The present application pertains to a process for the decomposition of biomass-material.

Compositions comprising bio-fiber gum hydrolysate and processes to hydrolyze bio-fiber gum (BFG), involving dissolving BFG in a solvent to form a solution, heating the solution and adding endoxylanase to the solution or adding endoxylanase to the solution and heating the solution, incubating the solution to form a solution containing BFG hydrolysate, boiling the solution containing BFG hydrolysate to inactivate the endoxylanase, and separating the BFG hydrolysate from the liquid in the solution containing BFG hydrolysate.

Synthetic oligosaccharides and mixtures thereof which resemble polysaccharides produced by plants, yeast and other fungi, bacteria, and algae are described. The oligosaccharides and compositions provided herein are useful as synbiotics, prebiotics, immune modulators, digestion aids, and food additives.

A biodegradable core-shell microcapsule composition with controlled release of an active material is provided, wherein the shell of the microcapsule is composed of a biopolymer cross-linked with a combination of two or more different types of cross-linking agents.

Methods of forming an ingredient for human consumption are provided herein. The methods may include isolating one or more soluble polysaccharides from a biomass, generating one or more oligosaccharides from the biomass, and combining the one or more isolated soluble polysaccharides with the generated oligosaccharides to form the ingredient. Methods of pretreating a biomass are also provided. The methods may include administering a physical pretreatment to a biomass, administering a gentle pretreatment to the physically pretreated biomass, and administering a strong pretreatment to the gently pretreated biomass. Ingredients for human consumption are also provided.

The present invention provides a pentosan polysulfate having a uronic acid content of 7.0 mass % to 15.0 mass % and an acetyl group content of 0 mass % to 2.0 mass %; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of the pentosan polysulfate or of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The pentosan polysulfate, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or the pharmaceutically acceptable solvate of the pentosan polysulfate or of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are useful as an active ingredient of a medicament for preventing and/or treating a disease caused by abnormal enhancement of FGF-2 function, and as a pH buffer agent.

Provided is a method comprising (a) providing a hydrolysis composition of at least 20 wt % of sugar equivalents, wherein the hydrolysis composition comprises a first oligosaccharide, water, optionally a soluble aromatic compound, (b) contacting the hydrolysis composition with a catalyst in a first reactor to hydrolyze at least a portion of the first oligosaccharide to form a first product composition comprising a first monosaccharide and a second oligosaccharide, (c) separating the first monosaccharide from the first product composition to form a second product composition comprising the second oligosaccharide, wherein at least a portion of the second oligosaccharide is a reversion sugar, and (d) converting via a further hydrolysis step at least a portion of the second oligosaccharide to form a third product composition comprising a second monosaccharide.

In some variations, the invention provides a process for producing a microcrystalline cellulose material, comprising: fractionating lignocellulosic biomass feedstock in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; chemically and/or mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form microcrystalline cellulose having an average crystallinity of at least 60%; and recovering the microcrystalline cellulose as a pharmaceutical excipient. The pharmaceutical excipient may function as an antiadherent, a binder, a coating, or a disintegrant. In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical excipient further comprises a lignin-derived lubricant, glidant, sorbent, preservative, or other component. The pharmaceutical excipient may be present in a pill, tablet, capsule, powder, slurry, or other pharmaceutically effective and acceptable form.

Compositions comprising polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are provided. Methods for the formation of the compositions, including the enzymatic production of the oligosaccharides, and the uses of the compositions in foodstuffs, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals are also provided.

A composition and a method for improving mood, particularly reducing stress, anxiety and/or depression including administering a composition including at least two prebiotics selected from a source of pectin, a source of beta-glucan, a source of xylooligosaccharide and Ashwagandha. The composition may be in the form of a supplement that is added to a diet (supplements a normal human diet). The composition includes the at least two prebiotics in an amount to increase production of (A) tryptophan or (B) tryptophan and/or at least one of (i) indole, (ii) an indole derivative, (iii) 2,3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (iv) 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid and (v) a short chain fatty acid or (C) any other metabolite (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, GABA) relevant to (eg. benefitting) brain health such as improving mood.