Abstract:
Cocoa products having a fruity flavor comprising an increased amount of a fruity aroma compounds are disclosed. The cocoa products are produced by a method comprising mixing cocoa nibs, de-shelled cocoa beans, or a combination thereof with an acid and water and roasting the acidified nibs, the acidified de-shelled cocoa beans, or the combination thereof.
Abstract:
Methods for the production of dehydrated sugars and derivatives of dehydrated sugars using microwave (MW) irradiation and methods of purifying the same are described. The dehydrated sugars derivatives include 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) and anhydrosugar alcohols such as sorbitans and isosorbide. The derivatives include HMF ethers, levulinic acid esters, and ether derivatives of the anhydrosugar alcohols. The described methods require lower reaction temperatures and shorter reaction times than similar non microwave mediated reactions known in the art. Typical reaction conditions are 120-210C, and typical reaction times are 30 minutes or less.
Abstract:
Processes are described for deodorizing a renewable source-based glycol product prepared from five and six-carbon sugars and sugar alcohols from biomass, including a distilled or otherwise purified glycol product meeting pharmaceutical grade purity requirements. In one embodiment, more acidic, higher odor profile materials are reacted with a weak base to form salts with a lower odor profile. In an alternate approach, odor-causing materials present in the renewable source-based glycol product are removed by liquid-liquid extraction.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for the efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic biomasses into cellulosic, hemicellulosic and lignin fractions, wherein concentrated organic acid vapors are applied to the biomass at elevated temperatures at the location(s) or near the location(s) where the biomass has been harvested and gathered, to at least partly depolymerize or substantially solubilize the hemicelluloses and lignins in the biomass. The organic acid-treated biomass is in either case then dried and pelletized for extended bulk storage and/or for shipment to a second facility some distance away. The organic acid-treated biomass may be processed into desired chemicals, fuels and/or fuel additives at the local processing site or at a second facility away from the local processing site, or the pelletized material may be used as a ruminant feed locally or at a feedlot some distance removed from the local processing site.
Abstract:
Described herein are small peptide domains and consensus sequences that bind small target molecules of industrial importance, e.g., metals such as nickel, β carotene, and isoflavones such as genistein. Also described are fusion proteins containing such binding domains fused to proteins or to peptide domains like GST or CBD that bind other ligands and can be used to immobilize the target binding domain on a support. One class of fusion proteins that is useful in industrial settings are fusions that contain concatemers of target binding domains, which increases the binding equivalents per molecule.
Abstract:
Described herein are small peptide domains and consensus sequences that bind small target molecules of industrial importance, e.g., metals such as nickel, β carotene, and isoflavones such as genistein. Also described are fusion proteins containing such binding domains fused to proteins or to peptide domains like GST or CBD that bind other ligands and can be used to immobilize the target binding domain on a support. One class of fusion proteins that is useful in industrial settings are fusions that contain concatemers of target binding domains, which increases the binding equivalents per molecule.
Abstract:
Novel polyurethane resins are provided by the reaction of an epoxidized or partially epoxidized triglyceride (for example, epoxidized soy oil), an isocyanate, and a functional diol selected to impart amphoteric, cationic, anionic character to the resultant polyurethane. These polyurethane resins may be used to provide vegetable oil-based, waterborne polyurethane dispersions which are readily adapted to suit a variety of uses.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to particles comprising carboxyalkyl starch that are permeated with an acidic gas and their uses as absorbent materials. It was discovered that superabsorbent materials could be obtained from carboxyalkyl starch particles permeated with the acidic gas and heated to a temperature of at least 100°C until they reach an AUL at 0.7 psi. of at least 14 g/g and a CRC of at least 18 g/g. Moreover, it was discovered that the pH of alkaline starch extrudates can be adjusted by permeating particles of the extrudate with the acidic gas even with treating the particles to temperatures less than 100°C. The carboxyalkyl starch particles obtained by the methods described herein are characterized as having intramolecular ester bonds, which are greater in number at the surface of the particle than in the core, and the particles have a greater concentration of cation of the acidic gas at the surface than a the core.
Abstract:
Provided are methods of removing contaminants from cocoa beans, reducing free fatty acids in cocoa butter of the cocoa beans or a combination thereof. The methods are accomplished by use of a pre-washing solution placed in contact with the cocoa beans. Cocoa products produced by such methods and systems for performing such methods on cocoa beans are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Genes SWA2 and GAMl from the yeast, Schwanniomyces occidentalis , encoding α- amylase and glucoamylase, respectively, were cloned and expressed in H. polymorpha . The expression was achieved by integration of the SWA2 and GAM l genes into the chromosome of H. polymorpha under operably linked to a strong constitutive promoter of the H. polymorpha - glyceraldehyde-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase gene ( HpGAP . Resulting transformants acquired the ability to grow on a minimal medium containing soluble starch as a sole carbon source and can produce Ethanol at high-temperature fermentation from starch up to 10 g/L. A XYN2 gene encoding endoxylanase was obtained from the fungus Trichoderma resee , and a xlnD gene coding for β-xylosidase was obtained from the fungus Aspergillus niger . Co-expression of these genes was also achieved by integration into the H. polymorpha chromosome under control of the HpGAP promoter. The resulting transformants were capable of growth on a minimal medium supplemented with birchwood xylan as a sole carbon source. Successful expression of xylanolytic enzymes resulted in a recipient strain capable of fermentation of birchwood xylan to ethanol at 48° C. Further with co expression of the forgoing genes in a H. polymorpha strain that overexpresses a pyruvate decarboxylase gene further improved ethanol production.