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Special
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Written by Sabrina Deparine
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Friday, 07 May 2010 10:32 |
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Page views: 1090 |
Two American companies, Verdezyne Inc. and Lallemand Ethanol Technology, are working together to develop a new specie of genetically-enhanced yeast that can help produce higher volumes of ethanol.
 Verdezyne Inc. will research on and conduct various metabolic engineering processes to enhance the industrial yeast strain produced by Lallemand. It will also receive the patent license fees as well as royalty payments for the project. Lallemand, on the other hand, will facilitate the process development, manufacturing and global commercialization of this new novel yeast. Both companies are expecting this new yeast to help produce higher volumes of ethanol per unit of glucose compared to existing yeast strains.
Basically, yeasts possess the natural ability to convert sugar to ethanol. In fact, biotechnology companies utilize yeast to produce ethanol fuel.
In general, the chemical process starts with the milling of feedstock such as sugarcane or corn. Fungal alpha amylase enzymes or diluted sulfuric acid is then added to this to break down the starches to sugar compounds. To further reduce these complex sugar compounds to simple sugars, glucose amylase is added. The resulting simple sugars are then converted to ethanol after the yeast has been added. This ethanol solution is then distilled to improve its concentration to up to 96%.
The development of the new yeast may also contribute to the production of cellulosic ethanol fuel from cheaper feedstock. This means that this new development can also help in making biofuels more affordable than regular gasoline. |
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