Abstract: A system and a method for methanol production is described. The method includes gasifying coal to produce a coal gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; transferring heat from the coal gas to a natural gas reforming mixture including water and methane; reforming the natural gas reforming mixture to form a reformed natural gas; mixing the coal gas, the reformed natural gas, and a recycled gas including hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form a synthesis gas; reacting the synthesis gas to form methanol and a waste gas; separating the methanol and the waste gas; removing hydrogen from the waste gas to produce a dehydrogenated waste gas; and subjecting the dehydrogenated waste gas to a water-gas shift reaction to produce the recycled gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enzymatically producing optically active mandelic acid derivatives. An optically active mandelic acid derivative (shown as Formula II) is produced by reacting a culture or cell body of a microorganism, or processed products thereof, with a phenylglyoxylic acid derivative, and then recovering the obtained optically active mandelic acid derivative, wherein the microorganism has the ability to stereo-selectively reduce the phenylglyoxylic acid derivative. An optically active mandelic acid obtained according to the present invention is useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. Specifically the process comprises two reaction steps. The first step is the fermentative conversion of a hexose to a pentitol. The second step is the catalytic chemical isomerisation of the pentitol to xylitol. Optionally, the xylitol is separated from the other pentitols.

Abstract: A method of producing arabitol by continuous fermentation of at least one sugar by micro-organisms producing arabitol, characterised in that arabitol is produced in a first fermentation area including at least one fermenter in such a manner that some of the sugar introduced into the fermentation medium is consumed by said micro-organisms, some of the fermentation medium obtained in this way is transferred into a second fermentation area including at least one fermenter, the volume being maintained constant in the first fermentation area by adding sugar, production of arabitol continues in said second fermentation area in such a manner as to consume the residual sugar of the fermentation medium, the fermentation medium thus obtained from said second fermentation area is separated a continuously into a fraction concentrated in micro-organisms and another, soluble fraction enriched in arabitol, and the arabitol thus obtained is collected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing folic acid, comprising incubating yeast having the ability to produce folic acid of 0.3 mg or more or incubating bacteria having the ability to produce folic acid of 1 mg or more per liter of the culture, thereby accumulating folic acid in the culture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved process for making PDE IV inhibitors. In specific, this application describes a process for making and purifying a chiral bisaryl alcohol, an intermediate compound necessary for the preparation of PDE IV inhibitors such as CDP 840, by asymmetric bioreduction of a pro-chiral ketone. Furthermore, the bioprocess provides for production of each enantiomer of a bisaryl alcohol at elevated optical purity.This invention takes advantage of a microorganism's ability to reduce a pro-chiral bisaryl ketone to the chiral bisaryl alcohol. The alcohol is readily isolated from the media by solvent extraction, crystallography, or other purification method known to the skilled artisan. The chiral alcohol can then be converted to a PDE IV inhibitor, such as CDP 840, by methods well known in the art.

Abstract: An (S)-1-phenyl-2-substituted propane derivative shown by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a lower alkyl group, etc., or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; and X represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected with a protective group, or a halogen atom etc., can readily be produced (i) by permitting a microorganism belonging to the genus Torulaspora, the genus Candida, the genus Pichia or the like to act on a phenylacetone derivative and asymmetrically reducing the compound, or (ii) by sterically inverting an (R)-enantiomer. (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-?(2-phenyl-1-methylethyl)amino!ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (I). The ethanol derivative is useful as an anti-obesity agent and the like.

Abstract: An efficient method of producing phytosphingosine-containing ceramide one comprising: (a) obtaining a phytosphingosine base from tetraacetylphytosphingosine (TAPS) by a deacetylation reaction wherein the TAPS is produced by fermentation of cells of the F-60-10 mating type strain of Hansenula ciferrii using a fed-batch mode and a non-fermentable carbon source; and (b) coupling together the phytosphingosine base and a fatty acid/.omega.-hydroxy fatty acid component wherein the .omega.-hydroxy fatty acid component is prepared by a process which includes Kolbe synthesis.

