The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat and energy rich components including hydrogen and ethanol from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine. In some embodiments, acetate is utilized as a substrate to produce energy by methanogenesis.

The present invention relates to the field of degradation with hyperthermophilic organisms, and in particular to the use of hyperthermophilic degradation to produce heat and energy rich components including hydrogen and ethanol from a biomass. In some embodiments, a biomass is fermented in the presence of hyperthermophilic organisms to produce heat. The heat is used to heat a liquid which is used directly in a heat pump or radiant heat or to produce electricity or drive a steam turbine. In some embodiments, acetate is utilized as a substrate to produce energy by methanogenesis.

A process is provided for forming a fuel or a fuel intermediate from two fermentations that includes feeding an aqueous solution comprising a fermentation product from a first bioreactor to a second bioreactor and/or a stage upstream of the second bioreactor, which also produces the fermentation product. The aqueous solution may be added at any stage of the second fermentation and/or processing steps upstream from the second bioreactor that would otherwise require the addition of water. Accordingly, the product yield is increased while fresh/treated water usage is decreased.

A process is provided for forming a fuel or a fuel intermediate from two fermentations that includes feeding an aqueous solution comprising a fermentation product from a first bioreactor to a second bioreactor and/or a stage upstream of the second bioreactor, which also produces the fermentation product. The aqueous solution may be added at any stage of the second fermentation and/or processing steps upstream from the second bioreactor that would otherwise require the addition of water. Accordingly, the product yield is increased while fresh/treated water usage is decreased.

The present invention relates to the conversion of a carbon source into acetyl phosphate with increased carbon yield. In particular, the invention provides metabolically engineered micro-organisms capable of producing acetyl phosphate from a carbon source with increased carbon yield, which micro-organisms have been transformed with at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a phosphoketolase having sedoheptulose-7-phosphate phosphoketolase activity and which are further genetically modified to have eliminated transketolase activity. The invention also provides methods for the production of chemicals using said micro-organisms.

The present invention relates to the conversion of a carbon source into acetyl phosphate with increased carbon yield. In particular, the invention provides metabolically engineered micro-organisms capable of producing acetyl phosphate from a carbon source with increased carbon yield, which micro-organisms have been transformed with at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a phosphoketolase having sedoheptulose-7-phosphate phosphoketolase activity and which are further genetically modified to have eliminated transketolase activity. The invention also provides methods for the production of chemicals using said micro-organisms.

The invention relates to processes for enhancing yeast growth and/or productivity using peroxidase or a composition comprising peroxidase.

The invention relates to processes for enhancing yeast growth and/or productivity using peroxidase or a composition comprising peroxidase.

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).

A method for producing a fermentate including the steps of obtaining a fruit or vegetable extract, treating the extract with a hydrolytic enzyme, mixing the extract with a fermenting microorganism, water, and a growth media to produce a liquid composition; and incubating the liquid composition at a controlled temperature and a controlled pH to produce a fermentate. A method for killing or inhibiting the growth of a contaminating microorganism on or within a food product, and a food product including a fermentate having a cellular mass component from a fermenting microorganism, a fermented fruit or vegetable extract and a hydrolytic enzyme are disclosed. A fermentate produced by any one of the methods described is contemplated. The fermentate may be a concentrated liquid or a dry powder and has the ability to inhibit the growth of a contaminating microorganism by 100% when diluted to less than 5% (w/v).