A method for producing H.sub.2, methane, VFAs and alcohols from organic material, including the steps of introducing organic material and microorganisms into a completely mixed bioreactor for producing H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, VFAs, and alcohols; recovering H2 and CO2; recovering a first liquid effluent including microorganisms, VFAs, and alcohols; introducing the first liquid effluent into a gravity settler for separating into a first biomass including microorganisms and a second liquid effluent including VFAs, alcohols and microorganisms; introducing the second liquid effluent into a separation module for separating into a second biomass including microorganisms and a third liquid effluent including VFAs and alcohols; recovering at least a portion of the third liquid effluent; and providing a recovered biomass by recovering at least a portion of the first biomass, the second biomass, or both, and introducing the recovered biomass into a biomethanator for production of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2.

The invention relates to methods of saccharifying a cellulosic material comprising subjecting the cellulosic material to a laccase and a cellulolytic enzyme composition comprising a GH61 polypeptide in the presence of dissolved oxygen at a concentration in the range of 0.5-90% of the saturation level. The invention also related to methods of producing desired fermentation products, such as ethanol, using a method including a saccharification step of the invention.

The invention relates to methods of saccharifying a cellulosic material comprising subjecting the cellulosic material to a laccase and a cellulolytic enzyme composition comprising a GH61 polypeptide in the presence of dissolved oxygen at a concentration in the range of 0.5-90% of the saturation level. The invention also related to methods of producing desired fermentation products, such as ethanol, using a method including a saccharification step of the invention.

The invention relates to a nano-biohybrid organism (or nanorg) comprising one of at least seven different core-shell quantum dots (QDs) or gold nanoparticle clusters, with excitations ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared energies, couple with targeted enzyme sites in bacteria. When illuminated by light, these QDs drive the renewable production of biofuel molecules and chemicals using carbon-dioxide (CO.sub.2), water, and nitrogen (from air) as substrates. Nanorgs catalyze light-induced air-water-CO.sub.2 reduction with a high turnover number (TON) of approximately 10.sup.6-10.sup.8 (mols of product per mol of cells) to biofuels such as isopropanol (IPA), butane diol, gasoline additives, gasoline substitutes, 2,3-butanediol (BDO), C11-C15 methyl ketones (MKs), and hydrogen (H2); Sand chemicals such as formic acid (FA), ammonia (NH.sub.3), ethylene (C.sub.2H.sub.4), and degradable bioplastics, e.g. polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). These nanorg cells function as nano-microbial factories powered by light.

The invention relates to a nano-biohybrid organism (or nanorg) comprising one of at least seven different core-shell quantum dots (QDs) or gold nanoparticle clusters, with excitations ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared energies, couple with targeted enzyme sites in bacteria. When illuminated by light, these QDs drive the renewable production of biofuel molecules and chemicals using carbon-dioxide (CO.sub.2), water, and nitrogen (from air) as substrates. Nanorgs catalyze light-induced air-water-CO.sub.2 reduction with a high turnover number (TON) of approximately 10.sup.6-10.sup.8 (mols of product per mol of cells) to biofuels such as isopropanol (IPA), butane diol, gasoline additives, gasoline substitutes, 2,3-butanediol (BDO), C11-C15 methyl ketones (MKs), and hydrogen (H2); Sand chemicals such as formic acid (FA), ammonia (NH.sub.3), ethylene (C.sub.2H.sub.4), and degradable bioplastics, e.g. polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). These nanorg cells function as nano-microbial factories powered by light.

A coating composition may include a polymeric binder and bacteria that exhibit biologically induced mineralization (BIM) or biologically controlled mineralization (BCM) of calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) in the presence of environmental calcium. The bacteria may exhibit BIM or BCM of CaCO.sub.3 using the ChaA antiporter protein. The coating formulations may be used to form coatings that exhibit self-healing properties in response to damage, such as a cut, tear, puncture, abrasion, or the like. For example, in response to being exposed to the damage, the bacteria may utilize nutrients, a calcium source, and water to cause precipitation of CaCO.sub.3 at the site of the damage. The nutrients, the calcium source, and the water may be provided as part of the coating formulation, as part of another layer of a coating system, from an external source (e.g., an applied spray or wash), or combinations thereof.

A coating composition may include a polymeric binder and bacteria that exhibit biologically induced mineralization (BIM) or biologically controlled mineralization (BCM) of calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3) in the presence of environmental calcium. The bacteria may exhibit BIM or BCM of CaCO.sub.3 using the ChaA antiporter protein. The coating formulations may be used to form coatings that exhibit self-healing properties in response to damage, such as a cut, tear, puncture, abrasion, or the like. For example, in response to being exposed to the damage, the bacteria may utilize nutrients, a calcium source, and water to cause precipitation of CaCO.sub.3 at the site of the damage. The nutrients, the calcium source, and the water may be provided as part of the coating formulation, as part of another layer of a coating system, from an external source (e.g., an applied spray or wash), or combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for inducing ground consolidation. The method comprises providing a first chamber in a first hole in the ground, and a second chamber in a second hole in the ground, the first and second chambers being liquid-impermeable and electrically conductive; providing a first electrolytic fluid in the first chamber and a second electrolytic fluid in the second chamber; placing at least a first electrode in the first chamber, and at least a second electrode in the second chamber, the first and second electrodes being operatively connected to a power supply; feeding consolidation fluids into the ground for feeding reactants of a consolidation process, and catalysers for the reactants into the ground; and applying to the first and second electrodes an electric current. The current causes the first electrode to operate as an anode and the second electrode to operate as a cathode thereby inducing electric polarization in the ground to cause the reactants and catalysers to cross paths to thereby cause consolidation of the ground.

The invention is directed to kits, compositions, tools and methods comprising a cyclic industrial process to form biocement. In particular, the invention is directed to materials and methods for decomposing calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature, reacting calcium oxide with ammonium chloride to form calcium chloride, water, and ammonia gas; and reacting ammonia gas and carbon dioxide at high pressure to form urea and water, which are then utilized to form biocement. This cyclic process can be achieved by combining industrial processes with the resulting product as biocement. The process may involve retention of calcium carbonate currently utilized in the manufacture of Portland Cement.

A hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid production method and system is disclosed that can include receiving an aqueous solution having glucose, water, and glucose oxidase at a reaction chamber. Here, the reaction chamber facilitates an enzymatic reaction between a gas phase and a liquid phase of the aqueous solution, thereby yielding a first solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, gluconic acid, and the glucose oxidase. The method can further include receiving the first solution at a separation chamber, wherein the separation chamber is comprised of a semi-permeable membrane having a pre-defined molecular weight barrier for separating the glucose oxidase, thereby resulting in a combined hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid solution. The method can further include at least partially converting the gluconic acid into a gluconate salt, and separating and concentrating the hydrogen peroxide from the gluconic acid or gluconate salt via vacuum flash evaporation and vacuum distillation.