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Valuable Products (valuable + products)
Selected AbstractsGenetic improvement of processes yielding microbial productsFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 2 2006Jose L. Adrio Abstract Although microorganisms are extremely good in presenting us with an amazing array of valuable products, they usually produce them only in amounts that they need for their own benefit; thus, they tend not to overproduce their metabolites. In strain improvement programs, a strain producing a high titer is usually the desired goal. Genetics has had a long history of contributing to the production of microbial products. The tremendous increases in fermentation productivity and the resulting decreases in costs have come about mainly by mutagenesis and screening/selection for higher producing microbial strains and the application of recombinant DNA technology. [source] Bioconversions of maize residues to value-added coproducts using yeast-like fungi,FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003Timothy D Leathers Abstract Agricultural residues are abundant potential feedstocks for bioconversions to industrial fuels and chemicals. Every bushel of maize (approximately 25 kg) processed for sweeteners, oil, or ethanol generates nearly 7 kg of protein- and fiber-rich residues. Currently these materials are sold for very low returns as animal feed ingredients. Yeast-like fungi are promising biocatalysts for conversions of agricultural residues. Although corn fiber (pericarp) arabinoxylan is resistant to digestion by commercially available enzymes, a crude mixture of enzymes from the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium partially saccharifies corn fiber without chemical pretreatment. Sugars derived from corn fiber can be converted to ethanol or other valuable products using a variety of naturally occurring or recombinant yeasts. Examples are presented of Pichia guilliermondii strains for the conversion of corn fiber hydrolysates to the alternative sweetener xylitol. Corn-based fuel ethanol production also generates enormous volumes of low-value stillage residues. These nutritionally rich materials are prospective substrates for numerous yeast fermentations. Strains of Aureobasidium and the red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma utilize stillage residues for production of the polysaccharide pullulan and the carotenoid astaxanthin, respectively. [source] Milk sugars and minerals as ingredientsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DAIRY TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Matti Harju Lactose is the natural carbohydrate source and prebiotic compound found in the milk of mammals, but large variations in lactase activity in the small intestines of adult populations can cause problems with its use. The value of lactose can be increased by hydrolysis, but even more valuable products can be made by changing the structure of lactose and preventing its absorption in the gut. Some of these nonabsorbable lactose derivatives are already used in medical and functional food applications. Calcium phosphate precipitation to the heat-transfer surfaces is one of the oldest problems of the dairy industry, but if precipitation is carried out in controlled conditions, the precipitate can be further processed to form milk calcium powder. Milk calcium can be used as a natural source of calcium in calcium-fortified dairy products. The mineral and salty taste of whey has reduced its use as a food ingredient. The use of modern membrane technology offers a means of producing whey salt as a by-product of whey demineralization. These otherwise wasted minerals can then be used as a natural mineral salt. Especially interesting is the possibility of recycling the whey salt into cheese, improving its nutritional status. [source] The Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Lignin to Produce Hydroxyaromatic Benzaldehydes and Carboxylic Acids via Metal/Bromide Catalysts in Acetic Acid/Water MixturesADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 3 2009Walt Partenheimer Abstract Roughly 30% of all woody plants is composed of lignin. Five different lignin samples, from wood and bagasse, were oxidized in air with a cobalt/manganese/zirconium/bromide (Co/Mn/Zr/Br) catalyst in acetic acid as a function of time, temperature, pressure, and lignin and catalyst concentrations. 18 products were identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The most valuable products from lignin were 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (syringaldehyde) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (syringic acid). 10.9,wt% of the lignin was converted to the aromatic products. By the use of model compounds we demonstrate that 1) the presence of the phenolic functionality on an aromatic ring does inhibit the rate of reaction but that the alkyl group on the ring still does oxidize to the carboxylic acid, 2) that the masking of phenol by acetylation occurs at a reasonable rate in acetic acid, 3) that the alkyl group of the masked phenol does very readily oxidize, 4) that an acetic anhydride/acetic acid mixture is a good oxidation solvent and 5) that a two-step acetylation/oxidation to the carboxylic acid is feasible. [source] Interest of industrial actors in biorefinery concepts in EuropeBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 3 2009Klaus Menrad Abstract To satisfy the rising demand for agricultural and forestry products it is becoming more and more important to use biomass as efficiently as possible. One way of achieving that goal is to implement biorefinery systems in which biomass can be utilized entirely by conversion through multiple processes into a number of valuable products. To pursue the implementation of biorefinery systems, it is important to know to what extent the industry is interested in such concepts. This perspective deals with the results of a cross-European survey investigating the interests of potential industrial actors in biorefinery concepts. A high resonance was identified amongst companies belonging to the biofuels industry; companies active in this sector, therefore, could possibly provide access to further integrated concepts. On the whole, the results reflect a very positive attitude toward biorefinery concepts. But there are also problems with respect to the political and legal framework; policy and legislation may be required to establish stable framework conditions and provide planning security for investment decisions. Oilseed and lignocellulosic feedstock is primarily utilized within the surveyed companies; fuel, heat and power are the primary products produced from biomass. Additionally, the survey showed that biorefinery concepts are highly influenced by aspects concerning regional value chains. On the upstream side ,feedstock issues' appear to be especially important for biorefineries. In general, sustainability aspects are considered to be a benefit of biorefinery concepts. This suggests opportunities for the design of marketing and communication strategies based on ecological aspects of biorefinery implementation. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] The IBUS Process , Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Close to a Commercial RealityCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 5 2008J. Larsen Abstract Integrated Biomass Utilization System (IBUS) is a new process for converting lignocellulosic waste biomass to bioethanol. Inbicon A/S has developed the IBUS process in a large-scale process development unit. This plant features new continuous and energy-efficient technology developed for pretreatment and liquefaction of lignocellulosic biomass and has now been operated and optimized for four years with promising results. In the IBUS process, biomass is converted using steam and enzymes only. The process is energy efficient due to very high dry matter content in all process steps and by integration with a power plant. Cellulose is converted to bioethanol and lignin to a high-quality solid biofuel which supply the process energy as well as a surplus of heat and power. Hemicellulose is used as feed molasses but in the future it could also be used for additional ethanol production or other valuable products. Feasibility studies of the IBUS process show that the production price for lignocellulosic bioethanol is close to the world market price for fuel ethanol. There is still room for optimization , and lignocellulosic bioethanol is most likely a commercial alternative to fossil transport fuels before 2012. [source] Highly Active Catalysts for the Telomerization of Crude Glycerol with 1,3-ButadieneCHEMSUSCHEM CHEMISTRY AND SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY & MATERIALS, Issue 3 2008Regina Palkovits Dr. The chain gang: Crude glycerol, a by-product in the production of biodiesel, can be telomerized with 1,3-butadiene to form C8 -chain ethers. The development of suitable catalyst systems for the direct telomerization of crude glycerol at the biodiesel plant provides a route to useful building blocks from cheap starting materials for commercially valuable products such as detergents and surfactants. [source] | |||||||||||||