Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for refining a biomass having a dry matter content of 5 –95wt.%, based on the total weight of the biomass, wherein the process comprises the subsequent stages of (a) water extraction under atmospheric pressure conditions and at a pH of 5 to 7, (b) prehydrolysis with water, steam or a mixture thereof at a temperature of 100°C to 200°C, and (c) hydrolysis at a pH of less than 7. In a further aspect of the invention, one or more valuable by-products such as for example vegetable oil, hemicellulose, lignin, furans, organic acids and monomeric and/or polymeric sugars are recovered from the refining process. The present invention also relates to a dissolving pulp obtained by the process according to the invention, and to the use of the dissolving pulp for the production of cellulose acetate.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for digestion of biomass for the production of biogas. The method comprises feeding biomass into a reactor comprising bacteriae for conversion of the biomass into biogas and digestate, and monitoring process physical variables including at least biogas yield and biomass feed into the reactor. The method further comprises determining a relationship forecasting biogas yield as a function of biomass feed, providing at least one process external variable to the processing unit, determining on the basis of the relationship and the at least one process external variable a desired biogas yield, determining, on the basis of the desired biogas yield and the relationship, a desired biomass feed, and adjusting the biomass feed according to the desired biomass feed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a recombinant classical swine fever virus (CSFV). A preferred recombinant CSFV comprises a deletion of at least one amino acid in a "TAVSPTTLR" domain of the E2 protein. The invention further relates to a vaccine comprising the recombinant CSFV, a method for generating a recombinant CSFV, and use of a recombinant CSFV.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a specific use of a microbial fuel cell for fermenting a substrate into a product, wherein said product is oxidised compared to the substrate present in the microbial fuel cell and wherein electrical energy i s produced.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods to obtain useful lignin fractions by fractionation of technical lignins. In some methods, successively solvents of increasing polarity are applied and/or an extraction column is used which provided with a packed stationary phase comprising technical lignin mixed with inert particles having a particle size in the range of from 1 to1000 micrometers. Disclosed is also an extraction column provided with a packed stationary phase, wherein the packed stationary phase comprises technical lignin mixed with inert particles having a particle size in the range of from to 000 micrometers.
Abstract:
An enzymatic process for reducing CO 2 to methanol, the process comprising: (a) exposing CO 2 to at least one formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzyme; and (b) exposing formaldehyde produced from CO 2 in (a) to at least one alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) or methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) enzyme; wherein the concentration of FDH enzyme in (a) is greater than the concentration of any formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FaldDH) and/or aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDH) enzyme which may be present or wherein FaldDH and/or AldDH enzyme is substantially absent from (a). Use of an FDH enzyme for reduction of formate to formaldehyde.
Abstract:
A switch to haploid embryogenesis is controlled by the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs). Blocking HDAC activity with HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), e.g. trichostatin A (TSA), in Brassica napus, B. rapa, Arabidopsis thaliana and Capsicum annuum male gametophytes leads to a large increase in the proportion of cells that undergo embryogenic growth. In B. napus, treatment with one specific HDACi (SAHA) improves the conversion (i.e. germination) of these embryos into seedlings. Existing methods of culturing microspores of angiosperm plants following stress to produce haploid embryos, haploid plants and double haploid plants can be improved by adding HDACi to the culture medium. Advantageously, species hitherto recalcitrant to haploid embryogenesis via microspore culture are rendered useful when using HDACi. Haploid and double haploid plants are of industrial application in the plant breeding programmes.
Abstract:
Title: Bunyaviruses with segmented glycoprotein precursor genes and methods for generating these viruses Abstract: The invention relates to a bunyavirus, in which separated (NSm)Gn and Gc coding regions are functionally present on two different genome segments, preferably a bunyavirus that comprises a total of at least 4 genome segments. The invention further relates to methods for producing said bunyavirus, and to a composition comprising said bunyavirus and a suitable excipient.
Abstract:
Dover sole ( Solea solea) which are farmed in an aquaculture system such as sea ranching show a slower growth rate and the system has a lower productivity than expected from sole living in a more natural marine environment. The addition of a source of heme and optionally a source of vitamin B 12 to the diet of the fish results in an increase in daily growth rate and therefore an increase in productivity of a fish farming or ranching system. The addition or heme and vitamin B 12 to the diet has the effect of reducing an anaemic growth suppressing effect of normal commercial fish food diets on sole. Medicaments for fish for preventing or treating anaemia and to increase haematocrit and haemoglobin include heme and optionally also vitamin B 12 .
Abstract:
Some bacterial species are major pathogens of trees. Establishment, growth and the quality of trees can be affected by these disease outbreaks. Infected trees exhibit extensive necrosis of phloem and cambium, which can ultimately lead to dieback. The endophytic localization of and ability of these pathogens to create a protective matrix render them poorly accessible to control agents. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling or stopping bacterial infections in trees by heat-treatment comprising incubation of plants or plant parts at about 39 °C for a period not less than 48 hours.