellulosic feedstock. The process comprises providing an aqueous slurry of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock that has a water content that is less than about 140% of the maximum water holding capacity of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock. The aqueous slurry of the pretreated cellulosic feedstock is fed to one or more unmixed hydrolysis reactors and hydrolyzed with cellulase enzymes therein. In the unmixed hydrolysis reactor(s), the cellulase enzymes hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose to produce soluble sugars, thereby producing a mixture of partially hydrolyzed cellulose containing soluble sugars. The hydrolysis of the cellulose to glucose is continued by feeding the mixture of partially hydrolyzed cellulose to one or more mixed hydrolysis reactors. Also provided are systems for carrying out the foregoing enzymatic hydrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: IOGEN ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter J.E. Harlick, Wei Zheng
  • Publication number: 20120040414
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a method for increasing the production of a desired product having: identifying a steady state metabolic pathway for the synthesis of a desired product from a desired substrate; producing a polynucleotide encoding one or more polypeptide that participates in the steady state metabolic pathway for the synthesis of the desired product from the desired substrate; introducing the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide into a host cell; transforming a host cell with an expression vector having an expressible polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide; and cultivating the host cell under a culture condition that induces the production of the desired product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Eric Knight
  • Publication number: 20120040408
    Abstract: Improved systems and methods for reducing costs and increasing yields of cellulosic ethanol are disclosed herein, along with plants genetically transformed for increased biomass, expression of lignocellulolytic enzyme polypeptides, and/or simplification of harvesting and downstream processing. Methods for processing biomass from these transgenic plants that involve less severe and/or less expensive pre-treatment protocols than are typically employed are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen R. Decker, Michael J. Selig, Roman Brunecky, Todd Vinzant, Michael E. Himmell, David Lee, Michael Blaylock
  • Publication number: 20120040413
    Abstract: The instant invention pertains to the use of chlorine dioxide in new processes for treating lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as, new compositions suitable for, for example, bioalcohol production. Advantageously, the processes and compositions of the present invention may be used in more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient production of fuels and, if desired, may be coupled with other biomass processing facilities such as Kraft pulp bleaching mills.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicants: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Poulomi Sannigrahi, Arthur J. Rasgauskas, Stephen J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120041185
    Abstract: Provided is a dTDP-?-D-fucofuranose, which is also referred to as dTDP-?-6-deoxy-D-galactofuranose. The dTDP-?-D-fucofuranose is synthesized by using reductase Fcf1 and mutase Fcf2 in the gram-negative bacteria. Also provided are the preparation method of the dTDP-?-D-fucofuranose and use of the dTDP-?-D-fucofuranose for manufacturing a medicament for the treatment of tumors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TIANJIN BIOCHIP TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Quan Wang, Lu Feng
  • Patent number: 8114638
    Abstract: Stable and active arabinitol dehydrogenases (LAD) from Neurospora crassa and mutants thereof are disclosed. Arabinitol dehydrogenases are useful in the production of xylitol and ethanol from an arabinose containing substrate. Recombinant and heterologously expressed arabinitol dehydrogenases are useful in converting biomass into biofuels and other industrial food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: Huimin Zhao, Ryan Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20120036599
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel enzymes and novel methods for producing the same. More specifically this invention relates to a variety of fungal enzymes. Nucleic acid molecules encoding such enzymes, compositions, recombinant and genetically modified host cells, and methods of use are described. The invention also relates to a method to convert lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars with enzymes that degrade the lignocellulosic material and novel combinations of enzymes, including those that provide a synergistic release of sugars from plant biomass. The invention also relates to methods to use the novel enzymes and compositions of such enzymes in a variety of other processes, including washing of clothing, detergent processes, deinking and biobleaching of paper and pulp, and treatment of waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: DYADIC INTERNATIONAL , INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Vasilievich Gusakov, Peter J. Punt, Jan Cornelis Verdoes, Arkady Panteleimonovich Sinitsyn, Elena Vlasenko, Sandra Wilhelmina Agnes Hinz, Mark Gosink, Zhijie Jiang, Jacoba Van der Meij
  • Publication number: 20120030838
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel enzymes and novel methods for producing the same. More specifically this invention relates to a variety of fungal enzymes. Nucleic acid molecules encoding such enzymes, compositions, recombinant and genetically modified host cells, and methods of use are described. The invention also relates to a method to convert lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars with enzymes that degrade the lignocellulosic material and novel combinations of enzymes, including those that provide a synergistic release of sugars from plant biomass. The invention also relates to methods to use the novel enzymes and compositions of such enzymes in a variety of other processes, including washing of clothing, detergent processes, deinking and biobleaching of paper and pulp, and treatment of waste streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: DYADIC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Vasilievich Gusakov, Peter J. Punt, Jan Cornelis Verdoes, Arkady Panteleimonovich Sinitsyn, Elena Vlasenko, Sandra Wilhelmina Agnes Hinz, Mark Gosink, Zhijie Jiang, Jacobs Van der Meij
