Bioreactor coupled to electromagnetic field boosts ethanol production by 17%
In a finding that could reduce the production cost of ethanol, researchers from the State University of Campinas in Brazil report success in using low frequency magnetic waves to significantly boost the amount of ethanol produced through the fermentation of sugar. Their study is available as an open access article [*.pdf] in the advance online edition of the American Chemical Society's Biotechnology Progress, a bi-monthly journal. The print version will appear in the October 5 issue.
Several scientists have tried to confirm that static or pulse magnetic fields with low magnetic induction and extremely low frequency, respectively, may induce effects on microbial and mammalian cells. These magnetic field bioeffects have received considerable attention in the scientific community because the interaction mechanisms of these fields with biological systems are unclear. Therefore, several works about the effects of the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on animal and bacterial cells have been published in the past decades. In contrast, for fungi and yeast strains only comparatively few work had been done.
In their study, Victor Perez and colleagues showed that the fermentation of sugar cane by the commonly used yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of extremely low frequency magnetic waves boosted ethanol production by 17 percent. The scientists also showed that ethanol production was faster, taking two hours less than standard fermentation methods:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: fermentation :: yeast :: efficiency :: Brazil ::
The results presented in the report suggest that an extremely low frequency magnetic field induces alterations in ethanol production by S. cervisiae and that the magnetic field treatment can be easily implemented at an industrial scale.
Analysts and researchers have predicted that ethanol production will continue to follow its path towards ever increasing efficiency, as it has over the past 25 years in Brazil. There, producers succeeded in lowering production costs by 70 per cent over the course of less than three decennia (earlier post). Innovations in agronomy and biotechnology, process engineering, and logistics are expected to double ethanol yields from sugar cane over the coming two decades.
The findings by the scientists from Unicamp are yet another example of the processes and innovations that drive this continuing trend.
Image: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, common baker's yeast used for the fermentation of sugar into ethanol.
References:
Victor H. Perez, Alfredo F. Reyes, Oselys R. Justo, David C. Alvarez, and Ranulfo M. Alegre, "Bioreactor Coupled with Electromagnetic Field Generator: Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Ethanol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae" [*.pdf, or *.html], Biotechnol. Prog., ASAP Article DOI: 10.1021/bp070078k S8756-7938(07)00078-1
Biopact: Brazil's ethanol production costs decreased 75% in 25 years - August 10, 2006
Biopact: New technologies to double sugar cane ethanol output to 13,000 liters per hectare - November 10, 2006
Article continues
Several scientists have tried to confirm that static or pulse magnetic fields with low magnetic induction and extremely low frequency, respectively, may induce effects on microbial and mammalian cells. These magnetic field bioeffects have received considerable attention in the scientific community because the interaction mechanisms of these fields with biological systems are unclear. Therefore, several works about the effects of the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on animal and bacterial cells have been published in the past decades. In contrast, for fungi and yeast strains only comparatively few work had been done.
In their study, Victor Perez and colleagues showed that the fermentation of sugar cane by the commonly used yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of extremely low frequency magnetic waves boosted ethanol production by 17 percent. The scientists also showed that ethanol production was faster, taking two hours less than standard fermentation methods:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: fermentation :: yeast :: efficiency :: Brazil ::
The results presented in the report suggest that an extremely low frequency magnetic field induces alterations in ethanol production by S. cervisiae and that the magnetic field treatment can be easily implemented at an industrial scale.
Analysts and researchers have predicted that ethanol production will continue to follow its path towards ever increasing efficiency, as it has over the past 25 years in Brazil. There, producers succeeded in lowering production costs by 70 per cent over the course of less than three decennia (earlier post). Innovations in agronomy and biotechnology, process engineering, and logistics are expected to double ethanol yields from sugar cane over the coming two decades.
The findings by the scientists from Unicamp are yet another example of the processes and innovations that drive this continuing trend.
Image: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, common baker's yeast used for the fermentation of sugar into ethanol.
References:
Victor H. Perez, Alfredo F. Reyes, Oselys R. Justo, David C. Alvarez, and Ranulfo M. Alegre, "Bioreactor Coupled with Electromagnetic Field Generator: Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Ethanol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae" [*.pdf, or *.html], Biotechnol. Prog., ASAP Article DOI: 10.1021/bp070078k S8756-7938(07)00078-1
Biopact: Brazil's ethanol production costs decreased 75% in 25 years - August 10, 2006
Biopact: New technologies to double sugar cane ethanol output to 13,000 liters per hectare - November 10, 2006
Article continues
Monday, September 10, 2007
Yulex partners with USDA and Mendel Biotech to double rubber and biomass yields of Guayule
Yulex Corporation is at the forefront of a clean technology industry in the U.S. Southwest based on Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), a versatile desert plant that has become a commercial source of bio-based rubber latex, and a cellulosic feedstock for bioethanol and other forms of bioenergy production.
