Abstract: A process for a stream of substances containing at least one valuable substance including (A) amino acids, (B) carboxylic acids, and (C) inorganic salts includes: (1) treating the stream by nanofiltration to obtain a retentate enriched with valuable substance (A); (2) treating the permeate of step (1) by electrodialysis in order to obtain a concentrate enriched with valuable substance (C); (3) treating the diluate of step (2) using a system (3) of two stages (4) and (5) which are directly or indirectly interconnected, wherein (4) one treatment is performed by reverse osmosis and (5) one treatment is performed by electrodialysis, whereby a concentrate enriched with valuable substance (B) is obtained, (6) at least a portion of the retentate of step (4) is directly or indirectly supplied to step (5) and (7) at least a portion of the diluate of step (5) is directly or indirectly supplied to step (4).

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing lactic acid, which includes: obtaining D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid by carrying out lactic acid fermentation using a lactic acid-producing microorganism under a pressurized condition that exceeds normal pressure and is capable of maintaining lactic acid production activity of the lactic acid-producing microorganism.

Abstract: A process of producing L-lactate by feeding carbon dioxide to a culture of a cyanobacterial cell and subjecting this culture to light, wherein the cell is capable of expressing a nucleic acid molecule, which upon expression confers on the cell the ability to convert a glycolytic intermediate into L-lactate and wherein aforementioned nucleic acid molecule is under the control of a regulatory system which responds to light or to a change in the concentration of a nutrient in the culture.

Abstract: A non-naturally occurring eukaryotic or prokaryotic organism includes one or more gene disruptions occurring in genes encoding enzymes imparting increased fumarate, malate or acrylate production in the organism when the gene disruption reduces an activity of the enzyme. The one or more gene disruptions confers increased production of acrylate onto the organism. Organisms that produce acrylate have an acrylate pathway that at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acrylate pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce acrylate, the acrylate pathway comprising a decarboxylase. Methods of producing fumarate, malate or acrylate include culturing these organisms.

Abstract: A process for mechanical destructuring of starch-based biomass was developed that makes use of a short application of high compression, impact, and shearing forces. The biomass may be destructured using a specific energy input that is less than 40% of the total combustible energy of the biomass. The destructured starch-based biomass, with or without saccharification and/or in-feed glycosyl hydrolase enzymes, may be used in feed applications. The destructured starch-based may saccharified to produce syrups and fermentable sugars, and for production of products including ethanol using a biocatalyst.

Abstract: A method produces a sugar liquid from a cellulosic biomass material, which sugar liquid has improved fermentability. The method produces a sugar liquid by: adding an alkali(s) to a concentrated cellulosic biomass sugar liquid to adjust the pH to not less than 7 to precipitate an insoluble substance(s) containing at least magnesium; and performing filtration through a microfiltration membrane to remove the insoluble substance(s), to obtain a sugar liquid as a permeate.

Abstract: Provided is a genetically engineered yeast cell with lactate production capacity, including an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of acetaldehyde to acetyl-CoA and an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of pyruvate to lactate, which activities are increased compared to a parent cell of the yeast cell, as well as a method of producing the genetically engineered yeast cell and method of producing lactate using the genetically engineered yeast cell.

Abstract: A method and system for producing lactic acid from biomass materials uses a mixed bacteria culture of at least one homofermentative lactic acid bacteria and at least one heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria in an integrated production system to increase the productivity and yield of lactic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fed-batch culture method comprising a step of fed-batch-feeding a carbon source base and a base in such a manner that the pH level can be maintained at a level suitable for the growth of microorganisms for fermentation of a carbon source. The present invention also provides a method for preparing organic acids using the fed-batch culture method. The present invention fed-batch-feeds a neutralizing agent such as ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate or alkali metal-containing weak base, and a carbon source substrate in preparing organic acids by microorganism fermentation. Thus, a pH level suitable for the survival of microorganisms for carbon source fermentation can be maintained, and the speed of injecting the carbon source base which is the source material can be appropriately adjusted.

