Abstract: The present disclosure relates to isolated polypeptides having alpha-amylase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing the polypeptides, and method of using polypeptides, including in ethanol production processes.

Abstract: A thin film transistor substrate according to an embodiment includes a data line and a light barrier film to overlap an active layer of a thin film transistor, wherein the data line and the light barrier film are formed simultaneously, thereby reducing the cost of fabricating the thin film transistor substrate.

Abstract: A fungal ?-amylase is provided from Aspergillus clavatus (AcAmyl). AcAmyl has an optimal pH of 4.5 and is operable at 30-75° C., allowing the enzyme to be used in combination with a glucoamylase in a saccharification reaction. This obviates the necessity of running a saccharification reaction as a batch process, where the pH and temperature must be readjusted for optimal use of the ?-amylase or glucoamylase. AcAmyl also catalyzes the saccharification of starch substrates to an oligosaccharide composition significantly enriched in DP2 and (DP1+DP2) compared to the products of saccharification catalyzed by an ?-amylase from Aspergillus kawachii. This facilitates the utilization of the oligosaccharide composition by a fermenting organism in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process, for example.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detoxifying a lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate, including: preparing a hydrolysate by pretreating a lignocellulosic biomass by hydrolysis; and decreasing or removing toxicity by adding a surfactant to the hydrolysate. The detoxifying method according to the present disclosure may effectively remove toxicity of compounds derived from lignin that inhibit the growth of and fermentation by microorganisms during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Further, production efficiency can be improved since loss of sugar can be avoided during the detoxification and additional cost can be minimized.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a process for producing downstream products, such as high-density glucose syrups and high-glucose fermentation feedstock, from a starch-containing substrate without a pH adjustment before the saccharification step. The saccharification is effectively catalyzed by a glucoamylase at a pH in the range of 5.2 to 5.6.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for biologically converting carbohydrates from lignocellulosic biomass comprising the steps of: suspending lignocellulosic biomass in a flow-through reactor, passing a reaction solution into the reactor, wherein the solution is absorbed into the biomass substrate and at least a portion of the solution migrates through said biomass substrate to a liquid reservoir, recirculating the reaction solution in the liquid reservoir at least once to be absorbed into and migrate through the biomass substrate again. The biological converting of the may involve hydrolyzing cellulose, hemicellulose, or a combination thereof to form oligosaccharides, monomelic sugars, or a combination thereof; fermenting oligosaccharides, monomelic sugars, or a combination thereof to produce ethanol, or a combination thereof. The process can further comprise removing the reaction solution and processing the solution to separate the ethanol produced from non-fermented solids.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating biomass that may include introducing a biomass to a chamber; exposing the biomass in the chamber to a shock event to produce a shocked biomass; and transferring the shocked biomass from the chamber. In some aspects, the method may include pretreating the biomass with a chemical before introducing the biomass to the chamber and/or after transferring shocked biomass from the chamber.

Abstract: A method of processing stillage by hydrothermally fractionating stillage to create unique product fractions, by heating the stillage to a temperature of 250 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., and recovering a stickwater fraction from the stillage. Stickwater, oil, biomass, bio-products, extracts, metabolites, and treated water obtained from the method above. A method of performing ethanol fermentation by hydrothermally fractionating stillage to create unique product fractions by heating the stillage to a temperature of 250 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., separating the stillage into a ProFat fraction and a stickwater fraction, and recovering oil from the ProFat fraction.

