A new one-pot process for producing bio-based jet fuel addresses issues with existing multi-process methods — giving biofuel a chance to compete with its fossil-based equivalent.
The production of chemicals and fuels from biomass typically involves multiple processes, each optimized separately. This often creates conditions that may preclude the integration of that process with an upstream or downstream operation. While significant effort has gone into developing solutions to incompatibilities in individual steps, one challenge that remains is the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass.
Recently, hydrophilic ionic liquids have emerged as effective solvents to pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. These solvents are more environmentally friendly, produce relatively small amounts of inhibitors, and can be used at lower pressures and temperatures than conventional acids or bases. The problem, however, is that a small amount of ionic liquid remains in the pretreated biomass, and the host microbes as well as the cellulase enzymes they express cannot tolerate even low concentrations of ionic liquids.
Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have developed a genetically engineered Escherichia coli that...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
