Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant cells and their use in the production of ethylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glucoamylase variants. 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: The invention is intended to metabolize acetic acid and to lower acetic acid concentration in a medium at the time of xylose assimilation and ethanol fermentation by a yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability. To this end, a recombinant yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability and comprising an acetaldehyde dehydrogenase gene introduced thereinto is cultured in a medium containing cellulose, cellulase, and xylose to perform ethanol fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of a parent glucoamylase. 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 glucoamylase variants.

Abstract: A genetically enhanced cyanobacterial host cell, Cyanobacterium sp. ABICyanoI, is disclosed. The enhanced Cyanobacterium sp. ABICyanoI produces a compound or compounds of interest.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for preparing a compound of formula I-11 through multiple-step reactions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enzyme based methods for separating protein from protein-rich materials derived from plant seeds, fruit, or other biomass and products made therefrom. The protein content in the resulting products is improved by separating and removing the carbohydrates from around the proteins in, for example, soybean meal. This removal is facilitated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of poly- and oligomeric carbohydrates into monosaccharides and other water soluble sugars. The present invention provides for the production of three streams of useful materials. The first is an enriched protein material comparable to the known SPCs but without significant quantities of undigestible oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. The second is an SPI made from the soluble protein in the hydrolysate which is valuable for high-quality feed, food and industrial uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant NNK1 allele, especially a mutant carrying a mutation at position of amino acid 807 of the wild type sequence. The invention relates further to the use of said mutant allele to increase the fermentation rate in yeast, preferably in Saccharomyces. The mutant allele is especially useful to increase the xylose to ethanol fermentation rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a strain of sugar fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae with capability to ferment xylose, wherein said method comprises different procedural steps. The method comprises mating a first sporulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with a second Saccharomyces cerevisiae haploid strain. Thereafter, screening for mated cells is performed, growing such mated cells, and verifying that mated cells exhibit basic morphology by microscopic inspection. Thereafter, creation of a mixture of the mated cells is performed, subjecting the mixture to continuous chemostat cultivation and obtaining the sugar fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with capability to ferment xylose is performed. The invention also comprises strains obtained by said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated acidophilic Fusarium oxysporum strains, such as MK7, and their progeny, compositions comprising such strains and their progeny, methods of producing such strains and their progeny, and methods of using such strains and their progeny.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating thermochemical processing of biomass and anaerobic digestion are provided. Light oxygenated organic compounds are produced as byproducts of thermochemical biomass processing e.g. by torrefaction and/or pyrolysis, and are converted to methane by anaerobic digestion. Thermochemical processing units may or may not be co-located with the anaerobic digestion units, with co-location providing benefits for e.g. rural agricultural enterprises.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of alpha amylase. 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: A process for stable fermentation of CO-containing substrates and improved ethanol productivity includes providing medium components in amounts needed by microorganisms in the fermentation. The process includes determining a potassium concentration in the fermentation medium and providing a first medium and a second medium to the fermentation, the first medium provided at a rate effective for maintaining the potassium in the fermentation medium in a range of about 20 to about 200 mg/L until reaching a target cell density.

Abstract: Provided are an acid-resistant yeast cell with genetic modification and reduced Fps1 activity compared to that of a parent cell without the genetic modification; and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell.

Abstract: Embodiments provided here relate to second generation processes for the production of alcohols or solvents, wherein the lignocellulosic or cellulosic biomass undergoes a pre-treatment before being converted into ethanol after an enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The glucidic polymers of the pre-treated plant material are hydrolysed by cellulases. The alcoholigenic microorganisms used for the ethanolic fermentation principally use hexoses, for example, glucose and mannose. The alcohols of the liquor, with or without separation of the suspended material are extracted by distillation. The stillage, containing pentoses which have not been used, are fermented into an ex-pentose ethanolic liquor and at least a portion of the liquor is recycled upstream of the enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in the production of butanol and butyrate by microbial fermentation, particularly to production of alcohols by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO and the addition of an inorganic sulfur additive. It more particularly relates to the provision of an inorganic organic sulfur source to a fermentation system such that one or more micro-organisms convert a substrate comprising CO to butanol. In one aspect the invention uses a sulfur additive comprising inorganic sulfur compounds having a +2 to a +4 sulfur oxidation state that produces sulfur oxoanions and hydrosulfur oxoanions in an aqueous fermentation medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having glucoamylase 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: A bioreactor is provided that includes a main reactor having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. The bioreactor also includes a growth reactor continuous with the main reactor and having a configuration selected from the group consisting of stirred and unstirred tank reactor, trickle bed reactor (TBR), cocurrent contactor (CCC), moving bed bioreactor (MBBR), and a bubble column reactor. A method is also provided where acetogenic bacteria are contacted with syngas in a growth fermentor section of a reactor vessel that is continuous with a main fermentor section of a reactor vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant bacteria and the uses thereof, particularly for the production of ethanol. The invention also relates to methods for the production of such bacteria, as well as to nucleic acid constructs suitable for such production. The invention specifically relates to bacteria lacking a functional LDH gene and/or containing a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a PDC and ADH. The bacteria of this invention may be produced from any stress-resistant bacteria.

Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a reference electrode electronically connected to each other; a first biocatalyst comprising a consolidated bioprocessing organism (e.g., a cellulomonad or clostridium or related strains, such as Cellulomonas uda (C. uda), C. lentocellum, A. cellolulyticus, C. cellobioparum, alcohol-tolerant C. cellobioparum, alcohol-tolerant C. uda, Clostridium cellobioparum (C. cellobioparum) and combinations thereof) capable of fermenting biomass (e.g., cellulosic biomass or glycerin-containing biomass) to produce a fermentation byproduct; and a second biocatalyst comprising an electricigen (e.g., Geobacter sulfurreducens) capable of transferring substantially all the electrons in the fermentation byproduct (e.g., hydrogen, one or more organic acids, or a combination thereof) to the anode electrode to produce electricity is disclosed. Systems and methods related thereto are also disclosing a consolidated bioprocessing organism.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a bioreactor for producing a bioproduct comprising one or more catalytically active zones located in a housing and adapted to keep two incompatible gaseous reactants separated when in a gas phase, wherein each of the one or more catalytically active zones may comprise a catalytic component retainer and a catalytic component retained within and/or thereon. Each of the catalytically active zones may additionally or alternatively comprise a liquid medium located on either side of the catalytic component retainer. Catalytic component may include a microbial cell culture located within and/or on the catalytic component retainer, a suspended catalytic component suspended in the liquid medium, or a combination thereof. Methods of using various embodiments of the bioreactor to produce a bioproduct, such as isobutanol, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein a bacterial alpha-amylase, a raw starch hydrolyzing alpha-amylase and a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme are present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in processes of the invention.

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.

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 system and a process for the production of ethanol and related products from lignocellulosic biomasses (second generation—2G-ethanol), particularly from sugarcane bagasse and straw is provided, however not limited thereto, integrated with conventional processes for the production of ethanol (first generation—1G-ethanol) such as, for example, from sugarcane juice and/or molasses (either in sugar and ethanol plants or in autonomous distilleries), corn, grain, wheat, sugary sorghum, white beetroot, among others, including the recovery/reuse of streams and effluents. More specifically, an integrated process for the production of ethanol and related products where the process warrants increased efficiency particularly in the use of the raw material, steam, electric power and treated water is provided.

Abstract: Solid base catalysts and their use for the base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to compounds such as aromatics are presented herein. Exemplary catalysts include layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts for BCD of lignin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass, comprising: contacting biomass with SO2, water, and optionally a first solvent, to produce intermediate solids; then contacting the intermediate solids with SO2, water, and a second solvent, to produce cellulose-rich solids and a liquid phase comprising hemicelluloses and lignin. The first concentration of SO2 may be lower or higher than the second concentration of SO2. It is desirable to vary the SO2 and solvent concentrations in different stages to optimize the removal of hemicellulose versus lignin. The resulting cellulose-rich material can contain very low hemicellulose, very low lignin, or both low hemicellulose and low lignin. High-purity cellulose is useful both for producing glucose as well as for cellulose products or derivatives. The hemicelluloses may be hydrolyzed to produce monomeric sugars, and the lignin may be recovered as a co-product.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of products such as alcohols and acids by microbial fermentation, particularly microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO. It more particularly relates to methods and systems for improving efficiency of products by microbial fermentation. In particular embodiments, the invention provides a method of optimizing production of desired products including the step of ascertaining the proportion of CO converted to CO2.

Abstract: The process for the production of alcohol and/or solvent from a biomass feedstock comprises the stages for pretreatment (P) of the biomass feedstock, for enzymatic hydrolysis (H1 and HF), and for fermenting the hydrolyzate (HF). To prevent solids from being sent and to facilitate operating the section for purifying the fermentation products, at least a portion of the solid material in the fermentation wine is extracted (Ex1) to obtain a stream of solid residue (11) comprising lignin and a fermentation wine (12) that is low in solid material. Then, the stream of solid residue is washed (L) with a liquid stream to recover a liquid stream that is enriched with fermentation products (16). The liquid stream that is enriched with fermentation products (16) is recycled in the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (H1) to recover any fermentation product and to increase the overall yield of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fermentative production of alcohols including ethanol and butanol, and processes for improving alcohol fermentation employing in situ product removal methods.

