Targeted discovery of novel cellulases and hemicellulases and their reaction mechanisms for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass
Lead Research Organisation:
QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
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Technical Summary
The aims of DISCO are to develop more efficient and cost-effective enzyme tools to improve the production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, and understand how these enzymes work. By exploiting the natural diversity of microorganisms, our aim is to find new enzymes able to break down cellulose and hemicellulose more efficiently. The synergy of different enzymes and the recyclability will contribute to increasing the efficiency of the process. Systems for industrial enzyme production will be developed and the project will demonstrate proof of concept in a pilot study.
Planned Impact
unavailable
People |
ORCID iD |
| Keith Waldron (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Holopainen-Mantila U
(2013)
Impact of hydrothermal pre-treatment to chemical composition, enzymatic digestibility and spatial distribution of cell wall polymers.
in Bioresource technology
Merali Z
(2016)
Chemical characterization of hydrothermally pretreated and enzyme-digested wheat straw: An evaluation of recalcitrance.
in Food chemistry
Merali Z
(2015)
Characterization of cell wall components of wheat bran following hydrothermal pretreatment and fractionation.
in Biotechnology for biofuels
Merali Z
(2013)
Characterization of cell wall components of wheat straw following hydrothermal pretreatment and fractionation.
in Bioresource technology
| Description | The IFR research has demonstrated key changes that occur in the non cellulosic polysaccharides found in lignocellulose during thermophysical pretreatments. Much of this has been published (see publication details). This has relevance to understanding digestibility of biomass. The key outputs concern our understanding of the way in which cell wall polymers degrade and depolymerise during high severity pretreatment conditions. |
| Exploitation Route | These findings have been used successfully in the optimisation of thermophysical pretreatments for the exploitation of biomass and the conversion to fuels and platform chemicals. The later research has involved the development of rapid throughput screening systems for evaluating large numbers of biomass samples for their propensity for saccharification and fermentation after suitable pretreatments, and also the screening of yeasts for their potential for producing platform chemicals. See outcomes of other projects for details. |
| Sectors | Chemicals Education Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Transport |
| URL | http://www.disco-project.eu/DiscoleafletB.pdf |
| Description | This research formed part of an EU project DISCO; coordinated by VTT in Finland. The overall project focused on enzyme discovery for hydrolysing lignocellulose to release low-cost sugars for fermentation. The IFR component involved the development of methods for fractionating the plant materials, elucidating the physicochemical changes that occurred in the lignocellulose during thermphysical pretreatment and enzyme digestion, and in assessing a range of conditions for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. The feedstocks included wheat straw, wheat bran and corn cob wastes. Many of the results have been published and are currently being used (by IFR) towards the development of a full lignocellulosic biorefinery processing system. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Education,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
| Impact Types | Economic |