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Ethanol
Production via Consolidated Bioprocessing--Advanced Bioconversion Technologies,
Dr.
Michael V. Tyurin, Principal Investigator, mtyurin@hotmail.com
Dr.
Jonathan Mielenz, Business Official, mielenz343@earthlink.net
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83593
Amount:
$99,864
The
conversion of cellulosic biomass to commodity products via biological processing
could benefit society by improving energy security, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and promoting rural economies. However,
commercial application is impeded by the current absence of low-cost technology
to overcome the recalcitrance of cellulosic biomass. This
project will develop a strain of Clostridium
thermocellum, a rapid cellulose-fermenting microorganism that produces
ethanol as well as organic acids, for producing industrial ethanol from
pretreated biomass in a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) configuration.
Phase I will establish and test a functional genetic system for this
organism. Feasibility will be
indicated by a high frequency of transformation as well as by the demonstration
of homologous recombination-mediated gene knockout.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should expand fuel production from indigenous, renewable resources, and also establish a process concept that can be applied to the production of industrial chemicals.