Abstract: A process for controlling concentration of CO in a bioreactor provides a direct and real time measurement of dissolved CO in a fermentation medium. The process for controlling concentrations of CO in a bioreactor includes contacting an aliquot of fermentation medium with at least one CO binding ligand and at least one microbial inactivator.

Abstract: A saccharide-solution production method using a biomass material, including feeding a biomass material containing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin under a normal pressure to put it under an increased pressure; hydrothermally decomposing the biomass material using pressurized hot water by a hydrothermal decomposition unit; and dissolving a lignin component and a hemicellulose component in the pressurized hot water; thereafter, adding a biomass solid discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition unit to a slurrying vessel containing water injected therein and communicating with the hydrothermal decomposition unit so as to obtain a slurried biomass solid; then, removing water from the slurried biomass solid; and thereafter, performing enzymatic saccharification of the water-removed biomass solid to produce a saccharide solution.

Abstract: A method, device and system for producing preselected products, (either finished products or preselected intermediary products) from biobased precursors or CO2 and/or bicarbonate. The principal features of the present invention include a method wherein a binary culture is incubated with a biobased precursor in a closed system to transform at least a portion of the biobased precursor to a preselected product. The present invention provides a method of cultivation that does not need sparging of a closed bioreactor to remove or add a gaseous byproduct or nutrient from a liquid medium. This improvement leads to significant savings in energy consumption and allows for the design of photobioreactors of any desired shape. The present invention also allows for the use of a variety of types of waste materials to be used as the organic starting material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to Trichoderma reesei glucoamylase (TrGA) variants having improved properties (e.g., improved thermostability, improved specific activity, and/or resistant to oxidation-related activity loss). Also provided are compositions comprising variant glucoamylases. These compositions are useful in various starch process applications.

Abstract: A process for converting biomass hydrolysate into biofuel, the process comprising the steps of: obtaining a biomass hydrolysate solution comprising monosaccharides; immobilizing Pachysolen tannophilus; contacting the solution with the immobilized Pachysolen tannophilus; and recovering a fermented biofuel.

Abstract: A digester tank has a servicing device that allows access to the interior of the digester tank. The sealing device may have a movable retention wall adapted to resist the pressure of the gas inside the digester by one or more of a) increasing the bending resistance of the retention wall, for example by inflating pockets in the wall, b) forcing the lower edge of the retention wall downwards, for example by weight, a mechanical arm or inflating pockets, and c) providing a mechanical structure within the retention wall, for example a non-moving cage-like structure. A sealing device with a fixed wall has a pipe with an isolation valve between the headspace of the tank and the inside of the sealing device. In operation, a seal may be formed across the separation curtain by raising the level of the liquid contents and closing the isolation valve.

Abstract: A method for fermenting carbohydrate-rich crops is provided. Sugar beet, sugar cane, sweet sorghum, tropical maize hybrids and fruits are rich in simple sugars; potato, sweet potato, cassava and yam are rich in starch; and Jerusalem artichoke is rich in inulin. This method uses vacuum infusion to infuse yeast into the intercellular space (apoplast) of the parenchyma tissue. The simple sugars diffuse into the apoplast, come into contact with the yeast and produce ethanol. Ethanol can be extracted from the crop by vacuum stripping or crushing or can be left inside the starchy crop to preserve it. In some variants, pectinase enzymes degrade the parenchyma cell walls to speed up diffusion of simple sugars to the yeast, speed up diffusion of amylase to starch granules or speed up diffusion of inulinase to insoluble inulin.

Abstract: A metabolically enhanced cyanobacterial cell for the production of ethanol is provided. The metabolically enhanced cyanobacterial cell for the production of ethanol comprises at least one recombinant gene encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase enzyme (Pdc) converting pyruvate to acetaldehyde, and at least one recombinant gene encoding a first Zn2+ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme (Adh) converting acetaldehyde to ethanol. The invention also provides a method for producing the metabolically enhanced cyanobacterium, a method for producing ethanol with the metabolically enhanced cyanobacterium, and a method for screening of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme expressing cyanobacterial strains for the presence of NADPH-dependent native alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes.

