greenseedling » Bio Fuels

Mutated Plants Ease Cellulose Sugar Conversion

Surabhi — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:53:29 +0000

In Genetics, we learn how mutations can cause deletion or the over expression of specific genes. Mutations can be very beneficial. For example, an advantageous mutation in plants was discovered that improves the cellulosic biofuel procedure.

Cellulose’s crystal structure makes it very hard to break cellulose down into sugars. To find a solution to this problem, Professor Debolt at the University of Kentucky and colleagues tested genetic mutations that produced cellulose with reduced crystal structure. Team members, associate of the U.S. Department of Energy, Mei Hong, and graduate student Tuo Wang used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the mutated cell walls.

Hong and Wang found that the mutated cell walls did in fact have less crystalline cellulose. The researchers observed that the cellulose microfibrils in the mutant cell walls were thinner than non-mutant plants. When compared with regular plants, the mutated plants converted cellulose into sugars (which are fermented into alcohol for biofuel) more efficiently.

This study suggests that manipulation of plant structure may be the key to more economical biofuels. The research project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, hopes to develop more methods that manipulate crop-cellulose to ease its conversion into sugars.

Discussion Question: How could the plant mutations impact the plant negatively? Would it decrease the plant’s durability or growth?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120228152158.htm
Press Release: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/feb/cellulose

Image: http://morgellonswatch.com

‘Mini-Cellulose’, One Huge Discovery for Biofuels

Surabhi — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:22:25 +0000

Professor Dauenhauer and his team of chemical engineers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a ‘mini-cellulose molecule’ called α-cyclodextrin that behaves similar to cellulose during biofuel production. Engineers hope to use this molecule to study the chemical reactions in the high-temperature biofuel processes of wood and grass, as well as create a computer simulation of biomass, thereby improving the biofuel-making process.

Due to unknown complex chemical reactions in wood during the biofuel-making process, engineers estimated that it could take a thousand years to simulate chemical reactions using real cellulose. With the ‘mini-cellulose’, researchers will be able to cut down the time it takes to simulate chemical reactions to only one month! The simulations will give details of the chemical reactions that occur in wood conversions. Scientists will then use the reactions to help reduce carbon emissions in biofuel-making process and design furans, molecules that are essential in biofuel production.

‘Mini-cellulose’ has also led to many new experimental discoveries including “thin-film pryolysis.” This process involves heating constructed sheets of cellulose, which are only a few microns in width, at over a million degrees Celsius per minute. This results in volatile chemicals that are precursors of biofuel.

With so many advantages of using ‘mini-cellulose’, it is no surprise that Dauenhauer and his team have won prestigious grants to expand their research. There are sure to be many more significant discoveries to look forward to from this team.

Discussion Question: Could the ‘mini-cellulose’ help make the biofuels more marketable and cost-efficient? Explain why or why not.

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216165757.htm
Press Release: http://www.umass.edu/loop/talkingpoints/articles/147031.php

Image: http://images.sciencedaily.com/2012/02/120216165757.jpg

Tobacco Leaves Produce Biofuel

Surabhi — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:01:09 +0000

Who knew tobacco, a plant most widely known to be used in cigarettes, could also be a fuel source? Tobacco’s compatibility with genetic engineering, large leaves, and ability to harvest multiple times in a year, make it a great bioenergy source. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are trying to engineer tobacco plants to produce fuel molecules directly in their leaves. This $4.9 million project is led by Christer Jansson and funded by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).

Jansson and his team aim to cut many steps in the present biofuel production method. The team hopes to do this by creating tobacco plants that take in and hold carbon dioxide from the air and converts the carbon into fuel that is almost ready to be used. The final fuel is made by crushing the biomass, and then shortening the extracted hydrocarbon molecules into usable fuels like gasoline and diesel.

In the future, Jansson plans to synthesize cyanobacteria genes that encode hydrocarbon producing enzymes. These genes will be placed in tobacco plants and their leaves will be imaged via nuclear magnetic resonance to find ways to improve their metabolic engineering. Increasing the carbon dioxide uptake by tobacco will also increase the amount of hydrocarbons in the plant.

