Acyclic Patents (Class 435/157)
  • Publication number: 20140336423
    Abstract: Recombinant bacterial microorganisms are provided which comprise heterologous fatty acyl reductases (“FAR”) polypeptides wherein said microorganisms have been engineered to produce increased amounts of saturated fatty alcohols and methods of making saturated fatty alcohols using the recombinant bacterial microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Fernando Valle, Svetlana Balatskaya, Yoram Barak, Louis Clark, Kristian Karlshoej, Patricia Choudhary, Catherine Cho, Kaman Chan, Jonathan Vroom
  • Publication number: 20140335583
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing an IOB that have been genetically modified to enable them to generate a biofuel or chemical; feeding a first source of ferrous iron to the IOB; feeding water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen to the IOB; producing at least the biofuel or chemical, ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and preventing ferric precipitates from forming. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include the following: a bioreactor including IOB that have been genetically modified to enable them to generate a biofuel; a first source of ferrous iron; sources of water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen; a source of anti-ferric precipitating agent in fluid communication with the bioreactor; and a electrochemical reactor that is configured to electrochemically reduce ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Alan West, Scott Banta
  • Publication number: 20140322778
    Abstract: The expression vector includes: the nucleic acids coding for the polypeptides forming a polypeptide complex having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetyl-CoA to be converted to acetoacetate; optionally, at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetoacetate to be converted to acetone; and at least one nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide having an enzyme activity allowing acetone to be converted to isopropanol; the expression of the nucleic acids being controlled by a single constitutive promoter located upstream of the abovementioned nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: STICHTING DIENST LANDBOUWKUNDIG ONDERZOEK
    Inventors: Florent Collas, Remy Marchal, Benjamin Clement, Ana Maria Lopez Contreras, Pieternel A.M Claassen
  • Publication number: 20140322768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Sara Landvik, Lars Henrik Oestergaard, Lisbeth Kalum
  • Publication number: 20140322776
    Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant yeast host cells that overexpress proteins to improve glucose utilization, pentose sugar utilization and/or production of a fermentation product in a fermentation reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CODEXIS, INC.
    Inventors: Oscar Alvizo, Galit Meshulam-Simon, Amy Lum, Dayal Saran
  • Publication number: 20140322770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenaseactivity, 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Sara Landvik, Lars Henrik Oestergaard, Lisbeth Kalum
  • Publication number: 20140315243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein an alpha-amylase, a thermostable protease, and optionally a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme and/or pullulanase, are present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in a process of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Randall Deinhammer, Joyce Craig, Tomoko Matsui, Shinobu Takagi, Suzanne Clark, John Matthews, Anne Glud Hjulmand, Chee-Leong Soong
  • Publication number: 20140315259
    Abstract: The present application provide methods for producing ethanol from a biomass. The methods combine sugars produced from a feedstock containing starch with sugars produced from a cellulosic biomass. The methods allow increased amounts of ethanol to be produced from a given solids concentration in the fermenters. The methods also encompass filtering the liquefied feedstock mash through a filter comprising biomass fibers. The biomass filter produces a post-filtered mash stream comprising a high concentration of sugars and a low concentration of non-fermentable solids. The methods provide numerous advantages described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, James Kacmar
  • Publication number: 20140315268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing biofuel, more specifically a method of producing biofuel comprising the steps of generating monosugars from marine algae, or from polysaccharides extracted from marine algae by treating the marine algae or the polysaccharides with a hydrolytic enzyme and/or a hydrolytic catalyst; and fermenting the monosugars using a microorganism to produce biofuel. The method of producing biofuel of the present invention solve the problem of raw material suppliance since it uses marine algae as a raw material for biomass, and reduce the production costs by excluding lignin eliminating process that has been required by the conventional method using wood-based raw materials, resulting in economic and environmental advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Myung-Kyo SHIN, Yong Jin Kim, Kyeong Keun Oh, Jun Seok Kim, Hyun Jin Ryu, Key Hyup Kim
