Methods and processes for producing aerobic digestion products, such as organic acids, from a low-rank coal substrate are provided. Also provided are multistage bioreactor systems for carrying out the described methods and processes. In another aspect, product compositions comprising organic acids produced by the described methods and processes are provided, as well as methods for their use, including for the improvement of soil quality and/or plant growth.

Methods and processes for producing aerobic digestion products, such as organic acids, from a low-rank coal substrate are provided. Also provided are multistage bioreactor systems for carrying out the described methods and processes. In another aspect, product compositions comprising organic acids produced by the described methods and processes are provided, as well as methods for their use, including for the improvement of soil quality and/or plant growth.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of an organic acid from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process is integrated with a pulp mill and comprises the steps: a) providing a lignocellulosic feedstock; b) obtaining an alkaline liquor from the pulp mill; c) pre-treating the lignocellulosic feedstock with the alkaline liquor, thereby obtaining a pretreated cellulosic feed and a black liquor; d) obtaining calcium oxide from the pulp mill; e) subjecting the pretreated cellulosic feed from step c) to enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby obtaining a saccharide feed; f) subjecting the saccharide feed from step e) to microbial fermentation using the calcium oxide from step d) as a neutralising agent, thereby obtaining an organic acid calcium salt; g) treating the organic acid calcium salt with sulfuric acid, thereby obtaining gypsum and the organic acid; h) optionally isolating lignin from the black liquor obtained in step c), thereby obtaining lignin and weak black liquor; and i) returning the black liquor obtained in step c) and/or the weak black liquor obtained in step h) to the pulp mill for integration with the pulp mill chemical recovery process; wherein steps e) and f) are performed either sequentially or simultaneously.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of an organic acid from a lignocellulosic feedstock. The process is integrated with a pulp mill and comprises the steps: a) providing a lignocellulosic feedstock; b) obtaining an alkaline liquor from the pulp mill; c) pre-treating the lignocellulosic feedstock with the alkaline liquor, thereby obtaining a pretreated cellulosic feed and a black liquor; d) obtaining calcium oxide from the pulp mill; e) subjecting the pretreated cellulosic feed from step c) to enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby obtaining a saccharide feed; f) subjecting the saccharide feed from step e) to microbial fermentation using the calcium oxide from step d) as a neutralising agent, thereby obtaining an organic acid calcium salt; g) treating the organic acid calcium salt with sulfuric acid, thereby obtaining gypsum and the organic acid; h) optionally isolating lignin from the black liquor obtained in step c), thereby obtaining lignin and weak black liquor; and i) returning the black liquor obtained in step c) and/or the weak black liquor obtained in step h) to the pulp mill for integration with the pulp mill chemical recovery process; wherein steps e) and f) are performed either sequentially or simultaneously.

The present invention provides a fungus of the genus Rhizopus having high productivity of an organic acid. The present invention also provides a mutant of the genus Rhizopus with reduced pyruvate decarboxylase activity.

The present invention provides a fungus of the genus Rhizopus having high productivity of an organic acid. The present invention also provides a mutant of the genus Rhizopus with reduced pyruvate decarboxylase activity.

The description relates to, inter alia, recombinant microorganisms, engineered metabolic pathways, chemical catalysts, and products produced through the use of the described methods and materials. The products produced include methylenemalonic acid and intermediates, as well as their salts and esters.

The present invention relates to processes for the formation of pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA), in particular, 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,5-PDCA), and mono- and diester derivatives thereof, from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, via a biocatalytic reaction using, for example, a protocatechuate dioxygenase such as protocat-echuate 4,5-dioxygenase or protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase, and a nitrogen source. The invention also relates to copolymers that comprise the pyridinedicarboxylic acid monomers and derivatives thereof, processes for the formation of the copolymers and uses for the copolymers.

The present invention relates to processes for the formation of pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA), in particular, 2,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,5-PDCA), and mono- and diester derivatives thereof, from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, via a biocatalytic reaction using, for example, a protocatechuate dioxygenase such as protocat-echuate 4,5-dioxygenase or protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase, and a nitrogen source. The invention also relates to copolymers that comprise the pyridinedicarboxylic acid monomers and derivatives thereof, processes for the formation of the copolymers and uses for the copolymers.

A method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid from an aliphatic compound easily utilizable by a microorganism, such as a saccharide, by utilization of a metabolic pathway of the microorganism is disclosed. The method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid includes the step of culturing at least one type of microorganism having a capacity to produce 3-oxoadipic acid, selected from the group consisting of, for example, microorganisms belonging to the genus Serratia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Hafnia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Escherichia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, microorganisms belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, microorganisms belonging to the genus Alcaligenes, microorganisms belonging to the genus Shimwellia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Planomicrobium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Nocardioides, microorganisms belonging to the genus Yarrowia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Cupriavidus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Rhodosporidium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Streptomyces, and microorganisms belonging to the genus Microbacterium.