Posted: March 28, 2012

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Method of stimulating ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants
US Patent 8143041
Publication date: March 27, 2012
Assignee: Aquatech Bioenergy LLC

A method of stimulating ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants is described in this patent. Steps in the process include placing aquatic plants in a cell containing water, and creating an anoxic condition within the pool to initiate an anaerobic process by the aquatic plants. The aquatic plants increase in size and release ethanol by metabolism of stored carbohydrates during the anaerobic process. Once maximum carbohydrate formation is approached, the oxygenated water is removed and is replaced again with anoxic water to again begin the process of elongation and ethanol formation. The steps of adding anoxic water and oxygenated water are then repeated to continually promote elongation and ethanol production followed by carbohydrate production.

This creates a self-sustaining cycle since the plant growth replenishes both plant matter lost to plant senescence and those plants that no longer meet established tolerances of ethanol production. Additional plant growth that cannot be used for replenishing purposes or for furnishing plant material for another cell may be removed and fermented using conventional methods to also produce ethanol. Carbon dioxide released during the fermentation process may be captured and returned to the cell to promote carbohydrate production. Plant waste, both before or after the fermentation process, may further be used for replenishing nutrients to the cell and/or may be processed for biochemical industrial use such as in ethanol and diesel biofuels, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, colorants, paints and the like.

Production of N-acylated sulphur-containing amino acids with microorganisms having enhanced N-acyltransferase enzymatic activity
US Patent 8143031
Publication date: March 27, 2012
Assignee: Metabolic Explorer

The present invention claims an isolated polypeptide having L-amino-acid-N-acyl transferase enzymatic activity and a modified microorganism in which this enzyme is overexpressed. Substrates of this enzyme include mainly methionine and derivatives or analogs. This overexpression permits the production of large amounts of N-acylated sulphur-containing amino acids. Products resulting from the acylation of L-methionine have been shown to be advantageous for wool production of sheep and for the production of cosmetic products.