Abstract: One chiral form of a 1-aryl-2-aminopropane is produced in preference to its enantiomer by allowing a 1-arylpropan-2-one to react with a 1-amino-1-phenylethane of predominantly one chiral form and reducing the resultant 1-(1-arylprop-2-ylideneimino)-1-phenylethane to yield phenylethane and a mixture of 1-aryl-2-aminopropanes in which one chiral form thereof is present in preference to its enantiomer. The mixture of 1-aryl-2-aminopropanes then is subjected to the action of an omega-amino acid transaminase which converts one of the two chiral forms of 1-aryl-2-aminopropane into the corresponding arylpropanone which can be separated from the remaining chiral form of the 1-aryl-2-aminopropane.

Abstract: The invention relates to NAD(P)H-dependent nitrate reductase from yeasts, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof in a reagent for determining nitrate. The nitrate reductase is characterized by a molecular weight of about 350 000 D and can be obtained by yeast cells which have been cultivated in a completely synthetic nutrient medium with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source and which contain nitrate reductase being disrupted in phosphate buffer, the crude extract being chromatographed on an anion exchanger, the fractions containing nitrate reductase being mixed with protein, concentrated by ultrafiltration and dried by fluidized bed granulation. The reagent for determining nitrate contains, besides the nitrate reductase prepared in this way, also NAD(P)H and a color reagent for determining nitrite.

Abstract: Optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid can be obtained by treating 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid with an optionally treated microorganism capable of asymmetrically reducing the 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid to thereby asymmetrically reduce the same into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid.

Abstract: 2-Oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid is treated with a microorganism, which has been optionally treated, capable of asymmetrically reducing 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid into either (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid, and the (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid thus produced is recovered to thereby give optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid.The optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is an important intermediate in the synthesis of various drugs such as a remedy for hypertension.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for enzymatically converting lower alkyl alcohols to corresponding aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen under process conditions which increase the catalytic capacity of alcohol oxidase enzymes. Such process conditions involve low temperatures, high substrate concentrations and an enriched supply of oxygen. Enzymes may be used in the form of whole cells, a soluble cell free extract or a highly purified fraction, and the process may be employed in batch or continuous operation.

Abstract: Optically active 2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid can be obtained by treating 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid with an optionally treated microorganism capable of asymmetrically reducing the 2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid to thereby asymmetrically reduce the same into (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid or (S)-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid.

Abstract: In a process for the reduction of ketones, the keto compounds are enantioselectively reduced to give secondary alcohols by means of microorganisms. Keto compounds of the formulaR.sup.3 NH--CHR.sup.1 --CO--CH.sub.2 --COOR.sup.2in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the meanings defined herein are used as starting compounds.

Abstract: A process of producing 2-keto-L-gulonic acid by fermentative conversion of L-sorbose utilizing a fermentation system composed of component produced from a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of strain DSM No. 4025 and a yeast component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for converting alcohols to aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide through the use of a methanol oxidase enzyme. The process involves introducing a lower alkyl or lower alkylene alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, or allyl alcohol, as an aqueous solution into a reaction zone. Methanol oxidase enzyme that is stable in methanol concentrations of at least 0.5% and formaldehyde concentrations of at least 1.0% is also introduced into the reaction zone, which is maintained at an elevated pressure in contact with an oxygen-containing gas. The preferred methanol oxidase enzyme has the properties of the methanol oxidase enzyme produced by Hansenula polymorpha ATCC 34438. Both batchwise and continuous processes are disclosed. Also disclosed is a process in which a catalase is present in the reaction zone to decompose hydrogen peroxide as it is formed, so that the net reaction is the conversion of alcohol to aldehyde.

