Abstract:
Integrated cellulosic ethanol and corn ethanol production processes reduce the capital and operating costs of cellulosic ethanol production through high levels of integration with pre-existing corn ethanol processing equipment. The processes comprise separating corn starch from other, non-fermentable corn components (e.g. germ, protein, fiber, etc.) and cofermenting sugars derived from the corn starch in the presence of a pretreated cellulose feed. The cofermentation can be carried out using one or more hemicellulose sugar utilizing yeast strains, for example, such as one or more yeast strains.
Abstract:
Integrated cellulosic ethanol and com ethanol production processes reduce the capital and operating costs of cellulosic ethanol production through high levels of integration with pre-existing corn ethanol processing equipment. The processes comprise separating com starch from other, non-fermentable corn components (e.g. germ, protein, fiber, etc.) and cofermenting sugars derived from the corn starch in the presence of a pretreated cellulose feed. The cofermentation can be carried out using one or more hemicellulose sugar utilizing yeast strains, for example, such as one or more yeast strains.
Abstract:
Process for the production of sugars from biomass including at least one polysaccharide which comprises putting a biomass in contact with an aqueous solution of at least one organic acid having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, the pH of said aqueous solution being ranging from 0.6 to 1.6, preferably ranging from 0.9 to 1.3. The sugars thus obtained can be advantageously used as carbon sources in fermentation processes for the production of alcohols (e.g., ethanol, butanol), diols (e.g., 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol), lipids, or other intermediates or products. Said alcohols, diols, lipids, or other intermediates or products, can be advantageously used in the chemical industry or in the formulation of fuels for motor vehicles. Said alcohols and said diols can also be advantageously used in the bio-butadiene production.
Abstract:
The invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a glucoamylase, an alpha-amylase, and optionally a cellulolytic composition and/or a protease. The invention also relates to the use thereof in processes of producing sugars and/or fermentation products from starch-containing material by saccharifying and/or fermenting starch-containing material at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature.
Abstract:
A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar- containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C 5 -sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5 -sugar-containing oligomers, C5- sugare monomers, or any combination thereof. A solute is added to the product mixture to cause partitioning of the product mixture into an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone.
Abstract:
A fungal alpha-amylase is provided from Aspergillus clavatus (AcAmy1). AcAmy1 has an optimal pH of 4.5 and is operable at 30 - 75°C, allowing the enzyme to be used in combination with a glucoamylase and an isoamylase in a saccharification reaction. This obviates the necessity of running a saccharification reaction as a batch process, where the pH and temperature must be readjusted for optimal use of the alpha-amylase or glucoamylase. AcAmy1 also catalyzes the saccharification of starch substrates to an oligosaccharide composition significantly enriched in DP2 and (DP1 + DP2) compared to the products of saccharification catalyzed by an alpha-amylase from Aspergillus kawachii . This facilitates the utilization of the oligosaccharide composition by a fermenting organism in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process, for example.
Abstract:
Disclosed are a method of hydrolysis of wet fiber and a method for preparing ethanol. Generally, an agricultural plant material, such as corn hulls, distillers dried grains, or spent germ, is treated to at least partially hydrolyze the fiber. The process may include a maceration step followed by a shearing operation in the presence of steam to yield a treated product, in which, in many embodiments, saccharides will be released and unbound from fibrous portions of the agricultural product. In some embodiments, the process includes macerating the material to provide a slurry having a solids content of at least 10 percent and jet cooking the slurry. A mixture of saccharides prepared in this fashion may be fermented to yield ethanol and/or biochemicals.
Abstract:
Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.
Abstract:
A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 4O0C, and contacting the feed composition with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of cleavage or formation of glucosyl bonds for a time sufficient to cause formation of non-linear saccharide oligomers, wherein a product composition is produced that contains a higher concentration of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for depolymerizing starch comprising mixing a starch material with an ionic liquid solvent to dissolve the starch, and then treating the dissolved starch by agitating at a temperature and for a period for time to effect depolymerization of the starch into desired depolymerization products.