Navigation Links
MSU technology that converts plant fibers to biofuel commercialized
Date:9/3/2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. --- A Kansas company has licensed Michigan State University technology that uses enzymes from a microbe in a cow's stomach to create plants that can be more efficiently turned into biofuel.

Enzymes that allow a cow to digest grasses and other plant fibers can be used to turn fiber from other plants into simple sugars. Mariam Sticklen, MSU professor of crop and soil sciences, discovered a way to insert a gene from a bacterium in a cow's stomach into a corn plant so the fiber in corn leaves and stalks can be more easily converted into simple sugars. These sugars can then be fermented into biofuels or other valuable chemicals.

Edenspace Systems Corp., a plant biotechnology company that develops new crops for biofuels and environmental cleanup, expects to use the technology to release biofuel corn varieties directly to growers as well as sublicensing the technology to other companies that want to add the gene to their corn varieties. The company also will investigate using the technology in other biofuel crops such as sorghum, switchgrass and sugarcane.

"This technology is a step ahead for science, for technology and for producing fuel in our own country," Sticklen said.

"We're excited to start commercializing this technology," said Bruce Ferguson, president of Edenspace. "We've been collaborating with Dr. Sticklen on this research for the past four years. This is a very productive extension of that work."

Because of the regulations surrounding the release of transgenic crops, Ferguson estimated that it would take at least three years before the new biofuel varieties were available commercially.

Breaking down cellulose and hemicellulose (the fiber that makes plant leaves and stems rigid) into simple sugars that can be fermented into ethanol has been a key challenge for biofuel producers. Enzymes must be added to chopped plant material. This makes the process and the final biofuel produc
'/>"/>

Contact: Jamie DePolo
depolo@msu.edu
609-354-8403
Michigan State University
Source:Eurekalert  

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Halas wins prestigious nanotechnology research award
2. TVA fertilizer technology used worldwide -- but few new products since 1970s
3. Air-purifying church windows early nanotechnology
4. Carnegie Mellon MRI technology that non-invasively locates, quantifies specific cells in the body
5. Mount Sinai researchers discover technology that silences genes
6. GN Netcom Introduces Innovative Noise Blackout Technology
7. Commercialization aim of grant supporting technology that destroys cancer cells
8. M2SYS Technology Innovative Fingerprint Biometrics Solution Chosen by Harms Software
9. Top Secret Technology To Help U.S. Swimmers Trim Times at Beijing Olympics
10. Top secret technology to help US swimmers trim times at Beijing Olympics
11. M2SYS Technology Selected by TimeForge to Integrate Fingerprint Software
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
MSU technology that converts plant fibers to biofuel commercialized
MSU technology that converts plant fibers to biofuel commercialized
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Self-destructing bacteria improve renewable biofuel production 2Self-destructing bacteria improve renewable biofuel production 3Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells 2$2.4 million stimulus fuels effort to regenerate injured spinal cords 2$2.4 million stimulus fuels effort to regenerate injured spinal cords 3$2.4 million stimulus fuels effort to regenerate injured spinal cords 4Ingenious Med Announces a New Coding 26 Compliance Tool MasterCoder 50543 1Ingenious Med Announces a New Coding 26 Compliance Tool MasterCoder 50543 2Ingenious Med Announces a New Coding 26 Compliance Tool MasterCoder 50543 3New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 1New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 2New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 3New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 4New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 5New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 6New Report Finds Obesity Epidemic Increases Mississippi Weighs in as Heaviest State 50539 7SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 1SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 2SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 3SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 4SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 5SIRIUS XMs Doctor Radio to Air July 4th Family Special 24 Hours About Our Kids 3A Why Kids Behave the Way They Do 50535 6