  • Publication number: 20140308705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Marc Morant, Tarana Shaghasi
  • Publication number: 20140308718
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method of biotransforming a carbohydrate of a raw material into a chemical, by cultivating Lactobacillus diolivorans in the presence of the raw material to produce a chemical substance, and isolating the chemical substance in the purified form, and the use of L. diolivorans in one of a series of biotransformation methods, wherein carbohydrates from at least two different carbohydrate sources of low purity are transformed into chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Sauer, Hans Marx, Stefan Pfluegl, Diethard Mattanovich
  • Publication number: 20140308701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant filamentous fungal host cells producing cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Shasky, Amanda Fischer, Suchindra Maiyuran
  • Publication number: 20140302575
    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 1,2-propanediol, n-propanol, 1,3-propanediol or glycerol. Also provided herein are methods for using such an organism to produce 1,2-propanediol, n-propanol, 1,3-propanediol or glycerol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Genomatica, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Burgard, Robin E. Osterhout, Stephen J. Van Dien, Cara Ann Tracewell, Priti Pharkya, Stefan Andrae
  • Publication number: 20140304859
    Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Novozymes Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Liu, Yu Zhang, Junxin Duan, Lan Tang
  • Publication number: 20140287465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains. The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Nikolaj Spodsberg, Tarana Shaghasi
  • Publication number: 20140289905
    Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains and cellulose binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding 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 or cellulose binding domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Novozymes Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Junxin Duan, Ye Liu, Lan Tang
  • Publication number: 20140273120
    Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for the production of propanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use symbiotic co-cultures for the production of propanol from syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Michael Enzien, Robert Hickey, William Levinson
  • Publication number: 20140273128
    Abstract: Multi-carbon compounds such as ethanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, fatty (or aliphatic long chain) alcohols, fatty acid methyl esters, 2,3-butanediol and the like, are important industrial commodity chemicals with a variety of applications. The present invention provides metabolically engineered host microorganisms which metabolize methane (CH4) as their sole carbon source to produce multi-carbon compounds for use in fuels (e.g., bio-fuel, bio-diesel) and bio-based chemicals. Furthermore, use of the metabolically engineered host microorganisms of the invention (which utilize methane as the sole carbon source) mitigate current industry practices and methods of producing multi-carbon compounds from petroleum or petroleum-derived feedstocks, and ameliorate much of the ongoing depletion of arable food source “farmland” currently being diverted to grow bio-fuel feedstocks, and as such, improve the environmental footprint of future bio-fuel, bio-diesel and bio-based chemical compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intrexon Corporation
    Inventors: William J. COLEMAN, Genevieve M. VIDANES, Guillaume COTTAREL, Sheela MULEY, Roy KAMIMURA, Akbar F. JAVAN, Jianping SUN, Eli S. GROBAN
  • Publication number: 20140273123
    Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for the production of propanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use symbiotic arrangement of anaerobic microorganism cultures for the production of propanol from syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Tobey, Rathin Datta, Michael Enzien, Robert Hickey, William Levinson
  • Publication number: 20140272926
    Abstract: High conversion efficiency processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol by microorganisms having metabolic processes that utilize sulfur in limited amounts. The processes remove hydrogen sulfide from the gas leaving the bioreactor assembly by forming sulfur compounds that are beneficial to the microorganisms. The sulfur compounds can be returned to the bioreactor assembly to meet a portion of microorganism sulfur demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: COSKATA, INC.
