WO2014169079A2 - Increased productivity during fermentation - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and compositions for producing one or more fermentation end-products using reduced amounts of fermenting microorganisms. Also disclosed herein are method, systems, and compositions for increasing the cellular productivity during fermentation reactions.

Description

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY DURING FERMENTATION

CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/ 810,234, filed April 9, 2013, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The demand for renewable fuels and chemical is growing significantly and is required to reduce reliance on petroleum-based products and to lower gas emissions. At the same time, interest in bio fuels, such as ethanol, as an alternative to petroleum has greatly increased, in part due to the desire to promote domestic rural economics. Ethanol is a commonly used bio fuel, and current U.S. bio fuel is almost exclusively derived from corn. To meet some of the higher ethanol production goals would require more corn than the United States currently produces. At the same time, a concern over the use of food crops for fuel is an obstacle to use of further corn for ethanol. Another obstacle to widespread adoption of bio fuels and bio-products is the economic cost of producing the ethanol. A major contributing factor to this cost is transportation of biomass feedstock from the location where feedstock is grown to the location where it is processed into biofuels and chemicals. More efficient use of starch fermentation, supplemented with sugars from non-starch cellulosic materials would help defray these costs. Although the supplementation of cellulosic sugars assists in starch production, it would be helpful to optimize this process in a manner wherein fermenting microorganisms can utilize the maximum amount of sugar provided to them. Therefore, there is a need in the art to improve the productivity of fermenting microorganisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Disclosed herein are methods of producing increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products by a fermenting microorganism strain, the method comprising: (a) adding a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydrolyzate to a liquid composition comprising a biomass to produce a blended feedstock; and (b) fermenting the blended feedstock with a fermenting microorganism strain for a sufficient time to produce the one or more fermentation end-products; wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydrolyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain. [0004] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solid.

[0005] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solution.

[0006] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end- product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is an alcohol. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

[0007] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[0008] In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 1 :99 v/v to about 50:50 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 40:60 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 10:90 v/v to about 35:65 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 5:95 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 30:70 v/v.

[0009] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%. In some embodiments, the solution and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 30%. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 10%>.

[0010] In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 1%) to about 50%> w/v suspended solids. In some embodiments, the suspended solids comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof.

[0011] In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by from about 1% to about 50%>. In some embodiments, adding the solution comprising a cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50%.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate was produced by pretreating or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, hot water treatment, acid treatment, base treatment, steam explosion, acid-catalyzed steam explosion, ammonia fiber/freeze explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises treating the lignocellulose with hot water or dilute acid to solubilize hemicellulose, substantially separating the solubilized hemicellulose from remaining lignocellulose solids, and enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose in the remaining lignocellulose solids.

[0013] In some embodiments, the biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose comprises corn stover, corn cobs, silage, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, distiller's grains, distiller's dried solubles, distiller's dried grains, condensed distiller's solubles, distiller's wet grains, distiller's dried grains with solubles, wood, bark, sawdust, paper, poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, fruit peels, pits, sorghum, sweet sorghum, sugar cane, switch grass, rice, rice straw, rice hulls, wheat, wheat straw, barley, barley straw, bamboo, seeds, seed hulls, oats, oat hulls, food waste, municipal sewage waste, or a combination thereof.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C5 sugars, C6 sugars, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 80%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 90%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 70%> to 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%> to 100%) of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%> to about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 90%> to 99% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. [0015] In some embodiments, at least about 80% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydro lyzate are monosaccharides. In some embodiments, at least about 90% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydro lyzate are monosaccharides.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises at least about 5% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises at least about 10%> sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises from about 10% to about 30% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises about 10% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises about 20% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises about 30% w/v sugars.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

[0018] In some embodiments, the one or more fermentation end products comprise an alcohol. In some embodiments, the one or more fermentation end-products comprise ethanol.

[0019] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 10%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 30%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 50%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 75%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 60%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 15% to about 55%.

[0020] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain, a bacterial strain, or an alga strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a bacterial strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is an Escherichia coli strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Rhodococcus opacus strain.

[0021] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically- modified yeast strain that can ferment C5 sugars and C6 sugars.

[0022] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is recycled from a previous fermentation reaction.

[0023] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 5 mg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 50 mg/L to about 1 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 100 mg/L to about 750 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 500 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

[0024] In some embodiments, the fermenting produces a yield at least one fermentation end- product that is substantially the same or greater than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[0025] In some embodiments, the fermenting produces a yield of one or more byproducts that is less than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise a polyol. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise glycerol. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise succinic acid, a succinate, or a combination thereof.

[0026] In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 5% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 10% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 15% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 20% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 50% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 25% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 10% to about 25% less. [0027] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 20% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 30%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 40%> non- cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 50%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%) to about 100%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%> to about 80%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%> to about 60%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

[0028] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

[0029] In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 10%o sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 20%> sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 5% to about 50%o w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 10%> to about 40%> w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises about 30%> w/v sugars.

[0030] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or portions thereof, or combinations thereof. Some

embodiments comprise the tubers or portions thereof that comprise sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, potatoes, or a combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the cassava or portions thereof that comprise tapioca. Some embodiments comprise the cereals or portions thereof that comprise maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the maize or portion thereof that is corn mash. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum, milo, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum syrup. In some embodiments, the cereals or portions thereof comprise whole grains. Some embodiments comprise the beets or portions thereof that comprise sugar beets, red beets, golden beets, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the beans or portions thereof that comprise soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises the sugar cane or portion thereof that is cane sugar, molasses, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof comprising sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

[0031] In some embodiments, the method further comprises contacting the biomass with one or more enzymes to hydro lyze starch. In some embodiments, the one or more enzymes comprise an amylase, a glucosidase, or a combination thereof.

[0032] Also provided herein are fermentation end-products produced by any of the methods disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is an alcohol. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

[0033] Also disclosed are systems to produce increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products by a fermenting microorganism strain, the systems comprising: (a) a fermentor; (b) a blended feedstock comprising a liquid composition comprising a biomass and a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydrolyzate; (c) the fermenting microorganism strain; wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydrolyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[0034] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solid.

[0035] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a liquid.

[0036] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end- product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is an alcohol. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is ethanol. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[0037] In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 1 :99 v/v to about 50:50 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 40:60 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 10:90 v/v to about 35:65 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 30:70 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 5:95 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 30:70 v/v.

[0038] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 30%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 10%.

[0039] In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 1%) to about 50%> w/v suspended solids. In some embodiments, the suspended solids comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof.

[0040] In some embodiments, the blended feedstock has a level of suspended solids that is from about 1% to about 50% lower than that of the liquid composition comprising the biomass. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock has a level of suspended solids that is at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% lower than that of the liquid composition comprising the biomass.

[0041] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate was produced by pretreating or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or hgnocellulose. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, hot water treatment, acid treatment, base treatment, steam explosion, acid-catalyzed steam explosion, ammonia fiber/freeze explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises treating the hgnocellulose with hot water or dilute acid to solubilize hemicellulose, substantially separating the solubilized hemicellulose from remaining hgnocellulose solids, and enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose in the remaining hgnocellulose solids.

[0042] In some embodiments, the system further comprises a hydrolysis unit.

[0043] In some embodiments, the biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or hgnocellulose comprises corn stover, corn cobs, silage, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, distiller's grains, distiller's dried solubles, distiller's dried grains, condensed distiller's solubles, distiller's wet grains, distiller's dried grains with solubles, wood, bark, sawdust, paper, poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, fruit peels, pits, sorghum, sweet sorghum, sugar cane, switch grass, rice, rice straw, rice hulls, wheat, wheat straw, barley, barley straw, bamboo, seeds, seed hulls, oats, oat hulls, food waste, municipal sewage waste, or a combination thereof.

[0044] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C5 sugars, C6 sugars, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 80% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 90%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 70% to about 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80% to about 100%) of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%> to about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 90%> to about 99% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

[0045] In some embodiments, at least about 80%> by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides. In some embodiments, at least about 90% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides.

[0046] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 5% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 10% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 10% to about 30% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 10% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 20% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 30% w/v sugars. [0047] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

[0048] In some embodiments, the one or more fermentation end products comprise an alcohol. In some embodiments, the one or more fermentation end-products comprise ethanol.

[0049] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 10%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 30%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 50%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 75%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 60%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 15% to about 55%.

[0050] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain, a bacterial strain, or an alga strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a bacterial strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is an Escherichia coli strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Rhodococcus opacus strain.

[0051] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically- modified yeast strain that can ferment C5 sugars and C6 sugars.

[0052] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is recycled from a previous fermentation reaction.

[0053] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 5 mg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 50 mg/L to about 1 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 100 mg/L to about 750 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 500 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

[0054] In some embodiments, the system produces a yield at least one fermentation end-product that is substantially the same or greater than in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[0055] In some embodiments, the system produces a yield of one or more byproducts that is less than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise a polyol. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise glycerol. In some embodiments, the one or more byproducts comprise succinic acid, a succinate, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 5% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 10% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 15%) less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 20%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 50%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 25% less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 10%> to about 25% less.

[0056] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 20% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 30% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 40% non- cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 50% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%) to about 100%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20% to about 80% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20% to about 60% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

[0057] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

[0058] In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 10%) sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 10% to about 40%> w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises about 30%> w/v sugars.

[0059] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or portions thereof, or combinations thereof. Some

embodiments comprise the tubers or portions thereof that comprise sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, potatoes, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the cassava or portions thereof that comprise tapioca. Some embodiments comprise the cereals or portions thereof that comprise maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the maize or portion thereof that is corn mash. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum, milo, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum syrup. In some embodiments, the cereals or portions thereof comprise whole grains. Some embodiments comprise the beets or portions thereof that comprise sugar beets, red beets, golden beets, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the beans or portions thereof that comprise soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises the sugar cane or portion thereof that is cane sugar, molasses, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof comprising sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

[0060] In some embodiments, the system further comprises one or more enzymes to hydrolyze starch. In some embodiments, the one or more enzymes comprise an amylase, a glucosidase, or a combination thereof.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0061] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0063] Figure 1 illustrates ethanol production during fermentation of a corn mash control (diamonds), a cellulosic saccharide control (squares), a 95:5 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharide (triangles), and a 70:30 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides (Xs).

[0064] Figure 2 illustrates glycerol production during fermentation of a corn mash control (diamonds), a cellulosic saccharide control (squares), a 95:5 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharide (triangles), and a 70:30 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides (Xs).

[0065] Figure 3 illustrates the total number of live cells, as measured with a hemacytometer, during fermentation of a corn mash control (diamonds), a cellulosic saccharide control (squares), a 95:5 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharide (triangles), and a 70:30 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides (Xs).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a purified monomer" includes mixtures of two or more purified monomers. The term "comprising" as used herein is synonymous with "including," "containing," or

"characterized by," and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0067] "About" means a referenced numeric indication plus or minus 10% of that referenced numeric indication. For example, the term about 4 would include a range of 3.6 to 4.4. In another example, "at least about" means the referenced numeric indication plus or minus 10% of that referenced indication or greater. Similarly, "less than about" means the referenced numeric indication plus or minus 10% of that referenced indication or lower. All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of any claims in any application claiming priority to the present application, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

[0068] Wherever the phrase "for example," "such as," "including" and the like are used herein, the phrase "and without limitation" is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Therefore, "for example ethanol production" means "for example and without limitation ethanol production."

[0069] In this specification and in the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms which shall be defined to have the following meanings.

[0070] Definitions

[0071] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. For example, the phrase "the medium can optionally contain glucose" means that the medium may or may not contain glucose as an ingredient and that the description includes both media containing glucose and media not containing glucose.

