BACKGROUND
In the biofuels industry, enzymes are used to convert agricultural residues, such as sorghum stover, into simple sugars for fuel and chemical production. Conventional biological conversion relies on pretreating the biomass, which is expensive and requires the use of harsh chemicals. Conversely, fungi-derived enzymes (cellulases, hemicellulases, pectinases and lignin-degrading enzymes) have been studied for their ability to decompose biomass without a chemical or physical pretreatment. An ideal blend of these enzymes may produce the most productive multi-enzyme complex, yet production costs for these blends are usually high. Thus, there exists an ongoing need to identify, isolate, and characterize such enzymes with improved efficacy and greater yield to further advance the commercialization of the biomass bioconversion processes.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
OSU researchers have developed a novel blend of enzymes which is efficient, cost effective, and environmentally-friendly. This invention utilizes a combination of fungi (Aspergillus nidulans and Phanerochaete chrysosporium) for complete degradation of lignocellulose during biofuel production. This multi-enzyme mixture also has the potential to breakdown the complex matrix of untreated sorghum cell walls rather than needing a harsh chemical pretreatment for efficient hydrolysis of the biomass.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
- Biofuel industry
- Biotechnical industry
- Food industry
- Waste decomposition
- Pulp and paper production
- Textile manufacture
- Household and industrial cleaning agents
MAIN ADVANTAGES
- Environmentally-friendly
- No biomass pretreatment required
- Breaks down untreated sorghum cell walls from stover
STATE OF DEVELOPMENT
A prototype has been developed.