Abstract: A genetically engineered yeast cell capable of producing lactate having increased TPI activity, a method of preparing the yeast cell, and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) to (4): (1) subjecting a cellulose-containing biomass to a dilute sulfuric acid treatment and thereafter separating the treated cellulose-containing biomass into a dilute sulfuric acid-treated liquid and a cellulose-containing solid content; (2) adding a cellulase to the cellulose-containing solid content to hydrolyze the cellulose and thereafter obtaining a sugar liquid; (3) filtering the dilute sulfuric acid-treated liquid through a nanofiltration membrane at pH 2.5 or lower to thereby separate a sugar concentrated liquid as a retentate and at the same time recover a sulfuric acid aqueous solution as a permeate; and (4) reusing the whole amount or a part of the sulfuric acid aqueous solution obtained in (3) in the dilute sulfuric acid treatment in (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide having a mutation at one or more position corresponding to T219 of SEQ ID NO: 55, wherein the polypeptide has at least 50% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 55, and wherein the polypeptide has permease activity.

Abstract: Sugar mixtures containing nonfermentable oligomers are fermented in the presence of certain enzymes that depolymerise the oligomers simultaneously with the fermentation process.

Abstract: The present invention provides fungal xylanase and/or xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present invention provides xylanase and xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce xylanase(s) and/or xylosidase(s), 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. In some embodiments, the xylanase and xylosidase enzyme(s) are M. thermophila enzymes.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar liquid from cellulose-containing biomass includes (1) to (3): (1): subjecting a cellulose-containing biomass to hydrothermal treatment and thereafter separating the treated cellulose-containing biomass into a hydrothermally-treated liquid and a cellulose-containing solid content; (2): adding a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to the cellulose-containing solid content obtained in (1) to hydrolyze the cellulose and thereafter separating the hydrolysate into a saccharification residue and a sugar liquid; and (3): washing the saccharification residue obtained in (2) with the hydrothermally-treated liquid obtained in (1) to elute the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase adsorbed to the saccharification residue into the hydrothermally-treated liquid and thereafter obtaining a solution component comprising the filamentous fungus-derived cellulase by solid-liquid separation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of degrading or converting biomass material enriched with hemicellulosic material into fermentable sugars.

Abstract: A process for producing D(-) lactic acid in high enatiopurity from lignocellulosic material includes providing a hydrolysate of cellulose polymers prepared from the lignocellulosic material, which includes hexose and pentose sugars and contacting the hydrolysate with the bacterium Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. Torquens, strain 30 (ATCC 25600) in a fermentation reaction.

Abstract: A process for producing L(+) lactic acid in high enatiopurity from lignocellulosic material which includes providing a hydrolysate of cellulose polymers prepared from said lignocellulosic material and comprising hexose and pentose sugars and contacting said hydrolysate with the bacterium Bacillus coagulans (ATCC 23498) strain designation M-39 in a fermentation reaction.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a fungus of the genus Rhizopus having improved ability to produce lactic acid and a method for producing lactic acid using the fungus. The present invention provides a method for improving the lactate dehydrogenase activity of a fungus of the genus Rhizopus, comprising germinating a spore of a fungus of the genus Rhizopus in a culture medium containing a surfactant under specific conditions to obtain a mycelium, and a method for producing lactic acid using the mycelium of the fungus of the genus Rhizopus.

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

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a D-lactic acid-producing strain modified to inhibit L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) activity and to introduce D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) activity in an L-lactic acid-producing strain, a mutated D-lactic acid-producing strain prepared by the above method, and a method for producing D-lactic acid including the steps of culturing the strain and recovering D-lactic acid from the culture media.

Abstract: A method is described for producing lactate or lactic acid from a plant extract, such as oil palm frond extract, via fermentation. In particular, the method includes providing a fermentation medium that includes at least 25 wt. % of a plant extract containing fermentable carbohydrates, fermenting the fermentation medium by means of a lactic acid producing microorganism in the presence of a caustic magnesium salt to provide a fermentation broth containing at the most 9.5 wt. % magnesium lactate at the end of fermentation, the magnesium lactate being in soluble form during and at the end of fermentation; and recovering lactate or lactic acid from the magnesium lactate containing fermentation broth.

Abstract: The invention provides processes and methods for utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising hydrogen (H2) and CO2. In particular, the invention allows for the conversion of at least a portion of the CO2 in the gaseous substrate to one or more products, such as ethanol, acetate, and/or 2,3-butanediol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid molecules coding for a bacterial xylose isomerase (XI), preferably coming from Clostridium phytofermentans, for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of recombinant microorganisms of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol, by means of xylose fermenting yeasts. The present invention further relates to cells, particularly eukaryotic cells, which are transformed utilizing a nucleic acid expression construct which codes for a xylose isomerase, wherein the expression of the nucleic acid expression construct imparts to the cells the capability to directly isomerize xylose into xylulose. Said cells are preferably utilized for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol.