The final goal is to grow tobacco plants in which 20% to 30% of their dry-weight will be hydrocarbons. Scientists plan to grow their first engineered tobacco plant in approximately 17 months.

Discussion Question: Tobacco is viewed as a negative substance by many people because of its presence in cigarettes. Could this perception impact how people view tobacco biofuel? If tobacco biofuel is mass-produced, could the positive aspects change people’s view of tobacco?

News Article: http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-er-tobacco-berkeley-lab-led-team.html
Press Release: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2012/02/23/tobacco-biofuels/

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nicotiana_Tobacco_Plants_1909px.jpg

Improving Photosynthesis Enhances Crop and Biofuel Production

Surabhi — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:38:40 +0000

Photosynthesis, one of the most essential natural processes, allows plants to convert solar energy into chemical energy and store it in the bonds of sugar. Scientists associated with Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); want to manipulate photosynthesis in a way to boost crop and fuel production. This fascinating new research focuses on three potential methods that aspire to improve photosynthesis.

One method uses an artificial ‘leaf’ that coverts solar energy into liquid fuel. Professor Cogdell from the University of Glasgow explains how his team hopes to place a chemical reaction similar to photosynthesis within an artificial ‘leaf’. The reaction consists of concentrating captured solar energy to split water; this releases oxygen and confines hydrogen into fuel. Essentially, the artificial ‘leaf’ is analogous to a solar energy collector that produces fuel instead of electricity.

Another technique involves RuBisCo, an important enzyme that allows plants to create sugars from carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. Professor Griffiths from the University of Cambridge hopes to improve photosynthesis by enhancing RuBisCo in crops. Scientists plan on using algae’s turbocharger, a mechanism that improves the efficiency of photosynthesis by collecting carbon dioxide around RuBisCo, to increase crop growth and yield. Turbocharger mechanisms are only found in some plants, therefore integrating algal and plant photosynthesis will increase agricultural production.

Professor Jones, Arizona State University, wants to use cyanobacteria to captures wasted solar energy. Her research group aims to take advantage cyanobacteria’s ability to absorb excess solar energy. Scientists will grow the bacteria on pili, conductive filaments, and then utilize pili to transfer the extra energy into a fuel-making cell.

It is truly astonishing how much science and technology has developed to where natural biological processes can be improved for our advantage. Professor Kell, Chief Executive of BBRSC, believes that funding research projects like these will solve the food and energy problems we face globally.

Discussion Question: What is another natural biological process in a plant that humans could take advantage through synthetic biology?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120217145755.htm
Press Release: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/industrial-biotechnology/2012/120217-pr-man-made-photosynthesis.aspx

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Leaf_1_web.jpg

Genetic Mapping Strengthens the Miscanthus Bioenergy Crop

Surabhi — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:15:45 +0000

Miscanthus grass is considered a great source for Biofuel because it requires little fertilizer, it grows well in moist temperatures, and it can produce more biomass with less land than other bioenergy crops. With the genetic mapping project, Kim and Paterson’s research team at The University of Georgia have found ways to further improve Miscanthus biofuel source.

Researchers have already identified up to 600 DNA segments of Miscanthus and are currently collecting data on height, flowering time, and size of stalk. Afterwards, they plan to use statistical methods to find correlations between the DNA segments and plant traits. This information will allow breeders to remove problematic aspects of the Miscanthus, including the plant’s propensity to flower early. Flowering is a problem for biofuel production because flowering takes nutrients and energy from the plant that could instead be used for developing thicker stalks and upward growth.

Recognizing this research project’s potential, Mendel Technology Company has partnered with Kim and Paterson’s Miscanthus project. Mendel, a company that aims to commercialize bioenergy crops, believes that the genetic map of Miscanthus will help them immensely in improving Miscanthus. Without the genetic map, it would take years for researchers to gather data and determine the Miscanthus plant’s strengths and weaknesses. Now, with the genetic map they will be able to quickly target the best traits of the plant at a molecular level. Commercial production of Miscanthus of biofuel still has long way to go, but the genetic mapping of Miscanthus DNA is a great step forward.

Discussion Question: Using genetic mapping, what traits of Miscanthus could scientists adjust to make Miscanthus a better bioengery crop? Could the lack of flowering of Miscanthus impact insect species?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133348.htm
Press Release: http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/grass-to-gas-uga-researchers/

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Miscanthus_giganteus.jpg

Engineered E.coli Helps to Replace Transportation Fuels

Surabhi — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:30:57 +0000

In previous articles, the cost of enzymes is mentioned as an obstacle in bio fuel production. Researchers at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) may have solved this problem with their newly engineered strains of Escherichia coli bacteria (E.coli) that digests switchgrass. This discovery helps reduce bio fuel costs by combining two steps of bio fuel production, depolymerizing cellulose and hemicelluloses in to sugars and fermenting sugars in to fuel, into one step.

In the past, E.coli was unable to cultivate on switchgrass. JBEI scientists engineered E.coli strains to allow enzymes to process cellulose and hemicelluloses. For the first time, these strains of E.coli were further engineered to utilize three metabolic pathways that produced substitutes for three transportation fuels (gasoline, diesel and jet engines).

Engineered E.coli may be the star of this new research, but scientists also give a lot of credit to the ionic-liquid pre-treatment. In fact, the pre-treatment procedure is the key to a microbe’s ability to digest biomass. Ionic liquid (molten salt) is used dissolve the biomass, and then the engineered microbes come in and digest the liquefied biomass.

Scientists believe that this discovery is a great indication that prices of enzymes can be reduced. Moreover, the fuel was sourced from switchgrass, a popular feedstock option for advanced bio fuels, makes this breakthrough even more exciting. Meanwhile, researchers will continue to try to find more enzymes that can optimize the digestion of dissolved bio mass and fuel production.

Discussion Question: Why is switch grass considered a great bio fuel feed stock option compared to the other choices such as fast-growth trees or algae? Can you think of another feed stock option that might work better than switch grass?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129123307.htm
Press Release: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2011/11/29/e-coli-make-three-fuels/

Image: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/wp-content/uploads/E.coli-Th1.jpg

Wood from Racing Yacht Helps Improve Enzyme-Development

Surabhi — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:08:47 +0000

Cellulose is the most ubiquitous organic polymer on Earth. So why can’t we produce cellulosic biofuels on a large scale? Answer: Though cellulose is the most common organic polymer, the process of making the fuel itself is still very costly. The process requires expensive enzymes to break down the complex cellulose in wood and other plants. Fortunately, scientists believe that with the latest research and technology they will be able to reduce the cost of enzymes.

To this end, a group of scientists from The University of Nottingham and their colleagues have studied Canadian Sitka spruce wood because of its uniform orientation and high strength to weight ratio. Their sample, somewhat surprisingly, was the spruce wood used for a racing yacht’s mast. Their results show that the complex packed cellulose fibers, that were once thought to be inaccessible, can indeed be accessed by enzymes.

With improved enzyme-based technology, breaking down cellulose will no longer be an obstacle for making biofuels. It is because of new scientific discoveries, like this one, that the goal of mass producing sustainable biofuel is thought to be attainable.

Discussion Question: Why would scientists choose wood that is uniform in orientation, and have a high strength to weight ratio for their research?

News article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128120948.htm
Press Release: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2011/november/mast-from-classic-racing-yacht-key-to-sustainable-biofuels.aspx

Image: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/News/pressreleases/2011/November/Nan-of-ClynderWooden-Mastpr.jpg

New Inexpensive Microbubbles Method Improves Algae Biofuel

Surabhi — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:25:13 +0000

Among second-generation biofuels, scientists consider algae a promising source for producing biofuel. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many biofuel researchers are rigorously trying to find new methods to maximize algae’s potential. In fact, a group of scientists led by Professor Zimmerman at the University of Sheffield believe that they have discovered an innovative way of reducing the cost of processing algae.

Before diving into the details of this exciting new research, I want to answer an intriguing question: how in the world could algae replace the gasoline in my car? It turns out that algae produces oil that can be processed to make biofuel. The only problem is that harvesting and drying the algae is not cost-efficient.