[0072] Unless characterized otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0073] " Fermentive end-product" and "fermentation end-product" are used interchangeably herein to include bio fuels, chemicals, compounds suitable as liquid fuels, gaseous fuels, triacylglycerols (TAGs), reagents, chemical feedstocks, chemical additives, processing aids, food additives, bioplastics and precursors to bioplastics, and other products. Examples of fermentive end-products include but are not limited to 1,4 diacids (succinic, fumaric and malic), 2,5 furan dicarboxylic acid, 3 hydroxy propionic acid, aspartic acid, glucaric acid, glutamic acid, itaconic acid, levulinic acid, 3 -hydro xybutyro lactone, glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol/arabinitol, butanediol, butanol, methane, methanol, ethane, ethene, ethanol, n-propane, 1-propene, 1-propanol, propanal, acetone, propionate, n-butane, 1-butene, 1 -butanol, butanal, butanoate, isobutanal, isobutanol, 2-methylbutanal, 2-methylbutanol, 3-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanol, 2-butene, 2- butanol, 2-butanone, 2, 3 -butanediol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2,3-butanedione, ethylbenzene, ethenylbenzene, 2-phenylethanol, phenylacetaldehyde, 1-phenylbutane, 4-phenyl- 1-butene, 4- phenyl-2-butene, l-phenyl-2-butene, l-phenyl-2-butanol, 4-phenyl-2-butanol, l-phenyl-2- butanone, 4-phenyl-2-butanone, l-phenyl-2,3-butandiol, l-phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2-butanone, 4- phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2-butanone, l-phenyl-2,3-butanedione, n-pentane, ethylphenol,

ethenylphenol, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol, 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, l-(4- hydroxyphenyl) butane, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 1-butene, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butene, l-(4- hydroxyphenyl)- 1-butene, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanol, l-(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3- butandiol, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hydro xy-2-butanone, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hydro xy-2- butanone, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-butanonedione, indolylethane, indolylethene, 2-(indole-3- )ethanol, n-pentane, 1 -pentene, 1-pentanol, pentanal, pentanoate, 2-pentene, 2-pentanol, 3- pentanol, 2-pentanone, 3-pentanone, 4-methylpentanal, 4-methylpentanol, 2,3-pentanediol, 2- hydroxy-3-pentanone, 3-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 2,3-pentanedione, 2-methylpentane, 4-methyl- 1- pentene, 4-methyl-2-pentene, 4-methyl-3 -pentene, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-methyl-3-pentanol, 4- methyl-2-pentanone, 2-methyl-3-pentanone, 4-methyl-2,3-pentanediol, 4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3- pentanone, 4-methyl-3-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2,3-pentanedione, 1-phenylpentane, 1- phenyl-1 -pentene, l-phenyl-2-pentene, l-phenyl-3 -pentene, l-phenyl-2-pentanol, 1 -phenyl-3 - pentanol, l-phenyl-2-pentanone, l-phenyl-3 -pentanone, l-phenyl-2,3-pentanediol, l-phenyl-2- hydroxy-3-pentanone, l-phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2-pentanone, l-phenyl-2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl- 1-phenylpentane, 4-methyl-l -phenyl- 1 -pentene, 4-methyl-l-phenyl-2-pentene, 4-methyl- 1- phenyl-3 -pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -pentano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-pentano 1, 4-methyl- 1 - phenyl-3 -pentanone, 4-methyl- l-phenyl-2-pentanone, 4-methyl- l-phenyl-2,3-pentanediol, 4- methyl- 1 -phenyl-2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2-pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 - phenyl-2-hydroxy-3 -pentanone, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl) pentane, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-l -pentene, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pentene, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentene, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2- pentanol, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentano 1, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pentanone, l-(4- hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentanone, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-pentanediol, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2- hydroxy-3 -pentanone, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-2-pentanone, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3- pentanedione, 4-methyl- l-(4-hydroxyphenyl) pentane, 4-methyl- l-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 1 -pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pentano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-3 -pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-pentanediol, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl- 1 - (4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hydro xy-2-pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-3 - pentanone, l-indole-3 -pentane, l-(indole-3)-l -pentene, l-(indole-3)-2-pentene, l-(indole-3)-3- pentene, l-(indole-3)-2-pentanol, l-(indole-3)-3-pentanol, l-(indole-3)-2-pentanone, l-(indole- 3)-3-pentanone, 1 -(indole-3)-2,3-pentanediol, 1 -(indole-3)-2-hydroxy-3-pentanone, 1 -(indole-3)- 3-hydroxy-2-pentanone, l-(indole-3)-2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl- l-(indole-3-)pentane, 4- methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2-pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-3-pentene, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)- 1 - pentene, 4-methyl-2-(indole-3)-3-pentanol, 4-methyl- l-(indole-3)-2-pentanol, 4-methyl- 1- (indole-3)-3-pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2-pentanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2,3- pentanediol, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2,3-pentanedione, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-3-hydroxy-2- pentanone, 4-methyl- l-(indole-3)-2-hydroxy-3-pentanone, n-hexane, 1-hexene, 1-hexanol, hexanal, hexanoate, 2-hexene, 3-hexene, 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 2,3- hexanediol, 2,3-hexanedione, 3,4-hexanediol, 3,4-hexanedione, 2-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 3- hydroxy-2-hexanone, 3-hydroxy-4-hexanone, 4-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 2-methylhexane, 3- methylhexane, 2-methyl-2-hexene, 2-methyl-3 -hexene, 5-methyl-l-hexene, 5-methyl-2-hexene,

4- methyl-l -hexene, 4-methyl-2-hexene, 3-methyl-3-hexene, 3-methyl-2-hexene, 3-methyl-l- hexene, 2-methyl-3-hexanol, 5-methyl-2-hexanol, 5-methyl-3-hexanol, 2-methyl-3-hexanone, 5- methyl-2-hexanone, 5-methyl-3-hexanone, 2-methyl-3,4-hexanediol, 2-methyl-3,4-hexanedione,

5 - methyl-2, 3 -hexanediol, 5-methyl-2,3-hexanedione, 4-methyl-2,3-hexanediol, 4-methyl-2,3- hexanedione, 2-methyl-3 -hydro xy-4-hexanone, 2-methyl-4-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 5-methyl-2- hydroxy-3-hexanone, 5-methyl-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 4- methyl-3 -hydro xy-2-hexanone, 2,5-dimethylhexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2-hexene, 2,5-dimethyl-3- hexene, 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexanol, 2,5-dimethyl-3-hexanone, 2,5-dimethyl-3,4-hexanediol, 2,5- dimethyl-3,4-hexanedione, 2,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1-phenylhexane, 4- methyl- 1 -phenylhexane, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl- 1 -hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 - phenyl-3 -hexene, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl- 1 -hexene, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-hexene, 4-methyl- 1 - phenyl-3 -hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-hexano 1, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -hexano 1, 4-methyl- 1 - phenyl-2-hexano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -hexano 1, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1 - phenyl-3 -hexanone, 4-methyl- l-phenyl-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-l -phenyl-3 -hexanone, 5-methyl-

1 -pheny 1-2, 3 -hexanediol, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-2,3-hexanediol, 5-methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2- hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1 -phenyl-2-hydroxy-3 -hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -phenyl-3 -hydro xy-2- hexanone, 4-methyl- l-phenyl-2-hydroxy-3 -hexanone, 5-methyl- l-phenyl-2,3-hexanedione, 4- methyl- 1 -phenyl-2,3-hexanedione, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexane, 5-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)- 1 -hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 1 -hexene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexene, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexene, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexano 1, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexano 1, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexano 1, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-hexanediol, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-hexanediol, 5-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hydro xy-2-hexanone, 5 -methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxy-3 -hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3 -hydro xy-2-hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2- hydroxy-3 -hexanone, 5-methyl- 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-hexanedione, 4-methyl- 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-hexanedione, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3-)hexane, 5-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)- 1 - hexene, 5-methyl- l-(indole-3)-2-hexene, 5-methyl- l-(indole-3)-3-hexene, 4-methyl- l-(indole- 3)-l-hexene, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-2-hexene, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-3-hexene, 5-methyl- 1- (indole-3)-2-hexanol, 5-methyl-l-(indole-3)-3-hexanol, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-2-hexanol, 4- methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-3-hexanol, 5-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2-hexanone, 5-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-3- hexanone, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-3-hexanone, 5-methyl- 1- (indole-3)-2,3-hexanediol, 4-methyl-l-(indole-3)-2,3-hexanediol, 5-methyl- l-(indole-3)-3- hydroxy-2-hexanone, 5-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-3- hydroxy-2-hexanone, 4-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2-hydroxy-3-hexanone, 5-methyl- 1 -(indole-3)-2,3- hexanedione, 4-methyl- l-(indole-3)-2,3-hexanedione, n-heptane, 1-heptene, 1-heptanol, heptanal, heptanoate, 2-heptene, 3-heptene, 2-heptanol, 3-heptanol, 4-heptanol, 2-heptanone, 3- heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanedione, 3,4-heptanediol, 3,4-heptanedione,

2- hydroxy-3-heptanone, 3-hydroxy-2-heptanone, 3-hydroxy-4-heptanone, 4-hydroxy-3- heptanone, 2-methylheptane, 3-methylheptane, 6-methyl-2-heptene, 6-methyl-3-heptene, 2- methyl-3-heptene, 2-methyl-2-heptene, 5-methyl-2-heptene, 5-methyl-3-heptene, 3-methyl-3- heptene, 2-methyl-3-heptanol, 2-methyl-4-heptanol, 6-methyl-3-heptanol, 5-methyl-3-heptanol,

3- methyl-4-heptanol, 2-methyl-3-heptanone, 2-methyl-4-heptanone, 6-methyl-3-heptanone, 5- methyl-3-heptanone, 3-methyl-4-heptanone, 2-methyl-3,4-heptanediol, 2-methyl-3,4- heptanedione, 6-methyl-3,4-heptanediol, 6-methyl-3,4-heptanedione, 5-methyl-3,4-heptanediol,

5 - methyl-3 ,4-heptanedione, 2-methyl-3 -hydro xy-4-heptanone, 2-methyl-4-hydroxy-3 -heptanone,

6- methyl-3 -hydro xy-4-heptanone, 6-methyl-4-hydroxy-3 -heptanone, 5 -methyl-3 -hydro xy-4- heptanone, 5 -methyl-4-hydroxy-3 -heptanone, 2,6-dimethylheptane, 2,5-dimethylheptane, 2,6- dimethyl-2-heptene, 2,6-dimethyl-3-heptene, 2,5-dimethyl-2-heptene, 2,5-dimethyl-3-heptene, 3,6-dimethyl-3-heptene, 2,6-dimethyl-3-heptanol, 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol, 2,5-dimethyl-3- heptanol, 2,5-dimethyl-4-heptanol, 2,6-dimethyl-3,4-heptanediol, 2,6-dimethyl-3,4- heptanedione, 2,5-dimethyl-3,4-heptanediol, 2,5-dimethyl-3,4-heptanedione, 2,6-dimethyl-3- hydroxy-4-heptanone, 2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3-heptanone, 2,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4- heptanone, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3-heptanone, n-octane, 1-octene, 2-octene, 1-octanol, octanal, octanoate, 3-octene, 4-octene, 4-octanol, 4-octanone, 4,5-octanediol, 4,5-octanedione, 4- hydroxy-5-octanone, 2-methyloctane, 2-methyl-3-octene, 2-methyl-4-octene, 7-methyl-3-octene, 3-methyl-3-octene, 3-methyl-4-octene, 6-methyl-3-octene, 2-methyl-4-octanol, 7-methyl-4- octanol, 3-methyl-4-octanol, 6-methyl-4-octanol, 2-methyl-4-octanone, 7-methyl-4-octanone, 3- methyl-4-octanone, 6-methyl-4-octanone, 2-methyl-4,5-octanediol, 2-methyl-4,5-octanedione, 3- methyl-4,5-octanediol, 3-methyl-4,5-octanedione, 2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-octanone, 2-methyl-5- hydroxy-4-octanone, 3-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-octanone, 3-methyl-5-hydroxy-4-octanone, 2,7- dimethyloctane, 2,7-dimethyl-3-octene, 2,7-dimethyl-4-octene, 2,7-dimethyl-4-octanol, 2,7- dimethyl-4-octanone, 2,7-dimethyl-4,5-octanediol, 2,7-dimethyl-4,5-octanedione, 2,7-dimethyl-

4- hydroxy-5-octanone, 2,6-dimethyloctane, 2,6-dimethyl-3-octene, 2,6-dimethyl-4-octene, 3,7- dimethyl-3-octene, 2,6-dimethyl-4-octanol, 3,7-dimethyl-4-octanol, 2,6-dimethyl-4-octanone,

3.7- dimethyl-4-octanone, 2,6-dimethyl-4,5-octanediol, 2,6-dimethyl-4,5-octanedione, 2,6- dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-octanone, 2,6-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-4-octanone, 3,6-dimethyloctane, 3,6- dimethyl-3-octene, 3,6-dimethyl-4-octene, 3,6-dimethyl-4-octanol, 3,6-dimethyl-4-octanone, 3,6-dimethyl-4,5-octanediol, 3,6-dimethyl-4,5-octanedione, 3,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-octanone, n-nonane, 1-nonene, 1-nonanol, nonanal, nonanoate, 2-methylnonane, 2-methyl-4-nonene, 2- methyl-5-nonene, 8-methyl-4-nonene, 2-methyl-5-nonanol, 8-methyl-4-nonanol, 2-methyl-5- nonanone, 8-methyl-4-nonanone, 8 -methy 1-4, 5 -nonanediol, 8-methyl-4,5-nonanedione, 8- methyl-4-hydroxy-5-nonanone, 8-methyl-5-hydroxy-4-nonanone, 2,8-dimethylnonane, 2,8- dimethyl-3-nonene, 2,8-dimethyl-4-nonene, 2,8-dimethyl-5-nonene, 2,8-dimethyl-4-nonanol,

2.8- dimethyl-5-nonanol, 2,8-dimethyl-4-nonanone, 2,8-dimethyl-5-nonanone, 2,8-dimethyl-4,5- nonanediol, 2,8-dimethyl-4,5-nonanedione, 2,8-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-nonanone, 2,8-dimethyl-

