Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydrolysis of cellulose containing biomass which comprises a liquefaction step in which a first enzyme or first enzyme composition is added to liquefy at least part of the solids present in the biomass and to keep the viscosity of the cellulose containing biomass below 1000 cP, preferably below 800 cP, more preferably below 600 cP in the liquefaction step; followed by a saccharification step in which a second enzyme composition is added to form oligomeric and/or monomeric sugars; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition is different from the second enzyme composition; whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises an endoglucanase; whereby the second enzyme composition comprises a cellulase; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises more endoglucanase than the second enzyme composition (expressed in protein wt %).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for domesticating Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is resistant to fermentation inhibitors, high temperature and high concentration of ethanol. The method comprises a primary domestication and a secondary domestication of the S. cerevisiae, wherein the primary domestication comprises the steps of replacing the fermented mash with fresh liquefied mash and continuing fermentation when the ethanol content in the fermented mash reaches a higher concentration (>12% (v/v)), the replacement is performed for at least 20 times, and the time interval of replacements is 20-30 hours; the secondary domestication comprises the steps of performing high-temperature domestication on the primary domesticated strain by a temperature gradient and replacing the fermented mash for multiple times, wherein the temperature is raised by 0.5° C.-2° C. every 18-24 times of replacement. The domesticated S.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, a method for combined preparation of saccharides, alcohols (biofuel) and biodiesel using a composition comprising interior hydrophobic or hydrophilic medium encapsulated by a layer comprising cellulose, cellulose derivative material, and/or starch surrounded by a hydrophilic or hydrophobic medium, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of acid saccharification of biomass and a method of polymerization of furan compounds. The method of acid saccharification of biomass comprises recovering pentose-derived furan compounds produced during the acid saccharification process of biomass. The method of acid saccharification of biomass comprises introducing furan compounds into the acid saccharification process of biomass, to produce and recover furan polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing a downstream product from cellulosic material by: a) contacting the cellulosic material with a polymer and a solvent to form a reaction mixture, where the polymer includes acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone, and each of the ionic monomers independently comprises at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or at least one phosphorous-containing cationic group; b) degrading the cellulosic material in the reaction mixture to produce a liquid phase and a solid phase, where the liquid phrase includes one or more sugars, and where the solid phase includes residual cellulosic material; and c) using the one or more sugars to produce the downstream product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the manipulation of cofactor usage in a recombinant host cell to increase the formation of desirable products. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a mutation in one or more native enzymes such that their cofactor specificity is altered in such a way that overall cofactor usage in the cell is balanced for a specified pathway and there is an increase in a specific product formation within the cell. In some embodiments, endogenous enzymes are replaced by enzymes with an alternate cofactor specificity from a different species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a yeast cell, in particular a recombinant yeast cell, the cell lacking enzymatic activity needed for the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis or the cell having a reduced enzymatic activity with respect to the NADH-dependent glycerol synthesis compared to its corresponding wild-type yeast cell, the cell comprising one or more heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding an NAD+-dependent acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.10) activity. The invention further relates to the use of a cell according to the invention in the preparation of ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process for alcohol production and organic acid production from lignocellulosic material.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for engineering bacteria, for example, Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, that convert biomass to ethanol at high yield by deleting a single gene. Deletion of subunit A or subunit B of the hfs hydrogenase, but not deletion of subunit C or subunit D, results in an increase in ethanol yield.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for obtaining sugar and lignin fractions from lignocellulosic materials and to a method for producing fermentation products using the sugars obtained from the lignocellulose. The present disclosure relates to a method for improving the sugar yield in the enzymatic hydrolysate by introducing a pre-treatment step of hydrothermal hydrolysis and an alkaline delignification step.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering lipids from microbial biomass, and for producing lipids. In the method, an aqueous suspension includes fermentation broth containing oleaginous yeast biomass which is subjected to hydrothermal treatment and lipids are recovered from the biomass by solvent extraction.