Abstract: A genetically engineered yeast cell that produces a pyruvate-based metabolite from pyruvate, wherein activity of a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is reduced compared to a parent yeast cell and a method of producing the pyruvate-based metabolite using the yeast cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid molecules coding for a bacterial xylose isomerase (XI), preferably coming from Clostridium phytofermentans, for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of recombinant microorganisms of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol, by means of xylose fermenting yeasts. The present invention further relates to cells, particularly eukaryotic cells, which are transformed utilizing a nucleic acid expression construct which codes for a xylose isomerase, wherein the expression of the nucleic acid expression construct imparts to the cells the capability to directly isomerize xylose into xylulose. Said cells are preferably utilized for reaction/metabolization, particularly fermentation, of biomaterial containing xylose, and particularly for the production of bioalcohols, particularly bioethanol.

Abstract: A stabilized biomass and a method of producing a stabilized biomass is disclosed. The biomass has active matter containing carbon atoms having an average oxidation state, inactive matter, a biological catalyst having a fermentation organism capable of converting the active matter into a renewable material, and water. The biomass has not been milled. The biomass is suitable for use in the production of renewable materials, such as ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes of producing a fermentation product, comprising liquefying a starch containing material with an alpha-amylase; pre-saccharifying and/or saccharifying and fermenting using a fermentation organism in the presence of a carbohydrate source generating enzyme and a cellulolytic composition The invention also relates to methods of dewatering whole stillage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for enzymatic hydrolysis of granular starch into a soluble starch hydrolysate at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of said granular starch.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a fermentation process for the production of an organic acid salt including the steps of fermenting a microorganism in a fermentation medium in a fermentation reactor to form a fermentation broth having an organic acid salt, wherein part of the organic acid salt is present in the solid state and part of the organic acid salt is dissolved in the fermentation broth; withdrawing at least part of the fermentation broth from the fermentation reactor, providing the broth to a hydrocyclone, and withdrawing a top effluent and a bottom effluent from the hydrocyclone; providing the bottom effluent from the hydocyclone to a solid/liquid separation step, to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, providing at least 30 vol.% of the total of the top effluent from the hydrocyclone and the liquid fraction from the solid-liquid separation step to the fermentation reactor.

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: To provide a method for producing an organic acid, whereby the desired organic acid can be efficiently recovered without necessity for adjusting the pH to a neutral level in the fermentation step. The method for producing an organic acid, comprises a first step of producing an organic acid by fermentation to obtain a crude liquid containing the organic acid and having a pH of from 1 to 5, and a second step of extracting the organic acid from the crude liquid containing the organic acid obtained in the first step by means of an extraction medium containing a C10-30 diester compound and an alkylamine compound to obtain an extract (1).

Abstract: A polypeptide conferring an acid-tolerant property on a yeast cell, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, a yeast cell including an increased amount of the polypeptide, a method of producing a product by using the yeast cell, and a method of producing an acid-tolerant yeast cell are provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microorganism which is genetically modified so as to i) synthesize a hydrocarbon monomer by fermentation of a carbon source, and ii) depolymerize a polymer constituted at least by hydrocarbon monomer which it is capable of synthesizing. The invention also concerns a method for producing a hydrocarbon monomer using a genetically modified microorganism of this type, as well as the coculture of this microorganism with another microorganism which is capable of synthesizing a polymer of interest.

Abstract: A method of producing a chemical includes culturing cells in a culture solution in a fermentor to ferment a feedstock to produce a chemical; supplying the culture solution containing the chemical produced in the culturing to a plurality of separation membrane units arranged in parallel; filtering the culture solution supplied in the supplying to separate a permeate containing the chemical; refluxing a retentate that is not filtered in the filtering to the fermentor; and supplying a gas containing oxygen to the plurality of separation membrane units while a supply amount is changed to at least two different values to perform scrubbing, wherein the supply amount and supply time of the gas containing oxygen supplied in the culturing and the supplying the gas are set so that a kLa value is within a predetermined range from an optimal kLa value for the cells cultured in the culturing.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a separation membrane module using water vapor includes: a liquid supplying step of supplying a liquid having a boiling point of 80° C. or higher at atmospheric pressure to a secondary side of the separation membrane module such that a filling ratio of the liquid in a space surrounded by a filtration portion of a separation membrane is 70% or more, the filtration portion being used for filtration; a liquid sealing step of isolating the secondary side of the separation membrane module such that the filling ratio of the liquid supplied to the secondary side in the liquid supplying step is 70% or more; and a sterilization step of sterilizing the separation membrane module by supplying water vapor to a primary side of the separation membrane module while the secondary side of the separation membrane module is isolated.