5- hydroxy-4-nonanone, 2,7-dimethylnonane, 3,8-dimethyl-3-nonene, 3,8-dimethyl-4-nonene, 3,8-dimethyl-5-nonene, 3,8-dimethyl-4-nonanol, 3,8-dimethyl-5-nonanol, 3,8-dimethyl-4- nonanone, 3,8-dimethyl-5-nonanone, 3,8-dimethyl-4,5-nonanediol, 3,8-dimethyl-4,5- nonanedione, 3,8-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-nonanone, 3,8-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-4-nonanone, n- decane, 1-decene, 1-decanol, decanoate, 2,9-dimethyldecane, 2,9-dimethyl-3-decene, 2,9- dimethyl-4-decene, 2,9-dimethyl-5-decanol, 2,9-dimethyl-5-decanone, 2,9-dimethyl-5,6- decanediol, 2,9-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-5-decanone, 2,9-dimethyl-5,6-decanedionen-undecane, 1- undecene, 1-undecanol, undecanal. undecanoate, n-dodecane, 1-dodecene, 1-dodecanol, dodecanal, dodecanoate, n-dodecane, 1-decadecene, n-tridecane, 1-tridecene, 1-tridecanol, tridecanal, tridecanoate, n-tetradecane, 1-tetradecene, 1-tetradecanol, tetradecanal,

tetradecanoate, n-pentadecane, 1-pentadecene, 1-pentadecanol, pentadecanal, pentadecanoate, n- hexadecane, 1-hexadecene, 1-hexadecanol, hexadecanal, hexadecanoate, n-heptadecane, 1- heptadecene, 1-heptadecanol, heptadecanal, heptadecanoate, n-octadecane, 1-octadecene, 1- octadecanol, octadecanal, octadecanoate, n-nonadecane, 1-nonadecene, 1-nonadecanol, nonadecanal, nonadecanoate, eicosane, 1-eicosene, 1-eicosanol, eicosanal, eicosanoate, 3- hydroxy propanal, 1,3-propanediol, 4-hydroxybutanal, 1,4-butanediol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2,3-butandiol, 1,5-pentane diol, homocitrate, homoisocitorate, b-hydroxy adipate, glutarate, glutarsemialdehyde, glutaraldehyde, 2-hydroxy-l-cyclopentanone, 1,2-cyclopentanediol, cyclopentanone, cyclopentanol, (S)-2-acetolactate, (R)-2,3-Dihydroxy-isovalerate, 2- oxoiso valerate, isobutyryl-CoA, isobutyrate, isobutyraldehyde, 5 -amino pentaldehyde, 1,10- diaminodecane, l,10-diamino-5-decene, l,10-diamino-5-hydroxydecane, l,10-diamino-5- decanone, 1 , 10-diamino-5,6-decanediol, 1 , 10-diamino-6-hydroxy-5-decanone,

phenylacetoaldehyde, 1 ,4-diphenylbutane, 1,4-diphenyl-l-butene, 1 ,4-diphenyl-2-butene, 1,4- diphenyl-2-butanol, 1 ,4-diphenyl-2-butanone, l,4-diphenyl-2,3-butanediol, l,4-diphenyl-3- hydroxy-2-butanone, 1 -(4-hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenylbutane, 1 -(4-hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl- 1 - butene, l-(4-hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-2-butene, l-(4-hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-2-butanol, l-(4- hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-2-butanone, 1 -(4-hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-2,3-butanediol, 1 -(4- hydeoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 1 -(indole-3)-4-phenylbutane, 1 -(indole-3)-4- phenyl- 1 -butene, 1 -(indole-3)-4-phenyl-2-butene, 1 -(indole-3)-4-phenyl-2-butanol, 1 -(indole-3)- 4-phenyl-2-butanone, 1 -(indole-3)-4-phenyl-2,3-butanediol, 1 -(indole-3)-4-phenyl-3-hydroxy-2- butanone, 4-hydroxyphenylacetoaldehyde, l,4-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane, l,4-di(4- hydroxyphenyl)- 1 -butene, 1 ,4-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butene, 1 ,4-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2- butanol, l,4-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, l,4-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-butanediol, l,4-di(4- hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3-)butane, 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3)- 1 -butene, 1 -di(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3)-2-butene, 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3)-2-butanol, 1 -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3)-2-butanone, 1 -(4- hydroxyphenyl)-4-(indole-3)-2,3-butanediol, l-(4-hydroxyphenyl-4-(indole-3)-3-hydroxy-2- butanone, indole-3-acetoaldehyde, l,4-di(indole-3-)butane, l,4-di(indole-3)-l -butene, 1,4- di(indole-3)-2-butene, 1 ,4-di(indole-3)-2-butanol, 1 ,4-di(indole-3)-2-butanone, 1 ,4-di(indole-3)- 2,3-butanediol, l,4-di(indole-3)-3-hydroxy-2-butanone, succinate semialdehyde, hexane-1,8- dicarboxylic acid, 3-hexene-l,8-dicarboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-hexane-l,8-dicarboxylic acid, 3- hexanone-l,8-dicarboxylic acid, 3,4-hexanediol-l,8-dicarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-hexanone- 1,8-dicarboxylic acid, glycerol, fucoidan, iodine, chlorophyll, carotenoid, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, phosphate, lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, isoprenoids, and polyisoprenes, including rubber. Further, such products can include succinic acid, pyruvic acid, enzymes such as cellulases, polysaccharases, lipases, proteases, ligninases, and hemicellulases and may be present as a pure compound, a mixture, or an impure or diluted form.

[0074] Fermentation end-products can include polyols or sugar alcohols; for example, methanol, glycol, glycerol, erythritol, threitol, arabitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, dulcitol, fucitol, iditol, inositol, volemitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, and/or polyglycitol.

[0075] The term "fatty acid comprising material" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can comprise one or more chemical compounds that include one or more fatty acid moieties as well as derivatives of these compounds and materials that comprise one or more of these compounds. Common examples of compounds that include one or more fatty acid moieties include triacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, phospholipids, lysophospho lipids, free fatty acids, fatty acid salts, soaps, fatty acid comprising amides, esters of fatty acids and monohydric alcohols, esters of fatty acids and polyhydric alcohols including glycols (e.g. ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc.), esters of fatty acids and polyethylene glycol, esters of fatty acids and polyethers, esters of fatty acids and polyglycol, esters of fatty acids and saccharides, esters of fatty acids with other hydroxyl-containing compounds, etc. A fatty acid comprising material can be one or more of these compounds in an isolated or purified form. It can be a material that includes one or more of these compounds that is combined or blended with other similar or different materials. It can be a material where the fatty acid comprising material occurs with or is provided with other similar or different materials, such as vegetable and animal oils; mixtures of vegetable and animal oils; vegetable and animal oil byproducts; mixtures of vegetable and animal oil byproducts; vegetable and animal wax esters; mixtures, derivatives and byproducts of vegetable and animal wax esters; seeds; processed seeds; seed byproducts; nuts; processed nuts; nut byproducts; animal matter; processed animal matter; byproducts of animal matter; corn; processed corn; corn byproducts; distiller's grains; beans; processed beans; bean byproducts; soy products; lipid containing plant, fish or animal matter; processed lipid containing plant or animal matter; byproducts of lipid containing plant, fish or animal matter; lipid containing microbial material; processed lipid containing microbial material; and byproducts of lipid containing microbial matter. Such materials can be utilized in liquid or solid forms. Solid forms include whole forms, such as cells, beans, and seeds; ground, chopped, slurried, extracted, flaked, milled, etc. The fatty acid portion of the fatty acid comprising compound can be a simple fatty acid, such as one that includes a carboxyl group attached to a substituted or un- substituted alkyl group. The substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group can be straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated. Substitutions on the alkyl group can include hydroxyls, phosphates, halogens, alkoxy, or aryl groups. The substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group can have 7 to 29 carbons and preferably 1 1 to 23 carbons (e.g., 8 to 30 carbons and preferably 12 to 24 carbons counting the carboxyl group) arranged in a linear chain with or without side chains and/or substitutions. Addition of the fatty acid comprising compound can be by way of adding a material comprising the fatty acid comprising compound.

[0076] The term "pH modifier" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include any material that will tend to increase, decrease or hold steady the pH of the broth or medium. A pH modifier can be an acid, a base, a buffer, or a material that reacts with other materials present to serve to raise, lower, or hold steady the pH. In one embodiment, more than one pH modifier can be used, such as more than one acid, more than one base, one or more acid with one or more bases, one or more acids with one or more buffers, one or more bases with one or more buffers, or one or more acids with one or more bases with one or more buffers. In one embodiment, a buffer can be produced in the broth or medium or separately and used as an ingredient by at least partially reacting in acid or base with a base or an acid, respectively. When more than one pH modifiers are utilized, they can be added at the same time or at different times. In one embodiment, one or more acids and one or more bases are combined, resulting in a buffer. In one embodiment, media components, such as a carbon source or a nitrogen source serve as a pH modifier; suitable media components include those with high or low pH or those with buffering capacity. Exemplary media components include acid- or base- hydro lyzed plant polysaccharides having residual acid or base, ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) treated plant material with residual ammonia, lactic acid, corn steep solids or liquor.

[0077] "Growth phase" is used herein to describe the type of cellular growth that occurs after the "Initiation phase" and before the "Stationary phase" and the "Death phase." The growth phase is sometimes referred to as the exponential phase or log phase or logarithmic phase.

[0078] The term "plant polysaccharide" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can comprise one or more polymers of sugars and sugar derivatives as well as derivatives of sugar polymers and/or other polymeric materials that occur in plant matter. Exemplary plant polysaccharides include lignin, cellulose, starch, pectin, and hemicellulose. Others are chitin, sulfonated polysaccharides such as alginic acid, agarose, carrageenan, porphyran, furcelleran and funoran. Generally, the polysaccharide can have two or more sugar units or derivatives of sugar units. The sugar units and/or derivatives of sugar units can repeat in a regular pattern, or otherwise. The sugar units can be hexose units or pentose units, or combinations of these. The derivatives of sugar units can be sugar alcohols, sugar acids, amino sugars, etc. The polysaccharides can be linear, branched, cross-linked, or a mixture thereof. One type or class of polysaccharide can be cross-linked to another type or class of polysaccharide. The concentration of saccharides in a biomass containing plant polysaccharides such as cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, or pectin can be given in terms of monosaccharide equivalents. A monosaccharide equivalent concentration is the concentration of saccharides assuming complete hydrolysis of polysaccharides to monosaccharides.

[0079] The term "saccharification" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include conversion of plant polysaccharides to lower molecular weight species that can be utilized by the organism at hand. For some organisms, this would include conversion to monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, and oligosaccharides of up to about seven monomer units, as well as similar sized chains of sugar derivatives and combinations of sugars and sugar derivatives.

[0080] The terms "SSF" and "SHF" are known to those skilled in the art; SSF meaning simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, or the conversion from polysaccharides or oligosaccharides into monosaccharides at the same time and in the same fermentation vessel wherein monosaccharides are converted to another chemical product such as ethanol. "SHF" indicates a physical separation of the polymer hydrolysis or saccharification and fermentation processes.

[0081] The term "biomass" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include one or more biological materials that can be converted into a bio fuel, chemical or other product. Biomass as used herein is synonymous with the term "feedstock" and includes corn syrup, molasses, silage, agricultural residues (corn stalks, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, etc.), animal waste (manure from cattle, poultry, and hogs), Distillers Dried Solubles (DDS), Distillers Dried Grains (DDG), Condensed Distillers Solubles (CDS), Distillers Wet Grains (DWG), Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), woody materials (wood or bark, sawdust, timber slash, and mill scrap), municipal waste (waste paper, recycled toilet papers, yard clippings, etc.), and energy crops (poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, including macroalgae, etc.). One exemplary source of biomass is plant matter. Plant matter can be, for example, woody plant matter, non-woody plant matter, cellulosic material, lignocellulosic material, hemicellulosic material, carbohydrates, pectin, starch, inulin, fructans, glucans, corn, sugar cane, grasses, switchgrass, sorghum, high biomass sorghum, bamboo, algae and material derived from these. Plants can be in their natural state or genetically-modified, e.g., to increase the cellulosic or hemicellulosic portion of the cell wall, or to produce additional exogenous or endogenous enzymes to increase the separation of cell wall components. Plant matter can also include plant cell culture or plant cell tissue culture. Plant matter can be further described by reference to the chemical species present, such as proteins, polysaccharides and oils.

Polysaccharides include polymers of various monosaccharides and derivatives of

monosaccharides including glucose, fructose, lactose, galacturonic acid, rhamnose, etc. Plant matter also includes agricultural waste byproducts or side streams such as pomace, corn steep liquor, corn steep solids, distillers grains, peels, pits, fermentation waste, straw, lumber, sewage, garbage and food leftovers. Peels can be citrus which include, but are not limited to, tangerine peel, grapefruit peel, orange peel, tangerine peel, lime peel and lemon peel. These materials can come from farms, forestry, industrial sources, households, etc. Another non-limiting example of biomass is animal matter, including, for example milk, meat, fat, animal processing waste, and animal waste. "Feedstock" is frequently used to refer to biomass being used for a process, such as those described herein.

[0082] The term "sugar or starch biomass" refers to a biomass that has a significant portion of the dry weight comprising non-cellulosic sugars such as simple sugars (e.g., glucose, sucrose), starch, or a combination thereof. A sugar or starch biomass can comprise at least about 20%, 30%, 40%), 50%o, 60%), 70%) or more non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. Exemplary sugar or starch biomasses include tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or any portion thereof. The term "portion thereof includes both plant parts and processed plant products. Tubers or portions thereof can include sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, or potatoes. Cassava or portions thereof can include tapioca. Cereals or portions thereof can include maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or other similar biomass. Maize or portions thereof can include corn mash. Sorghum or portions thereof can include sweet sorghum, milo, sweet sorghum syrup, etc. Cereals or portions thereof include whole grains. Beets or portions thereof can include sugar beets, red beets, golden beets. Beans or portions thereof can include soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, etc. Sugar cane or portions thereof can include cane sugar, molasses, etc. Sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof can include sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

[0083] "Broth" is used herein to refer to inoculated medium at any stage of growth, including the point immediately after inoculation and the period after any or all cellular activity has ceased and can include the material after post-fermentation processing. It includes the entire contents of the combination of soluble and insoluble matter, suspended matter, cells and medium, as

appropriate.