Abstract: Producing a resin from an organic waste product includes assessing a weight percent of a first volatile fatty acid and a weight percent of a second volatile fatty acid in a liquid mixture having volatile fatty acids from the organic waste product. The weight percent of the volatile fatty acids is based on the total weight of the carboxylic acids in the liquid mixture, the total weight of volatile fatty acids in the liquid mixture, or the total weight of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids in the mixture. A ratio of the weight percent of the first volatile fatty acid to the weight percent of the second volatile fatty acid in the liquid mixture is adjusted to yield a modified liquid mixture. The modified liquid is combined with polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria to yield a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer; and the polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer is extracted from the polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for self-sufficient hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material. In an additional aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for the production of an organic product and the organic product produced according to this process.

Abstract: A glucose production method is characterized in that glucose is produced from organisms that hold at least a disaccharide inside the body, which organisms utilize a cellulose source as food or for nutrients, particularly insects, crustaceans, and mushrooms.

Abstract: Microorganisms that co-consume glucose with non-glucose carbohydrates, such as xylose, and methods of using same. The microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) protein or modifications that reduce or ablate the activity of a phosphoglucose isomerase and a GntR. The PTS protein may be selected from an enzyme I (EI), an HPr, an FPr, and an enzyme IIGlc (EIIGlc). Additional modifications include reduction or ablation of the activity of a pyruvate formate lyase, a lactate dehydrogenase, and a fumarate reductase and inclusion of recombinant pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. The microorganisms are particularly suited to co-consuming glucose and xylose in media containing these substrates and producing ethanol therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for generating sugars from a cellulosic biomass. The methods combine treatment of the biomass using a high-shear milling device and saccharification of the biomass to partially hydrolyze the biomass. The biomass can be saccharified either after or simultaneously with the high-shear milling treatment. The partially hydrolyzed biomass is then separated into a solids stream with saccharification enzymes, and a liquid stream with sugars. The solids stream and associated enzymes are further incubated under saccharification conditions to produce additional sugars, or are recycled and added to fresh biomass, which is saccharified under high-shear milling conditions. The methods result in improved conversion of cellulosic biomass to glucose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydrolysis of cellulose containing biomass which comprises a liquefaction step in which a first enzyme or first enzyme composition is added to liquefy at least part of the solids present in the biomass and to keep the viscosity of the cellulose containing biomass below 1000 cP, preferably below 800 cP, more preferably below 600 cP in the liquefaction step; followed by a saccharification step in which a second enzyme composition is added to form oligomeric and/or monomeric sugars; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition is different from the second enzyme composition; whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises an endoglucanase; whereby the second enzyme composition comprises a cellulase; and whereby the first enzyme or first enzyme composition comprises more endogluconase than the second enzyme composition (expressed in protein wt %).

Abstract: Materials and methods are described to produce xylitol from a mixture of hemicellulosic sugars by several routes. Examples include either as a direct co-product of a biorefinery or ethanol facility, or as a stand-alone product produced from an agricultural or forestry biomass feedstock including using, e.g. ethanol waste streams.

Abstract: This invention provides novel strains of the genus Lactobacillus which can be used to produce pharmaceutical products with probiotic properties for human or veterinary use. The strains of this invention possess metabolic features that are particularly suitable for treatment of disorders related to lactose malabsorption and intolerance, fructose malabsorption and intolerance, and bloating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a process for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass for the purpose of reducing processing costs, increasing delignification, reducing side-reactions, in particular reducing hemicelluloses degradation, improving cellulose hydrolysis and increasing the nativity of the obtained lignin, by performing organosolv fractionation of the biomass with a treatment liquid at a temperature below 170° C., wherein the treatment liquid comprises a non-hydroxylic organic solvent, in particular a ketone, water and some acid, and optionally subjecting the cellulose-enriched product stream to enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: Provided is a biomass hydrothermal decomposition system which includes: a biomass supply unit that supplies a biomass raw material; hydrothermally decomposing the biomass raw material using pressurized hot water; a hydrothermal decomposition unit that dissolves lignin components and hemicellulose components in the pressurized hot water; a biomass solid fraction discharge unit that discharges a biomass solid fraction from the hydrothermal decomposition unit; an enzymatic liquefaction tank that is in connection with the biomass solid fraction discharge unit, and in which the discharged biomass solid fraction is introduced, and an enzyme is supplied to the biomass solid fraction to liquefy the biomass solid fraction; and a discharge unit that discharges the liquefied biomass solid fraction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for the hydrolysis of mixed biomass. The methods include forming a mixture of at least two modified biomass feedstocks to achieve various benefits, such as maximizing sugar yields and minimizing the formation of degradation products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for enzyme mediated hydrolysis of biomass for production of soluble sugars, wherein the said process comprises of steady addition of small portions of biomass to enzyme solution, enabling rapid solubilization of biomass. The process used for enzymatic saccharification allows for increased biomass loading, enzyme recycle and mitigation of substrate and product inhibitory effect. The recycling of unhydrolysed biomass along with soluble enzyme ensures complete reuse of the said enzyme for effective repeated hydrolysis thereby increasing the overall productivity of enzyme used.

