bioenergy institute for educators - june 22nd
DESCRIPTION
Bioenergy Institute for Educators - June 22nd, Presentation by John GreenlerTRANSCRIPT
Dr. John M. Greenler – June 22, 2010
Sustainable Bioenergy and GLBRC
Bioenergy Ins7tute for Educators Summer 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
CO2
CH4
N2O
Land Use Change
Agriculture
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rgy
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Agricultural Ecosystems: Are There Win-‐Win Scenarios?
Biofuel Crops and Sustainability
GLBRC -‐ Kellogg Biological StaEon, 2009 Monitoring Greenhouse Gases
Conversion of sugar cane (glucose) or corn starch (glucose polymer) to ethanol
Fermenta(on (microbes)
Glucose
Ethanol
Sugar Cane
Fermenta(on (microbes)
Starch
Glucose
Ethanol
Heat and/or enzymes
Corn (kernels)
Today’s Biofuel Ethanol Technology
What is Cellulose?
Conversion of Cellulosic Plant Biomass to Fuels
Mixed sugars, etc. (glucose, arabinose, xylose,
phenolics, etc.)
Ethanol (next generaEon fuel)
Plant biomass
“Loosened” cell wall material (cellulose hemicellulose, lignin)
? Enzymes (cellulases, etc) or microbes
? Pretreat (grind, heat, chemicals, pressure)
Tomorrow’s technology (GLBRC)
? Fermentation (microbes) or catalysts
Lignocellulosic material
Fermentation (microbes)
Heat and/or enzymes
Fermentation (microbes)
Glucose
Ethanol
Sugar Cane
Corn (kernels)
Starch
Glucose
Ethanol
Today’s technology
How Cellulosic Ethanol is Made
Plant Breeding for Greater Biofuels
Potential
VarieEes of corn for bioenergy
Altered lignins
AFEX Pretreatment of Corn Cob Granule Sclereid Cells
Bioprospecting - Thermophiles at Yellowstone
Bioprospecting – Leaf Cutter Ants In Costa Rica
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)
Improved Biomass Conversion
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
Dr. John M. Greenler – June 22, 2010
Sustainable Bioenergy and GLBRC
Bioenergy Ins7tute for Educators Summer 2010
GLBRC Research Areas
C. Cleveland and R. Kaufmann, Fundamental principles of energy, 2008, Encyclopedia of Earth
Global Warming = Climate Change