[0084] The term "productivity" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include the mass of a material of interest produced in a given time in a given volume. Units can be, for example, grams per liter-hour, or some other combination of mass, volume, and time. In fermentation, productivity is frequently used to characterize how fast a product can be made within a given fermentation volume. The volume can be referenced to the total volume of the fermentation vessel, the working volume of the fermentation vessel, or the actual volume of broth being fermented. The context of the phrase will indicate the meaning intended to one of skill in the art. Productivity is different from "titer" in that productivity includes a time term, and titer is analogous to concentration. Titer and Productivity can generally be measured at any time during the fermentation, such as at the beginning, the end, or at some intermediate time, with titer relating the amount of a particular material present or produced at the point in time of interest and the productivity relating the amount of a particular material produced per liter in a given amount of time. The amount of time used in the productivity determination can be from the beginning of the fermentation or from some other time, and go to the end of the fermentation, such as when no additional material is produced or when harvest occurs, or some other time as indicated by the context of the use of the term. "Overall productivity" refers to the productivity determined by utilizing the final titer and the overall fermentation time.

[0085] The term "cellular productivity" or "relative cellular productivity" as used herein can include the amount of a fermentation end-product produced given the number or amount of live cells in a fermentation reaction. Cellular productivity can be calculated by dividing a yield of a fermentation end-product by the number of live cells in a given volume. The number of live cells can be determined, for example, by using a hemacytometer to count the number of cells in the given volume. The yield of the fermentation end-product and the number of live cells can be determined in the same volume or in different volumes. For example, the yield can be for the entire fermentation reaction and the number of live cells can be determined from a portion of the fermentation reaction.

[0086] "Titer" refers to the amount of a particular material present in a fermentation broth. It is similar to concentration and can refer to the amount of material made by the organism in the broth from all fermentation cycles, or the amount of material made in the current fermentation cycle or over a given period of time, or the amount of material present from whatever source, such as produced by the organism or added to the broth. Frequently, the titer of soluble species will be referenced to the liquid portion of the broth, with insolubles removed, and the titer of insoluble species will be referenced to the total amount of broth with insoluble species being present, however, the titer of soluble species can be referenced to the total broth volume and the titer of insoluble species can be referenced to the liquid portion, with the context indicating the which system is used with both reference systems intended in some cases. Frequently, the value determined referenced to one system will be the same or a sufficient approximation of the value referenced to the other.

[0087] "Concentration" when referring to material in the broth generally refers to the amount of a material present from all sources, whether made by the organism or added to the broth.

Concentration can refer to soluble species or insoluble species, and is referenced to either the liquid portion of the broth or the total volume of the broth, as for "titer."

[0088] The term "biocatalyst" as used herein has its ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include one or more enzymes and/or microorganisms, including solutions, suspensions, and mixtures of enzymes and microorganisms. In some contexts this word will refer to the possible use of either enzymes or microorganisms to serve a particular function, in other contexts the word will refer to the combined use of the two, and in other contexts the word will refer to only one of the two. The context of the phrase will indicate the meaning intended to one of skill in the art. For example, a biocatalyst can be a fermenting microorganism. The term biocatalyst includes fermenting microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria, or algae.

[0089] The terms "conversion efficiency" or "yield" as used herein have their ordinary meaning as known to those skilled in the art and can include the mass of product made from a mass of substrate. The term can be expressed as a percentage yield of the product from a starting mass of substrate. For the production of ethanol from glucose, the net reaction is generally accepted as:

C₆Hi₂0₆ -> 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 C0₂

and the theoretical maximum conversion efficiency, or yield, is 51% (w ). Frequently, the conversion efficiency will be referenced to the theoretical maximum, for example, "80% of the theoretical maximum." In the case of conversion of glucose to ethanol, this statement would indicate a conversion efficiency of 41% (wt.). The context of the phrase will indicate the substrate and product intended to one of skill in the art.

[0090] "Pretreatment" or "pretreated" is used herein to refer to any mechanical, chemical, thermal, biochemical process or combination of these processes whether in a combined step or performed sequentially, that achieves disruption or expansion of the biomass so as to render the biomass more susceptible to attack by enzymes and/or microbes. In one embodiment, pretreatment includes removal or disruption of lignin so as to make the cellulose and

hemicellulose polymers in the plant biomass more available to cellulolytic enzymes and/or microbes, for example, by treatment with acid or base. In one embodiment, pretreatment includes disruption or expansion of cellulosic and/or hemicellulosic material. Steam explosion, and ammonia fiber expansion (or explosion) (AFEX) are well known thermal/chemical techniques. Hydrolysis, including methods that utilize acids, bases, and/or enzymes can be used. Other thermal, chemical, biochemical, enzymatic techniques can also be used.

[0091] "Fed-batch" or "fed-batch fermentation" is used herein to include methods of culturing microorganisms where nutrients, other medium components, or biocatalysts (including, for example, enzymes, fresh organisms, extracellular broth, genetically-modified plants and/or organisms, etc.) are supplied to the fermentor during cultivation, but culture broth is not harvested from the fermentor until the end of the fermentation, although it can also include "self seeding" or "partial harvest" techniques where a portion of the fermentor volume is harvested and then fresh medium is added to the remaining broth in the fermentor, with at least a portion of the inoculum being the broth that was left in the fermentor. During a fed-batch fermentation, the broth volume can increase, at least for a period, by adding medium or nutrients to the broth while fermentation organisms are present. Suitable nutrients which can be utilized include those that are soluble, insoluble, and partially soluble, including gasses, liquids and solids. In one embodiment, a fed-batch process is referred to with a phrase such as, "fed-batch with cell augmentation." This phrase can include an operation where nutrients and cells are added or one where cells with no substantial amount of nutrients are added. The more general phrase "fed- batch" encompasses these operations as well. The context where any of these phrases is used will indicate to one of skill in the art the techniques being considered.

[0092] "Sugar compounds", "sugar streams", "saccharide compounds", or "saccharide streams" is used herein to indicate mostly monosaccharide sugars, dissolved, crystallized, evaporated, or partially dissolved, including but not limited to hexoses and pentoses; sugar alcohols; sugar acids; sugar amines; compounds containing two or more of these linked together directly or indirectly through covalent or ionic bonds; and mixtures thereof. Included within this description are disaccharides; trisaccharides; oligosaccharides; polysaccharides; and sugar chains, branched and/or linear, of any length. A sugar stream can consist of primarily or substantially C6 sugars, C5 sugars, or mixtures of both C6 and C5 sugars in varying ratios of said sugars. C6 sugars have a six-carbon molecular backbone and C5 sugars have a five-carbon molecular backbone. The terms "sugar" and "saccharide" are used interchangeably herein.

[0093] "C5-rich" composition means that one or more steps have been taken to remove at least some of the C6 sugars originally in the composition. For example, a C5-rich composition can include no more than about 50% C6 sugars, no more than about 40% C6 sugars, no more than about 30%) C6 sugars, no more than about 20%> C6 sugars, no more than about 10%> C6 sugars, no more than about 5% C6 sugars, or it can include from about 2% to about 10%> C6 sugars by weight. Likewise, a "C6-rich" composition is one in which at least some of the originally-present C5 sugars have been removed. For example, a C6-rich composition can include no more than about 50%o C5 sugars, nor more than about 40%> C5 sugars, no more than about 30%> C5 sugars, no more than about 20% C5 sugars, no more than about 10% C5 sugars, no more than about 5% C5 sugars, or it can include from about 2% to about 10%> C5 sugars by weight.

[0094] A "liquid" or "aqueous" composition may contain solids and a "solids" composition may contain liquids. A liquid composition refers to a composition in which the material is primarily liquid, and a solids composition is one in which the material is primarily solid.

[0095] "Gentle Pretreatment" generally refers to the collection of processes upstream of hydrolysis, which result in composition that, when hydro lyzed, produces a fermentable sugar composition. The fermentable sugar composition can be used to enhance a non-cellulosic fermentation process, such as a corn mash fermentation process. In some embodiments, the gentle pretreatment process provides a fermentable sugar composition having a favorable nutrient balance (e.g. plant-derived extracted nutrients, which are part of the composition as a result of the pretreatment process) and/or an amount of toxic compounds (e.g. phenolics and sugar degradation products, organic acids and furans, which inhibit and/or inactivate the performance of enzymes and or fermentation organisms), which is limited such that the resultant fermentable sugar composition can enhance a non-cellulosic fermentation process, such as a corn mash fermentation process. For example, a gentle pretreatment is one that results in a sugar stream that is about 25% (w/v) C6 sugars or more, about 4 g/L hydroxymethyl furfural or less, about 4 g/L furfural or less, about 10 g/L acetic acid or less, about 10 g/L formic acid or less for example as measured by typical HPLC methods referred to herein. ("About X amount of a substance or less" means the same as "no more than about" and includes zero— i.e. includes the possibility that none of that substance is present in the composition.) "Gentle pretreatment" can include one or more of: pre-processing biomass to reduce size and/or create size uniformity; pretreatment itself (process for making cellulose more accessible to hydrolysis); and postprocessing steps such as washing steps.

[0096] The terms "non-cellulosic" and "sugar- or starch- based" are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. For example "non-cellulosic fermentation process" is used

interchangeably and means the same thing as "sugar- and starch-based fermentation process." Starch is a carbohydrate consisting of consisting of a large number of glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. The glycosidic bonds are typically the easily hydro lysable alpha glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide can be produced by all green plants as an energy store. There can be two types of starch molecules: the linear and helical amylose and the branched amylopectin, although amylase can also contain branches.

[0097] Description

[0098] The following description and examples illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the disclosure in detail. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this disclosure that are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the description of a certain exemplary embodiment should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0099] In the production of fermentation end-products, it can be useful to carry out the fermentation reaction as quickly as possible. The risk of contamination can increase as the fermentation time lengthens. Furthermore, the energy requirements of longer fermentations can increase the cost of fermentation, thus raising the price of the product. It can also be useful to reduce the amount of fermenting microorganisms required in the fermentation reaction. This can reduce the amount of time required to propagate the fermenting microorganism(s) prior to seeding the fermentation reaction. This can also reduce the costs associated with propagating the fermenting microorganism(s) prior to the fermenting reaction. Methods, compositions, and systems disclosed herein can achieve these goals by enhancing the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism(s).

[00100] Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and compositions for producing one or more fermentation end-products using reduced amounts of fermenting microorganisms. Also disclosed herein are methods, systems, and composition for increasing cellular productivity during production of one or more fermentation end-products.

[00101] Methods of producing increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products that increase cellular productivity of by a fermenting microorganism strain can include adding a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydro lyzate to a liquid composition comprising a biomass to produce a blended feedstock; and (b) fermenting the blended feedstock with a fermenting microorganism strain for a sufficient time to produce the one or more fermentation end-products; wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydro lyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[00102] Systems to produce increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products by a fermenting microorganism strain can comprise: (a) a fermentor; (b) a blended feedstock comprising a liquid composition comprising a biomass and a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydrolyzate; (c) the fermenting microorganism strain; wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydrolyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[00103] The cellulosic hydrolyzate can be a solid or a liquid. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solid. For example, the cellulosic hydrolyzate can comprise crystallized sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solution.

[00104] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end-product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is an alcohol. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

[00105] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[00106] Cellular productivity can be measured at any time during a fermentation process.

In some embodiments, cellular productivity is measured at the end of a fermentation process. In some embodiments, cellular productivity is measured after, or every, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 hours. In some embodiments, cellular productivity is measured after, or every, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.

[00107] Increasing cellular productivity can enable fermentation reactions to produce fermentation end-products using lower starting amounts of fermenting microorganisms. For example, in some embodiments, the fermenting produces a yield at least one fermentation end- product that is substantially the same or greater than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition comprising the biomass without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain. The amount of the fermenting microorganism strain can be about 0.1% to about 50% lower than in fermentation of the liquid composition comprising the biomass without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain. For example, the amount of the fermenting microorganism strain can be about: 0.1-50%, 0.1-35%, 0.1-25%, 0.1-15%, 0.1-10%, 0.1-5%, 0.1-1%, 1-50%, 1- 35%, 1-25%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-50%, 5-35%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 10-50%, 10-35%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15-50%, 15-35%, 15-25%, 25-50%, 25-35%, 35-50%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, or 50% lower than in fermentation of the liquid composition comprising the biomass without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[00108] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at from about 1 μg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. For example, the fermenting microorganism strain can be present at the start of fermenting at about: 1 μg/L - 10 g/L, 1 μg/L - 1 g/L, 1 μg/L - 100 mg/L, 1 μg/L - 50 mg/L, 1 μg/L - 10 mg/L, 1 μg/L - 1 mg/L, 1 μg/L - 100 μ^, 100 μg/L - 10 g/L, 100 μg/L - 1 g/L, 100 μg/L - 100 mg/L, 100 μg/L - 50 mg/L, 100 μg/L - 10 mg/L, 100 μg/L - 1 mg/L, 1 mg/L - 10 g/L, 1 mg/L - 1 g/L, 1 mg/L - 100 mg/L, 1 mg/L - 50 mg/L, 1 mg/L - 10 mg/L, 10 mg/L - 10 g/L, 10 mg/L - 1 g/L, 10 mg/L - 100 mg/L, 10 mg/L - 50 mg/L, 50 mg/L - 10 g/L, 50 mg/L - 1 g/L, 50 mg/L - 100 mg/L, 100 mg/L - 10 g/L, 100 mg/L - 1 g/L, 1 g/L - 10 g/L. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 5 mg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 50 mg/L to about 1 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 100 mg/L to about 750 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 500 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

[00109] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity compares the amount of at least one of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per live cell. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity compares the amount of ethanol produced per live cell. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end-product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is an alcohol. In some embodiments, the fermentation end-product is ethanol. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

[00110] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 10%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 30%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 50%.