Abstract: A method of processing stillage by hydrothermally fractionating stillage to create unique product fractions, by heating the stillage to a temperature of 250 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., and recovering a stickwater fraction from the stillage. Stickwater, oil, biomass, bio-products, extracts, metabolites, and treated water obtained from the method above. A method of performing ethanol fermentation by hydrothermally fractionating stillage to create unique product fractions by heating the stillage to a temperature of 250 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., separating the stillage into a ProFat fraction and a stickwater fraction, and recovering oil from the ProFat fraction.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and/or other renewable chemicals is provided wherein the process utilises one or more of the group comprising by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as draff, pot ale and/or spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process comprises treating a substrate to hydrolyse it and fermenting the treated substrate at an initial pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.0. Also provided is a biofuel comprising butanol manufactured according to the process of the invention.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for improving the production of ethanol by a microorganism in a fermentation medium are provided, where the method comprises adding to the fermentation medium an emulsion comprising a monoterpene and a surfactant in an amount sufficient to improve the production of ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for a bacteria to grow anaerobically (fermentatively) on a glycerol substrate. The method requires culturing bacteria having a functional 1,2-propanediol pathway and a functional type II glycerol dehydrogenase-dihydroxyacetone kinase pathway in a culture medium containing high concentrations of glycerol, a neutral to mildly acidic pII, low levels of potassium and phosphate, and high levels of CO2, such that glycerol is thus converted into a desirable product, such as ethanol, hydrogen, formate, succinate, or 1,2-propanediol.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution, under alkaline conditions, in the presence of one or more organo-mercaptan and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of elemental sulfur and optionally one or more alkylamine and/or one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing a hydrolysate containing soluble sugar molecules from biomass that contains cellulose and hemicellulose. Hemicellulose sugars are extracted in the process, and the resulting hydrolysate may be used to support microbial fermentation to produce products of interest.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for improving the production of ethanol by a Saccharomyces spp. yeast in a fermentation medium are provided, where the method comprises adding to the fermentation medium an emulsion comprising a monoterpene and a surfactant in an amount sufficient to improve the production of ethanol.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided which is constituted by semiconductor devices including a thin film transistor with a GOLD structure, the GOLD structure thin film transistor being such that: a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are formed in lamination from the side closer to a substrate; the gate electrode is constituted of a first-layer gate electrode and a second-layer gate electrode shorter in the size than the first-layer gate electrode; the first-layer gate electrode corresponding to the region exposed from the second-layer gate electrode is formed into a tapered shape so as to be thinner toward the end portion; a first impurity region is formed in the semiconductor layer corresponding to the region with the tapered shape; and a second impurity region having the same conductivity as the first impurity region is formed in the semiconductor layer corresponding to the outside of the first-layer gate electrode, which is characterized in that a dry etching process consisting

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for liquefaction of starch derived from cereal grain. A single-screw extruder is utilized to gelatinize a starch substrate providing significant advantage over prior art jet steam cookers. Liquefaction of the gelatinized starch substrate is completed by post-extrusion bioreaction of the starch with a static-mixer reactor. An alpha-amylase enzyme is utilized to facilitate the liquefaction process. The Liquefacted starch substrate is heated after bioreaction to achieve complete digestion of remaining starch inclusions. Liquefacted starch substrates utilizing the disclosed process significantly reduce the amount of energy required in the conversion of starch to fermentable sugars in the production of ethanol.

Abstract: Butanol and acetone are major end products of a bacterial fermentation process carried out by anaerobic saccharolytic clostridia such as Clostridium acetobutylicum. However, these organisms degenerate upon repeated subculture of growing cells, thereby losing their capacity to produce solvents and to develop into spores. A novel class of degeneration-resistant mutants of C. acetobutylicum, generated by transposon insertion mutagenesis, has been produced employing a novel selection procedure. Upon subculture the mutant cells survive significantly longer than the parental cells without altered solventogenic characteristics. The mutant organism, the technique for its isolation and its use are provided.

Abstract: A process for the prodution of phosphatiolic acid is carried out by treating phospholipids with an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing a phospholipid into phosphatidic acid and a nitrogen-containing base and another enzyme capable of hydrolyzing a phospholipid into a diglyceride and a phosphoryl base. Further, another process for the production of phosphatidic acid is carried out by treating phospholipids with a treatment product of an oilseed is disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-stage reactor-separator for the fermentative production of volatile inhibitory products from non-volatile substrate includes a stirred tank reactor and a packed or tray-type gas-liquid contacting column separator. Each reactor and separator form a stage and a plurality of stages may be stacked into a tower, or otherwise placed to operate consecutively, forming a reactor-separator in which stages having gas flowing cocurrent to the liquid flow in the separator portion form an enriching section, and stages having gas flowing countercurrent to the liquid flow in the separator portion form a stripping section. In a method of using the reactor-separator, a volatile fermentation product is produced and simultaneously separated into a gas phase.

Abstract: A process including multistage continuous fermentation followed by batch fermentation with carefully chosen temperatures for each fermentation step, combined with an asporogenic strain of C. acetobutylicum and a high carbohydrate substrate concentration yields extraordinarily high butanol and total solvents concentrations.

Abstract: The process of extracting butyric acid and normal butanol from microbial fermentation broth, comprising contacting an aqueous solution of a microbial fermentation broth with vinyl bromide to extract any butyric acid and normal butanol which is present from the fermentation broth into the vinyl bromide. The vinyl bromide is thereafter separated from the aqueous fermentation broth and then evaporated, leaving the butyric acid and/or normal butanol in substantially pure, isolated form.

Abstract: A novel asporogenic strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum is produced by growing a spore-forming strain in a continuous culturing reactor. Culturing is conducted at a dilution rate which prevents accumulation of butanol and acetone in the medium. Culturing at this dilution rate is continued until the asporogenic strain is obtained.