  • Publication number: 20120021468
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for the production of L-ribitol and other rare sugars using a mannitol-1-dehydrogenase or a polyol-1-dehydrogenase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ZUCHEM, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Woodyer, Francis Michael Racine
  • Publication number: 20120023626
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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 for producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicants: NOVOZYMES, INC., NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Paul Harris, Elena Vlasenko, Elizabeth Zaretsky, Marcus Sakari Kauppinnen, Sarah Teter, Kimberly Brown
  • Publication number: 20120021467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing xylitol and arabinose at same time from hemicellulose hydrolysates, material rich in xylan is hydrolyzed by acid or enzymes to obtain hydrolysate mostly containing xylose and arabinose, then inoculated in Issatchenkia orientalis S-7 and/or Issatchenkia occidentalis LJ-3 to eliminate the inhibitor of microbes, after that/or at the same, inoculated a yeast of Candida tropicalis which can consume the glucose, transform the xylose to xylitol and can not consume the arabinose, and fermented, then fermented liquor containing xylitol and arabinose is obtained. After separation, xylitol with purity more than 99% and arabinose with high purity are obtained. After concentration and crystallization respectively, crystalline xylitol and crystalline arabinose are obtained respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Thomson Biotech (Xiamen) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Hourui Zhang, Xiangxiang Qin, Alhua Cai, Yuheng Zhou, Haishan Chen
  • Publication number: 20120009632
    Abstract: A method for the production of alcohol and other bioproducts hemicelluloses extracted from biomass prior to thermal conversion of the biomass to energy. The process can be integrated with the host plant process to minimize the energy loss from extracting hemicelluloses. Also disclosed is a Stepwise enzymatic break down of cellulose fibers from a pulping operation which is performed with the redeployment of equipment and vessels contained within typical existing pulp and paper manufacturing mills. The preferred feedstock is highly delignified pulp from acid or alkaline pulping process or from bleaching stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: American Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodora Retsina, Vesa Pylkkanen
  • Publication number: 20120009631
    Abstract: The invention provides variants of the Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase (CeIG) that have improved endoglucanase activity compared to the wild type enzyme. Also provided are related polynucleotides, compositions, vectors, host cells, and methods of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: CODEXIS, INC.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Xiyun Zhang, Ish Kumar Dhawan, Andrew Shaw
  • Publication number: 20110308240
    Abstract: This invention relates to degradation of biomass with a peroxide in the presence of a metal catalyst. The process can result in ethanol production from cellulosic biomass, fuel gases, useful chemicals and biochemicals from decomposition products, heat and/or pressure for direct use, and electricity generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Applied Chemical Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Zendedel Haghighi, Javad J. Sahbari
  • Publication number: 20110312034
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel molecules and libraries thereof as well as methods for their production. Methods of producing the novel molecules include the cleaving of starting molecules into molecular subunits and the assembly of the subunits into novel recombined molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Dennis M. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110306085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods of producing bioenergy products and metabolites of industrial interest from lignocellulosic biomass. More specifically, the invention describes the identification, characterization and isolation of novel bacteria having the remarkable ability to transform lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars and, even more remarkably, into bioenergy products and metabolites. The invention also discloses a method to isolate such bacteria, compositions comprising such bacteria, and their uses for the modification of lignocellulosic biomass, with a view to producing bioenergy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: Centre National De La recherche Scientifique,, DEINOVE
    Inventors: Cathy Isop, Pascale Joesph, Jean-Paul Leonetti, Jacques Biton
  • Publication number: 20110300587
    Abstract: A method to degrade or digest sludge, such as from pulp and/or paper manufacturing, is described. Compositions to use in the method are further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: BUCKMAN LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Xiangdong ZHOU
  • Publication number: 20110294169
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of treating lignocellulosic materials are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of treating a lignocellulosic material comprises degrading lignin of the lignocellulosic material with at least one fungus and hydrolyzing cellulose of the lignocellulosic material with at least one microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Giles, Matthew Parrow
  • Publication number: 20110293760
    Abstract: An exclusive manufacturing technique for extracting active interface saponin and organic substances from soapberry; organic elements and oleic alcohol products from soapberry seeds through the process of fermentation and end products made therefrom, wherein the manufacturing process includes: 1. Pre-ferment soapberry fruit (1). 2. Processing said fruit (1) by a dialysis device (2). 3. Separating the soapberry flesh (12) and fiber (13) by a separation device (3). 4. Extracting soapberry dialytic liquid (A) through a grinding and compression device (4) and separating the fiber (13). 5. Eliminating bacteria inside the dialytic liquid (A) by a huge stewing device (5). 6. A second fermenting process by a vacuum device (6) and generating a soapberry syrup (D). Said method is healthy, toxin free and biologically safe, produce no wastage, zero carbon emissions, zero pollution, low energy production and is ecologically friendly. End products produced by said method are variables with excellent economic viability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Heng-Jui Hsu
  • Publication number: 20110287135
    Abstract: The invention relates to enzymes, compositions, and methods for efficient hydrolysis of arabinans present in plant biomass. More specifically, the invention relates to arabinases and compositions comprising arabinases to improve cell wall degradation to efficiently use plant biomass for bio-energy production. The invention also relates to a method for preparing a prebiotic. The prebiotic may contain branched arabinan oligomers comprise ?-(1,5)-linked arabinan backbone, and single substituted ?-(1,3)-linked arabinose monomers attached to the backbone, or double substituted ?-(1,2,3,5)-linked arabinose monomers attached to the backbone, or both. The invention also relates to a method for preparing fruit juice or wine. The invention also relates to a method for saccharification of a plant biomass. The invention also relates to a recombinant micro-organism genetically modified to express the enzymes of the present invention and optionally additional enzymes to achieve the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Stefan Kuehnel, Henk A. Schols, Yvonne Westphal, Sandra Hinz, Jacob Visser
  • Publication number: 20110287493
    Abstract: The instant invention pertains to the use of formic acid in new processes for treating feedstocks comprising holocellulose, as well as, new compositions suitable for, for example, bioalcohol production. The processes may comprise first mixing the feedstock with an aqueous acid solution comprising formic acid and then producing a hydrolysis product comprising monosaccharides and water-soluble oligosaccharides. The compositions typically comprise a feedstock comprising holocellulose and an aqueous acid solution comprising formic acid. Advantageously, the processes and compositions of the present invention may be used in more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient production of fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Teresita Marzialetti, Christopher W. Jones, Pradeep Agrawal
  • Patent number: 8057840
    Abstract: A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises 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 that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, James C. Purdue, Penelope A. Patton, Andrew J. Hoffman, James M. Gaddy, Chi-Li Liu, Robert V. Schanefelt, Richard W. Armentrout, Michelle P. Schwenk, Rachel A. Wicklund, Marianne Claessens, Eric M. Reamer, Shawn E. Sprankle, Sanjiv H. Avashia, Peter M. Gautchier, Robert L. Olsen, Judy L. Turner, Timothy C. Mertz, Michael Bunch, Doris A. Dougherty, Michel Lopez, Lori Napier, Ram Santhanagopalan
  • Publication number: 20110250638
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of second generation biofuels and/or sugar based chemicals—for example ethanol, butanol etc—and/or materials—for example plastics, single cell proteins etc.—together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass, in particular from lignocellulosic biomass comprising, among others, annual plants, agricultural waste, or wood. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for the production of sugar based chemicals, biofuels or materials together with sulfonated lignin from lignocellulosic biomass comprising the pretreatment of a lignocellulosic biomass in a sulfite cooking step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: BORREGAARD INDUSTRIES LIMITED, NORGE
    Inventors: Anders Sjoede, Anders Froelander, Martin Lersch, Gudbrand Roedsrud
  • Publication number: 20110244527
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8022269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for increasing the yield of a compound produced by an organism. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for increasing the total or soluble carbohydrate content or sweetness or increasing the content of an endogenous carbohydrate of a plant tissue by producing a sugar-metabolizing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an endogenous sugar (one that is normally produced in the plant) to an alien sugar (one that is not normally produced in the plant at the same developmental stage). The invention also relates to plants and plant parts that produce a sugar-metabolizing enzyme to yield an alien sugar, with the consequence of higher total fermentable carbohydrate content, and to fermentable carbohydrates and other products derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Robert George Birch, Luguang Wu
  • Patent number: 8017828
    Abstract: To provide an agricultural chemical and the like with the use of an effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant. To provide a growth inhibitor of not only a plant pathogenic bacterium but also a harmful microorganism. Utilization of a rare sugar for inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant or inhibiting the growth of a microorganism. Utilization thereof as an agricultural chemical with the use of the effect of inducing systemic acquired resistance in a plant, a plant disease inhibitor, an inducer of a plant growth regulatory factor (i.e., an inducer of plant hormone-like actions consisting of disease resistance, insect resistance, fruit maturation, breaking of dormancy, regulation of germination, drying resistance, and other than this, resistance to environmental stresses such as low temperature resistance, high temperature resistance, salt resistance and heavy metal resistance and promotion of flowering) and a microorganism growth inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Shikoku Research Institute Incorporated, National University Corporation Kagawa University
    Inventors: Ken Izumori, Kazuya Akimitsu, Shigeyuki Tajima, Mika Agarie, Tomohiro Yanagi, Ryosuke Mochioka