Molecular Bioengineering of Biomass Conversion
- Researchers
- Problem
- Research
- Benefits
- Early Successes
Molecular Bioengineering of Biomass Conversion Video - Hans Blaschek (DivX Player Needed, download here)
Researchers
Faculty: Hans P. Blaschek (Theme Leader, Food Science and Human Nutrition), Yong-Su Jin (Food Science and Human Nutrition), Paul J. Magelli (College of Business), Stephen P. Moose (Crop Sciences), Nathan D. Price (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), Bryan A. White (Animal Sciences)
Affiliates: Charles A. Abbas (Archer Daniels Midland, Food Science and Human Nutrition), Martin O. Bohn (Crop Sciences), Hao Feng (Food Science and Human Nutrition), Kevin T. Finneran (Civil and Environmental Engineering ), YuPo J. Lin (Argonne National Laboratory), Zonglin Lewis Liu (National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA-ARS), William W. Metcalf (Microbiology), Satish K. Nair (Biochemistry), Nasibuddin Qureshi (USDA-NCAUR, Food Science and Human Nutrition), Seth W. Snyder (Argonne National Lab), M. Ashley Spies (Biochemistry)
Problem
How does genomic information allow for improvements in the efficiency of bioconversion of plant cell wall materials and fibers to value-added products? Several limitations need to be overcome before plant/crop based resources and processes become a viable alternative to petrochemical-based systems for chemicals and energy. Genomic information offers an opportunity to address these limitations.
Research
The Molecular Bioengineering of Biomass Conversion Research Theme will draw together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers with backgrounds in plant genetics and genomics, microbial biochemistry, physiology, microbial ecology, chemical engineering and economic modeling to carry out a horizontal research strategy that addresses the fundamental challenges along the entire biomass chain — from feedstock input to conversion processes, and ultimately, production, recovery and utilization. The research strategy will examine:
- How information obtained from plant genomes and proteomics may allow for alterations in plant cell wall materials, thereby making them more amenable for bioprocessing
- How metabolic engineering in combination with directed evolution and rational design methods may be used to re-engineer microbes in order to generate novel compounds
- How new technologies for bioreactor design and engineering, product recovery, isolation and purification of targeted biomolecules can be optimized
- How economic modeling can be used as a predictor of commercial success for production of new biomolecules from renewable biomass
Benefits
By focusing on an integrated, multidisciplinary approach toward replacing the petroleum-based economy with an economy that uses agricultural crops and co-products as a platform, we anticipate production of commercially viable chemicals and biofuels. This will add value to both urban and rural economies, while at the same time reducing the environmental impact associated with petrochemical-based processes.
Early Successes
Theme researchers have received sizable grants from the United States Department of Agriculture and from the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR).
