Source: NORTHERN REGIONAL RES CENTER submitted to NRP
MIXED CULTURE BIOREACTORS TO CONVERT (LIGNO) CELLULOSIC FEEDSTOCKS INTO LIQUID BIOFUELS
Sponsoring Institution
Agricultural Research Service/USDA
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
USDA INHOUSE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0411521
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2007
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2008
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
NORTHERN REGIONAL RES CENTER
(N/A)
PEORIA,IL 61604
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
(N/A)
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
40%
Applied
30%
Developmental
30%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
5111510100050%
5111620104050%
Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
1510 - Corn; 1620 - Warm season perennial grasses;

Field Of Science
1040 - Molecular biology; 1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics;
Goals / Objectives
To develop mixed culture bioreactors for the conversion of corn fiber to butanol.
Project Methods
A two-stage process will be developed and evaluated for converting pretreated corn fiber into the biofuel, butanol. The first stage will mimic evolutionary biosystems as an efficient, diverse culture bioprocess (first-stage bioprocess) to break down (ligno)cellulosic feedstocks into butyrate. A second-stage bioprocess, with a pure-culture Clostridium sp., will then convert butyrate into the liquid biofuel - butanol. ARS will obtain a sample of corn fiber, analyze it for composition, and develop three different pretreatment strategies to enhance conversion of corn fiber into butanol.

Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08

Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) To develop mixed culture bioreactors for the conversion of corn fiber to butanol. Approach (from AD-416) A two-stage process will be developed and evaluated for converting pretreated corn fiber into the biofuel, butanol. The first stage will mimic evolutionary biosystems as an efficient, diverse culture bioprocess (first-stage bioprocess) to break down (ligno)cellulosic feedstocks into butyrate. A second-stage bioprocess, with a pure-culture Clostridium sp., will then convert butyrate into the liquid biofuel - butanol. ARS will obtain a sample of corn fiber, analyze it for composition, and develop three different pretreatment strategies to enhance conversion of corn fiber into butanol. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations No progress in the current fiscal year. Agreement remained open for administrative closeout.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications