Bioproducts Research - USA US RTD Activities in Renewable Bioproducts

Website: www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/printable_versions/project_factsheets.html




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U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program consists of a large array of related but discrete projects covering various aspects of biomass feedstock generation and conversion technologies. DOE national laboratories conduct some projects; universities or other outside research organizations carry out others. Project selection also varies over time, with some projects taking only a year and others continuing for several.

The following information has been taken from selected fact sheets summarize some of these various internal, external, and joint projects that make up the DOE Biomass Research Program covering projects that were ongoing in 2006/7. Further examples can be found on the website.

Links are provided to the original summary sheets.

• Integration of Leading Biomass Pretreatment Technologies with Enzymatic Digestion and Hydrolyzate Fermentation Fact sheet
  The goal of this project is to develop comprehensive performance information on a common basis on integrated biomass pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation systems. This work will include developing a model to predict the performance of each unit operation, relating performance to features of biomass and catalysts, and estimating process economics on a common basis. Duration 2004 - 2007
  
  
• Feedstock Sugar Interface Fact sheet
  The research focuses on three areas: 1) identification of feedstock assembly processes and delivery requirements; 2) assessment of combinations of biomass resources with assembly options for coupling with near-term biorefinery pathways; and 3) selection of the best near-term and long-term feedstock assembly options based on feedstock and platform technology trade-offs. The feedstocks under investigation include corn stover, switchgrass, and cereal straws. Duration 2006 - 2015
  
  
• Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Fact sheet
  This project investigates various pretreatment approaches that are aimed at reducing the cost of biomass pretreatment and increasing the enzymatic digestibility of residual cellulose and hemicellulose in pretreated biomass. Activities in this project are aimed at overcoming barriers associated with high capital and operating costs and sub-optimal sugar yields resulting from pretreatment and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass. Duration 2006 - 2009
  
  
• Targeted Conversion Research Fact sheet
  This project employs integrated computer modeling and experimental studies to increase understanding of the nature of the interaction of the chemical and structural changes that occur in biomass during thermochemical pretreatment and subsequent enzyme saccharification. Duration 2003 - 2010.
  
  
• Integrated Corn-Based Bio-Refinery Fact sheet
  The Integrated Corn-Based Bio-Refinery (ICBR), is being developed to demonstrate the practicality of producing alternative fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. The ICBR process will use new technology to convert corn grain and stover into fermentable sugars for the parallel production of value-added chemicals such as 1,3-propanediol (PDO) and fuel ethanol. Duration 2003 - 2007.
  
  
• Separation of Corn Fiber and Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals: Pilot-Scale Operation Fact sheet
  This project focuses on the development and pilot-scale testing of technologies that will enable the development of a biorefinery capable of economically deriving high-value chemicals and oils from lower value corn fiber. Duration 2003 - 2007.
  
  
• A New Biorefinery Platform Intermediate Fact sheet
  The objective of research is to develop an effective fermentation organism and process for 3-HP (3-hydroxypropionic acid) production. Work will include optimization of organisms for efficient industrial-scale production of 3-HP, and development of viable catalysts for downstream conversion of 3-HP to valuable products. Duration 2003 - 2007.
  
  
• A Second Generation Dry Mill Biorefinery Fact sheet
  Project activities will mainly center on technology barriers related to pretreatment, processing, and conversion of corn feedstock. Activities include studying methods of converting pretreated bran to ethanol and feed products, converting bran to value-added products, and a preliminary economic evaluation of bran conversion. The ultimate objective is the design, engineering and construction of a pilot-scale pretreatment and fermentation facility based on bench-scale result. Duration 2003 - 2007
  
  
• Advanced Biorefining of Distiller€s Grain and Corn Stover Blends Fact sheet
  The project will demonstrate at bench and pilot scale a viable pretreatment process for distiller€s grains and corn stover to convert residual starch, cellulose, and hemicellulose to ethanol and high-protein feed Duration 2003 - 2007
  
  
• Catalytic Upgrading of Glycerol to Propylene Glycol Fact sheet
  This project is developing enabling technologies that will lead to an integrated process for the production of propylene glycol (PG) from glycerol. PG is currently fossil-based and is used in a wide variety of applications, including detergents, food, paints, functional fluids (antifreeze, deicers), and polymers. Duration 2005 - 2008
  
  
• Chemicals from Oilseeds Fact sheet
  This project focused on developing the castor plant as a suitable oilseed producer to optimize the production of novel chemicals and plastics. Research covered the areas of plant science, crop production, processing, and product utilization It also aimed to develop integrated local systems for the production, handling, and processing of castor to facilitate the adoption of the crop by farmers. Duration 2002 - 2006
  
  
• Engineering Thermotolerant Biocatalysts for Biomass Conversion to Products Fact sheet
  The primary objective of this project is to construct novel, second generation thermotolerant biocatalysts for the conversion of mixed biomass sugars to ethanol that function optimally under environmental conditions that are also optimal for the activity of fungal cellulases (50°C and pH 5.0). This will enable simultaneous saccharification (breakdown of cellulose to glucose by cellulase enzymes) and co-fermentation. (conversion of xylose and glucose to ethanol). Duration 2004 - 2007
  
  
• Fungal Genomics Fact sheet
  Genomic and proteomic tools are being developed to identify and/or confirm genes and regulatory elements that control fungal morphology, hyperproductivity, and biosynthesis of products. These tools will accelerate and streamline the transformation process of fungi to produce specific products.). Duration 2005 - 2010
  
  
• New Sustainable Chemistry for Adhesives, Elastomers and Foams Fact sheet
  This project is developing new materials based on Carbon Michael chemistry applied to derivatives of crop oils and sugars. The addition of reactive functional groups to starting materials, such as soy oil, glycerol, glucose, sorbitol, and isosorbide, yields materials which react to form polymers in the presence of proprietary base catalysts. Researchers aim to develop polymers that match the performance of petroleum-based polyurethanes used in the flexible packaging and assembly industries. Duration 2005 - 2007
  
  
• Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Polymers Fact sheet
  This project is focused on the developing processes for producing PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkanoastes) that can compete with conventional fossil-based polymers on both cost and performance. This includes developing improved technologies to extract and process PHAs and PHA-blends. The research also covers fundamental polymer properties and the life cycle analysis of such polymers. Duration 2002 - 2007
  
  
• Value-Added Products from Hemicellulose Utilization in Dry Mill Ethanol Plants Fact sheet
  The objective of this project was to investigate enzymatic and microbiological processes for generating value-added products from distiller€s dried grains (DDG), the low-value fiber coproduct of dry mill ethanol. DDG is currently sold as animal feed, but it is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose (xylose, arabinose), and protein. It investigated a process to hydrolyze the hemicellulose and ferment the pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose) to itaconic acid using a fungal system. In addition, the oxidative catalysis of sugars to other products was explored. Duration 2003 - 2006