[00111] In some embodiments, the cellular productivity is from about 1% to about 300% higher than in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydro lyzate. For example, the cellular productivity can be about 1% higher to about 300% higher; for example, about 1-300%, 1-200%, 1-150%, 1-100%, 1-75%, 1-50%, 1-25%, 1-10%, 10-300%, 10-200%, 10-150%, 10-100%, 10-75%, 10-50%, 10-25%, 25-300%, 25-200%, 25-150%, 25-100%, 25- 75%, 25-50%, 50-300%, 50-200%, 50-150%, 50-100%, 50-75%, 75-300%, 75-200%, 75-150%, 75-100%, 100-300%, 100-200%, 100-150%, 150-300%, 150-200%, 200-300%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 140%, 150%, 160%, 170%, 180%, 190%, 200%, 210%, 220%, 230%, 240%, 250%, 260%, 270%, 280%, 290%, or 300% higher than in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydro lyzate. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 100%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 75%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 60%. In some embodiments, the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 15% to about 55%.

[00112] In some embodiments, the fermenting produces a yield at least one fermentation end-product that is substantially the same or greater than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain. By substantially the same, it is meant that the amounts differ by less than about 10% or within standard variances for fermentation reactions.

[00113] In some embodiments, the methods disclosed herein further comprise an increased yield of the one or more fermentation end-products fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate. The one or more fermentation end-products can comprise an alcohol. The one or more fermentation end-products can comprise ethanol, methanol, butanol, propanol, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the one or more fermentation end-products comprise ethanol.

[00114] The increased yield of the at least one or more fermentation end-product (e.g., an alcohol, e.g., ethanol) can be from about 1% higher to about 100% higher; for example, about 1- 100%, 1-75%, 1-50%, 1-25%, 1-10%, 10-100%, 10-75%, 10-50%, 10-25%, 25-100%, 25-75%, 25-50%, 50-100%, 50-75%, 75-100%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% higher. In one embodiment, the increased yield is from about 1% to about 50% higher than in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate.

[00115] In some embodiments, the fermenting produces a yield of one or more byproducts that is less than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate. The one or more byproducts can comprise a polyol. The one or more byproducts can comprise glycol, glycerol, erythritol, threitol, arabitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, dulcitol, fucitol, iditol, inositol, volemitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, polyglycitol, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the one or more byproducts comprise glycerol. The one or more byproducts can comprise succinic acid, a succinate, or a combination thereof.

[00116] The yield of the one or more byproducts (e.g., a polyols, e.g., glycerol) can be from about 0.1% to about 50% lower; for example, about: 0.1-50%, 0.1-35%, 0.1-25%, 0.1-15%, 0.1-10%, 0.1-5%, 0.1-1%, 1-50%, 1-35%, 1-25%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-50%, 5-35%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 10-50%, 10-35%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15-50%, 15-35%, 15-25%, 25-50%, 25- 35%, 35-50%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, or 50% lower that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 5%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 10%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 15%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 20%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5%> to about 50%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5%> to about 25%> less. In some embodiments, the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 10%> to about 25%> less.

[00117] In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 0.1%> to about 50%> w/v suspended solids. For example, the liquid composition comprising the biomass can comprise about: 0.1-50%, 0.1-35%, 0.1-25%, 0.1-15%, 0.1-10%, 0.1-5%, 0.1-1%, 1-50%, 1-35%, 1-25%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-50%, 5-35%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5- 10%, 10-50%, 10-35%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15-50%, 15-35%, 15-25%, 25-50%, 25-35%, 35-50%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, or 50% w/v suspended solids. In some embodiments, the suspended solids comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof.

[00118] In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by about 0.1 % to about 50%>. For example, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass can reduce the amount of the suspended solids by about: 0.1-50%, 0.1-35%, 0.1-25%, 0.1-15%, 0.1- 10%, 0.1-5%, 0.1-1%, 1-50%, 1-35%, 1-25%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-50%, 5-35%, 5-25%, 5- 15%, 5-10%, 10-50%, 10-35%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15-50%, 15-35%, 15-25%, 25-50%, 25-35%, 35-50%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, or 50%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 5%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 10%>. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 15%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 20%>. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 25%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 30%). In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 35%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 40%>. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 45%. In some embodiments, adding the cellulosic hydrolyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 50%o.The suspended solids can include cellulosic particles, hemicellulosic particles, lignin particles, or a combination thereof. [00119] In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 99: 1 to about 1 :99 by volume. For example, the ratio of the cellulosic hydrolysate to the liquid composition in the blended feedstock can be about: 99: 1, 98:2, 97:3, 96:4, 95:5, 94:6, 93:7, 92:8, 91 :9, 90: 10, 85: 15, 80:20, 75:25, 70:30, 65:35, 60:40, 55:45, 50:50, 45:55, 40:60, 35:65, 30:70, 25:75, 20:80, 15:85, 10:90, 9:91, 8:92, 7:93, 6:94, 5:95, 4:96, 3:97, 2:98, or 1 :99 by volume. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 1 :99 v/v to about 50:50 v/v. In some

embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the solution comprising a cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 40:60 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 10:90 v/v to about 35:65 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to 30:70 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 5:95 v/v. In some embodiments, the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 30:70 v/v.

[00120] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%,2%, or 1%. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%. In some embodiments, the solution and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 40%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in

monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 30%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 20%. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 10%.

[00121] The biomass in the composition can be a source of non-cellulosic saccharides such as starch and simple sugars (e.g., glucose, sucrose, etc.). In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 20%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 30%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some

embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 40%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises at least about 50% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20% to about 100% non- cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%> to about 80%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises from about 20%> to about 60%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

[00122] The liquid composition comprising the biomass can comprise from about 5% to about 55% w/v sugars. For example, the composition can comprise about: 5-55%, 5-45%, 5- 35%, 5-30%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 10-55%, 10-45%, 10-35%, 10-30%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15- 55%, 15-45%, 15-35%, 15-30%, 15-25%, 25-55%, 25-45%, 25-35%, 25-30%, 30-55%, 30-45%, 30-35%, 35-55%, 35-45%, 45-55%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, or 55% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 5% to about 50%> w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 10% to about 40%) w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises about 30%> w/v sugars. The sugars can be monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, tetrasaccharides, pentasaccharides, or larger, or a combination thereof. The sugars can be glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

[00123] The liquid composition comprising the biomass can comprise at least about 5% sugars w/v. For example, the composition can comprise at least about: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, or 55% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 10% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. The sugars can be monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, tetrasaccharides, pentasaccharides, or larger, or a combination thereof. The sugars can be glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

[00124] In some embodiments, the method further comprises contacting the biomass with one or more enzymes to hydrolyze starch. In some embodiments, the one or more enzymes comprise an amylase, a glucosidase, or a combination thereof. [00125] In some embodiments, the biomass comprises tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or portions thereof, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the tubers or portions thereof that comprise sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, potatoes, or a combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the cassava or portions thereof that comprise tapioca. Some embodiments comprise the cereals or portions thereof that comprise maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the maize or portion thereof that is corn mash. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum, milo, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum syrup. In some embodiments, the cereals or portions thereof comprise whole grains. Some embodiments comprise the beets or portions thereof that comprise sugar beets, red beets, golden beets, or combinations thereof. Some embodiments comprise the beans or portions thereof that comprise soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the biomass comprises the sugar cane or portion thereof that is cane sugar, molasses, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments comprise the sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof comprising sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

[00126] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 5% to about

55% w/v sugars. For example, the cellulosic hydrolyzate can comprise about 5-55%, 5-45%, 5- 35%, 5-30%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 10-55%, 10-45%, 10-35%, 10-30%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15- 55%, 15-45%, 15-35%, 15-30%, 15-25%, 25-55%, 25-45%, 25-35%, 25-30%, 30-55%, 30-45%, 30-35%, 35-55%, 35-45%, 45-55%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, or 55% w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 5% to about 50%> w/v sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 10%> to about 30%> w/v sugars. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 10%> w/v sugars. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 20%> w/v sugars. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 30%> w/v sugars. In some

embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose. [00127] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 5% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 10% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 20%> sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

[00128] In some embodiments, at least about 80%> by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides. In some embodiments, at least about 90% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides. In some embodiments, at least about 95% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a

combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

[00129] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 1% to about 50%) suspended solids. The suspended solids can comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof. The suspended solids can be present in an amount of about: 1-50%, 1- 35%, 1-25%, 1-15%, 1-10%, 1-5%, 5-50%, 5-35%, 5-25%, 5-15%, 5-10%, 10-50%, 10-35%, 10-25%, 10-15%, 15-50%, 15-35%, 15-25%, 25-50%, 25-35%, 35-50%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.5%, 6%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 8.5%, 9%, 9.5%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, or 50% w/v.

[00130] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate was produced by pretreating or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, hot water treatment, acid treatment, base treatment, steam explosion, acid-catalyzed steam explosion, ammonia fiber/freeze explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. In some embodiments, pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises treating the lignocellulose with hot water or dilute acid to solubilize hemicellulose, substantially separating the solubilized hemicellulose from remaining lignocellulose solids, and enzymatically hydro lyzing cellulose in the remaining lignocellulose solids.

[00131] In some embodiments, the biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose comprises corn stover, corn cobs, silage, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, distiller's grains, distiller's dried solubles, distiller's dried grains, condensed distiller's solubles, distiller's wet grains, distiller's dried grains with solubles, wood, bark, sawdust, paper, poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, fruit peels, pits, sorghum, sweet sorghum, sugar cane, switch grass, rice, rice straw, rice hulls, wheat, wheat straw, barley, barley straw, bamboo, seeds, seed hulls, oats, oat hulls, food waste, municipal sewage waste, or a combination thereof.

[00132] In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C5 sugars, C6 sugars, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars. The ratio of C5 to C6 sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate can be from about 1 :99 to about 20:80. For example, the ratio of C5 to C6 sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate can be about: 1 :99, 2:98, 3 :97, 4:96, 5 :95, 6:94, 7:93, 8:92, 9:91, 10:90, 15 :85, or 20:80. The ratio of C5 to C6 sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate can be less than about 20:80, 15 :85, 10:90, 9:91 , 8:92, 7:93, 6:94, 5 :95, 4:96, 3 :97, 2:98, or about 1 :99. In some embodiments, the cellulosic

hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 80% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 90%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 70% to 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80% to 100%) of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%) to about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. In some embodiments, the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 90%> to 99% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars. The sugars can be glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof.

[00133] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain comprises one or more bacterial species, one or more yeast species, one or more algal species, one or more non- yeast fungal species, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fermenting

microorganism strain is a yeast strain, a bacterial strain, or an alga strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a bacterial strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting

microorganism strain is an Escherichia coli strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a Rhodococcus opacus strain.

[00134] The fermenting microorganism strain can be naturally occurring or genetically- modified. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is naturally occurring (e.g., wild-type). In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically- modified strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically- modified yeast strain. In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain that can ferment C5 sugars and C6 sugars. The genetic modification can increase the cellular productivity for one or more fermentation end-products.

[00135] In some embodiments, the fermenting microorganism strain is recycled or recovered from a previous fermentation reaction.

[00136] The fermenting microorganism strain can include one or more bacterial species such as Clostridium phytofermentans, Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus, Clostridium

thermocellum, Clostridium beijerinickii, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Clostridium thermobutyricum, Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum, Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Moorella ssp., Carboxydocella ssp., Zymomonas mobilis, recombinant E. Coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Rhodococcus opacus and

Clostridium beijerickii.

[00137] The fermenting microorganism strain can include one or more yeast strains including, but are not limited to, species found in the genus Ascoidea, Brettanomyces, Candida, Cephaloascus, Coccidiascus, Dipodascus, Eremothecium, Galactomyces, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Sporopachydermia, Torulaspora, Yarrowia, or Zygosaccharomyces; for example, Ascoidea rebescens, Brettanomyces anomalus, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, Brettanomyces claussenii, Brettanomyces custersianus, Brettanomyces lambicus, Brettanomyces naardenensis, Brettanomyces nanus, Candida albicans, Candida

ascalaphidarum, Candida amphixiae, Candida antarctica, Candida argentea, Candida atlantica, Candida atmosphaerica, Candida blattae, Candida carpophila, Candida cerambycidarum, Candida chauliodes, Candida corydali, Candida dosseyi, Candida dubliniensis, Candida ergatensis, Candida fructus, Candida glabrata, Candida fermentati, Candida guilliermondii, Candida haemulonii, Candida insectamens, Candida insectorum, Candida intermedia, Candida jeffresii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida lyxosophila, Candida maltosa, Candida marina, Candida membranifaciens, Candida milleri, Candida oleophila, Candida oregonensis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida quercitrusa, Candida rugosa, Candida sake, Candida shehatea, Candida temnochilae, Candida tenuis, Candida tropicalis, Candida tsuchiyae, Candida sinolaborantium, Candida sojae, Candida subhashii, Candida viswanathii, Candida utilis, Cephaloascus fragrans, Coccidiascus legeri, Dypodascus albidus, Eremothecium cymbalariae, Galactomyces candidum, Galactomyces geotrichum, Kluyveromyces aestuarii, Kluyveromyces africanus, Kluyveromyces bacillisporus, Kluyveromyces blattae, Kluyveromyces dobzhanskii, Kluyveromyces hubeiensis, Kluyveromyces lactis, Kluyveromyces lodderae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Kluyveromyces nonfermentans, Kluyveromyces piceae,

Kluyveromyces sinensis, Kluyveromyces thermotolerans, Kluyveromyces waltii, Kluyveromyces wickerhamii, Kluyveromyces yarrowii, Pichia anomola, Pichia heedii, Pichia guilliermondii, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia membranifaciens, Pichia norvegensis, Pichia ohmeri, Pichia pastoris, Pichia subpelliculosa, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Saccharomyces bulderi, Saccharomyces cariocanus, Saccharomyces cariocus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces chevalieri, Saccharomyces dairenensis, Saccharomyces ellipsoideus,

Saccharomyces eubayanus, Saccharomyces exiguus, Saccharomyces florentinus, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces martiniae, Saccharomyces monacensis, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomyces paradoxus, Saccharomyces pastorianus, Saccharomyces spencerorum,

Saccharomyces turicensis, Saccharomyces unisporus, Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccharomyces zonatus, Schizosaccharomyces cryophilus, Schizosaccharomyces japonicus,

Schizosaccharomyces octosporus, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Sporopachydermia cereana, Sporopachydermia lactativora, Sporopachydermia quercuum, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Torulaspora franciscae, Torulaspora globosa, Torulaspora pretoriensis, Yarrowia lipolytica, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Zygosaccharomyces bisporus, Zygosaccharomyces cidri,

Zygosaccharomyces fermentati, Zygosaccharomyces florentinus, Zygosaccharomyces kombuchaensis, Zygosaccharomyces lentus, Zygosaccharomyces mellis, Zygosaccharomyces microellipsoides, Zygosaccharomyces mrakii, Zygosaccharomyces pseudorouxii, or

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, or a variant or genetically-modified version thereof

[00138] Examples of fermenting microorganism strains of bacteria that can be used in the methods and systems disclosed herein include but are not limited to any bacterium found in the genus of Butyrivibrio, Ruminococcus, Eubacterium, Bacteroides, Acetivibrio, Caldibacillus, Acidothermus, Cellulomonas, Curtobacterium, Micromonospora, Actinoplanes, Streptomyces, Thermobifida, Thermomonospora, Microbispora, Fibrobacter, Sporocytophaga, Cytophaga, Flavobacterium, Achromobacter, Xanthomonas, Cellvibrio, Pseudomonas, Myxobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Thermoanaerobacterium, Thermoanaerobacter, Geobacillus,

Saccharococcus, Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Caldicellulosiruptor, Anaerocellum, Anoxybacillus, Zymomonas, Clostridium; for example, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, Ruminococcus succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Eubacterium cellulolyticum, Bacteroides cellulosolvens, Acetivibrio cellulolyticus, Acetivibrio cellulosolvens, Caldibacillus cellulovorans, Bacillus circulans, Acidothermus cellulolyticus, Cellulomonas cartae, Cellulomonas cellasea, Cellulomonas cellulans, Cellulomonas fimi, Cellulomonas flavigena, Cellulomonas gelida, Cellulomonas iranensis, Cellulomonas persica, Cellulomonas uda, Curtobacterium

falcumfaciens, Micromonospora melonosporea, Actinoplanes aurantiaca, Streptomyces reticuli, Streptomyces alboguseolus, Streptomyces aureofaciens, Streptomyces cellulolyticus,

Streptomyces flavogriseus, Streptomyces lividans, Streptomyces nitrosporeus, Streptomyces olivochromogenes, Streptomyces rochei, Streptomyces thermovulgaris, Streptomyces

viridosporus, Thermobifida alba, Thermobifida fusca, Thermobifida cellulolytica,

Thermomonospora curvata, Microbispora bispora, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Sporocytophaga myxococcoides, Cytophaga sp., Flavobacterium johnsoniae, Achromobacter piechaudii, Xanthomonas sp. , Cellvibrio vulgaris, Cellvibrio fulvus, Cellvibrio gilvus, Cellvibrio mixtus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas mendocina, Myxobacter sp. AL-1, Escherichia albertii, Escherichia blattae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia fergusonii, Escherichia hermannii,

Escherichia vulneris, Klebsiella granulomatis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella terrigena, Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes, Thermoanaerobacterium aotearoense, Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum, Thermoanaerobacterium zeae, Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum, Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum,

Thermoanaerobium brockii, Thermoanaerobacterium thermo saccharolyticum,

Thermoanaerobacter thermohydrosulfuricus, Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus,

Thermoanaerobacter brocki, Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Saccharococcus caldoxylosilyticus, Saccharoccus thermophilus, Paenibacillus campinasensis, Bacillus flavothermus, Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis, Anoxybacillus gonensis,

Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus, Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, Caldicellulosiruptor kristjanssonii, Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis, Caldicellulosiruptor lactoaceticus,

Anaerocellum thermophilum, Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium cellulolyticum, Clostridium straminosolvens, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium aerotolerans, Clostridium

beijerinckii, Clostridium bifermentans, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium butyricum,

Clostridium cadaveric, Clostridium chauvoei, Clostridium clostridioforme, Clostridium colicanis, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium fallax, Clostridium formicaceticum, Clostridium histolyticum, Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium laramie, Clostridium lavalense, Clostridium novyi, Clostridium oedematiens, Clostridium paraputrificum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium phytofermentans, Clostridium piliforme, Clostridium ramosum, Clostridium scatologenes, Clostridium septicum, Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium tertium, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Clostridium

thermobutyricum, Zymomonas mobilis, or a variant or genetically-modified version thereof.

[00139] Also provided herein are fermentation end-products produced by the methods disclosed herein. The fermentation end-products can comprise an alcohol. The fermentation end- products can comprise ethanol.

[00140] Feedstock and Pretreatment of Feedstock

[00141] In one embodiment, the feedstock (biomass) contains cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and/or lignocellulosic material. The feedstock can be derived from agricultural crops, crop residues, trees, woodchips, sawdust, paper, cardboard, grasses, algae, municipal waste and other sources.

[00142] Cellulose is a linear polymer of glucose where the glucose units are connected via β(1→4) linkages. Hemicellulose is a branched polymer of a number of sugar monomers including glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, rhamnose and arabinose, and can have sugar acids such as mannuronic acid and galacturonic acid present as well. Lignin is a cross-linked, racemic macromolecule of mostly /?-coumaryl alcohol, conferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol. These three polymers occur together in lignocellulosic materials in plant biomass. The different characteristics of the three polymers can make hydrolysis of the combination difficult as each polymer tends to shield the others from enzymatic attack.

[00143] In one embodiment, methods are provided for the pretreatment of feedstock used in the fermentation and production of the bio fuels and chemicals. The pretreatment steps can include mechanical, thermal, pressure, chemical, thermo chemical, and/or biochemical tests pretreatment prior to being used in a bioprocess for the production of fuels and chemicals, but untreated biomass material can be used in the process as well. Mechanical processes can reduce the particle size of the biomass material so that it can be more conveniently handled in the bioprocess and can increase the surface area of the feedstock to facilitate contact with chemicals/biochemicals/biocatalysts. Mechanical processes can also separate one type of biomass material from another. The biomass material can also be subjected to thermal and/or chemical pretreatments to render plant polymers more accessible. Multiple steps of treatment can also be used. [00144] Mechanical processes include, are not limited to, washing, soaking, milling, size reduction, screening, shearing, size classification and density classification processes. Chemical processes include, but are not limited to, bleaching, oxidation, reduction, acid treatment, base treatment, sulfite treatment, acid sulfite treatment, basic sulfite treatment, ammonia treatment, and hydrolysis. Thermal processes include, but are not limited to, sterilization, ammonia fiber expansion or explosion ("AFEX"), steam explosion, holding at elevated temperatures, pressurized or unpressurized, in the presence or absence of water, and freezing. Biochemical processes include, but are not limited to, treatment with enzymes, including enzymes produced by genetically-modified plants, and treatment with microorganisms. Various enzymes that can be utilized include cellulase, amylase, β-glucosidase, xylanase, gluconase, and other

polysaccharases; lysozyme; laccase, and other lignin-modifying enzymes; lipoxygenase, peroxidase, and other oxidative enzymes; proteases; and lipases. One or more of the mechanical, chemical, thermal, thermo chemical, and biochemical processes can be combined or used separately. Such combined processes can also include those used in the production of paper, cellulose products, micro crystalline cellulose, and cellulosics and can include pulping, kraft pulping, acidic sulfite processing. The feedstock can be a side stream or waste stream from a facility that utilizes one or more of these processes on a biomass material, such as cellulosic, hemicellulosic or lignocellulosic material. Examples include paper plants, cellulosics plants, distillation plants, cotton processing plants, and micro crystalline cellulose plants. The feedstock can also include cellulose-containing or cellulosic containing waste materials. The feedstock can also be biomass materials, such as wood, grasses, corn, starch, or sugar, produced or harvested as an intended feedstock for production of ethanol or other products such as by bio catalysts.

[00145] In another embodiment, a method can utilize a pretreatment process disclosed in

U.S. Patents and Patent Applications US20040152881, US20040171136, US20040168960, US20080121359, US20060069244, US20060188980, US20080176301, 5693296, 6262313, US20060024801, 5969189, 6043392, US20020038058, US5865898, US5865898, US6478965, 5986133, or US20080280338, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety

[00146] In another embodiment, the AFEX process is be used for pretreatment of biomass.

In a preferred embodiment, the AFEX process is used in the preparation of cellulosic, hemicellulosic or lignocellulosic materials for fermentation to ethanol or other products. The process generally includes combining the feedstock with ammonia, heating under pressure, and suddenly releasing the pressure. Water can be present in various amounts. The AFEX process has been the subject of numerous patents and publications. [00147] In another embodiment, the pretreatment of biomass comprises the addition of calcium hydroxide to a biomass to render the biomass susceptible to degradation. Pretreatment comprises the addition of calcium hydroxide and water to the biomass to form a mixture, and maintaining the mixture at a relatively high temperature. Alternatively, an oxidizing agent, selected from the group consisting of oxygen and oxygen-containing gasses, can be added under pressure to the mixture. Examples of carbon hydroxide treatments are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5865898 to Holtzapple and S. Kim and M. T. Holtzapple, Bioresource Technology, 96, (2005) 1994, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[00148] In one embodiment, pretreatment of biomass comprises dilute acid hydrolysis.

Examples of dilute acid hydrolysis treatment are disclosed in T. A. Lloyd and C. E Wyman, Bioresource Technology, (2005) 96, 1967, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[00149] In another embodiment, pretreatment of biomass comprises pH controlled liquid hot water treatment. Examples of pH controlled liquid hot water treatments are disclosed in N. Mosier et al., Bioresource Technology, (2005) 96, 1986, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[00150] In one embodiment, pretreatment of biomass comprises aqueous ammonia recycle process (ARP). Examples of aqueous ammonia recycle process are described in T. H. Kim and Y. Y. Lee, Bioresource Technology, (2005)96, 2007, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[00151] In one embodiment, the above mentioned methods have two steps: a pretreatment step that leads to a wash stream, and an enzymatic hydrolysis step of pretreated-biomass that produces a hydrolysate stream. In the above methods, the pretreatment step can include acid hydrolysis, hot water pretreatment, steam explosion or alkaline reagent based methods (AFEX, ARP, and lime pretreatments). Dilute acid and hot water treatment methods can be used to solubilize all or a portion of the hemicellulose. Methods employing alkaline reagents can be used remove all, most, or a portion of the lignin during the pretreatment step. As a result, the wash stream from the pretreatment step in the former methods contains mostly hemicellulose-based sugars, whereas this stream has mostly lignin for the high-pH methods. The subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the residual biomass leads to mixed sugars (C5 and C6) in the alkali based pretreatment methods, while glucose is the major product in the hydrolysate from the low and neutral pH methods. Such a hydrolysate can be referred to as a C6-enriched hydrolysate. In one embodiment, the treated material is additionally treated with catalase or another similar chemical, chelating agents, surfactants, and other compounds to remove impurities or toxic chemicals or further release polysaccharides. [00152] In one embodiment, a saccharide stream, saccharide solution, or cellulosic hydro lyzate (e.g., comprising one or more monosaccharides) is produced by pretreating and/or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose and/or starch. The biomass can be pretreated according to any of the methods disclosed herein; for example, by dilute acid, hot water treatment, stream explosion, or an alkaline pretreatment. The biomass can be pretreated using a combination of techniques; for example, the biomass can be pretreated using hot water or stream explosion followed by alkaline treatment. The one or more

monosaccharides can include C6 and/or C5 monosaccharides. The one or more monosaccharides can be in a C6-enriched hydro lysate (C6 Saccharide Stream). The one or more monosaccharides can be in a C5-enriched hydro lysate (C5 Saccharide Stream). The one or more monosaccharides can comprise both C5 and C6 saccharides (C5 + C6 Saccharide Stream). The one or more monosaccharides can include cellulo sic-derived monosaccharides. The one or more

monosaccharides can include non-cellulosic-derived monosaccharides (e.g., starch-derived monosaccharides). The one or more monosaccharides can include glucose, fructose, galactose, xylose, or any other saccharides.