    Inventor: Richard E. Tobey
  • Publication number: 20140273121
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for the production of n-propanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use symbiotic co-cultures operating in a membrane supported bioreactor for the production of n-propanol from syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Michael Enzien, Jian Xu, Young Do, William Levinson
  • Publication number: 20140273124
    Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for the production of n-propanol and ethanol. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use symbiotic co-cultures for the production of propanol from syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Enzien, Robert Hickey, William Levinson, Walter Vermeiren
  • Publication number: 20140273122
    Abstract: The invention provides a microorganism of the genus Bacillus, including one or more gene(s) selected from a group consisting of a gene conferring thiolase activity, a gene conferring CoA transferase activity and a gene conferring acetoacetate decarboxylase activity, wherein the microorganism produces acetone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Dominik Lukas JÜRGEN-LOHMANN, Su Sun Chong, Anjali Madhavan, Katsuyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140273125
    Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound that use an in situ method for protecting the microorganisms from hydrogen cyanide contained in the syngas that passes to the fermentation broth. The fermentation broth is maintained at a pH of between about 4 and 6, and dissolved metal cation of one or more of iron, cobalt, nickel and zinc is provided to the fermentation broth in an amount sufficient to form, under the conditions of the fermentation broth, a substantially insoluble metal complex with the metal cation and cyanide anion. The rate of formation of the insoluble complex is sufficiently high that that the amount of cyanide that is taken up by microorganisms does not result in an undue adverse effect on the population of microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: COSKATA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Hickey, Jianxin Du, Andrew Reeves, Richard E. Tobey
  • Publication number: 20140273127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes and systems for the production of fermentative products such as ethanol and butanol. The present invention also provides methods for separating feed stream components for improved biomass processing productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: BUTAMAX ADVANCED BIOFUELS LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Fuchs, BRIAN MICHAEL ROESCH, MATHIAS E. STOLARSKI, JAMES GREGORY WOOD
  • Publication number: 20140273119
    Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having beta-xylosidase 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ye Liu, Lan Tang, Yu Zhang, Junxin Duan
  • Publication number: 20140273115
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a metabolic profile of an anaerobic microbial fermentation culture. In particular, a metabolic profile of a fermentation process is controlled by controlling the amount of dissolved CO2 provided to a culture. Further provided is a method of producing one or more products by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate through feeding tail gas CO2 from a reactor to a second reactor, or by recycling tail gas CO2 to the same reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Sean Dennis Simpson, Michael Koepke, Kathleen Frances Smart, Loan Phuong Tran, Paul Sechrist
  • Publication number: 20140273105
    Abstract: Lignocellulosic biomass pretreated with ammonia where the concentration of the biomass in the reaction mixture is reduced over time was found to produce more sugars following saccharification, as compared to equivalent biomass pretreated at constant concentration. The concentration of biomass is a solids concentration, which is the percent of dry biomass relative to the total pretreatment reaction mixture on a weight to weight basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: PATRICIA CHEUNG, BRADLEY CURT FOX, MING WOEI LAU, JOSEPH MICHAEL SELBY, GREGORY PAUL SHANKWITZ, STUART M THOMAS, RYAN ERIC WARNER
  • Publication number: 20140256006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing industrial products such as hydrocarbon products from non-polar lipids in a vegetative plant part. Preferred industrial products include alkyl esters which may be blended with petroleum based fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Thomas Vanhercke, James Robertson Petrie, Anna El Tahchy, Surinder Pal Singh, Qing Liu
  • Publication number: 20140256000
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains, cellulose binding domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. The invention also provides nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Lan Tang, Ye Liu, Yu Zhang, Junxin Duan, Tarana Shaghasi
  • Publication number: 20140256009
    Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of butadiene which allows to produce butadiene from crotyl alcohol. Also described are enzyme combinations and compositions containing such enzyme combinations which allow the enzymatic conversion of crotyl alcohol into butadiene. Furthermore, the invention relates to microorganisms which have been genetically modified so as to be able to produce butadiene from crotyl alcohol. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the enzymatic production of crotyl alcohol from crotonyl-Coenzyme A. The obtained crotyl alcohol can be further converted into butadiene as described herein. Also described are enzyme combinations which allow to convert crotonyl-Coenzyme A into crotyl alcohol as well as (micro)organisms which express such enzyme combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SCIENTIST OF FORTUNE, S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Marliere