Zimmerman and his team may have resolved this issue. Previously, his team discovered a way to increase the growth rate and density of algae via microbubble technology. Microbubbles are used for flotation as well as removing impurities from water. Generally, the microbubble method is very expensive. This time scientists found a cheaper and less energy-consuming way to develop microbubbles. Through this new method, microbubbles will allow algae particles to float to the surface of water. In return, the algae harvesting process will be easier as well as more cost-efficient.

Zimmerman and his team are working with Tata Steel in hopes of implementing his research findings on an industrial level. This one-of-a-kind research is exciting news for our future long-term goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Discussion Question: Why would the process harvesting and water drying the algae cause the biofuel making procedure to be costly?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126092540.htm
Press Release: http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2012/microbubbles-boost-biofuel-production.html

Image: shef.ac.uk

Identification of New Gene Helps Reduce Price of Bio Fuels

Surabhi — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:53:53 +0000

Last year, biofuels consisted of only 2.7 % of the world’s transportation fuel. This astoundingly low percentage is due high costs of biofuels. Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, have found a new way to decrease the costs. Their method involves reducing O-acetate in the cell walls of plants by blocking enzymes that acetylate content of cell walls. When the polysaccharides of plant cell walls are O-acetylated, acetate releases and inhibits activity of microbes involved in fuel processing. Decreased activity of microbes leads to less bioethanol product.

Researchers focused on xyloglucan (type of hemicelluloses) while looking for enzymes that acetylate the polysaccharides in bio fuel feed stock. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as their model plant, researchers identified a mutant from the population that showed a 20%-50% reduction of xyloglucan O-acetylation. After mapping the mutation to a location in the Arabidopsis genome, they named the gene locus Altered Hemicellulose Xyloglucan (AXY4). They noticed that blocking the expression of AXY4 in Arabidopsis stops xyloglucan O-acetylation.

Scientists hope that this research will allow them to find others genes in biofuel feedstock similar to the gene that encodes for O-acetylation in Arabidopsis. They believe that this will aid in breeding biofuel feedstocks for optimal product and reduced lignocelluloses acetate. Ultimately, this research could result in lower prices for biofuels. In fact, an economic model predicts that with 20% reduction in acetylation equals to a 10% reduction in bioethanol price.

Discussion Question: What factors in the bio fuel making process contribute to its high prices? Is there a solution that could help reduce its impact on bio fuel’s price?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111116104350.htm
Press Release: http://my.aspb.org/members/blog_view.asp?id=700954&post=134371
Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arabidopsis_thaliana.jpg

Wood-based Fuel Proves to be a Tough Competitor For Corn-Ethanol

Surabhi — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:18:42 +0000

A new study by the University of British Columbia predicts that wood will become a competitive commercial source for fuel by 2020. Although wood-based bio fuels are considered more sustainable than corn, they are not widely used due to high costs. Ethanol produced from corn is more commonly used and can be found mixed in gasoline. This study aims to highlight new research that will transform the bio fuel industry from using corn ethanol to wood-based cellulosic ethanol for energy.

There are many reasons why scientists desire to push towards commercial wood-based biofuels. One is that they are considered to be more environmental friendly than corn ethanol. Not only do wood-based biofuels emit fewer green house gasses, they require less water for production. Furthermore, wood-based fuels don’t compromise with our food source. Despite the numerous positive aspects of using wood-based ethanol, the costs of production are still higher than corn ethanol.

Research shows that the cost of wood-based ethanol can be greatly reduced by cutting costs of facilities, equipment and enzymes. Essentially, as the demand for bio fuels grows, production costs will drop. Income generated by co-products of bio fuel, such as electricity, can also help reduce costs.

Wood-based ethanol still has many obstacles to overcome. Enzymes, which are used to break down wood, are a major hurdle today in reducing cost of cellulosic ethanol. As the bio fuel industry expands, researchers are certain that they will stumble upon a discovery that will help reduce the cost of enzymes. With the government’s support by funding research, scientists hope that their prediction for the future of bio fuels will become reality.

Discussion Question: What are some specific plants and other sources that produce wood-based ethanol?

News Article:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111108133045.htm
Press Release: http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2011/11/08/wood-biofuel-could-be-a-competitive-industry-by-2020-ubc-study/

Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Drva.JPG