The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to reduce or modulate glycerol production and increase product formation. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more native and/or heterologous proteins that function to import glycerol and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source, such as lignocellulose, to a product, such as ethanol, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous proteins or enzymes is activated, upregulated, or downregulated. The invention also provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more native or heterologous proteins that function to regulate glycerol synthesis and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source to ethanol, wherein said one or more native and/or heterologous proteins or enzymes is activated, upregulated or downregulated. Also provided are methods for increasing cellular glycerol uptake and increasing recombinant production of fuels and other chemicals using the recombinant microorganisms of the invention.

The present invention relates to the genetic modification of bacteria of the genus Clostridium, typically solventogenic bacteria of the genus Clostridium, in particular bacteria possessing in the wild type a gene encoding an amphenicol-O-acetyltransferase. It thus relates to methods, tools and kits allowing such a genetic modification, in particular the removal or modification of a sequence encoding or controlling the transcription of an amphenicol-O-acetyltransferase, to the genetically modified bacteria obtained and to uses thereof, in particular for producing a solvent, preferably on an industrial scale.

Supplemented mixotrophic method. A mixotrophic fermentation method is disclosed including providing a naturally acetogenic organism; providing a fermentation medium comprising a carbon source and a supplemented non-sugar reductant; and culturing the organism in the fermentation medium, where both the carbon source and the non-sugar reductant are metabolized and a fermentation broth is formed, which contains at least one carbon-containing bioproduct.

The invention is directed to a process for producing one or more fermentation product in a multi-stage process including an inoculation reactor and at least one bioreactor. The inoculation reactor is fed a C1-containing gaseous substrate containing a reduced amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen is reduced to increase the proportion of CO in the C1-containing gaseous substrate being provided to the inoculation reactor. The inoculation reactor ferments the CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate and produces an inoculum, which is fed to at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor receives the C1-containing gaseous substrate, which may or may not contain reduced amounts of hydrogen, to produce one or more fermentation product. By providing a CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate to the inoculation reactor, both the inoculation reactor and the subsequent bioreactor(s), are able to have increased stability and product selectivity.

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).

The disclosure provides for the integration of a CO-consuming process, such as a gas fermentation process, with a CO.sub.2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure is capable of utilizing a CO.sub.2-comprising gaseous substrate generated by an industrial process and provides for one or more removal modules to remove at least one constituent from a CO.sub.2-comprising gaseous substrate prior to passage of the gaseous substrate to a CO.sub.2 to CO conversion system. The disclosure may further comprise one or more pressure modules, one or more CO.sub.2 concentration modules, one or more O.sub.2 separation modules, and/or a water electrolysis module. Carbon conversion efficiency is increased by recycling CO.sub.2 produced by a CO-consuming process to the CO.sub.2 to CO conversion process.

An integrated process and system for employing low conversion rWGS to prepare a gas fermentation feed stream from a CO.sub.2 source and a hydrogen source in order to produce at least one gas fermentation product. Low conversion rWGS reactors may (1) employ a wider selection of inorganic catalysts then rWGS reactors requiring high temperature operation, (2) allow for use of an electric heater instead of a fired heater to preheat feed stream to the low conversion rWGS reactor, and (3) extend rWGS catalyst life by reducing the amount of water produced in the rWGS reaction.

Methods and systems for the production of one or more products from a gas stream produced in a methanol production process. The method comprises converting at least a portion of a methane feedstock to a substrate comprising CO and H2. The substrate comprising CO and H2 is anaerobically fermented in a bioreactor to produce one or more alcohols. The method and system may further include process for the production of methanol processes for the production of acetic acid.

Disclosed are methods of dewatering solid byproduct. In some embodiments, the solid byproduct contains particles and is produced from a fermentation process for making an oxygenated compound such as ethanol. The method comprises a chemical sequence for conditioning (pre-treating) the solid byproduct to be dewatered. The solid byproduct (in water) is treated with alkaline material to increase its pH to about 7-8.5. Coagulant is added to the alkaline-treated solid byproduct to reduce charge on the solid byproduct. An agglomerating polymer is then added to increase the average size of the solid byproduct particles to a desired size (e.g., at least about 1 mm). Dewatering can further use known technologies such as screw press, belt press, filter press, centrifuge, and/or a dryer to separate the conditioned or pre-treated byproduct from water. Also disclosed are methods of producing oxygenated product, as well as methods of producing animal feed and/or fertilizer, respectively.

The present invention provides for a method of fermenting or saccharifying a biomass comprising: (a) (i) contacting a biomass comprising a polysaccharide, and an ionic liquid (IL) to form a first solution, or (ii) providing the first solution comprising the biomass and the IL, (b) contacting the first solution and carbon dioxide such that the first solution results in a lower pH, (c) introducing (i) an enzyme capable of enzymatically to breakdown at least one bond in the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, and/or (ii) a microorganism that capable of producing the enzyme and/or fermenting the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, such that the polysaccharide is at least partially broken down and the first solution is transformed into a second solution.