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: In some variations, a process is provided for producing a pulp product at a biorefinery site, comprising: converting a woody cellulosic material to a first pulp stream; converting a non-woody cellulosic material to a second pulp stream; blending the second pulp stream into the first pulp stream; and recovering or further processing the blended pulp stream as a pulp product. Biorefinery site infrastructure may be shared between the woody and non-woody lines. Also, the process may include process integration of mass and/or energy between the woody and non-woody lines. The process may be a retrofit addition to a pulp plant, or a greenfield biorefinery site. The non-woody line also can generate fermentable sugars, for fermentation to ethanol (or other products). Through allocation of carbon credits from the ethanol to the pulp, the final pulp product life-cycle profile can be improved.

Abstract: A hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17 as a biomass processing apparatus that decomposes a biomass material 11 into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin under a high temperature and high pressure condition to remove a lignin component and a hemicellulose component, a biomass solid discharging unit 18 that discharges a biomass solid (a hot-water insoluble component) 20 processed in the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17, and a slurrying vessel 21 communicating with the biomass solid discharging unit 18, into which water 19 is injected and the discharged biomass solid 20 is added to make it slurried are provided to an apparatus body 13, which is a processing vessel having a gas-liquid interface 13a.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing ethanol, including: culturing yeast transformed so as to display an enzyme on the cell surface in a medium containing particles of lignocellulosic biomass, thereby producing ethanol, wherein the enzyme is an enzyme involved in hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic biomass. The present invention makes it possible to provide a method for producing ethanol by which a high ethanol yield can be achieved from lignocellulosic biomass with lower initial cell concentration and added enzyme amount.

Abstract: This specification describes a process of producing a monomeric sugar stream ligno-cellulosic biomass without enzymes or acid catalysts. This is accomplished by removing the water soluble C5 sugars from the ligno-cellulosic biomass feedstream, lowering the pH of the C5 solution with little or no addition of an acid, thermally treating the remaining ligno-cellulosic biomass, combining the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass with the low pH C5 solution and then exposing the mixture to an elevated temperature greater than 80° C. for a time sufficient to hydrolyze at least some of the components of the ligno-cellulosic biomass. Preferably, the thermally treated ligno-cellulosic biomass is subjected to a fiber shives reduction step to reduce the amount of long fiber shives.

Abstract: Enzyme compositions with enhanced enzyme activity and/or thermophilic and psychrophilic stability are described. Additionally, methods and kits for making and using the enzyme compositions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for a controlled conversion of a biomass feedstock, wherein the process comprises the steps of: loading the biomass feedstock to at least one reactor; liquefaction of the biomass feedstock into a monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture in said reactor by treatment in hot compressed liquid water (HCW) at sub- and/or super-critical condition; and removal of the monomer and/or oligomer sugar mixture, being the product molecules, to avoid continued detrimental decomposition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to processes for production of an alcohol product from granular starch including a pre-treatment at an elevated temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the granular starch followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and optionally recovery of ethanol.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for economically and effectively removing co-produced oxygenated organic compound from an anaerobic, aqueous fermentation broth used for the bioconversion of syngas to product oxygenated organic compound. Nitrate anion is added to the broth and the broth is contacted with denitrifying microorganisms that bioconvert the nitrate and organic compounds in the broth to reduced nitrogen compound and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysate having toxicity reduced or removed and being used for fermentation by microorganisms, comprising the steps of: pretreating, hydrolyzing, and using an electrochemical detoxification method.