  • Publication number: 20140256008
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the biological preparation of prenol comprising culturing a microorganism genetically modified for the bioproduction of prenol, wherein the microorganism comprises a metabolic pathway for conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into prenol by the action of an alcool dehydrogenase enzyme and of an aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: METABOLIC EXPLORER
    Inventors: Cedric Boisart, SR., Guillaume Letellier
  • Patent number: 8828693
    Abstract: Isopropanol is produced with good productivity via fermentation processes. Specifically, isopropanol is produced at a high level in a medium by culturing recombinant yeast into which an acetoacetyl CoA synthase gene and a group of genes (isopropanol synthesis-related gene group) encoding a group of enzymes for synthesis of isopropanol from acetoacetyl CoA have been introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyora Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Muramatsu, Satoshi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8828694
    Abstract: Yeast cells with modified expression of certain enzyme activities in the mitochondria are described for isobutanol production. Modifications described provide an isobutanol biosynthesis pathway in the yeast mitochondria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Larry Cameron Anthony, Lixuan Lisa Huang, Rick W. Ye
  • Publication number: 20140249301
    Abstract: The invention provides novel methods and compositions directed to farnesol production, accumulation and cellular sequestration in plants. More specifically, the methods of the invention comprise modifying plant cells that express farnesene to convert the farnesene to farnesol, and in some cases, to farnesol glycoside, such as farnesol glucoside. In other embodiments, carbon flux is shunted towards sesquiterpene production by applying certain plant growth regulators and herbicides to increase sesquiterpene production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Chromatin, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Steffens
  • Publication number: 20140248675
    Abstract: The present invention provides novels genes encoding methyl butenol (MBO) synthase, methy butenol synthases and their use in methyl butenol production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Dennis Gray, Thomas D. Sharkey
  • Publication number: 20140248663
    Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity, catalytic domains and cellulose binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding 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 or cellulose binding domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Lan Tang, Junxin Duan, Yu Zhang, Ye Liu
  • Publication number: 20140234917
    Abstract: The invention relates to enzymatic methods for hydroxylation in position 2 or 3 of two ends of a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Lund, Jesper Brask, Lisbeth Kalum, Ana Gutierrez Suarez, Esteban Daniel Babot, Rene Ullrich, Martin Hofrichter, Angel Tomas Martinez Ferrer, Jose Carlos Del Rio Andrade
  • Publication number: 20140234914
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant Trichoderma host cells producing Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: NOVOZYMES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Shasky, Brett McBrayer
  • Patent number: 8809015
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the production of hydrocarbon products, including providing a substrate comprising CO to a bioreactor containing a culture of one or more micro-organisms; and fermenting the culture in the bioreactor to produce one or more hydrocarbon products. The substrate comprising CO is derived from an industrial process selected from the group comprising steam reforming processes, refinery processes, steam cracking processes, and reverse water gas shift processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Schultz, James Obern, Sean Dennis Simpson
  • Publication number: 20140227752
    Abstract: High conversion efficiency processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol. The processes use bioreactors that have a non-uniform gas composition and a substantially uniform liquid composition such as deep tank bioreactors. By maintaining certain electron to carbon mole ratios in the syngas feed to the bioreactors and certain partial pressures of carbon dioxide in the off gas from the bioreactors, at least about 80 percent of the hydrogen and at least about 95 percent of the carbon monoxide in the feed can be consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Steven G. Calderone, Jianxin Du, Robert Hickey, Richard E. Tobey
  • Publication number: 20140228598
    Abstract: Integrated processes are disclosed for reducing the carbon foot print related to the use of non-renewable hydrocarbon gas streams for producing alcohols by anaerobic bioconversion of reformed gas. These processes combine renewable and non-renewable gas sources of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to produce alcohol. Thus the invention found a highly a practical way to make use of non-renewable carbon oxide sources while still lowering the carbon footprint of such alcohols produced thereby, especially when combined with corn ethanol production. In the case of motor fuel use, the renewable portion of the alcohol produced in this manner provides a reduction in greenhouse gases by 50% or more when compared to gasoline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Steve Calderone, Loula Sassaris Merkel
  • Publication number: 20140227753
