Abstract: The invention provides compounds, formulations and methods for improving plant emergence, growth and yield. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the synthetic lipoamino acid glucosamine compounds of Formula I. These compounds may be applied to plant propagating materials, including seeds and other regenerable plant parts, including cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers. They may also be applied to foliage, or soil either prior to or following planting of plant propagating materials. Such applications may be made alone or in combination with fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and other agricultural agents used to improve plant growth and crop yield. The compounds of Formula I can improve the agronomic performance of a variety of crops including barley, canola, corn, potato, soybean and wheat.

Abstract: Compounds that are related to natural synthetic lipochitooligosaccharide analogs were chemically synthesized and found to be effective as plant performance enhancers. The compounds are amine-oligosaccharides with a substituent aryl-containing aliphatic carboxylic acid attached at the amine to the terminal amine-sugar unit. The aryl containing aliphatic carboxylic acid terminates with an aromatic ring structure.

Abstract: The invention provides formulations and methods for improving plant growth and crop yield. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the synthetic LCO compound tetra-N-acyl-beta-D-methyl-glycoside (TAMG) and the related compounds of Formula I. TAMG may be applied to plant propagating materials, including seeds and other regenerable plant parts, including cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers. TAMG may also be applied to foliage, or soil either prior to or following planting of plant propagating materials. Such applications may be made alone or in combination with fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and other agricultural agents used to improve plant growth and crop yield. TAMG can improve the agronomic performance of a variety of crops including barley, canola, corn, potato, soybean and wheat.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for improving plant growth and crop yield. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the glucosamine amide N-palmitoleyl-D-glucosamine (NPG) and other substituted glucosamine compounds. NPG and its substituted analogs may be applied to plant propagating materials, including seeds and other regenerable plant parts, including cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers. NPG and its analogs may also be applied to foliage or soil either prior to or following planting of plant propagating materials. Such applications may be made alone or in combination with fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and other agricultural agents used to improve plant growth and crop yield. NPG and its analogs can improve the agronomic performance of a variety of crops including barley, canola, corn, potato, soybean and wheat.

Abstract: Processes for the synthesis of lipochitooligosaccharides were developed. A fully acylated oligoglucosamine precursor is prepared and reacted with a glucosamine monomer that has an amine protecting phthaloyl group. With removal of the phthaloyl group, a fatty acid may be added on the terminal glucosamine unit, forming a lipochitooligosaccharide. The processes can be adapted for use on a commercial scale.

Abstract: Processes for producing 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural are provided. 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural is a potential platform intermediate in the conversion of biomass to renewable chemicals. The processes use hexoses in an aqueous solution comprising a halide-containing salt, a water-miscible organic solvent, acid, and water providing an aqueous solution comprising a halide-containing salt, a water-miscible organic solvent, acid, and water. The use of small amounts of halide-containing salt results in significant increases in yield.

Abstract: Furfural is obtained selectively and in good purity from non-fermentable branched sugars found in soluble waste streams of lignocellulosic biomass. In a monophasic method, stillage or syrup is contacted with water and an acid catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to convert the branched non-fermentable branched sugars to furfural. Additionally, the stillage or syrup can be treated with a water-immiscible organic solvent to form a biphasic mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The furfural that is produced preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered.

Abstract: Processes for the synthesis of lipochitooligosaccharides were developed. A fully acylated oligoglucosamine precursor is prepared and reacted with a glucosamine monomer that has an amine protecting phthaloyl group. With removal of the phthaloyl group, a fatty acid may be added on the terminal glucosamine unit, forming a lipochitooligosaccharide. The processes can be adapted for use on a commercial scale.

