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.

The present invention provides an ionic liquid composition containing an ionic liquid and water. The ionic liquid composition does not contain an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing cellulose. The ionic liquid is represented by the following chemical formula (I): [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+[NH.sub.2-L-CHNH.sub.2COO].sup. (I); where L is absent or a linker. A molar ratio of [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+ to [NH.sub.2-L-CHNH.sub.2COO].sup. is not less than 0.87 and not more than 1.14. A weight ratio of the water to the ionic liquid composition is not more than 7.3%. The present invention provides an ionic liquid composition capable of dissolving cellulose without a cellulose-degrading enzyme, namely, an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing cellulose.

The invention relates to a high-concentration mixer (1) for producing a suspension (2), comprising a stationary container (3) and an agitator (8) arranged in the container axis (7), which agitator is connected to a motor via a flange (9) provided in the region of the container bottom (4), which motor is designed for rotationally driving the agitator (8) for mixing the suspension (2) provided in the container (3), wherein the agitator (8) has helical coils (11) which bring about a vertical downward flow (12) of the suspension (2) in the centre of the container (3) and a vertical upward flow (13) of the suspension (2) in the region of the container wall, wherein the flange (9) comprises at least one blade (15) provided on its circumference, which is designed for wiping the suspension (2) from the container (3) and for supporting the vertical upward flow (13) of the suspension (2) in the region of the container wall.

A modified cellulose, method for preparing the same and use thereof. The structural formulas of the modified cellulose are shown in Formula (I), Formula (II) or Formula (III):

##STR00001## wherein, n is 2-7; the modified cellulose is obtained by substitution. The cellulose is substituted and modified with long-chain compounds containing amino terminal groups, so that the modified cellulose has space formed by long chains and amino terminal groups, which can be used as a matrix in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPOT), to increase reaction activity and reaction space, reduce the difficulty of peptide synthesis, realize SPOT well, be suitable for synthesis in an automatic synthesizer, have high yield, and have low cost.

In alternative embodiments, provided are methods and industrial processes for generating pulp from lignocellulosic feedstocks, comprising directly contacting a lignocellulosic feedstock with a system comprising a super critical or sub-super critical fluid or mixture of fluids, whereby the partial pressure of the system provides for the hydrolysis or a combination thereof of the feedstock at reduced temperatures and pressures, followed by an upgrading step wherein a low-purity cellulosic material generated in the super critical or sub-super critical reaction step is treated with an alkaline solution. In alternative embodiments, provided are systems and methods for producing a cellulose material using reduced amounts of water.

Cellulose derivative particles including an alkoxy group having 2 or more carbons or an acyl group having 3 or more carbons, wherein the cellulose derivative particles have an average particle size of 80 nm or greater and 100 m or less, a sphericity of 70% or greater and 100% or less, and a surface smoothness of 80% or greater and 100% or less; and a total substitution degree of the cellulose derivative is 0.7 or greater and 3 or less.

The present invention relates to the use of nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel in cell culture and medical applications. The invention relates to a composition comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, cross linkable polymer and at least one bioactive agent. The invention also provides methods for producing the composition and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to the use of said composition for manufacturing of a shaped matrix, the method of preparing said matrix, the matrix and the use of said matrix in various applications.

The present invention provides an ionic liquid represented by the following chemical formula (I):

[(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2(OH].sup.+[NH.sub.2LCOO].sup.

where L is (CH.sub.2).sub.2 or (CH.sub.2).sub.3. (I)

The present invention also provides an ionic liquid composition containing an ionic liquid; and water. The ionic liquid is represented by the above chemical formula (I). A molar ratio of [(CH.sub.3).sub.3N(CH.sub.2).sub.2OH].sup.+ to [NH.sub.2LCOO].sup. is not less than 0.86 and not more than 1.12. A weight ratio of the water to the ionic liquid composition is not more than 4.7%. The present invention provides an ionic liquid capable of dissolving cellulose without an cellulose-degrading enzyme (namely, an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing cellulose).

A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and/or other renewable chemicals is provided wherein the process utilises one or more of the group comprising by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as draff, pot ale and/or spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process comprises treating a substrate to hydrolyse it and fermenting the treated substrate at an initial pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.0. Also provided is a biofuel comprising butanol manufactured according to the process of the invention.

A process for the manufacture of butanol, acetone and other renewable chemicals utilizes one or more of by-products of the manufacture of malt whisky, such as pot ale and spent lees, biomass substrates, such as paper, sludge from paper manufacture and spent grains from distillers and brewers, and diluents, such as water and spent liquid from other fermentations. The process includes treating a substrate to hydrolyze it and fermenting the treated. Also provided is a biofuel including butanol manufactured according to the process.