Abstract: A process for pretreatment of a biomass material, comprising subjecting a biomass material to a biphasic mixture of water and supercritical CO2 at a temperature in the range of 150° C. to 250° C. under high pressure for a time of from 10 seconds to 100 minutes. In particular embodiments, the process is performed as a two-stage temperature process wherein an initial short high-temperature stage is conducted at a temperature of at least 200° C. for up to 20 minutes and a subsequent longer low-temperature stage is conducted at a temperature of at least 140° C. and up to 190° C. for 10-120 minutes.

Abstract: In one embodiment the instant invention generally pertains to a method for producing glucose for fermentation. The method comprises first treating a biomass with acid and heat under conditions sufficient to produce a composition mixture comprising cellulose suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis. Next, at least a portion of the cellulose of step (a) is enzymatically hydrolyzed under conditions sufficient to form a composition comprising glucose. The glucose is then fermented. Advantageously, one or more reaction conditions are more efficient because they are selected by first measuring an initial hydrolysis rate of said biomass and then selecting one or more appropriate reaction conditions based upon said initial hydrolysis rate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a useful substance efficiently from cellulose without using any cellulase preparation. According to the disclosures of the present specification, in the production of a useful substance from a cellulose-containing material, the cellulose-containing material is brought into contact with an ionic liquid to cause the ionic liquid to permeate the cellulose-containing material, and a carbon source comprising the cellulose in the cellulose-containing material is simultaneously saccharified and fermented by a cellulase-producing microorganism in the presence of the ionic liquid.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for enhancing the taste of a food product, which includes the steps of culturing a submerged mycelial liquid tissue culture in a media, collecting the supernatant fluid of the submerged mycelial liquid tissue culture, and adding the collected supernatant fluid to a food product in an amount sufficient to enhance the food product's taste. In one embodiment, the mycelial liquid tissue culture comprises C. sinensis, and the culture step is carried out for between about one and sixty days. The food products include quinoa, amaranth, whole wheat, stevia plant parts, steviol glycoside, aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose, carbohydrates, salt substitutes such as potassium chloride, monk fruit, cacao, cacao liquor, tea, ginseng, pea protein, sugar alcohol, coffee, cranberry, grapefruit, pomegranate, coconut, wine, beer, liquor and spirits. The present invention also includes products made by the disclosed methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving ethanol yield are provided. A feedstock is ground suitably fine for use in fermentation. The feedstock may include corn or any other suitable material. In some cases, the feedstock undergoes a fractionation prior to grinding. The ground feedstock may be slurried with water and enzymes to facilitate conversion of the starch in the feedstock to sugars. The slurry may be about 35% solids. After being slurried, an ethanologen may be added. Additionally, the pH of the slurry may be adjusted to between 4.2 and 5.2 to facilitate the priming A primer is added to the slurry. The primer may include any weak acid, and in some embodiments includes acetic acid. Acetic acid, when used as a primer, may be added at a concentration of between 1200 and 3600 parts per million. The slurry is fermented to produce improved yields of ethanol.

Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a fluid medium and a saccharifying agent.

Abstract: A process for producing bioethanol includes the steps of pretreatment (consisting in destructuring the lignocellulosic vegetable raw material by placing it in the presence of a mixture containing formic acid, acetic acid and water, then in separating cellulose), of enzymatic hydrolysis and of alcoholic fermentation, characterized in that it includes, prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis, a step of partial elimination of the lignins so as to obtain a residual overall level of lignins (T), expressed as percentage by weight, which is non-zero and which is included in a range determined by a lower limit, and an upper limit Bsup, respectively equal to 0.30% and 4%. In order to obtain conditions of acidification before the enzymatic hydrolysis step, the process includes a step for re-acidification of the mixture, which is carried out with an acid, or of a mixture of acids, of determined pKa, and preferably with weak organic.

Abstract: Conventionally, sugarcane processing avoids leaving residual sucrose in the bagasse, since the bagasse will be burned and the value of the sucrose would be lost. However, when coupled with a Green Power+® process to extract hemicelluloses, sucrose may also be extracted and recovered from the bagasse. In some variations, a process includes mechanically treating a feedstock to generate a sucrose-rich stream and lignocellulosic material that intentionally retains a significant amount of the initial sucrose in the feedstock; extracting the lignocellulosic material with steam and/or hot water to produce cellulose-rich solids and an extract liquor containing hemicellulosic oligomers and sucrose; and then hydrolyzing the hemicellulosic oligomers into a hemicellulose sugar stream. Each of the sucrose-rich stream and the hemicellulose sugar stream (containing the starting residual sucrose) may be recovered or further processed (e.g., fermented to ethanol).

