Presentation Title Here
2
Who we are
www.glbrc.org
DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs)
GLBRC is one of three Bioenergy Research Centers funded by the Department of Energy to conduct transformational biofuels research
Multi-institutional
Interdisciplinary
Collaborative
4
Why we’re needed
www.glbrc.org
U.S. Energy Sources: Historical
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “Figure 14-1: U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 1994–2004” (2005); http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2005/html/chapter_02/figure_14_01.html
Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas
Global Warming
Sustainability: a Triad of Factors Environmental
Economic
Social
Biofuels are not a new idea!
New York Times- Sept 20, 1925
1933 photo shows a Lincoln, Nebraska gas station of the Earl Coryell Co. selling "Corn Alcohol Gasoline"
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “Figure 14-1: U.S. Energy Consumption by Sector, 1994–2004” (2005); http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2005/html/chapter_02/figure_14_01.html
Critical: Conservation & diversity of energy sources
16
Biofuels 101
www.glbrc.org
The Biofuels Ideal
The Carbon Cycle
Making Ethanol Microbe: Yeast “Feedstock” Choices: Sucrose (“sugar”), Corn Meal, Corn Stover Warm Water
Standard Fermentation
yeast
glucose
2 ethanol
2 carbon dioxide CO2
ethanol
Corn
How Ethanol is Made Today Starch
Sugar cane
Heat or enzymes Glucose
Glucose
Fermentation
Fermentation Ethanol
Concerns about Ethanol from Corn Grain Annual crop Dependent on chemical inputs Soil erosion Little below ground carbon storage Food versus fuel Impacts on biodiversity
Fossil Fuel Energy In Verses Biofuel Energy Out
What is Cellulose?
Cellulosic Biofuels: Second Generation Ethanol Cellulose is the most abundant biological material on Earth Found in cell walls Lack efficient way to break down plant material and convert it into fuel Cell wall composition varies
Conversion of cellulosic plant biomass to fuels Tomorrow’s technology (Great Lakes Bioenergy) Cellulosic Biomass
Lignocellulosic material
Today’s technology
?Grind (reduce
size)
Pretreatment “soften cellulose”
Corn (kernels)
Starch Sugar Cane
Glucose
Heat or enzymes
Glucose
Ethanol
Digest softened polymers
?Enzymes Fermentation
Fermentation
t
?Chemicals/hea
Mixed sugar stream: (Glucose, Arabinose, Xylose, Phenolics, etc.)
?Fermentation/
Catalysts
Ethanol, (next generation fuel)
oal of pretreatment is to open up cell wall and expose cellulose.
Hydrolysis cellulose enzyme
glucose
glucose
glucose
glucose
31
What we’re doing
www.glbrc.org
Great Lakes Bioenergy Strategic Plan
32
Technology to convert cellulosic (non-edible) plant biomass into ethanol & next generation fuels
TODAY
THE FUTURE (CBP)
Can we engineer microbes that do it all? Break down biomass Produce cellulases Ferment simple sugars Withstand industrial conditions
Bioprospecting Where would you find cellulases in the environment? Why do you find more in some circumstances than others? Symbiotic relationships
Bioprospecting: Leaf Cutter Ants In Costa Rica
Fostering Sustainable Bioenergy Practices Economic Profitable Environmental Carbon negative (climate stabilizing) Nutrient, water conservative Biodiversity benefits Social Food, energy security Rural community health
Measuring Carbon Cycling in Biofuel Plots Above and below-ground primary productivity, respiration levels of soil in different plots Desired understandings: Carbon is cycled between soil, plants, and the atmosphere. Land management practices affect the cycling of carbon within these systems. Plants have the capacity to sequester different amount of carbon over different time scales.
Monitoring Greenhouse Gases
GLBRC - Kellogg Biological Station, 2009
GLBRC Education and Outreach •Educational Materials Development and Dissemination •Education Research •Public Presentations •Research Experience for Teachers •Research Experience for Undergraduates