Search Results - biomass

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TEC2013-0007: Use of plants with increased level of highly methylesterified homogalacturonan for improving digestibility of plant biomasses.

Background Production of fuels and value-added chemicals from plant biomass often requires pretreatment of the biomass. Pretreatment increases the capital equipment needs and costs of the final product. Additionally, the use of seeds as a feedstock has been controversial, with some claiming that use of seeds for chemical production is increasing the...
Published: 7/30/2014   |   Inventor(s): Federica Brandizzi, Curtis Wilkerson, SanG-Jin Kim, Michael Held, Jonathan Walton, Dina Jabbour
Keywords(s): Agriculture Biotechnology, Animal Feed Additives, Biomass, Biomass Ethanol, Plant Biotechnology Category(s): Agriculture, Biotechnology, Chemicals, Energy

110100: Control of Cellulose Biosynthesis

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that serves as the basic structural component of plant cell walls. It accounts for roughly one-third of all vegetal matter, making it the most common organic compound on earth. Due to its ubiquitous nature, cellulose and its derivatives are key resources for the agriculture, forestry, textile, and paper industries....
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): KyunG-Hwan Han, JaE-Heung Ko, WoN-Chan Kim
Keywords(s): Biofuels, Biomass, Cellulose, Cellulosic Biomass, Feedstock Category(s): Agriculture, Biotechnology

100096: Economical Growth Media for Production of Cellulolytic Enzymes at High Concentrations

Producing biofuels from cellulosic materials, such as corn stalks, wood chips, and other biomass, requires the use of enzymes to degrade the cellulosic biomass into its molecular components. The cost to produce these enzymes is high, a factor contributing to the limited production of cellulosic ethanol. Michigan State University’s invention reduces...
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): Ming Woei Lau, Bruce Dale
Keywords(s): Biodiesel, Biomass, Cellulose, Enzymes Category(s): Biotechnology, Chemicals, Materials

100090: Method to Produce Highly Digestible, Pretreated Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Anhydrous Liquid Ammonia

In the continuing push to develop alternative fuels, bioethanol is clearly a viable option. However, if it is to become a truly economical alternative, a more effective and efficient method of processing lignocellulosic biomass must be developed. Michigan State University has developed a novel lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment process that...
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): Shishir Chundawat, Leonardo Sousa, Albert Cheh, Venkatesh Balan, Bruce Dale
Keywords(s): Ammonia, Biomass, Cellulose, Ethanol, Lignocellulose Category(s): Biotechnology, Chemicals

100083: Continuous Nano-Hybrid Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Biofuels

Due to its abundant resources, lignocellulosic biomass is a promising candidate for bioethanol production to reduce the dependence of transportation fuels on petroleum and decrease the greenhouse gas emission. Biomass pretreatment is an essential processing step in the enzymatic hydrolysis of biofuels or pulp from lignocellulosic plants. While there...
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): Ilsoon Lee, Wei Wang, Shaowen Ji
Keywords(s): Biofuels, Biomass, Biomass Ethanol, Cellulose, Ethanol, Lignin Category(s): Biotechnology, Nanotechnology

090131: Utility Promoters for Biomass Feedstock Biotechnology

Genetic optimization of biomass is necessary to improve the rates and final yields of sugar release from woody biomass. Areas that would benefit from genetic optimization include growth rate, environmental stress tolerance, yields of easily fermentable polysaccharides, total lignin content, lowering biomass recalcitrance to fermentation, and wood...
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): KyunG-Hwan Han, JaE-Heung Ko
Keywords(s): Biofuel, Biomass, Ethanol, Feedstock, Lignocellulose Category(s): Biotechnology, Chemicals, Energy

070080: Down Regulation and Up Regulation of Maize Lignin Biosynthesis Enzymes via RNAi Technology to Reduce Crop Pre-treatment Requirements for Bio-fuel Production, and/or Improve Hardwood Quality

Crops and crop residues such as maize stover are considered attractive cellulosic biomass feedstock for the production of bio-fuels, but suffer from the need to chemically pre-treat the material to break-down lignin and release cellulose and hemi-cellulose for fermentation. Crops with reduced pre-treatment would be advantageous. Lignin is also a...
Published: 7/21/2014   |   Inventor(s): Masomeh (mariam) Sticklen
Keywords(s): Biofuel, Biomass, Feedstock, Lignin, Maize Category(s): Biotechnology, Energy, Agriculture

980061: Condensed Phase Catalytic Hydrogenation of Lactic Acid to Propylene Glycol

Propylene glycol is a nontoxic chemical used in polymers production, as a nontoxic antifreeze, and in food, drink, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Propylene glycol is currently made commercially by high pressure and high temperature hydrolysis of propylene oxide. Description Michigan State University’s invention provides a low-cost...
Published: 7/30/2014   |   Inventor(s): Dennis Miller, Zhigang Zhang, James Jackson
Keywords(s): Biomass, Catalysis, Catalyst, Lactic Acid, Propylene Glycol Category(s): Biotechnology, Chemicals