    Abstract: Integrated processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol wherein a gas substrate of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and carbon dioxide is in contact with an aqueous menstruum that continuously contacts the gas substrate with said aqueous menstruum to produce alcohol and a depleted gas phase that is continuously withdrawn from the aqueous menstruum; continuously or intermittently and the gas substrate is made up of at least two gases having different compositions to provide an overall gas substrate having a ratio of electrons to carbon atoms in the range of about 5.2:1 to 6.8:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Steven G. Calderone, Jianxin Du, Robert Hickey
  • Publication number: 20140227751
    Abstract: Integrated processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Rathin Datta, Steven G. Calderone, Jianxin Du, Robert Hickey
  • Publication number: 20140223602
    Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides having a lignocellulolytic activity, e.g., a glycosyl hydrolase, a cellulase, an endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a beta-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a xylosidase (e.g., a ?-xylosidase), an arabinofuranosidase, and/or a glucose oxidase activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides polypeptides that can enzymatically process (hydrolyze) sugarcane bagasse, i.e., for sugarcane bagasse degradation, or for biomass processing, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, and making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one embodiment, the invention provides thermostable and thermotolerant forms of polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: BP Corporation North America LLC
    Inventors: Cathy Chang, Justin T. Stege, Nahla M. Aboushadi, Gordana Djordjevic, Ellen G. Burke, Peter Luginbuhl, Mark Dycaico, Toby H. Richardson, John Poland, Hefner Ying, Stacy M. Miles
  • Publication number: 20140220641
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for increasing the production of one or more cellulases from a fungal host cell. The disclosure is based, on the surprising discovery that mis-expression of the transcriptional regulator clr-2 in a filamentous fungal cell was able to induce expression of cellulase genes under non-inducing or starvation conditions, resulting in increased secretion of cellulases from the cell. Advantageously, mis-expression of the transcription factor clr-2 in a filamentous fungal cell cultured in the absence of cellulose or cellobiose results in increased secretion of cellulases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Chaoguang Tian, Teresa Shock, N. Louise Glass, Samuel Coradetti, James Craig
  • Patent number: 8795994
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing biofuel, more specifically a method of producing biofuel comprising the steps of generating monosugars from marine algae, or from polysaccharides extracted from marine algae by treating the marine algae or the polysaccharides with a hydrolytic enzyme and/or a hydrolytic catalyst; and fermenting the monosugars using a microorganism to produce biofuel. The method of producing biofuel of the present invention solve the problem of raw material suppliance since it uses marine algae as a raw material for biomass, and reduce the production costs by excluding lignin eliminating process that has been required by the conventional method using wood-based raw materials, resulting in economic and environmental advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
    Inventors: Gyung Soo Kim, Myung-Kyo Shin, Yong Jin Kim, Kyeong Keun Oh, Jun Seok Kim, Hyun Jin Ryu, Key Hyup Kim
  • Patent number: 8795995
    Abstract: A process for conversion of syngas to liquid products that serve as surface acting agents uses the gas stream at a relatively low pressure to eliminate the use of a compressor. The process uses a liquid stream as the primary energy input to a gas injector that intensely mixes gas and the liquid with reduced compression costs while the presence of the liquid product maintains the gas-liquid dispersion as it flows downward to build a static pressure head. The process lowers the required gas pressure by adjusting the elevation of the gas injector such that a conduit receives the gas-liquid dispersion from the outlet of the injector and confines it as it travels downward to enter the bottom of a column of liquid. The liquid product provides a surface acting agent that prolongs the creation and duration of microbubbles in the gas-liquid dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Coskata, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hickey, Mark Neville
  • Publication number: 20140212940
    Abstract: Mixed matrix pervaporation membranes are described which include i) a matrix phase comprising a polymeric material, and ii) a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) dispersed in the matrix phase. In membranes described, the thickness of the membrane is greater than 0.5 ?m. The membranes may in examples be used in a process for separating an organic compound from an aqueous liquid mixture. An example process includes contacting the liquid mixture on one side of a mixed matrix pervaporation membrane to cause the organic compound to permeate the mixed matrix membrane, and removing from the other side of the membrane a permeate composition comprising a portion of the organic compound which permeated the membrane. Example membranes described have relatively good selectivity for separation of the organic compound from the liquid mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicants: BP P.L.C., Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Weishen Yang, Xinlei Liu, Yanshuo Li
  • Publication number: 20140212932
    Abstract: The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Brown, Eric Abbate