Abstract:
Disclosed herein are obligate heterotrophic microalgae cells containing an exogenous gene. In some embodiments the gene is a sucrose utilization gene, and further disclosed are methods of manufacturing triglyceride oils using sugar cane or sugar beets as a feedstock in a heterotrophic fermentation. In other embodiments the feedstock is depolymerized cellulosic material. Also disclosed are cells that produce medium chain fatty acids at levels not produced in non-recombinant cells of the same species and genus.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods of making an oil product from plant material that is used to make alcohol (e.g., ethanol) via fermentation. The methods extract oil from the plant material (e.g., corn oil from corn) before exposing to the fermented plant material to distillation temperatures so as to reduce the levels of free fatty acids and/or alcohol esters that can be generated by exposing the oil to distillation temperatures. The present invention also related to oil products made by such methods.
Abstract:
It has been discovered that irradiating the cut side of sugarcane billets, preferably 2-50 mm, with UVB or UVC light or combinations thereof initiates stilbene production, particularly resveratrol and piceatannol. In an embodiment the cut sides of sugarcane billets of a predetermined thickness are irradiated with Ultraviolet-C or Ultraviolet-B light or combinations thereof at an intensity and for a duration of time sufficient to produce a significant increase in a level of one or more stilbenes in the irradiated billets compared to a level of stilbenes in billets that are not irradiated; and the the irradiated sugarcane billets are maintained for at least about three days up to about 20 days, to optimize stilbene levels.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for processing grease trap waste to produce brown grease oil. Heat to promote waste grease stratification is provided by combustion of brown grease itself. A portion of the brown grease, which would normally be transported to an end user, is retained in a separate holding vessel at the grease processing site. The brown grease within the holding vessel is thermally conditioned to adjust viscosity so that it may be drawn through one or more pumps to increase pressure for atomization in a boiler. The heat of the brown grease combustion is applied to grease trap waste in the containment vessel by heating tubes immersed in the grease trap waste in which a heat transfer medium circulates and gives up its heat to the grease trap waste to thereby promote stratification of the grease trap waste and production of the brown grease oil.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for refining polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers by catalytic hydrogenation using a fixed bed, wherein, using a fixed bed reactor of refining by hydrogenation, an equilibrium system of products containing polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers is refined by catalytic hydrogenation, so as to remove formaldehyde contained therein. The refining method by hydrogenation described in the present invention is able to remarkably increase the extracting rate of polyoxymethylene dialkyl ether products with various degrees of polymerization, and the polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers obtained after subsequent rectification have purity greater than 99.5%, yield greater than 97% and atom utilization ratio close to 100%.
Abstract:
Hydrocarbons may be formed from six carbon sugars. This process involves obtaining a quantity of a hexose sugar. The hexose sugar may be derived from biomass. The hexose sugar is reacted to form an alkali metal levulinate, an alkali metal valerate, an alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or an alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. An anolyte is then prepared for use in a electrolytic cell. The anolyte contains the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate. The anolyte is then decarboxylated. This decarboxylating operates to decarboxylate the alkali metal levulinate, the alkali metal valerate, the alkali metal 5-hydroxy pentanoate, or the alkali metal 5-alkoxy pentanoate to form radicals, wherein the radicals react to form a hydrocarbon fuel compound.
Abstract:
Treatment of agricultural biomass without separation of the biomass to extract fermentable feedstock, instead using a hydrolytic process upstream of the fermentation process, provides an efficient and cost-effective process for forming ethanol from agricultural biomass.
Abstract:
A novel microalgal strain whose lipid production has been enhanced compared to the wild type. The lipid content produced by the microalgae is particularly rich in neutral lipids. The use of the microalgal strain and the lipids are also described.
Abstract:
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.