Abstract: A yeast cell comprising LDH from a Sordaria genus fungi, in which activity of lactate dehydrogenase converting pyruvate into lactate is increased, as well as a method of preparing the yeast cell and a method of using the yeast cell to produce lactate.

Abstract: A method for preparing a carboxylic acid by acidification of a liquid feed including a carboxylate salt, which method includes the steps of providing a liquid feed including magnesium carboxylate; providing a gas feed including gaseous hydrogen chloride; and acidifying the carboxylate to carboxylic acid by bringing the liquid feed into contact with the gas feed, thereby forming a liquid effluent including carboxylic acid and magnesium chloride, wherein the gas feed including gaseous hydrogen chloride is derived from a thermal decomposition step wherein an aqueous liquid including magnesium chloride is subjected to a temperature of at least 300° C., thereby decomposing magnesium chloride into magnesium oxide and hydrogen chloride, thus obtaining a solid including magnesium oxide and a gas comprising gaseous hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides various GH61 protein variants comprising various amino acid substitutions. The GH61 protein variants have an improved ability to synergize with cellulase enzymes, thereby increasing the yield of fermentable sugars obtained by saccharification of biomass. In some embodiments, sugars obtained from saccharification are fermented to produce numerous end-products, including but not limited to alcohol.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to host cells transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a eukaryotic xylose isomerase obtainable from an anaerobic fungus. When expressed, the sequence encoding the xylose isomerase confers to the host cell the ability to convert xylose to xylulose which may be further metabolized by the host cell. Thus, the host cell is capable of growth on xylose as carbon source. The host cell preferably is a eukaryotic microorganism such as a yeast or a filamentous fungus. The invention further relates to processes for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, in which a host cell of the invention uses xylose for growth and for the production of the fermentation product. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding eukaryotic xylose isomerases and xylulose kinases as obtainable from anaerobic fungi.

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 variants of a parent cellobiohydrolase II. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production process of an ?-hydroxy acid having a sufficient quality as a polymer raw material, which process does not produce a large amount of waste as a byproduct and is economical. The present invention provides a production process of an ?-hydroxy acid having a step of adding a basic metal to an ?-hydroxy acid ammonium salt to yield an ?-hydroxy acid metal salt and a step of desalting the ?-hydroxy acid metal salt to yield the ?-hydroxy acid.

Abstract: A method of producing a chemical product by continuous fermentation includes filtering a culture liquid of a microorganism(s) through a separation membrane; retaining unfiltered liquid in, or refluxing unfiltered liquid to, the culture liquid; adding a fermentation feedstock to the culture liquid; and recovering a product in the filtrate, wherein the fermentation feedstock contains pentose and hexose, and wherein the microorganism(s) is/are a microorganism(s) having a pathway in which pentose reductase and pentol dehydrogenase are used to metabolize pentose.

Abstract: Provided are a yeast cell in which the activity of an external mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase is decreased and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell.

Abstract: Scalable biomaterial-based bioreactors are described. In one embodiment, the bioreactor may comprise perforated plates stacked such that the assembled bioreactor has the necessary manifolds and chambers to transport gas and liquids to a biomaterial contained within the bioreactor, and to remove the reaction products. In another embodiment, single use bioreactors are described. Methods of operating the bioreactors are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material using an enzyme composition in the presence of a reducing agent. The present invention also provides methods for producing a fermentation product and methods of fermenting a cellulosic material using an enzyme composition in the presence of a reducing agent.

Abstract: A method of producing a chemical product by continuous fermentation includes filtering a culture liquid of a microorganism(s) through a separation membrane; retaining unfiltered liquid in, or refluxing unfiltered liquid to, the culture liquid; adding a fermentation feedstock to the culture liquid; and recovering a product in the filtrate, wherein the fermentation feedstock contains pentose and hexose, and wherein the microorganism(s) has/have a pathway in which pentose isomerase is used to metabolize pentose.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing lactic acid by use of a filamentous fungus, in which the productivity of lactic acid can be maintained at high level even when lactic acid is produced continuously. The method for producing lactic acid of the present invention includes a first fermentation step of carrying out fermentation by use of one or more fungus cells selected from the group consisting of pellet-form filamentous fungus cells and immobilized filamentous fungus cells in a liquid culture medium having a phosphate ion concentration of less than 0.007% by mass and containing a carbon source, to thereby produce lactic acid.