With record oil prices, raw material costs for the manufacture of many rubber products have increased substantially. Both natural rubber (from Hevea trees) as well as synthetic rubber have trended up steeply, partly as a result of high petroleum prices, but strong demand from rapidly growing economies (especially China) is a key factor too (graph, click to enlarge). This situation has revived interest in alternative plants that yield latex. Guayule has been intensively researched as a candidate for almost a century.
Robert A. Creelman, senior scientist at Mendel Biotechnology and principle investigator on the project says that expertise in plant regulatory genes and proprietary technology in transferring these genes, must allow for the creation of improved varieties of guayule that will make twice as much rubber. Since guayule grows in the United States, these improved varieties will create opportunities for American farmers, reduce dependence on imported natural latex and rubber, and decrease use of synthetic latex and rubber.
The goal of collaboration is to increase the amount of latex, rubber, and biomass the plant produces. Over the next three years, Yulex Corporation, Mendel Biotechnology, and USDA scientists will test the new guayule transgenic lines and enhanced rubber biosynthesis genes for yield improvements as well as stress tolerance. Yulex will conduct latex extraction and chemical tests, the USDA-ARS will perform agronomic, chemical and biochemical tests, and Mendel will carry out molecular tests on the new transgenic guayule plants:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: rubber :: latex :: Hevea :: Guayule :: biotechnology ::
Yulex obtained an exclusive license on a technology developed by Agricultural Research Service scientists in 1997 to extract natural rubber latex from the guayule plant. Since then, Yulex has emerged as the market innovator producing medical grade latex for medical and consumer products.
Yulex is currently marketing its high-performing natural rubber latex material to medical device manufacturers internationally in order to provide needed alternative products for the 73 percent of spina bifida children that suffer from Type I latex allergy and the 10 percent of healthcare workers and six percent of the general population that have symptoms of latex allergy.
The crop
Guayule grows to an average height of three feet, and produces natural rubber latex in its bark. The "variety protected" line of domesticated Guayule, reaches maturity in two years with high-latex yields.
For sustainable production, guayule grows well in arid and semi arid areas of the southwestern United States, North Central Mexico and regions with similar climates around the world. Because the Guayule plant produces terpene resins, which are natural pesticides, it is resistant to many pests and diseases. Herbicides are primarily necessary for stand establishment. When ready for harvest, it is clipped and baled with patented farming equipment. After clipping, Guayule will re-grow from its root system and be ready for latex harvesting again year after year.
Guayule has a century's worth of history as an American rubber source and alternative to the tropical Brazilian rubber tree; however, previous efforts had focused on bulk rubber for the tire industry. Yulex is the first commercial enterprise to develop Guayule as an industrial crop for its valuable latex which is marketed to the medical device industry and other.
Extracting latex
Yulex is the first company to commercially extract latex from Guayule. The patented manufacturing process Yulex uses is economical as well as environmentally sound. The Yulex biorefinery is fully automated 24/7 and produces medical-quality natural rubber latex, bio-based materials such as cellulosic ethanol, adhesives, organic pesticides, wood preservatives and other specialty chemicals.
Yulex's commercial pilot operation is located in Phoenix, Arizona. The bioprocessing operations extract the natural rubber latex from the Guayule biomass utilizing environmentally friendly ("green") processing, using only aqueous (water-based) solution.
The extraction process follows a patented four step operation which includes grinding, filtration, clarification, and concentration. The process begins with homogenizing the Guayule plant. Branches are ground breaking open the cells in the plant, releasing intact rubber particles and creating an aqueous suspension (forming latex). The suspension is placed in a high-speed centrifuge for separation and Guayule rubber particles are lighter than the aqueous solution, they are separated from the suspension. The latex portion of the mixture is culled off the top (much the same way that cream is skimmed off milk) and purified. Yulex latex is then shipped to the company's distribution and manufacturing partners.
Photo opening the article: Guayule latex is milky white after processing. Credit: David Kadlubowski, Yulex Corporation
Article continues
posted by Biopact team at 10:03 PM 3 comments links to this post