Location

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Science and Education Building

Start Date

9-8-2011 10:15 AM

End Date

9-8-2011 12:00 PM

Description

Current biofuel technologies utilize valuable foodstuffs, such as corn kernels and cane sugar, as sources of easily metabolized sugars. Microbes are used to ferment these sugars into bioethanol, a first-generation biofuel. However, in order to avoid diverting foodstuffs from the food supply, the development of second-generation biofuels technology is necessary. Second-generation biofuels are produced by converting structurally complex lignocellulosic biomass, such as agricultural and municipal wastes, to fermentable sugars or directly to biofuels.

The major technological hurdle limiting the mass production of second-generation biofuels is the difficulty in efficiently converting structurally complex lignocellulosic materials to fermentable sugars or directly to biofuels. The discovery of novel thermophilic microorganisms and enzymes that have high activities or broad substrate ranges on plant polymers addresses this challenge.

Keywords

Biomass energy; Energy conversion; Thermophilic microorganisms; Waste products as fuel

Disciplines

Biochemistry | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Sustainability

Language

English

Comments

Research sponsored by: NSF Career Grant # MCB-0546865 and Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium (DOE), Urban21 (DOE) and NSF REU (DBI 1005223).


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Aug 9th, 10:15 AM Aug 9th, 12:00 PM

Novel thermophilic cellulolytic isolates belonging to the phylum Chloroflexi

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Science and Education Building

Current biofuel technologies utilize valuable foodstuffs, such as corn kernels and cane sugar, as sources of easily metabolized sugars. Microbes are used to ferment these sugars into bioethanol, a first-generation biofuel. However, in order to avoid diverting foodstuffs from the food supply, the development of second-generation biofuels technology is necessary. Second-generation biofuels are produced by converting structurally complex lignocellulosic biomass, such as agricultural and municipal wastes, to fermentable sugars or directly to biofuels.

The major technological hurdle limiting the mass production of second-generation biofuels is the difficulty in efficiently converting structurally complex lignocellulosic materials to fermentable sugars or directly to biofuels. The discovery of novel thermophilic microorganisms and enzymes that have high activities or broad substrate ranges on plant polymers addresses this challenge.