Cargill Inc.

Amoco Corporation

Natureworks LLC

Cargill Dow Polymers LLC

Cargrill, Incorporated

Cargill, Incorported

Nature Work, Llp

Jeffrey John Kolstad

Patrick R Gruber

Eric Stanley Hall

Christopher M Ryan

Robin Sue Eichen Conn

Richard Douglas Benson

David Roy Witzke

Rod R Fisher

Mark H Hartmann

Aharon Eyal

Betty Hazan

Matthew L Iwen

Ronald L Borchardt

James L Taylor

William I Beaton

Andrea Lee Brosch

John N Starr

James Zakareya Nangeroni

Joseph Mizrahi

Jed Richard Randall

James Lunt

Brenda F Stewart

Riki Canari

Brian Jeffrey Rush

Vineet Rajgarhia

Ting Liu Carlson

Avraham M Baniel

Stacey Olson

David Hiram Reeder

Nancy Uzelac Buehler

Daniel Roger Beacom

Scott D Bloomer

Vassily Hatzimanikatis

Ali Zakareya El-Afandi

Paraskevas Tsobanakis

Chad Henry Kamann

Robert A Green

Mark Henry Hartman

Aharon Meir Eyal

Avraham Baniel

Robert D Hughes

Xiangsheng Meng

Bernard Y So

F William Hauschildt

Dean G Venardos

Paris Tsobanakis

Kevin T McCarthy

Brian S Kennedy

Matthew L Iwan

Shri K Goval

Cheryl L Joval

Abraham M Baniel

David R Witzke

James Francis Nangeroni

Matthew Lee Iwen

Richard D Benson

Sugar mixtures containing nonfermentable oligomers are fermented in the presence of certain enzymes that depolymerise the oligomers simultaneously with the fermentation process.

Process for fermenting sugars containing oligomeric saccharides

Sugar mixtures containing nonfermentable oligomers are fermented in the presence of certain enzymes that depolymerize the oligomers simultaneously with the fermentation process.

Conjugate fibers are prepared in which at least one segment is a mixture of a high-D PLA resin and a high-L PLA resin. These segments have crystallites having a crystalline melting temperature of at least 200&#xb0; C. At least one other segment is a high-D PLA resin or a high-L PLA resin. The conjugate fibers may be, for example, bicomponent, multi-component, islands-in-the-sea or sheath-and-core types. Specialty fibers of various types can be made through further downstream processing of these conjugate fibers.

Process of making conjugate fibers

PLA stereocomplex fibers are made by separately melting a high-D PLA starting resin and a high-L starting resin, mixing the melts and spinning the molten mixture. Subsequent heat treatment introduces high-melting 'stereocomplex' crystallinity into the fibers. The process can form fibers having a high content of 'stereocomplex' crystallites that have a high melting temperature. As a result, the fibers have excellent thermal resistance. The process is also easily adaptable to commercial melt spinning operations.

Methods for making polylactic acid stereocomplex fibers

The invention provides methods and materials related to the production of lactic acid. Specifically, the invention provides methods for producing lactic acid using a crabtree-negative yeast, such as of theandgenera, which have been transformed with a lactate dehydrogenase gene.

Methods for the synthesis of lactic acid using crabtree-negative yeast transformed with the lactate dehydrogenase gene

The techniques for processing lactic acid/lactate salt mixtures are provided. Preferred mixtures for processing are obtained from fermentation broths, preferably from fermentation processes conducted at a pH of 4.8 or lower. The techniques generally concern the provision of separated lactic acid and lactate streams, from the mixtures. Preferred techniques of separation and processing of each of the streams are provided.

Lactic acid processing; methods; arrangements; and, products

The invention provides a process for the recovery of lactic acid and products thereof from an aqueous solution containing free lactic acid and at least one lactate salt at a total concentration of at least 5%, the process comprising the steps of: extracting at least 70% of the free lactic acid from the aqueous solution by contacting the solution with a basic extractant, to form a lactic acid-containing extract and a lactic acid-depleted, lactate salt-containing aqueous solution; separating the lactic acid-containing extract from the depleted aqueous solution; and stripping the extracted lactic acid from the extract by methods known per se, to form a solution of lactic acid and a stripped extractant.

Process for the recovery of lactic acid by contacting aqueous solutions containing the same with a basic organic extractant

The invention is directed toward melt-processable lactide polymer compositions, processes for manufacturing these compositions, and articles made from these compositions. The compositions include a first phase, which contains a polylactide-based polymer, and a second phase which includes elastomer. The elastomer is present in an amount sufficient to provide a polymer composition having an impact resistance of at least about 0.7 ft-lb/in. after the melt-processable polymer composition has been injection molded into bars and tested according to ASTM D256 (1993) method C. Preferably, the compositions also include a reactive compatibilizing agent. Methods of making these compositions and articles made from these compositions are also disclosed.

Impact modified melt-stable lactide polymer compositions and processes for manufacture thereof

Crabtree negative organisms such as Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Hansenula and Candida, are used to make selected organic products such as lactic acid. The organisms are cultured in a first culture medium that includes glucose, under conditions that promote cellular respiration. The organisms are then cultured under a second set of conditions that promote production of the selected organic product. The organisms preferably contain an exogenous lactate dehydrogenase gene.

Production of lactate using crabtree negative organisms in varying culture conditions

A process for the production and isolation of lactic acid is provided. A lactate feed solution, preferably obtained from a fermentation broth is combined with and extracted by a water-immiscible base in the presence of an acidifying agent. Lactic acid is recovered from the resulting organic phase. Recovered carbonate or bicarbonate from the aqueous phase can be recycled to the fermentor and regenerated extractant can be recycled for use in the extraction.

Lactic acid production, separation and/or recovery process

A nonwoven fabric comprised of a lactide polymer. The lactide polymer comprises a plurality of poly(lactide) polymer chains, residual lactide in concentration of less than about 2 percent and water in concentration of less than about 2000 parts-per-million. A process for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric with the lactide polymer composition is also disclosed.

Melt-stable lactide polymer nonwoven fabric and process for manufacture thereof

The invention relates to a lactic acid residue containing polymer composition and product having improved stability and to methods for the preparation and use thereof. The lactic acid residue containing polymer preferably includes a polylactide polymer having a number average molecular weight of between about 25,000 and about 200,000, lactide, if present at all, present in a concentration of less than 0.5 wt % based on the weight of the composition, and deactivating agents. Articles which can be manufactured from the lactic acid residue containing polymer composition include fibers, coated paper, films, moldings, and foam.

Lactic acid residue containing polymer composition and product having improved stability, and method for preparation and use thereof

Growing community of inventors

Wayzata, MN, United States of America

Jeffrey John Kolstad