Abstract: A biogas plant service device and an associated biogas plant with a service shaft for biogas plants includes a fermentation tank with a tank wall, a fermentation tank interior and a tank cover covering the fermentation tank interior. The service shaft has a service opening to carry out the assembly, disassembly and maintenance of the plant, such as, a stirrer. The service shaft is arranged on a tank roof covering the fermenter tank interior for sealing the tank roof. An assembly rod is provided extending into the fermentation mass in the fermentation tank interior from the service shaft and at a distance from the tank wall. The service shaft is fixed to a support frame which has a support section, with a fixing apparatus provided on the support section by means of which the support section can be aligned and fixed outside the fermentation tank interior.

Abstract: A method of extracting fibers from decorticated plant bast skin involves pre-treating decorticated plant bast skin of a fiber plant with an aqueous solution containing trisodium citrate having a pH in a range of about 8-14 at a temperature of about 90° C. or less; and subsequently treating recovered fibers with a protease at alkaline pH.

Abstract: Using site-directed mutagenesis to mutate the Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyase gene, variants of Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyase with improved thermostability and/or enzymatic activity have been expressed in Escherichia coli, and then isolated and purified. The mutant Xanthomonas campestris pectate lyases are more effective than the wild-type enzyme, also expressed in E. coli, in removing pectic compounds from natural hemp fiber.

Abstract: A process for production of a lignocellulosic material modified by conjugation thereto of a phenolic substance comprising a substituent which, in the conjugated form of the phenolic substance, is, or may become, negatively or positively charged, respectively, comprises: reacting a lignocellulosic fibre material and the phenolic substance with an oxidizing agent in the presence of an enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of phenolic groups by the oxidizing agent; and reacting together the products of the reactions; with the proviso that the phenolic substance is not a phenolic polysaccharide. A strengthened lignocellulose-based product (e.g. a paper product) may be prepared by a procedure wherein a product produced in accordance with the latter process is treated with a strengthening agent having an ionic charge of sign opposite to that which is conferred on the modified lignocellulosic material by the charge-conferring substituent.

Abstract: Textile fibers are treated with enzymes in the absence of surfactants, with the effect of increasing the wettability and absorbency of the fibers. The enzymes are pectinases, cellulases, proteases, lipases or combinations thereof. The wetting properties of cotton fibers are found to be most substantially improved by treatment with a mixture of cellulase and pectinase. The effects of five hydrolyzing enzymes on improving the hydrophilicity of several polyester fabrics have been studied. Four out of the five lipases studied improve the water wetting and absorbent properties of the regular polyester fabrics more than alkaline hydrolysis under optimal conditions (3N NaOH at 55.degree. C. for 2 hours). Compared to aqueous hydrolysis, the enzyme reactions have shown to be effective under more moderate conditions, including a relatively low concentration (0.01 g/L), a shorter reaction time (10 minutes), at an ambient temperature (25.degree. C.).

Abstract: The process for biochemical retting of phloem-fiber plants such as hemp, flax, ramie, jute, kenaf, etc. permits separation of the fibers of the bundle for subsequent utilization in the textile or paratextile industry. The process comprises treating the fibrous plants with at least one SPS-ase enzyme and preferably a mixture of enzymes comprising .beta.-glucanase, pectinase and SPS-ase.

Abstract: This is a method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber, such as ramie, flax, or hemp bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material and coloring gums therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is desirably washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber and remove water soluble material and other debris therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time of between 10 and 30 minutes to remove the pectin from the plant fiber. The acidic treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature in the range of between 60.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. and has a pH between about 2.0 and 3.5. Thereafter, the plant bast fiber with the pectin removed therefrom, is removed from the acidic treatment solution and a sufficient amount of NaOH is added thereto to increase the pH of the treatment solution to about 11.0.

Abstract: A method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber, such as ramie flax, or hemp bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber to remove water soluble material therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous, acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time between about 10 to 20 minutes to degum the plant fiber. The treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature in the range between about 60.degree. C. and 65.degree. C. and has a pH between about 2.0 and 3.5.

Abstract: A method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber such as ramie bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber to remove water soluble material therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous, acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time up to about one hour to degum the plant fiber. The treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature and has a pH between about 2.0 and about 4.5.