Improved fermentations using transgenic rice and switchgrass. Production of commodity chemicals.
Application(Product)Productionof biofuels and commodity chemicals from biomass. ProblemsAddressed (benefits/advantages)Biomass is a renewable resource that has shownpromise to replace petroleum based fuels. A promising type of biomass known as lignocellulosic consists ofcellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin and lignin. However, the cost of converting this type of biomass into fuel has notbeen cost competitive as traditional processes result in a low yield ofbiofuel. The primary reason for the lowyield is that over time plants, and particularly their cell walls, have builtup a resistance to being easily broken down (i.e., "recalcitrance"). Hence, current processes require a highvolume of biochemical solutions to convert a plant's stored sugar into biofueland other high-value commodities.
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