Described is a process for releasing soluble starch hydrolysates or hydrolysed starch syrup from substantially intact corn kernels during high temperature steeping at a temperature at or above the gelatinization temperature of starch in the corn kernels, and the recovery of protein and oil-enhanced, carbohydrate-depleted residuals that are ideally suited for use as high quality animal feed or other food-grade products.

The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides of the invention to release xylose and in animal feed.

The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides of the invention to release xylose and in animal feed.

A method of processing an aqueous hemicellulosic stream containing lignin, comprising: (a) contacting an aqueous hemicellulosic stream containing lignin with a C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol at elevated temperature and acidic pH; (b) separating the reaction mixture obtained from step (a) into an aqueous phase containing hemicellulose-derived monosaccharide and an organic phase containing C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol; (c) concentrating the organic phase obtained from step (b) to remove at least some C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol; (d) treating the residue from step (c) with water or an aqueous medium having an alkaline pH; and (e) recovering C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol from the product of step (d).

A method of processing an aqueous hemicellulosic stream containing lignin, comprising: (a) contacting an aqueous hemicellulosic stream containing lignin with a C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol at elevated temperature and acidic pH; (b) separating the reaction mixture obtained from step (a) into an aqueous phase containing hemicellulose-derived monosaccharide and an organic phase containing C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol; (c) concentrating the organic phase obtained from step (b) to remove at least some C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol; (d) treating the residue from step (c) with water or an aqueous medium having an alkaline pH; and (e) recovering C.sub.3-8 alkyl alcohol from the product of step (d).

The present application discloses a simple process for the purification of neutral human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) produced by microbial fermentation. The process uses a combination of cationic ion exchanger treatment, an anionic ion exchanger treatment, and a nanofiltration and/or electrodialysis step, which allows efficient purification of large quantities of neutral HMOs at high purity. Contrary to the purification currently used in fermentative production of neutral HMOs, the presented process allows the provision of HMOs without the need of a chromatographic separation. The so purified HMOs may be obtained in solid form by spray drying, as crystalline material or as sterile filtered concentrate. The provided HMOs are free of proteins and recombinant material originating from the used recombinant microbial strains and thus very well-suited for use in food, medical food and feed (e.g. pet food) applications.

The present application discloses a simple process for the purification of neutral human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) produced by microbial fermentation. The process uses a combination of cationic ion exchanger treatment, an anionic ion exchanger treatment, and a nanofiltration and/or electrodialysis step, which allows efficient purification of large quantities of neutral HMOs at high purity. Contrary to the purification currently used in fermentative production of neutral HMOs, the presented process allows the provision of HMOs without the need of a chromatographic separation. The so purified HMOs may be obtained in solid form by spray drying, as crystalline material or as sterile filtered concentrate. The provided HMOs are free of proteins and recombinant material originating from the used recombinant microbial strains and thus very well-suited for use in food, medical food and feed (e.g. pet food) applications.

An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.

An improved dry grind system and method for producing a sugar stream from grains or similar carbohydrate sources and/or residues, such as for biofuel production. In particular, a sugar/carbohydrate stream, which includes a desired Dextrose Equivalent (DE) where DE describes the degree of conversion of starch to dextrose (aka glucose) and/or has had removed therefrom an undesirable amount of unfermentable components, can be produced after saccharification and prior to fermentation (or other sugar conversion process), with such sugar stream being available for biofuel production, e.g., alcohol production, or other processes. In addition, the systems and methods also can involve the removal of certain grain components, e.g., corn kernel components, including protein, oil and/or fiber, prior to fermentation or other conversion systems. In other words, sugar stream production and/or grain component separation occurs on the front end of the system and method.

Embodiments of the present disclosure involve systems and methods that inhibit the production of lactic acid during propagation of yeast and/or during hydrolysis of cellulose by including a sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen.