Abstract: A method of saccharifying cellulose by incubation with the cellulase of Clostridium thermocellum in a broth containing an efficacious amount of a reducing agent. Other incubation parameters which may be advantageously controlled to stimulate saccharification include the concentration of alkaline earth salts, pH, temperature, and duration. By the method of the invention, even native crystalline cellulose such as that found in cotton may be completely saccharified.

Abstract: Agricultural waste material, including animal manure and crop wastes, are converted into proteinaceous animal feed products by a fermentation process using the fungus, Chaetomium cellulolyticum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anaerobic digestion process of wastes containing cellulose, in which, after liquefying by bringing wastes containing cellulose in slurry state into contact with facultative anaerobic bacteria with pH adjusted between 6.5-8.0 and oxidation-reduction potential controlled between -50-300 mV with oxygen supply, the liquefied slurry is then converted into methane and carbon dioxide by bringing it into contact with obligatory anaerobic bacteria to recover methane efficiently.

Abstract: A process of extracting metals from a material containing at least 10% by weight of pyrite and selected from the group consisting of ores containing sulphide, concentrates of such ores and mixtures of such ores and/or concentrates by microbial leaching which comprises roasting the material before the microbial leaching to convert part of the pyrite to pyrrhotite and thus remove part of the sulphur which is present as pyrite without the formation of any significant amount of metal oxide, the conversion corresponding to removal of at least 10% but not more than 50% of the sulphur present in the pyrite, and only thereafter leaching the thus roasted ore by treatment with bacteria, to extract the metals. The process is characterized by its improved efficiency in metal extraction.

Abstract: A process and a microorganism for synthesizing cellulase enzymes and solu proteins are described. The microorganism is a mutant strain of an Ascomycete fungus capable of the synthesizing cellulases and soluble proteins in the presence of a growth medium containing cellulose, cellulose enzymic hydrolysate sugars or lactose. The mutant strain is identified as T. reesei MCG80.

Abstract: An industrial cellulosic pulp material, such as wood pulp and paper stock, pulp sludges resulting from the manufacture of paper, coffee and sugar and starch-rich cellulosic materials, such as, bananas and root crops, is converted into a protein-enriched producing having significant amounts of microbial biomass in the form of the fungus, Chaetomium cellulolyticum.

Abstract: An industrial cellulosic pulp material, such as wood pulp and paper stock, pulp sludges resulting from the manufacture of paper, coffee and sugar and starch-rich cellulosic materials, such as, bananas and root crops, is converted into a protein-enriched product having significant amounts of microbial biomass in the form of the fungus, Chaetomium cellulolyticum.

Abstract: The process consists of cultivating, at a temperature below 28.degree. C., the fungus Trichoderma Album in liquid nutrient media, the pH of said media being kept at a value comprised between about 3.7 and 4.8, the dissolved oxygen content being from about 6 to 10 mg/l. The cultivation is carried out with non-traumatizing, efficient stirring and under conditions such that multiplication is practically nil.

Abstract: A process for producing lipids having a high linoleic acid content is provided, wherein fungi of Pellicularia genus are cultivated in a medium of a carbohydrate or vegetable fiber as a carbon source. By separating the fungus body from the resulting culture and subjecting it to solvent extraction, the objective lipid is obtained.

Abstract: A biologically pure culture of cellulase-elaborating bacteria of mutant microorganisms of Cellulomonas (ATCC-21399) which have the ability to excrete L-glutamic acid or L-lysine, or both, when the mutant microorganisms are grown in a fermentation medium in the substantial absence of yeast extract on an assimilable source of carbon, and supplied with nitrogen and mineral nutrients, in the presence of oxygen at temperatures ranging from about 20.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. The preferred mutant microorganisms are selected from the group consisting of: Cellulomonas sp. ATCC-21399 strain LC-10 (ATCC-31230), Cellulomonas sp. ATCC-21399 strain A.sup.r -1 (ATCC-31231) and Cellulomonas sp. ATCC-21399 strain A.sup.r -156 (ATCC-31232).

Abstract: In vivo and in vitro cellulose fermentation by cellulose-digesting microorganisms is increased by conducting the fermentation in the presence of a minor amount of a 2-(chloromethyldithio)acetic acid.

Abstract: The process consists of cultivating, at a temperature below 28.degree. C., the fungus Trichoderma Album in liquid nutrient media, the pH of said media being kept at a value comprised between about 3.7 and 4.8, the dissolved oxygen content being from about 6 to 10 mg/l. The cultivation is carried out with non-traumatizing, efficient stirring and under conditions such that multiplication is practically nil.

Abstract: Processes for treating cellulosic substances prior to hydrolysis which lead to shortening hydrolysis time and to increasing sugar yield. As exemplary, an aqueous slurry of the cellulosic substance is acidified and heated to and maintained at a temperature to produce a change in the cellulosic structure; the heating period is controlled so that there is little glucose formation. The pretreated cellulose may be subsequently hydrolyzed by acid or enzyme.

Abstract: Cellulase, an enzyme useful in the saccharification of cellulose can be recycled by a process of selective adsorption on cellulose containing materials and readmitted to the reaction mixture in a batch, semi-continuous, or continuous simultaneous saccharification-fermentation process.

Abstract: Base medium for the constitution of culture media for microorganisms.It has a sufficient viscosity for strict aerobic microorganisms, even mobile, to be able to develop only at the surface or close to the latter, this viscosity however not exceeding that which would result in too great a decrease in fluidity, preventing sedimentation of microorganisms in this medium, under the effect of gravity.Application to the characterization or to the identification of microorganisms.

Abstract: Cellulose fermentation by cellulose-digesting microorganisms is increased by conducting the fermentation in the presence of a minor amount of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R' is haloalkyl and the carbocyclic ring has from 0 to 3 sites of olefinic unsaturation.

Abstract: In vivo and in vitro cellulose fermentation by cellulose-digesting microorganisms is increased by conducting the fermentation in the presence of a minor amount of a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R' is haloalkyl and R is H or alkyl.

Abstract: Increased yield of fodder yeasts is obtained with a culture medium containing peat hydrolysate, ligneous waste hydrolysate and sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The peat hydrolysate is obtained by hydrolysis of peat with sulphuric acid and the hydrolysate has a pH of 4.0 to 4.4.