Production of Fuels and Chemicals

Research Activities Include:

  • Biofuels production from biomass
  • Fermentation of biomass with advanced thermophilic microbes – Team (Transcriptional analysis of Clostridium thermocellum using microarray technology.)
  • Fermentation for system biology analysis - Team
  • Bioconversion of genetically modified lignin plants such as switchgrass – Mielenz, Hamilton
  • Fermentation of soybean hulls to produce ethanol while not losing protein value – Mielenz
  • Value-added chemicals from oils and fats - Borole
  • Production of methane from biowaste - Borole
  • Assessment of metrics of renewables bioprocessing - Mielenz
  • Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals - Mielenz

Biocatalytic Production of Industrial Chemicals (epoxides, esters)

  • Development of thermophilic cytochrome P450 systems - Borole
  • Development of highly active enzymes for non-aqueous bioprocessing - Borole
  • Development of unsaturated fatty molecules via desaturase action - Borole
  • Enzyme reactions for nonaqueous biocatalysis (esters, epoxides, polymers, etc.) - Borole, Davison