A process for the crystallisation of a water-soluble compound is disclosed. The process comprises (a) providing, in a crystallisation vessel, a solution of the water-soluble compound in a mixture of water and a solvent in which the water-soluble compound has a lower solubility than in water; (b) passing vapor phase of the mixture through a sorption zone containing a water vapor sorbent to selectively adsorb water from the vapor phase; (c) recycling a part of the vapor phase to the crystallisation vessel or withdrawing vapor phase depleted in water from the process and adding solvent to the crystallisation vessel; (d) allowing solid crystals of the water-soluble compound to precipitate from the solution; and (e) discharging precipitated solid crystals of the water-soluble compound from the crystallisation vessel and discharging a solution of non-crystallised water-soluble compound in water-solvent mixture from the crystallisation vessel.

Methods and compositions for processing biomass using [Co(CN)5]3″ are disclosed. The resulting products include monomeric carbohydrate units that can also be converted to basic alcohols, including ethanol, for a variety of uses including transportation fuels and the generation of electricity.

Processes, systems, and methods for producing combustible gas from wet biomass are provided. In one aspect, for example, a process for generating a combustible gas from a wet biomass in a closed system is provided. Such a process may include growing a wet biomass in a growth chamber, moving at least a portion of the wet biomass to a reactor, heating the portion of the wet biomass under high pressure in the reactor to gasify the wet biomass into a total gas component, separating the gasified component into a liquid component, a non-combustible gas component, and a combustible gas component, and introducing the liquid component and non-combustible gas component containing carbon dioxide into the growth chamber to stimulate new wet biomass growth.

A method for producing H.sub.2, methane, VFAs and alcohols from organic material, including the steps of introducing organic material and microorganisms into a completely mixed bioreactor for producing H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, VFAs, and alcohols; recovering H2 and CO2; recovering a first liquid effluent including microorganisms, VFAs, and alcohols; introducing the first liquid effluent into a gravity settler for separating into a first biomass including microorganisms and a second liquid effluent including VFAs, alcohols and microorganisms; introducing the second liquid effluent into a separation module for separating into a second biomass including microorganisms and a third liquid effluent including VFAs and alcohols; recovering at least a portion of the third liquid effluent; and providing a recovered biomass by recovering at least a portion of the first biomass, the second biomass, or both, and introducing the recovered biomass into a biomethanator for production of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2.

The invention relates to methods of saccharifying a cellulosic material comprising subjecting the cellulosic material to a laccase and a cellulolytic enzyme composition comprising a GH61 polypeptide in the presence of dissolved oxygen at a concentration in the range of 0.5-90% of the saturation level. The invention also related to methods of producing desired fermentation products, such as ethanol, using a method including a saccharification step of the invention.

The present invention refers to a method using CO.sub.2 containing emissions or waste gas for the production of methane enriched gas compositions.

Provided is a non-linear model predictive control (NMPC) system for automatic and optimum start-up of an anaerobic digestion (AD) system. The NMPC provides an optimum set of values of manipulated variables for controlling some of the key AD process variables during start-up. The NMPC based automatic start-up system was evaluated against a virtual AD process plant scenario involving a high rate AD reactor treating a readily biodegradable carbohydrate based substrate.

Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating 2,3-BDO; 1,4-BDO; isobutyraldehyde; isobutanol; 1-butanol; n-butanol; ethanol; fatty alcohols; and fatty acid methyl ester at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed. These microorganisms and methods make use of molecular switches to regulate gene expression.

The present invention relates to an anaerobic process for biogas upgrading and hydrogen utilization comprising the use of acidic waste as co-substrate. In this process, H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 will be converted to CH.sub.4, which will result in lower CO.sub.2 content in the biogas. The invention relates to both in situ and ex situ methods of biogas upgrading. The invention further relates to a bioreactor comprising hollow fibre membranes.

The present invention provides a process for producing biogas and/or methane from solid spent cereal products derived from, for example, the mashing process of malt whisk(e)y and/or beer production. There is also provided a system for producing biogas and/or methane from solid spent cereal products derived from, for example, the mashing process of malt whisk(e)y and/or beer production.