A method of removing the hull from corn kernels wherein the method involves exposing the corn kernels to ammonia (e.g., gas-phase anhydrous) under conditions...
A method of removing the hull from corn kernels wherein the method involves exposing the corn kernels to ammonia (e.g., gas-phase anhydrous) under conditions effective to remove the hull from corn kernels.
Current methods for dialysis either require high pressure or large volumes and additional chemicals to remove ions from solutions. This makes it expensive and...
Current methods for dialysis either require high pressure or large volumes and additional chemicals to remove ions from solutions. This makes it expensive and unsustainable for the environment. An alternative method is electrodialysis, which is a greener method, but can cause proteins to precipitate due to lower pH and require high voltage.
To overcome these problems, the Su lab at UIUC has developed an improved method for electrodialysis. This invention can be applied to large food and pharmaceutical processing applications at a fraction of the energy required. Bulk solution of valuable biomolecules can pass through a channel where ions can be continuously removed. This provides a quick and sustainable way to remove unwanted ions from valuable products and can help lower the cost of production.
Synthetic biology has demonstrated significant potential in programming living microorganisms for various applications. However, current fermentation practices mainly...
Synthetic biology has demonstrated significant potential in programming living microorganisms for various applications. However, current fermentation practices mainly focus on planktonic cells, while microbes in nature frequently change their lifestyles in response to environmental variations. There is a need for methods that regulate the bacterial life cycle and enable phase-specific gene expression to bridge this gap.
This invention is a platform to control biofilm formation/dispersion and metabolite production. It enables both induction and dispersion of biofilm formation of Lactococcus lactis upon exposure to or deprivation of zinc. In dispersed state, bacteria will produce desirable byproducts. Further, the system contains a nisin response circuit which will also allow the production of the aforementioned byproducts in the biofilm state. Biofilm based fermentation alone has been displayed to increase fermentation efficiency and yield in ethanol fermentation, but a population which can transition between both free floating and biofilm state has yet to be implemented. This technology may be highly useful for producing fermented foods at a large scale, as increases in efficiency can result in more efficient utilization of resources.
Benefits
Controlled biofilm formation for improved fermentation processes.