[00153] Hydrolysis

[00154] In one embodiment, a biomass hydrolyzing unit provides useful advantages for the conversion of biomass to bio fuels and chemical products. One advantage of this unit is its ability to produce monomeric sugars from multiple types of biomass, including mixtures of different biomass materials, and is capable of hydrolyzing polysaccharides and higher molecular weight saccharides to lower molecular weight saccharides. In one embodiment, the hydrolyzing unit utilizes a pretreatment process and a hydrolytic enzyme which facilitates the production of a sugar stream containing a concentration of a monomeric sugar or several monomeric sugars derived from cellulosic and/or hemicellulosic polymers. Examples of biomass material that can be pretreated and hydrolyzed to manufacture sugar monomers include, but are not limited to, cellulosic, hemicellulosic, lignocellulosic materials; pectins; starches; wood; paper; agricultural products; forest waste; tree waste; tree bark; leaves; grasses; sawgrass; woody plant matter; non- woody plant matter; carbohydrates; starch; inulin; fructans; glucans; corn; sugar cane; sorghum, other grasses; bamboo, algae, and material derived from these materials. This ability to use a very wide range of pretreatment methods and hydrolytic enzymes gives distinct advantages in biomass fermentations. Various pretreatment conditions and enzyme hydrolysis can enhance the extraction of sugars from biomass, resulting in higher yields, higher productivity, greater product selectivity, and/or greater conversion efficiency. [00155] In one embodiment, the enzyme treatment is used to hydrolyze various higher saccharides (higher molecular weight) present in bio mass to lower saccharides (lower molecular weight), such as in preparation for fermentation by biocatalysts such as yeasts to produce ethanol, hydrogen, or other chemicals such as organic acids including succinic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid. These enzymes and/or the hydrolysate can be used in fermentations to produce various products including fuels, and other chemicals.

[00156] In one example, the process for converting biomass material into ethanol includes pretreating the biomass material (e.g., "feedstock"), hydro lyzing the pretreated biomass to convert polysaccharides to oligosaccharides, further hydro lyzing the oligosaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to bio fuels and chemical products.

Enzymes such as cellulases, polysaccharases, lipases, proteases, ligninases, and hemicellulases, help produce the monosaccharides can be used in the biosynthesis of fermentation end-products. Biomass material that can be utilized includes woody plant matter, non-woody plant matter, cellulosic material, lignocellulosic material, hemicellulosic material, carbohydrates, pectin, starch, inulin, fructans, glucans, corn, algae, sugarcane, other grasses, switchgrass, bagasse, wheat straw, barley straw, rice straw, corncobs, bamboo, citrus peels, sorghum, high biomass sorghum, seed hulls, and material derived from these. The final product can then be separated and/or purified, as indicated by the properties for the desired final product. In some instances, compounds related to sugars such as sugar alcohols or sugar acids can be utilized as well.

[00157] Chemicals used in the methods of the present invention are readily available and can be purchased from a commercial supplier, such as Sigma- Aldrich. Additionally, commercial enzyme cocktails (e.g. Accellerase™ 1000, CelluSeb-TL, CelluSeb-TS, Cellic™' CTec, STARGEN™, Maxalig™, Spezyme.R™, Distillase.R™, G-Zyme.R™, Fermenzyme.R™, Fermgen™, GC 212, or Optimash™) or any other commercial enzyme cocktail can be purchased from vendors such as Specialty Enzymes & Biochemicals Co., Genencor, or Novozymes.

Alternatively, enzyme cocktails can be prepared by growing one or more organisms such as for example a fungi (e.g. a Trichoderma, a Saccharomyces, a Pichia, a White Rot Fungus etc.), a bacteria (e.g. a Clostridium, or a coliform bacterium, a Zymomonas bacterium, Sacharophagus degradans etc.) in a suitable medium and harvesting enzymes produced therefrom. In some embodiments, the harvesting can include one or more steps of purification of enzymes.

[00158] In one embodiment, treatment of biomass comprises enzyme hydrolysis. In one embodiment a biomass is treated with an enzyme or a mixture of enzymes, e.g., endoglucanases, exoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, cellulase, beta-glucosidases, glycoside hydrolases, glycosyltransferases, lyases, esterases and proteins containing carbohydrate-binding modules. In one embodiment, the enzyme or mixture of enzymes is one or more individual enzymes with distinct activities. In another embodiment, the enzyme or mixture of enzymes can be enzyme domains with a particular catalytic activity. For example, an enzyme with multiple activities can have multiple enzyme domains, including for example glycoside hydrolases,

glycosyltransferases, lyases and/or esterases catalytic domains.

[00159] In one embodiment, enzymes that degrade polysaccharides are used for the hydrolysis of biomass and can include enzymes that degrade cellulose, namely, cellulases.

Examples of some cellulases include endocellulases and exo-cellulases that hydro lyze beta- 1,4- glucosidic bonds.

[00160] In one embodiment, enzymes that degrade polysaccharides are used for the hydrolysis of biomass and can include enzymes that have the ability to degrade hemicellulose, namely, hemicellulases. Hemicellulose can be a major component of plant biomass and can contain a mixture of pentoses and hexoses, for example, D-xylopyranose, L-arabinofuranose, D- mannopyranose, D-glucopyranose, D-galactopyranose, D-glucopyranosyluronic acid and other sugars. In one embodiment, enzymes that degrade polysaccharides are used for the hydrolysis of biomass and can include enzymes that have the ability to degrade pectin, namely, pectinases. In plant cell walls, the cross-linked cellulose network can be embedded in a matrix of pectins that can be covalently cross-linked to xyloglucans and certain structural proteins. Pectin can comprise homogalacturonan (HG) or rhamnogalacturonan (RH).

[00161] In one embodiment, hydrolysis of biomass includes enzymes that can hydrolyze starch. Enzymes that hydrolyze starch include alpha-amylase, glucoamylase, beta-amylase, exo- alpha-l,4-glucanase, and pullulanase.

[00162] In one embodiment, hydrolysis of biomass comprises hydrolases that can include enzymes that hydrolyze chitin. In another embodiment, hydrolases can include enzymes that hydrolyze lichen, namely, lichenase.

[00163] In one embodiment, after pretreatment and/or hydrolysis by any of the above methods the feedstock contains cellulose, hemicellulose, soluble oligomers, simple sugars, lignin, volatiles and ash. The parameters of the hydrolysis can be changed to vary the

concentration of the components of the pretreated feedstock. For example, in one embodiment a hydrolysis is chosen so that the concentration of soluble C5 saccharides is high and the concentration of lignin is low after hydrolysis. Examples of parameters of the hydrolysis include temperature, pressure, time, concentration, composition and pH. EXAMPLES

[00164] Example 1: Preparation of Corn Mash

[00165] Corn mash was derived from industrial dry milling operations. Large debris were removed by hand and small debris (< 4 mm) were removed by passing through a No. 5 sieve before grinding using a Wiley mill fitted with a 2 mm screen. Liquid was added to a produce a slurry at approximately 25 % w/w solids.

[00166] A 0.13 g/mL solution of alpha amylase (Liquozyme SC DS, Novozymes) was added to about 0.025% w/w/ based on the wet weight of the corn in the slurry. The slurry was sealed and mixed at 50 rpm. Samples were liquefied by incubating at 83°C for 90 minutes, after which the samples were cooled to 40° and the mass of mash was calculated. The pH of the mash was adjusted to <5.2 by addition of 10 N sulfuric acid. The resulting corn mash had about 30%> saccharides w/v: about 1.7% monomer/glucose, about 1.6 % disaccharides, about 1.9% trisaccharides, and about 26.5% tetrasaccharides or larger.

[00167] Example 2: Preparation of cellulosic saccharides

[00168] Pretreated corn stover was washed two times with water at about 50 °C to remove

C5 saccharides. Each wash comprises agitation for about 15 minutes. The remaining solids were placed into a jacketed kettle with an agitator. Water was added to the pretreated solids to create an about 10%> solids solution (w/v). The temperature of the pretreated corn stover was then brought up to about 50°C. The pH was adjusted using ammonium hydroxide to about 5.0. Once pH and temperature were both set, cellulase enzymes (Celtech 3 cellulase from Novozyme) were added to the solids at a dosing of about 5% of total dry solids (wt/wt). The solution was kept at about 50°C, a pH of about 5.0 and at constant agitation for about 72 hours. The solids (e.g., lignin) were then separated from the liquid stream containing the cellulosic saccharides. The liquid stream was then concentrated via evaporation and vacuum to yield a cellulosic saccharide solution at about 28 to 30 % w/v. The ratio of C6 : C5 saccharides was about 90 : 10. The C6 saccharides in the cellulosic saccharides solution were approximately 95.6%

glucose/monosaccharides, 0.8% disaccharides, 0.2% trisaccharides, and 2.3% tetrasaccharides or larger.

[00169] Example 3: Increased cellular productivity during fermentation.

[00170] This example tested the productivity of yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) during fermentation of a corn mash control, a cellulosic saccharide control, a 95:5 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides, and a 70:30 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides. [00171] Methods

[00172] Corn mash and cellulosic saccharides were prepared as in Examples 1 and 2 respectively.

[00173] Preparation of yeast for propagation.

[00174] 215mL of corn mash was propagated in a 1L flask. To this was added: 65 mL of distilled water, 16 mL of city water, 1 mL of a 40% urea solution and 0.03 g antibiotic. Solutions were warmed to 32°C before propagation was started. Once heated to 32 °C, 0.15 g of yeast and 38uL of glucoamylase was added to the flask and agitated at 150RPM for 10 hours.

[00175] Experimental Conditions

[00176] Fermentations were carried out at 100 RPM at 32 °C. After 24 hours, the temperature was decreased to 30.5 °C. After 48 hours, the temperature was further decreased to 29.5 °C.

[00177] The different fermentation conditions used are shown in Table 1. Samples were collected from each of the fermentation flasks at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 65, 80, and 95 hours. The samples were analyzed for saccharide content, lactic acid, acetic acid, ethanol, glycerol, pH, and cell counts.

[00178] Cell counts (e.g., live, dead, budding) were measured using a hemacytometer.

[00179] Table 1. Fermentation broths.

[00180] Results

[00181] Ethanol production over time is shown in Figure 1. The rate of ethanol production was highest in the corn mash control and the 70:30 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides. The lowest rate of ethanol production was observed in the cellulosic sugar control and the 95:5 blend of corn mash and cellulosic saccharides evinced an intermediate rate.

[00182] Glycerol production over time is shown in Figure 2. Glycerol production was lowest in the cellulosic saccharides control and highest in the corn mash control. As the blending ratio decreased from 30% to 5%, the amount of glycerol produced increased.

[00183] The total number of live cells during the fermentations is shown in Figure 3. On average, the live cell counts were highest in the corn mash control and lowest in the cellulosic control. As the amount of cellulosic saccharides used to replace corn mash increased, the live cell counts decreased.

[00184] The fermentation results are summarized in Table 2. Overall, the results show that the productivity of the yeast cells increase with increasing levels of cellulosic saccharides. The highest relative productivity, defined as g of ethanol produced per yeast cell counted, was seen in the cellulosic controls, with productivity decreasing as the amount of corn mash in the fermentation reaction increased. Consistent with the increased productivity with cellulosic saccharides, the sugar utilization and sugar to ethanol conversion efficiencies also decreased with increasing corn mash.

[00185] Table 2. Summary of fermentation results.

[00186] Conclusion

[00187] The sugar uptake rate and conversion efficiency to ethanol was highest in the cellulosic control. Even though the cellulosic control also had the lowest live cell counts, the yield of ethanol in this condition was similar to the corn mash only control and the corn mash/cellulosic blends. These results indicate that less yeast may be required in fermentations using cellulosic saccharides because of a boost in relative cellular productivity. For example, when using cellulosic saccharides as all or a portion of the fermentation substrate, yeast may be propagated for a lower amount of time prior to adding to the fermentation reaction. In another example, less yeast may be added to a fermentation reaction containing cellulosic saccharides without decreasing ethanol productivity.

[00188] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of producing increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products by a fermenting microorganism strain, the method comprising:

(a) adding a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydrolyzate to a liquid composition comprising a biomass to produce a blended feedstock; and

(b) fermenting the blended feedstock with a fermenting microorganism strain for a sufficient time to produce the one or more fermentation end-products; wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydrolyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solution.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end-product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fermentation end-product is an alcohol.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

8. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 1 :99 v/v to about 50:50 v/v.

9. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 40:60 v/v.

10. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 10:90 v/v to about 35:65 v/v.

11. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to 30:70 v/v.

12. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 5:95 v/v.

13. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 30:70 v/v.

14. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%.

15. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the solution and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 40%.

16. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 30%.

17. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 20%.

18. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate and the liquid composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 10%.

19. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 1% to about 50%> w/v suspended solids.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the suspended solids comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein adding the cellulosic hydro lyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by from about l% to about 50%.

22. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein adding the solution comprising a cellulosic hydro lyzate to the liquid composition comprising the biomass reduces a level of suspended solids by at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50%.

23. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate was produced by pretreating or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, hot water treatment, acid treatment, base treatment, steam explosion, acid- catalyzed steam explosion, ammonia fiber/freeze explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein pretreating or hydro lyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises treating the lignocellulose with hot water or dilute acid to solubilize hemicellulose, substantially separating the solubilized hemicellulose from remaining lignocellulose solids, and enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose in the remaining lignocellulose solids.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose comprises corn stover, corn cobs, silage, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, distiller's grains, distiller's dried solubles, distiller's dried grains, condensed distiller's solubles, distiller's wet grains, distiller's dried grains with solubles, wood, bark, sawdust, paper, poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, fruit peels, pits, sorghum, sweet sorghum, sugar cane, switch grass, rice, rice straw, rice hulls, wheat, wheat straw, barley, barley straw, bamboo, seeds, seed hulls, oats, oat hulls, food waste, municipal sewage waste, or a combination thereof.

28. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C5 sugars, C6 sugars, or a combination thereof.

29. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars.

30. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 80% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

31. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 90%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

32. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

33. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 70% to 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

34. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80% to 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

35. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydro lyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%> to about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

36. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 90% to 99% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

37. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein at least about 80% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides.

38. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein at least about 90% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides.

39. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 5% sugars w/v.

40. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 10%> sugars w/v.

41. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v.

42. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 20%> sugars w/v.

43. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v.

44. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars.

45. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 10% to about 30% w/v sugars.

46. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 10%) w/v sugars.

47. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 20%) w/v sugars.

48. The method of any one of claims 3-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 30%) w/v sugars.

49. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof.

50. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

51. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the one or more fermentation end products comprise an alcohol.

52. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the one or more fermentation end- products comprise ethanol.

53. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 10%.

54. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 20%.

55. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 30%.

56. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 40%.

57. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 50%.

58. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 100%.

59. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 75%.

60. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 60%.

61. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 15% to about 55%.

62. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain, a bacterial strain, or an alga strain.

63. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a bacterial strain.

64. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain.

65. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.

66. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is an Escherichia coli strain.

67. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a Rhodococcus opacus strain.

68. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified strain.

69. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain.

70. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain that can ferment C5 sugars and C6 sugars.

71. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is recycled from a previous fermentation reaction.

72. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 5 mg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

73. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 50 mg/L to about 1 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

74. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 100 mg/L to about 750 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

75. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of fermenting at about 500 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

76. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting produces a yield at least one fermentation end-product that is substantially the same or greater than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydro lyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain.

77. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the fermenting produces a yield of one or more byproducts that is less than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise a polyol.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise glycerol.

80. The method of claim 77, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise succinic acid, a succinate, or a combination thereof.

81. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 5% less.

82. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 10% less.

83. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 15% less.

84. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 20% less.

85. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 50% less.

86. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5% to about 25% less.

87. The method of claim 77, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 10% to about 25% less.

88. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 20%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

89. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 30%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

90. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 40%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

91. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 50%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

92. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%o to about 100%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

93. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%) to about 80%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

94. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%o to about 60%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

95. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

96. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 10%> sugars w/v.

97. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v.

98. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 20%> sugars w/v.

99. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v.

100. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars.

101. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 10% to about 40% w/v sugars.

102. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises about 30%> w/v sugars.

103. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomass comprises tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or portions thereof, or combinations thereof.

104. The method of claim 103, comprising the tubers or portions thereof that comprise sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, potatoes, or a combinations thereof.

105. The method of claim 104, comprising the cassava or portions thereof that comprise tapioca.

106. The method of claim 103, comprising the cereals or portions thereof that comprise maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or combinations thereof.

107. The method of claim 106, comprising the maize or portion thereof that is corn mash.

108. The method of claim 106, comprising the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum, milo, or combinations thereof.

109. The method of claim 106, comprising the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum syrup.

110. The method of claim 106, wherein the cereals or portions thereof comprise whole grains.

111. The method of claim 103, comprising the beets or portions thereof that comprise sugar beets, red beets, golden beets, or combinations thereof.

112. The method of claim 103, comprising the beans or portions thereof that comprise soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, or combinations thereof.

113. The method of claim 103, wherein the biomass comprises the sugar cane or portion thereof that is cane sugar, molasses, or a combination thereof.

114. The method of claim 103, comprising the sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof comprising sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

115. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the method further comprises contacting the biomass with one or more enzymes to hydro lyze starch.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise an amylase, a glucosidase, or a combination thereof.

117. A fermentation end-product produced by the method of any one of claims 1-116.

118. The fermentation end-product of claim 117, wherein the fermentation end-product is an alcohol.

119. The fermentation end-product of claim 117, wherein the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

120. A system to produce increased cellular productivity of one or more fermentation end-products by a fermenting microorganism strain, the system comprising:

(a) a fermentor;

(b) a blended feedstock comprising a liquid composition comprising a biomass and a sufficient amount of a cellulosic hydrolyzate;

(c) the fermenting microorganism;

wherein the amount of the cellulosic hydrolyzate increases cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain during fermentation in comparison to fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate; and wherein cellular productivity is an amount of the one or more fermentation end-products produced per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

121. The system of claim 120, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a solid.

122. The system of claim 120, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate is a liquid.

123. The system of claim 120, wherein the cellular productivity is grams (g) of a fermentation end-product per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein the fermentation end-product is an alcohol.

125. The system of claim 123, wherein the fermentation end-product is ethanol.

126. The system of claim 120, wherein the cellular productivity is grams (g) of ethanol per cell of the fermenting microorganism strain.

127. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 1 :99 v/v to about 50:50 v/v.

128. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 40:60 v/v.

129. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 10:90 v/v to about 35:65 v/v.

130. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of from about 5:95 v/v to about 30:70 v/v.

131. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 5:95 v/v.

132. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock comprises the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the liquid composition comprising the biomass in a ratio of about 30:70 v/v.

133. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 50%.

134. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 40%.

135. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 30%.

136. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 20%.

137. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate and the composition differ in monosaccharide equivalent concentration by less than about 10%.

138. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 1% to about 50%> w/v suspended solids.

139. The system of claim 138, wherein the suspended solids comprise cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, or a combination thereof.

140. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock has a level of suspended solids that is from about 1% to about 50%> lower than that of the liquid composition comprising the biomass.

141. The system of any one of claims 122-126, wherein the blended feedstock has a level of suspended solids that is at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% lower than that of the liquid composition comprising the biomass.

142. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate was produced by pretreating or hydro lyzing a biomass comprising cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignocellulose.

143. The system of claim 142, wherein pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, hot water treatment, acid treatment, base treatment, steam explosion, acid-catalyzed steam explosion, ammonia fiber/freeze explosion, enzymatic hydrolysis, or a combination thereof.

144. The system of claim 142, wherein pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises mechanical size reduction, acid treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis.

145. The system of claim 142, wherein pretreating or hydrolyzing comprises treating the lignocellulose with hot water or dilute acid to solubilize hemicellulose, substantially separating the solubilized hemicellulose from remaining lignocellulose solids, and enzymatically hydrolyzing cellulose in the remaining lignocellulose solids.

146. The system of claim 142, wherein the biomass comprising cellulose,

hemicellulose, or lignocellulose comprises corn stover, corn cobs, silage, grass, straw, grain hulls, bagasse, distiller's grains, distiller's dried solubles, distiller's dried grains, condensed distiller's solubles, distiller's wet grains, distiller's dried grains with solubles, wood, bark, sawdust, paper, poplars, willows, switchgrass, alfalfa, prairie bluestem, algae, fruit peels, pits, sorghum, sweet sorghum, sugar cane, switch grass, rice, rice straw, rice hulls, wheat, wheat straw, barley, barley straw, bamboo, seeds, seed hulls, oats, oat hulls, food waste, municipal sewage waste, or a combination thereof.

147. The system of claim 142, further comprising a hydrolysis unit.

148. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C5 sugars, C6 sugars, or a combination thereof.

149. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars.

150. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 80% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

151. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 90%> of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

152. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein at least about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

153. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 70% to about 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

154. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80% to about 100% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

155. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 80%> to about 95% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

156. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises C6 sugars and C5 sugars, and wherein from about 90%> to about 99% of sugars by weight are C6 sugars.

157. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein at least about 80% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides.

158. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein at least about 90% by weight of sugars in the cellulosic hydrolyzate are monosaccharides.

159. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 5% sugars w/v.

160. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 10%> sugars w/v.

161. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v.

162. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v.

163. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v.

164. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 5% to about 50% w/v sugars.

165. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises from about 10% to about 30% w/v sugars.

166. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 10% w/v sugars.

167. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 20% w/v sugars.

168. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises about 30% w/v sugars.

169. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, or a combination thereof.

170. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellulosic hydrolyzate comprises glucose.

171. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the one or more fermentation end products comprise an alcohol.

172. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the one or more fermentation end-products comprise ethanol.

173. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 10%.

174. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 20%.

175. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 30%.

176. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 40%.

177. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by at least about 50%.

178. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 100%.

179. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 75%.

180. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 5% to about 60%.

181. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the cellular productivity of the fermenting microorganism strain is increased by from about 15% to about 55%.

182. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain, a bacterial strain, or an alga strain.

183. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a bacterial strain.

184. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a yeast strain.

185. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.

186. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is an Escherichia coli strain.

187. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a Rhodococcus opacus strain.

188. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified strain.

189. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain.

190. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is a genetically-modified yeast strain that can ferment C5 sugars and C6 sugars.

191. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is recycled from a previous fermentation reaction.

192. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 5 mg/L to about 10 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

193. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 50 mg/L to about 1 g/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

194. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 100 mg/L to about 750 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

195. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the fermenting microorganism strain is present at the start of a fermentation reaction at about 500 mg/L of the blended feedstock by wet weight.

196. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the system produces a yield at least one fermentation end-product that is substantially the same or greater than in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate and with a greater amount of the fermenting microorganism strain.

197. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the system produces a yield of one or more byproducts that is less than that produced in fermentation of the liquid composition without the cellulosic hydrolyzate.

198. The system of claim 197, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise a polyol.

199. The system of claim 197, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise glycerol.

200. The system of claim 197, wherein the one or more byproducts comprise succinic acid, a succinate, or a combination thereof.

201. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 5% less.

202. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 10% less.

203. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 15% less.

204. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is at least 20% less.

205. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5%> to about 50%> less.

206. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 5%> to about 25% less.

207. The system of claim 197, wherein the yield of one or more byproducts is from about 10%) to about 25% less.

208. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 20%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

209. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 30%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

210. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 40%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

211. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises at least about 50%) non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

212. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%o to about 100% non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

213. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%o to about 80%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

214. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises from about 20%o to about 60%> non-cellulosic sugars by dry weight.

215. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises glucose, sucrose, starch, or a combination thereof.

216. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 10%> sugars w/v.

217. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the bio mass comprises at least about 15% sugars w/v.

218. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 20% sugars w/v.

219. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises at least about 25 % sugars w/v.

220. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 5% to about 50%> w/v sugars.

221. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises from about 10%> to about 40%> w/v sugars.

222. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the liquid composition comprising the biomass comprises about 30%> w/v sugars.

223. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the biomass comprises tubers, cereals, beets, beans, sugar cane, sugar palms or nypa palms, fruits, or portions thereof, or combinations thereof.

224. The system of claim 223, comprising the tubers or portions thereof that comprise sweet potatoes, cassava, yams, dahlia, potatoes, or combinations thereof.

225. The system of claim 224, comprising the cassava or portions thereof that comprise tapioca.

226. The system of claim 223, comprising the cereals or portions thereof that comprise maize, rice, wheat, barley, sorghum, millet, oats, rye, triticale, buckwheat, fonio, quinoa, or combinations thereof.

227. The system of claim 226, comprising the maize or portion thereof that is corn mash.

228. The system of claim 226, comprising the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum, milo, or combinations thereof.

229. The system of claim 226, comprising the sorghum or portion thereof that comprises sweet sorghum syrup.

230. The system of claim 226, wherein the cereals or portions thereof comprise whole grains.

231. The system of claim 223, comprising the beets or portions thereof that comprise sugar beets, red beets, golden beets, or combinations thereof.

232. The system of claim 223, comprising the beans or portions thereof that comprise soybeans, peas, chickpeas, betches, lupins, or combinations thereof.

233. The system of claim 223, wherein the biomass comprises the sugar cane or portion thereof that is cane sugar, molasses, or a combination thereof.

234. The system of claim 223, comprising the sugar palms or nypa palms or portions thereof comprising sap, sago, or a combination thereof.

235. The system of any one of claims 120-126, wherein the system further comprises one or more enzymes to hydrolyze starch.

236. The system of claim 235, wherein the one or more enzymes comprise an amylase, a glucosidase, or a combination thereof.