Presentation Title Here

Who we are

www.glbrc.org

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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

Why we’re needed

www.glbrc.org

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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

New York Times- Sept 20, 19251933 photo shows a Lincoln, Nebraska gas station of the Earl Coryell Co. selling "Corn Alcohol Gasoline"

Biofuels are not a new idea!

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

Biofuels 101

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The Biofuels Ideal

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

Making Ethanol

Microbe: Yeast“Feedstock” Choices:

Sucrose (“sugar”), Corn Meal, Corn StoverWarm Water

Standard Fermentation

2 ethanol 2 carbon dioxide glucose

yeast

ethanol

CO2

Starch

GlucoseGlucose

Ethanol

Heat or enzymes

FermentationFermentation

Sugar cane

Corn

How Ethanol is Made Today

Concerns about Ethanol from Corn Grain

Annual cropDependent on chemical inputsSoil erosionLittle 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

Mixed sugar stream: (Glucose, Arabinose, Xylose,

Phenolics, etc.)

Ethanol, (next generation fuel)

Cellulosic Biomass

Pretreatment“soften cellulose”

?Chemicals/heat

Digest softened polymers

?Enzymes

?Grind (reduce size)

Tomorrow’s technology(Great Lakes Bioenergy)

?Fermentation/ Catalysts

Lignocellulosic material

Fermentation

Heat or enzymes

Fermentation

Glucose

Sugar Cane

Corn (kernels)

Starch

Glucose

Today’s technology

Ethanol

Goal of pretreatment is to open up cell wall and expose cellulose.

Hydrolysis

glucose

cellulose

enzyme

glucose glucose glucose

What we’re doing

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Great Lakes Bioenergy Strategic PlanTechnology 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 biomassProduce cellulasesFerment simple sugarsWithstand 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

EconomicProfitable

EnvironmentalCarbon negative (climate stabilizing)Nutrient, water conservativeBiodiversity benefits

SocialFood, energy securityRural community health

Fostering Sustainable Bioenergy Practices

Measuring Carbon Cycling in Biofuel Plots

Above and below-ground primary productivity, respiration levels of soil in different plotsDesired 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.

GLBRC - Kellogg Biological Station, 2009Monitoring Greenhouse Monitoring Greenhouse GasesGases

•Educational Materials Development and Dissemination

•Education Research

•Public Presentations

•Research Experience for Teachers

•Research Experience for Undergraduates

GLBRC Education and Outreach