Abstract: A metabolically enhanced cyanobacterial cell for the production of ethanol is provided. The metabolically enhanced cyanobacterial cell for the production of ethanol comprises at least one recombinant gene encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase enzyme (Pdc) converting pyruvate to acetaldehyde, and at least one recombinant gene encoding a first Zn2+ dependent alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme (Adh) converting acetaldehyde to ethanol. The invention also provides a method for producing the metabolically enhanced cyanobacterium, a method for producing ethanol with the metabolically enhanced cyanobacterium, and a method for screening of alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme expressing cyanobacterial strains for the presence of NADPH-dependent native alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes.

Abstract: A method for removing bacterial contaminants from a saccharified solution capable of suppressing proliferation of bacterial contaminants in a fermentation tank without using an antibiotic in alcoholic fermentation of a biomass saccharified solution using normal yeast, and a fermentation system suited for conducting the method are provided. The method and system include drawing out a saccharified solution from a fermentation tank, conducting rough separation for recovering yeast from the solution, and conducting fine separation for removing bacterial contaminants from the solution, thereby removing only the contaminants while recovering yeast. The rough separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.5 ?m or more and 5 ?m or less or centrifugal separation at 50G or higher and 500G or lower. The fine separation is through a filtering membrane having a pore size of 0.22 ?m or less, or centrifugal separation at 1000G or higher and 15000G or lower.

Abstract: The methods are disclosed for sustaining a population of microorganisms in an aqueous fermentation broth used in a process to convert syngas to alcohol when the supply of syngas is decreased or ceased. The methods involve supplying at least one reducible anion in a rate an amount sufficient to maintain the population of microorganisms.

Abstract: The present methods involves methods of improving ethanol production which may comprise the addition of clay during ethanol production.

Abstract: The invention describes a novel composition of matter obtained from the leaves of green plants, which is useful in promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Specifically, that the invention describes a hydrolysate prepared from plant leaf biomass (leaf biomass hydrolysate or ‘LBH’) which dramatically stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Use of LBH as a fermentation substrate can also stimulate rapid production of organic acids and other organic compounds. LBH can be used as a substrate to promote the fermentation-based production of biobased industrial chemicals or biofuels, LBH can be utilized as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial probiotic organisms, hi addition, LBH may also be useful in stimulating the fermentation-based production of other products, examples of which include preservatives, antibiotics, antigens, vaccines, amino acids, vitamins, recombinant proteins, bioremediation treatments, and immobilized enzymes.

Abstract: A method is provided for sterilization of a polymerizable monomer, in which the mixture contains at least the polymerizable monomer, a compound (a), and a compound (b). Compound (a) is selected from the group of compounds (a1), compounds (a2), and compounds (a3), wherein compounds (a1) are represented by general formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4, independent of each other, represent a substituted alkyl residue, a non-substituted alkyl residue, a halogen, a nitro group, or a cyano group; compounds (a2) are selected from the group of dimers of compounds (a1); and compounds (a3) are selected from the group of dialkyldicarbonates. Compound (b) is selected from the group of water and alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having alpha-glucuronidase activity, catalytic domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains. 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 or catalytic domains.

Abstract: A process for the use of peracid compositions to eliminate and/or control the growth of undesirable bacteria, including contaminating bacteria, in the fermentation production of alcohol is disclosed. Beneficially, the peracid compositions and methods of use of the same do not interfere or inhibit the growth or replication of yeast and have low or no adverse environmental impact.

Abstract: A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the production level of isoprenoids in an algal cell. The method includes increasing expression of a polynucleotide sequence that encodes 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (IDS) in the algal cell. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for increasing the production level of carotenoids in an algal cell. The method includes increasing expression of polynucleotide sequence that encodes phytoene desaturases (PDS) in the algal cell. In a further aspect, the invention relates to an algal cell having a polynucleotide sequence that is genetically engineered to express a higher level of IDS or PDS than a corresponding wild type algal cell, wherein the cell produces an increased level of isoprenoids or carotenoids, respectively, than a corresponding wild type algal cell.

Abstract: A method produces a chemical through continuous fermentation including: (a) culturing a cell in a culture medium in a fermentor to ferment a feedstock to produce a chemical; (b) conducting filtration of the culture medium with a separation membrane module; (c) separating a permeate containing the chemical from the culture medium while retaining a non-permeated liquid in the fermentor, and (d) supplying a gas from at least one of a lower portion of the separation membrane module and a pipe communicating between the fermentor and the separation membrane module to adjust a gas linear velocity in the separation membrane module to 0.15 cm/s to 70 cm/s while supplying the separation membrane module with a liquid.