Food

Researchers at the University of California have developed a new type of invert emulsion formulation that ensures longer more stable shelf life for improved storage and delivery of algae and microbial bio-control agents. Examples of applications which have been successful are: -Storage of algae for up to one year without refrigeration -Lagenidium giganteum for mosquito control -Fusarium lateritium for Eutypadieback control on grapevines Products from algae are finding exciting applications in the areas of biofuels foods personal care and industrial products.

Chlamydomonas is a common soil and water alga. Hundred of species are known but only a few are used routinely in laboratory research: C. reinhardtii C. eugametos and C. monoica. C. reinhardtii is the subject of more than 95% of the published Chlamydomonas-based research and is a well recognized model system for basic research in diverse areas of biology especially those using genetic approaches. Stress and in particular nitrogen starvation induces lipid accumulation a process that in C. reinhardtii requires an organic carbon source (acetate). C.

Background: Currently the biofuel industrial needs highly stable and active cellulases that can withstand harsh conditions in ethanol production and processing. Developing these ideal cellulases with desirable enzyme chemistry is a time-consuming trial-and-error approach. Previous work demonstrated that enzymes from an ancient enzyme superfamily called thioredoxin are suitable with ideal enzymatic properties suitable for industry.

Background: Sorbic acid has been used extensively as a preservative in a vast array of food. The benefits of sorbates as food preservatives are two-fold: sorbates inhibit a wide spectrum of bacteria yeasts and molds and they have extremely low toxicity. Several protocols for producing sorbic acid and sorbates are known. However the most common method of producing commercial quantities requires a decomposition step that yields unwanted colored byproducts. Multiple purification steps are required to yield product that is food grade or better.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a new class of fungicides compliant with organic agriculture. Fungal pathogens pose one of the greatest economic threats to agriculture. Every year fungal infections – such as root rot smut and powdery mildew – destroy about 125 million tons of the top five food crops globally. One pest Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is responsible for a disease called white mold and causes $250 million in annual damages in the U.S. alone.

Background: Enzyme-mediated polymerizations as a new biotechnological methodology in the synthesis of new classes of FR materials with environmental compatibility unsurpassed efficiency and economy in synthesis stability and processing. Flame retardant (FR) additives are an important class of materials that have been used extensively to mitigate this serious deficiency of polymers. Halogenated materials account for about 30% (by weight) of all FR produced globally.

Background: Ethanol obtained from the fermentation of grains and sugars is being blended with gasoline to bolster dwindling petroleum supplies. The alcohol increases combustion efficiency and octane value and can be fermented from renewable corn cobs stalks cane and grasses. Still it is essential that industry-scale production does not compete with food or push agriculture into forests and other vulnerable lands. Clearly efficiency is critical. One obstacle currently limiting renewable fuel production is glucose resulting from the hydrolysis process.

Background: Propylene glycol is a nontoxic chemical used in polymers production as a nontoxic antifreeze and in food drink cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. Propylene glycol is currently made commercially by high pressure and high temperature hydrolysis of propylene oxide. Description: Michigan State University’s invention provides a low-cost method of producing propylene glycol from lactic acid. The process produces high yields of propylene glycol from crude or unrefined lactic acid under reaction conditions with high selectivity and low byproduct formation.

Rutgers scientists have developed an insecticide (e.g pyriproxyfen) autodissemination station that topically contaminates oviposition-seeking mosquitoes in such a manner that the mosquitoes then bring the active control agent back to their breeding locations for control of container-inhabiting mosquitoes in urban environments particularly the Asian tiger mosquito.

The technology presented within the invention disclosure builds on the inventors’ prior art creating a novel way to extract heavy metals from aqueous solutions (i.e. water) for at least two purposes: • cleaning substrates (e.g. semiconductor wafer chips) and • water treatment purposes. The technology uses the concept of electrochemical properties and sonolysis to achieve success at removing contaminants from either an electronic substrate or from water. This is done by applying a bias to a microelectrode while irradiating with ultrasound radiation.