Abstract: The present disclosure comprises methods, apparatus, components, and techniques for pretreatment of biomaterials using targeted wet oxidation. The targeted wet oxidation pretreatment is an upstream method for converting solid biomass into fuels and/or specialty chemicals. Embodiments of the present disclosure comprise methods carried out on biomaterials to selectively oxidize lignin components of the biomass, thereby resulting in bio accessible/digestible biomass fibers. In embodiments of the present disclosure, such methods may comprise pretreatment processes to prepare the biomaterials for a subsequent fermentation or other like conversion may be carried out to result in useful bio fuels or other bioproducts.

Abstract: A continuous process for the recovery of ethanol from hemicellulose and cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass. Yield of fermentable sugars can be maximized by continuous operation of the pre-treatment system and careful selection of pretreatment conditions including the addition of only small amounts of dilute mineral acid and low pressure. With this approach, the xylose component that is mainly present in its unfermentable oligomeric form in known pre-hydrolysis Kraft processes can be recovered more efficiently and as a monomer that can be fermented by xylose fermenting yeasts and bacteria. Due to the use of only dilute acids, there is a very low loss of glucose and xylose hence very low production of toxic chemicals (e.g. HMF, furfural) in the pretreatment step. The resulting overall fermentation efficiency of both hexose and pentose sugars is 90% of the theoretical maximum.

Abstract: A method for producing fermentation products from lignocellulosic biomass is provided. Lignocellulosic biomass is composed of lignocellulosic fibers which are hollow and primarily contain cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Lignin is concentrated in the outer fiber wall and glues the fibers into bundles, but the inner fiber wall has a much lower concentration of lignin and has more easily accessible cellulose and hemicellulose. This method uses vacuum infusion to infuse enzymes into the lumen (hollow center) of lignocellulosic fibers to hydrolyze the hemicellulose and cellulose to produce sugars and oligomers, and then uses cycles of vacuum pressure to pump these homogeneous reagents and sugars and oligomers into and out of the lumen. These reagents are homogenized by mixing the reagents with process water using turbulent mixing to produce a homogeneous reagent. The sugars may be fermented, such as with yeast, to a fermentation product, such as ethanol or butanol.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of lignocellulose-containing materials wherein such lignocellulose-containing materials, normally resistant to biotreatment, are first subjected to pyrolysis to produce pyrolysis products including pyrogas and char. Exemplary applications of the method include pyrolytic pre-treatment of wastewater sludges, cellulosic wastes, wood, peat, plant residues, low-grade coal, and the like. The pyrogas is introduced into digester sludge in an anaerobic digester.

Abstract: A sugar mixture comprising: monosaccharides; oligosaccharides in a ratio ?0.06 to total saccharides; disaccharides in a ratio to total saccharides ?0.05; pentose in a ratio to total saccharides ?0.05; at least one alpha-bonded di-glucose; and at least one beta-bonded di-glucose. Also disclosed are methods to make and/or use such mixtures.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulose-containing material comprising i) pre-treating lignocellulose-containing material; ii) hydrolyzing pre-treated lignocellulose-containing material; iii) fermenting using a fermenting organism; wherein fermentation is initiated and carried out at: a) a fermentation organism cell count in the range from 10-250×1010 cells per L fermentation medium; or b) a fermentation organism concentration in the range from 2-90 g dry weight fermenting organism per L fermentation medium.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or other materials are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems and methods are described that can be used to treat feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, in a vault in which the walls and optionally the ceiling include discrete units. Such vaults are re-configurable.

Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, novel systems, methods and equipment for conveying and/or cooling treated biomass are described.

Abstract: Described are processes for the liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass under the digestive action of dicarboxylic acid(s). Such digests can exhibit enhanced flowability, reduced volume, and significant biomass conversion to dissolved components, and can in some embodiments be further liquefied by contact with an enzyme. Products resultant of these steps can be used for their sugar content to manufacture biofuels or other products.