Abstract: A method for the production of a saccharification product is provided, the method comprising: a) providing a cellulosic feedstock comprising lignin; b) contacting, in water, the feedstock of (a) with at least one metal carbonate at time 0 hour under suitable initial reaction conditions to produce a first delignification slurry; c) contacting the first delignification slurry with a nucleophilic base at time (0+n) hour, where n represents a number greater than zero, under suitable secondary reaction conditions to form a second delignification slurry comprising a lignin-containing liquid fraction and a polysaccharide-enriched solid fraction; d) separating the lignin-containing liquid fraction from the polysaccharide-enriched solid fraction; and e) contacting at least a portion of the polysaccharide-enriched solid fraction with an enzyme consortium to produce a saccharification product comprising xylose and glucose monomers wherein the overall yield of xylose and glucose monomers in the saccharification produc

Abstract: Furfural is obtained selectively and in good purity from non-fermentable branched sugars found in soluble waste streams of lignocellulosic biomass. In a monophasic method, stillage or syrup is contacted with water and an acid catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to convert the branched non-fermentable branched sugars to furfural. Additionally, the stillage or syrup can be treated with a water-immiscible organic solvent to form a biphasic mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The furfural that is produced preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining concentrated sugar solution from polysaccharide enriched biomass by contacting biomass with water and at least one nucleophilic base to produce a polysaccharide enriched biomass comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction and then contacting the solid fraction with saccharification enzyme consortium to produce a saccharification product comprising at least about 7 percent by weight sugars in 24 hours. The methods include optionally adding at least one additive selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycols, fatty acid esters, fatty acid ethoxylates, nonionic surfactants derived from polyethoxylated sorbitan and a fatty acid, sodium lauriminodipropionate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, sodium tridecyl ether sulfate and a combination of these, such that enzyme loading of the saccharification enzyme consortium can be reduced.

Abstract: Processes for producing furfural from biomass are provided. The processes use a metal halide in aqueous solutions of water-miscible and can provide a furfural yield of greater than 70%.

Abstract: Furfural is produced from a lignocellulosic feedstock comprising glucan and xylan. The feedstock is contacted with water in the presence of an acid catalyst. The resulting mixture is contacted with at least one water-immiscible organic solvent to form a mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. Under suitable reaction conditions, furfural is produced and preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered.

Abstract: This invention relates to adsorbents useful for storing hydrogen and other small molecules, and to methods for preparing such adsorbents. The adsorbents are produced by heating carbonaceous materials to a temperature of at least 900° C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen.

Abstract: Processes for producing furfural from biomass are provided. The processes use a metal halide in aqueous solutions of water-miscible and can provide a furfural yield of greater than 70%.

Abstract: Concentrated sugar solutions obtained from polysaccharide enriched biomass by contacting biomass with water and at least one nucleophilic base to produce a polysaccharide enriched biomass comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction and then contacting enriched biomass with a dilute mineral acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or a combination thereof, to produce an intermediate saccharification product, which is contacted with an enzyme consortium to produce a final saccharification product comprising fermentable sugars.

Abstract: Sugar solutions are obtained from polysaccharide enriched biomass by contacting biomass with water and at least one nucleophilic base to produce a polysaccharide enriched biomass comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction is separated from the lignin-containing liquid fraction and contacted with an acid solution, the acid solution comprising about 70 weight percent to about 100 weight percent sulfuric acid or an acid mixture comprising phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid, at a temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a decrystallized biomass mixture. Water is added and the diluted biomass mixture is then hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification product comprising sugars.

Abstract: Furfural is produced from a lignocellulosic feedstock comprising glucan and xylan. The feedstock is contacted with water in the presence of an acid catalyst. The resulting mixture is contacted with at least one water-immiscible organic solvent to form a mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. Under suitable reaction conditions, furfural is produced and preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered.

Abstract: Provided are articles containing a solid surface material with an antimicrobial agent in a thermoset and/or thermoplastic resin matrix, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises a chitosan-metal complex.

Abstract: Processes for the synthesis of lipochitooligosaccharides were developed. A fully acylated oligoglucosamine precursor is prepared and reacted with a glucosamine monomer that has an amine protecting phthaloyl group. With removal of the phthaloyl group, a fatty acid may be added on the terminal glucosamine unit, forming a lipochitooligosaccharide. The processes can be adapted for use on a commercial scale.