Sustainable Bioenergy and GLBRC Bioenergy Ins7tute for Educators Summer 2010 Dr. John M. Greenler – June 22, 2010
DOE Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs) - Multi-institutional, interdisciplinary and collaborative GLBRC is one of three Bioenergy Research Centers funded by the Department of Energy to conduct transformational biofuels research
Sustainability: a Triad of Factors Environmental
Economic
Social
Bioenergy 101 – Different forms of Bioenergy (Bioenergy = energy derived from a biological source)
! Wood or pelleEzed biomass (heat, electrical grid, syngas, etc) ! Ethanol from starch or sugar (transportaEon sector) ! Biodiesel/hydrocarbons (from plant oils including soybeans and canola, algal farms, starch or sugars, etc.)
! Anaerobic digesters (methane) ! Cellulose-‐derived fuels (GLBRC); potenEal to be one of “tomorrow’s” sustainable biofuels
Two different needs to address: 1) Energy, 2) Environment
Global Biomass Energy Flows
------ Energy -------! Land Use Change Agriculture
CO2
CH4 N2O
Agricultural Ecosystems: Are There Win-‐Win Scenarios?
Biofuel Crops and Sustainability
Monitoring Greenhouse Gases
GLBRC -‐ Kellogg Biological StaEon, 2009
Today’s Biofuel Ethanol Technology Conversion of sugar cane (glucose) or corn starch (glucose polymer) to ethanol Corn (kernels)
Starch Sugar Cane
Heat and/or enzymes
Glucose
Glucose Fermenta(on (microbes)
Ethanol
Fermenta(on (microbes)
Ethanol
What is Cellulose?
Conversion of Cellulosic Plant Biomass to Fuels Tomorrow’s technology (GLBRC) Plant biomass
Lignocellulosic material
Today’s technology
?
Pretreat (grind, heat, chemicals, pressure)
“Loosened” cell wall material (cellulose hemicellulose, lignin)
Corn (kernels)
Starch Heat and/or enzymes
Sugar Cane
Glucose Fermentation (microbes)
Ethanol
Glucose Fermentation (microbes)
Ethanol
? Enzymes (cellulases, etc) or microbes
Mixed sugars, etc. (glucose, arabinose, xylose, phenolics, etc.)
? Fermentation (microbes) or catalysts
Ethanol (next generaEon fuel)
How Cellulosic Ethanol is Made
Plant Breeding for Greater Biofuels Potential Altered lignins
VarieEes of corn for bioenergy
AFEX Pretreatment of Corn Cob Granule Sclereid Cells
Bioprospecting - Thermophiles at Yellowstone
Bioprospecting – Leaf Cutter Ants In Costa Rica
Improved Biomass Conversion Long-‐Term Strategy for Improved Fuel/Ethanol Yields
1) Aerobic growth: optimize production of extracellular enzymes (lignocellulases)
2) Anaerobic growth: optimize production of enzymes, transporters, & pathways to funnel carbon to fuel production (ethanol, others)
Developing Improved Enzymes for Biomass Processing
“Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda”, DOE
FermentaEon Research at GLBRC
Complex: mulEple sugars (C5 & C6) and other products from cell wall breakdown
Sustainable Bioenergy and GLBRC Bioenergy Ins7tute for Educators Summer 2010 Dr. John M. Greenler – June 22, 2010
GLBRC Research Areas
C. Cleveland and R. Kaufmann, Fundamental principles of energy, 2008, Encyclopedia of Earth
Global Warming = Climate Change