Abstract:
A process for production of C5 and C6 sugar enriched syrups from lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation products therefrom is described. A lignocellulosic biomass is treated with a C 1 -C 2 acid (e.g., acetic acid) with washing thereof with a C 1 -C 2 acid miscible organic solvent, (e.g., ethyl acetate). A soluble hemicellulose and lignin enriched fraction is obtained separately from a cellulose pulp enriched fraction and lignin is removed from the soluble hemicellulose fraction. These fractions contain acylated (e.g., acetylated) cellulose and hemicellulose, which are deacylated by treatment with an alkali and/or with an acetyl esterase enzyme. The deacylated fractions are then digested with suitable cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes, preferably in the presence of non-ionic detergent to yield the C5 and C6 enriched syrups. Also described are method of fermentation of the syrups to make ethanol to at least 7% w/vol by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) or simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation (SSF) methods.
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:
A method is provided for producing sugars using a combination of acids to hydrolyze hemicellulosic and cellulosic materials in biomass, said combination of acids namely comprising a first, weak organic acid (such as acetic acid or formic acid) for providing a pentose product or stream from hydrolyzing hemicellulosic materials in the biomass on a batchwise, semi-continuous or continuous basis, and a second, strong mineral acid (such as sulfuric acid) for providing a hexose product or stream from hydrolyzing cellulosic materials in the biomass.
Abstract:
A modification is described of a dry grind process for producing ethanol and other co-products from whole grain, whereby the mash is thermochemically treated by cooking the mash in the presence of an organic acid. The organic acid effectively hydrolyzes both the starch and hemicellulosic components in the milled corn to provide fermentable sugars from both the endosperm and other parts of the kernel, without, however, also producing fermentation-inhibiting levels of other known products of the acid hydrolysis of hemicellulosic materials, such as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural. Further, the organic acid is able to solubilize both the starch and the more recalcitrant hemicelluloses while only partially hydrolyzing the same, so that most of the starch and hemicelluloses are hydrolyzed to oligomers and the amount of chemically labile and reducing sugars is kept sufficiently low as to also not appreciably interfere with the fermentation to ethanol.
Abstract:
A method for increasing ozone concentration in a liquid can include: providing a gas having ozone; introducing the ozone-containing gas into a liquid, wherein the liquid and ozone combination has a temperature between about 0.8 and about 1.5 times the critical temperature of ozone; and increasing isothermally, the pressure of the ozone-containing gas above the liquid to about 0.3 to about 5 times the critical pressure of ozone so as to increase the ozone concentration in the liquid. The temperature is expressed in absolute units (Kelvin or Rankin). The method can be used for removing ozone from a gas or for purifying ozone. The liquid having a high ozone concentration can be used for ozonolysis of a substrate.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions for providing novel catalyst supports are included herein. In one embodiment, included herein are yeast cell supports including one or more receptor proteins uniformly displayed on the surface of a yeast cell having the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Each receptor protein is anchored to a ligand that is selective for that protein, and each ligand is, in turn, bound to a catalyst. Both the catalyst support-catalyst combinations and the catalyst supports alone are contemplated by the invention.
Abstract:
A method for producing hydrogen from a plant source is disclosed. The method includes contacting a crude carbohydrate material obtained from the plant source with water and a catalyst at a temperature and pressure sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the crude carbohydrate material to form a vapor mixture of gases including hydrogen, and separating hydrogen from other gases present in the vapor mixture.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods of enzymatically preparing aldehydes from fatty acids by utilizing a carboxylic acid reductase enzyme to reduce the fatty acids to their corresponding aldehydes. The present invention also provides aldehydes prepared by the methods of the invention.
Abstract:
Oil of improved quality is produced by treating the oil with an active substance capable of reducing the anisidine value of the oil. Food products comprising the oil of improved quality are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to carboxylic acid and ester moieties that are attached to a carbon chain that is between 2 and 24 carbons in length wherein, the chain contains at least one dioxanone ring system, said dioxanone being formed from two adjacent carbons in the chain and/or at least one carbon in the chain is substituted with a pendant dioxanone ring system. In preferred embodiments, the carbon chain is a fatty acid residue. The carbons of said chain can be optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated. When two or more said ester moieties are present, the invention is directed to a polyester such as a triglyceride, that contains multiple carbon chains wherein each chain is independently derivatized such that the triglyceride contains at least one dioxanone ring system, said dioxanone being formed from two adjacent carbons in at least one of said chains. The present invention is also directed to a method of preparing a dioxanone containing composition of fatty acid derivative. The present invention is also directed to coating formulations and polymers that utilize a dioxanone containing composition or fatty acid derivative, and methods of making such coatings and polymers.