Abstract: Rapid identification of different species of microorganism selected from fungi and yeast like algae is accomplished by culturing the microorganism for several hours under normal conditions on a non-inhibitory mycological medium which stimulates the microorganism to make characteristic enzymes by which the microorganism can be identified, distributing the culture (in suspension) onto several supports containing different substrates which are capable of reacting with the enzymes so produced by the different species of microorganisms; and rapidly incubating the admixture to produce a distinctly colored or colorable reaction product.

Abstract: Methylotrophic yeasts of the genera Pichia, Torulopsis, Candida and Hansenula when grown on methanol, make use of an enzyme, alcohol oxidase, to catalyse the initial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. Non-growing whole cells of such methylotrophic yeasts were used in place of purified alcohol oxidase for the production of flavoring aldehydes from their respective alcohols. To reduce end product inhibition a number of amine buffers, which chelate the aldehydes, were studied and an increase in aldehyde production was demonstrated with selected buffers which maintain a weakly alkaline pH.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced by the fermentation of xylulose using yeast under fermentative conditions.

Abstract: A method of high cellular density yeast fermentation at high mineral salts feed to and maintained in the ferment.Single cell protein (SCP) is produced in an aerobic fermentation process at high yields under high cell density conditions employing media of high mineral salts concentration. Novel Pichia pastoris and Hansenula polymorpha yeasts are disclosed.

Abstract: Process for the production of citric acid, characterized in that E. Coli KG 93, F.sup.- is cultivated in a first step for 15-24 hours at a temperature of 20.degree.-37.degree. C. and a pH of 5.0-7.5 on a substrate consisting of whey permeate to which has been added phosphates in a content of 0.8-1.6 g/l and nitrates in a content of 0.8-1.2 g/l or a corresponding quantity of urea, that H. Wickerhamii CBS 4308 in a second step is cultivated for 20-26 hours at a temperature of 15.degree.-35.degree. C. and a pH of 4.5-6.5 on the cultivating solution from the first step, whereupon citric acid is obtained from the cultivating solution in a way known per se.

Abstract: A single cell protein plant is operated to produce high density cell growth and a substantially pure stream of generally high pressure carbon dioxide for further use, for example, in enhanced oil recovery operations. The plant employs an air separator producing substantially pure streams of oxygen and nitrogen. The oxygen stream is used to enrich a carrier fluid and used for aeration of the fermenter. The off-gases from the fermenter are separated into a generally high pressure, substantially pure carbon dioxide stream which can be used for enhanced oil recovery and a residual recycle stream to which oxygen is again added and which is returned to the fermenter. The single cell protein is dried and further processed as required for human or animal consumption.

Abstract: A method of producing alcohol oxidase wherein Hansenula polymorpha yeast is cultivated in a nutrient broth containing inorganic nutrient salts of which either the phosphate, nitrate or potassium is present in a cell-growth-limiting concentration at a temperature of 25.degree. to 45.degree. C. and a pH of 4.0 to 6.0 with oxygen being supplied as air for a mixture of air and oxygen. According to the invention, an organic substrate consisting of glycerin, sorbite or xylose, noncatabolite-repressive to alcohol-oxidase is added to the broth in a concentration of 0.1 to 1.0% in a nutrient solution at a rate of 0.03 to 0.15 .sup.-1.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a 15 .alpha.-hydroxyprostaglandin intermediate of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is phenoxymethyl, phenoxymethyl substituted on the phenyl moiety by halogen or trifluoromethyl, or alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms, andR.sub.2 is hydrogen, acetyl, benzoyl or p-phenylbenzoyl,which comprises stereospecifically microbiologically reducing a corresponding 15-ketone of the formula ##STR2## with a strain of the microorganism Kloeckera, Saccharomyces or Hansenula.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of synthesizing single cell protein from residual oils and/or coal by a mutually advantageous combination of a synthesis gas generation process or a coal gasification process in the production of methanol and ammonia, and their use by the protein producing bacteria.

Abstract: A method of increasing yield of yeast cells on a carbon source of crude methanol or crude ethanol is given.