The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for an enzymatic hydrolysis in which plant based raw material is hydrolysed by means of enzymes. The plant based raw material (1) is fed to the first enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2), the plant based raw material (1) is hydrolysed in at least two enzymatic hydrolysis stages (2,4), a liquid fraction (5a,5b) comprising carbohydrates is separated from a solid fraction (6a,6b) in a solid-liquid separation stage (7a,7b) after each enzymatic hydrolysis stage (2,4), and the solid fraction (6a) is supplied to the next enzymatic hydrolysis stage (4) in which the solid fraction is treated, and the solid fraction (6b) is recovered after the last solid-liquid separation stage (7b). Further, the invention relates to the liquid fraction and the solid fraction and their use.

The present disclosure includes systems and methods for hydrolyzing (e.g., pretreatment and/or enzymatic hydrolysis) lignocellulosic biomass into one or more sugars such as pentose and glucose sugars. The present disclosure includes configurations that incorporate flashing and/or liquid cooling so as to permit desirable throughput. The present disclosure also includes a liquefaction configuration so as to permit desirable (e.g., continuous high volume) throughput.

The present invention relates to a process for enzymatic hydrolysis in which, under agitation, pre-treated lignocellulosic substrates are brought into contact with water and with enzymes such that the mixture has a content of dry matter of between 12 and 35% by weight, said process being characterised in that a mixture is used of at least two pre-treated lignocellulosic substrates with different porosities, at least one of the substrates being a substrate said to be of low porosity having a porosity of less than 60% of the volume and the other substrate a substrate said to be of high porosity having a porosity greater than or equal to 60% of the volume, and said substrate of low porosity being present in a quantity of at least 30% by weight in relation to the total weight of said mixture.

A thermal pretreatment method for organic solid waste based on forced hot air convection is performed as follows. Experimental materials are grouped into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group is subjected to thermal pretreatment in a thermal pretreatment device, and then removed. The experimental group and the control group are subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis and physicochemical characterization, and the analysis results are compared. A thermal pretreatment device for organic solid waste based on forced hot air convection is also provided.

A microfluidic device uses hydrodynamic shear forces on a sample to improve the speed and efficiency of tissue digestion is disclosed. The microfluidic channels are designed to apply hydrodynamic shear forces at discrete locations on tissue specimens up to 1 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, thereby accelerating digestion through hydrodynamic shear forces and improved enzyme-tissue contact. The microfluidic digestion device can eliminate or reduce the need to mince tissue samples with a scalpel, while reducing sample processing time and preserving cell viability. Another advantage is that downstream microfluidic operations could be integrated to enable advanced cell processing and analysis capabilities. The device may be used in research and clinical settings to promote single cell-based analysis technologies, as well as to isolate primary, progenitor, and stem cells for use in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

A device for continuous dry methanation in a fermenter having a closed tank having at least one compartment to ferment the slurry comprising at least 17% dry matter. An injector to inject pressurized gas close to the bottom of the compartment via at least one chimney that descends through the compartment. The injected gas rising through the slurry creates a convective movement in the slurry around the chimney to stir the matter at the bottom of the compartment. The tank can include a first compartment into which the slurry is introduced and a second compartment into which the hydrolyzed slurry flows after hydrolysis and acidogenesis in the first compartment. Methanogenesis takes place in the second compartment.

Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce a product such as a biofuel.

A method for dissociating cell aggregates in an agitated reactor. The method comprises providing a cell culture comprising cell aggregates in the agitated reactor, contacting the cell aggregates with a dissociation reagent, generating a dissociation force in the agitated reactor and exposing the contacted cell aggregates to the generated dissociation force under conditions sufficient to dissociate the contacted cell aggregates. The method may be used in a process for passaging cells and/or generating dissociated differentiated cells from stem and/or progenitor cells.

An electric ooycte denuding device and an ooycte denuding method are provided. The electric oocyte denuding device includes an oocyte denuding pipette: a manipulating handle; and a drive module, a control module, a display module, a power module, a memory, a bulb, and/or a voice module, and/or a pressure sensor, and/or a control box, and/or a foot-operated switch controller, which form an integrated type or a separated type electric ooycte denuding device. A stepper motor provides the power for blowing and sucking to denude the granular cells surrounding an oocyte.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods of producing a cellular suspension from a tissue sample by applying resonant acoustic energy to a container comprising the tissue sample in a manner sufficient to produce a cellular suspension from the tissue sample. Resonant acoustic mixers and kits for use in producing a cellular suspension from a tissue sample are also provided.