Peter Majeranowski

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an industrial system for processing various plant materials to produce marketable materials. Particularly, the system integrates subcritical water extraction technology and includes a pre-processing module and a two-stage extractor (processing module) with constant control of temperature, pressure, and/or residence time. In some embodiments, the final product of the disclosed system can include feedstock constituents for biofuel production… Show more

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an industrial system for processing various plant materials to produce marketable materials. Particularly, the system integrates subcritical water extraction technology and includes a pre-processing module and a two-stage extractor (processing module) with constant control of temperature, pressure, and/or residence time. In some embodiments, the final product of the disclosed system can include feedstock constituents for biofuel production (sugars and/or oil), biochar, raw materials for various industries (such as pulp for manufacturing paper or cellulose for use in various industries). The disclosed system can be modular or non-modular, stationary or mobile, and can include prefabricated elements with programmed automatic or manual operation so that it can be easily moved and/or assembled on site. Show less

Processes for recovering sugars and nicotine from a tobacco biomass include feeding a biomass of tobacco plants and subcritical water to a reactor, hydrolyzing the biomass of tobacco plants with the subcritical water at a temperature between about 150° C. and 305° C. and recovering a liquid product and a solid product from the reactor, wherein the liquid product contains water-soluble sugars and nicotine.

Compositions and methods are provided for enhanced production of ethanol from fermentation of tobacco biomass. Nicotine resistant microorganisms are provided, as well as methods for making these nicotine resistant microorganisms. A biologically pure culture is provided of a nicotine resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain or a mutant thereof having all the identifying characteristics thereof. Methods are provided for producing ethanol from fermentation of tobacco biomass in which the nicotine… Show more

Compositions and methods are provided for enhanced production of ethanol from fermentation of tobacco biomass. Nicotine resistant microorganisms are provided, as well as methods for making these nicotine resistant microorganisms. A biologically pure culture is provided of a nicotine resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain or a mutant thereof having all the identifying characteristics thereof. Methods are provided for producing ethanol from fermentation of tobacco biomass in which the nicotine resistant microorganisms are used in the fermentation of the tobacco biomass, wherein a higher amount of ethanol can be produced from the fermentation. The nicotine resistant yeast strains of the present disclosure can improve ethanol production in tobacco biomass extract fermentations and shorten the fermentation time. Show less

Provided herein are methods of optimizing energy recovery from oilseeds. The methods disclosed provide at least the ability to swell oilseeds and disrupt the cell walls (hulls) without changing the functionality and quality of oil; the process integration of oil extraction and green coal production to maximize the energy recovery in the form of crude oil and green coal from oilseeds; and heat integration during processing stages including subcritical water pretreatment, oil extraction, and… Show more

Provided herein are methods of optimizing energy recovery from oilseeds. The methods disclosed provide at least the ability to swell oilseeds and disrupt the cell walls (hulls) without changing the functionality and quality of oil; the process integration of oil extraction and green coal production to maximize the energy recovery in the form of crude oil and green coal from oilseeds; and heat integration during processing stages including subcritical water pretreatment, oil extraction, and subcritical water carbonization to minimize the process heat requirement. Show less