NEW PUBLICATION – Soybean carbohydrate as fermentation feedstock

Soybeans are commonly used for their oil and proteins.  However, the carbohydrate rich fibers can be converted into fermentation feedstock.  This carbohydrate liquid can then be fermented into many different products, including ethanol, butanol, enzymes, succinic acid, etc.  Dr. Al Loman and Dr. Ju have written a nice summary of the different technologies in Process …

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NEW PUBLICATION – Algae collection by Air Floatation

In our publication, Additive-free harvesting of oleaginous phagotrophic microalga by oil and air flotation, Dr. Hosseini, H.A. Starvaggi and Dr. Ju demonstrate that Ochromonas danica (an oleaginous phagotrophic algae) can be collected by simple air floatation and/or partitioning with oil droplets. In pre-testing, algae cultures contacted with an organic liquid (hexadecane) showed that approximately 71% of …

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NEW Publication – Soy Flour Carbohydrates via Enzyme Hydrolysis

In a recent article, Dr. Al Loman and Dr. Ju demonstrate that kinetic models can be applied to the enzyme hydrolysis of soy carbohydrates (for improved digestion).  They have described a time, enzyme, and substrate dependent model equation to show the progression of cellulase, xylanase, pectinase, and alpha-galactosidase on the hydrolysis of complex …

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NEW PUBLICATION – Bacteria found to corrode carbon steel

In our latest publication, Yajie Chen, Johanna Torres, Homero Castaneda, and Lu-Kwang Ju demonstrate that nutrient starved Desulfovibrio vulgaris (a sulfate reducing bacterium) is more corrosive than sea-water-level chloride under anaerobic condition. Neither the bacteria nor chloride caused significant steel weight loss (corrosion). However, when the bacteria is starved of …

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NEW Publication – Sugar Alcohol to Save Teeth

In this new research, Abdullah Al Loman and Dr. Lu-Kwang Ju conclude that arabitol (a low calorie alternative sweetener) can prevent bacteria from causing tooth damage (dental carries).  Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus fermentum were tested (common oral bacteria). Inhibition to was first tested with 1% arabitol and glucose as the …

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New Publication – Stationary phase cellulase production to save 60% of cost

We have found a way to reduce the cost of cellulase by up to 60% by creating a stationary phase cellulase production.  Cellulase is a critical enzyme used in biofuel, textile, and paper industries.  Typically, this enzyme is made by growing a fungus, Trichoderma reesei, in a submerged or solid state fermentation.  The …

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New Publication – Polygalacturonase and Pectinase Test Methods

In this publication, we discuss methods for the “…consistent and efficient assays for polygalacturonase and pectinase activities, using polygalacturonic acid and citrus pectin…” This study was designed around enzymes produced by Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei. Each test culture was grown with different inducing carbon sources. Then, multiple experiments tracked …

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