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.

The present invention relates to a method of making glucose syrup from liquefied starch comprising, (a) contacting the liquefied starch with a glucoamylase, a pullulanase, and optionally an alpha-amylase wherein the ratio of pullulanase dose expressed as NPUN/gDS, to alpha-amylase dose expressed as FAU(A)/gDS is at least 60, particularly at least 75, particularly at least 100, more particularly at least 150, more particularly at least 200, more particularly at least 250, more particularly at least 300, more particularly at least 400, more particularly at least 500, more particularly at least 600, more particularly at least 800 or if no alpha-amylase is present the pullulanse is present in a dose of at least 0.5, particularly at least 0.75, particularly at least 1.0, particularly at least 1.5 NPUN/gDS, and (b) saccharifying the liquefied starch.

The present invention relates to a method of making glucose syrup from liquefied starch comprising, (a) contacting the liquefied starch with a glucoamylase, a pullulanase, and optionally an alpha-amylase wherein the ratio of pullulanase dose expressed as NPUN/gDS, to alpha-amylase dose expressed as FAU(A)/gDS is at least 60, particularly at least 75, particularly at least 100, more particularly at least 150, more particularly at least 200, more particularly at least 250, more particularly at least 300, more particularly at least 400, more particularly at least 500, more particularly at least 600, more particularly at least 800 or if no alpha-amylase is present the pullulanse is present in a dose of at least 0.5, particularly at least 0.75, particularly at least 1.0, particularly at least 1.5 NPUN/gDS, and (b) saccharifying the liquefied starch.

The present invention relates to a variant pullulanase, wherein the pullulanase comprises at least the following combination of substitutions: N368G+N393A+Q431E+L432F+A492A,S+N610R+G624S+T631S+S632C, and optionally further comprises N222P+Q252A+Q256R; wherein the variant has pullulanase activity, and wherein the variants have at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%, but less than 100% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3. Further aspect the present invention relates to a process for liquefying starch-containing material at a temperature above the initial gelatinization temperature using an alpha-amylase and a thermo-stable pullulanase of the invention.

The present invention relates to a variant pullulanase, wherein the pullulanase comprises at least the following combination of substitutions: N368G+N393A+Q431E+L432F+A492A,S+N610R+G624S+T631S+S632C, and optionally further comprises N222P+Q252A+Q256R; wherein the variant has pullulanase activity, and wherein the variants have at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%, but less than 100% sequence identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 3. Further aspect the present invention relates to a process for liquefying starch-containing material at a temperature above the initial gelatinization temperature using an alpha-amylase and a thermo-stable pullulanase of the invention.

The invention provides carbohydrate compositions and products comprising the carbohydrate compositions, such as dry products or a low-viscosity reduced-sugar syrup, methods of making the carbohydrate compositions and products, and uses thereof.

The invention provides carbohydrate compositions and products comprising the carbohydrate compositions, such as dry products or a low-viscosity reduced-sugar syrup, methods of making the carbohydrate compositions and products, and uses thereof.

A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof. A solute is added to the product mixture to cause partitioning of the product mixture into an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone.

A process to produce an aqueous solution of carbohydrates that contains C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6 sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5 sugar monomers, or any combination thereof is presented. The process includes the steps of reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof. A solute is added to the product mixture to cause partitioning of the product mixture into an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone.

The present invention relates to a method of making glucose syrup from liquefied starch, and to compositions useful therein.