Poet Research, Inc.

Neelakantam V Narendranath

Stephen Michael Lewis

David Charles Carlson

Cory James Sarks

David D Bushong

Benjamin M Gerdes

Malgorzata Maria Slupska

Neil D Anderson

John Kenneth Grearson

Francis Michael Swain

Brett Yerdon

Camille Kelly Nelson

Jason Bootsma

William F McDonald

Benjamin P Gacke

Jennifer Rebecca Headman

William F Mcdonald

The present invention relates to using high oil corn to make a biochemical such as ethanol. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of making a biochemical using relatively low temperature saccharification followed by fermentation or simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of high oil corn.

Corn blends that include high oil corn and methods of making one or more biochemicals using high oil corn or corn blends that include high oil corn

Systems and methods that include starch derived from grain as a carbon source for propagation of microorganisms.

Methods and systems for starch based propagation of a microorganism

Methods, compositions, and systems for propagation and fermentation, particularly large scale operations for production of ethanol and dried distiller's grain are provided. Addition ofto propagation and/or fermentation decreases lactic acid bacterial contamination.

Systems, compositions, and methods of fermentation with

The present invention relates to methods and systems of pitching yeast to fermentation reactors. More particularly, the present invention involves pitching yeast from one fermentation tank to at least one additional fermentation tank. Advantageously, yeast can be continuously pitched from fermentor to fermentor for as long as practically desirable.

Methods of pitching yeast for fermentation, and related methods of fermentation and systems

Disclosed are methods and systems for propagating microorganisms such as yeast using a carbon source that includes glycerol and a nutrient source that includes a stillage component.

Method and system for propagating a microorganism

Systems and methods are disclosed for treating lignocellulosic biomass to be supplied to a fermentation system for production of a fermentation product. The systems and methods comprise pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass and separating the pre-treated biomass into a liquid component comprising sugars and a solids component comprising cellulose and lignin. The systems and methods also comprise treating the solids component of the pre-treated biomass into a treated component. The biomass comprises lignocellulosic material. Treating the solids component comprises application of an enzyme formulation and makeup water to form a slurry. The enzyme formulation comprises a cellulase enzyme. The makeup water includes a clarified thin stillage composition and/or an anaerobic membrane digester effluent composition.

Systems and methods for hydrolysis of biomass

Systems and methods for improving ethanol yield are provided. A feedstock is ground suitably fine for use in fermentation. The feedstock may include corn or any other suitable material. In some cases, the feedstock undergoes a fractionation prior to grinding. The ground feedstock may be slurried with water and enzymes to facilitate conversion of the starch in the feedstock to sugars. The slurry may be about 35% solids. After being slurried, an ethanologen may be added. Additionally, the pH of the slurry may be adjusted to between 4.2 and 5.2 to facilitate the priming A primer is added to the slurry. The primer may include any weak acid, and in some embodiments includes acetic acid. Acetic acid, when used as a primer, may be added at a concentration of between 1200 and 3600 parts per million. The slurry is fermented to produce improved yields of ethanol.

Systems and methods for improving ethanol yield

Assessing quality of feedstock is provided and may be useful for determining quality of feed (such as corn kernels). The assessment determines endogenous enzyme activity within the feedstock, which correlates with total ethanol yields in raw starch hydrolysis (non-cooked) systems. In some embodiments, a sample containing flour (ground feedstock) is provided. In some cases, flour is diluted in water and buffered with a phosphate buffered solution. The buffered flour solution is contacted with a molecule, or fluorescent dye, such as fluorescein diacetate and/or difluorofluorescein that is altered by enzymatic (esterase) activity in a detectable fashion. Enzyme activity may be facilitated using an incubator. The detectible alteration may be measured using a fluorometer. In some embodiments, two incubations and fluorescence measurements can be performed. By subtracting the difference between the measured fluorescence, a fluorescence index may be found, which correlates with the endogenous enzyme activity in the feedstock sample.

Systems and methods for feedstock quality assessment

A system and method for managing an ethanologen for use in biorefinery is disclosed. The method for propagating ethanologen for use in the production of a fermentation product from biomass comprises the steps of providing a medium for propagation of ethanologen and supplying a first cell mass of ethanologen to the medium. A first cell mass of ethanologen is propagated into a larger second cell mass of ethanologen.

System for management of yeast to facilitate the production of ethanol

The present invention is related to methods of propagating one or more organisms by using a carbon source that includes xylose (e.g., xylose syrup from pretreating lignocellulosic feedstock) and/or a nutrient source that includes a stillage component (e.g., thin stillage derived from a corn-to-ethanol process) in the propagation medium. The organisms include those that can convert one or more monosaccharides into an alcohol via fermentation, such as yeast. The present invention is also directed to related compositions.

Propagating an organism and related methods and compositions

A method for treating biomass to be supplied to a fermentation system for the production of a fermentation product is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of pre-treating the biomass into pre-treated biomass; separating the pre-treated biomass into a first component comprising glucan and a second component comprising sugars; providing a combined component comprising at least a portion of the first component and at least a portion of the second component; and treating the combined component of the pre-treated biomass into a treated component comprising glucose by application of an enzyme formulation. A system for treating biomass to be supplied to a fermentation system for the production of a fermentation product is also disclosed. The system comprises an apparatus configured to pre-treat the biomass; a separator configured to separate the pre-treated biomass; and a vessel configured to contain a combined component.

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Sioux Falls, SD, United States of America

Neelakantam V Narendranath