August 7, 2013
BY Microvi Biotechnologies
The USDA awarded Microvi Biotechnologies a grant to develop its breakthrough technology that dramatically improves the yield and performance of biobutanol processes. The technology overcomes the toxic and inhibitory effects on butanol producing microorganisms, a major bottleneck in scaling existing biobutanol processes.
Microvi’s butanol technology is based on the company’s MicroNiche Engineering, a process which enhances microbial physiology and optimizes enzymatic performance.
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“A diversified energy future based on biobutanol and other low-cost biofuels requires new technologies for maximizing feedstock conversion efficiency and reducing operating costs” said Ameen Razavi, director of innovation research. “Through this effort, we open a new paradigm for managing toxic stresses for biobutanol production leading to economical production.”
As a fuel or gasoline additive, bioutanol has many advantages over ethanol, including drop-in capability, higher energy content and better transport and handling properties. In addition, butanol can also be used as a building block for chemicals and polymers.
Based on preliminary investigation Microvi’s technology has shown that it substantially increase the titer concentration of butanol over its solubility limit leading to effective biobutanol production. Microvi’s technology is also expected to provide economic advantages such as reduced water usage, waste production and energy use. Biobutanol processes using Microvi’s technology would benefit from reduced capital and operating costs. The technology will be retrofitable in existing bioethanol processes and work with any microorganism including genetically modified organisms.
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Microvi’s biobutanol technology can help achieve energy independence, diversify uses of agricultural and rural resources and reduce negative economic and environmental impacts associated with dependence on petroleum.
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The U.S. DOE has announced its intent to issue funding to support high-impact research and development (R&D) projects in two priority areas: sustainable propane and renewable chemicals and algal system cultivation and preprocessing.
Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., in August introduced the Renewable Chemicals Act, a bill that aims to create a tax credit to support the production of biobased chemicals.
The Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium, a consortium of the U.S. DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, has launched an effort that aims to gather community input on the development of new biomass processing facilities.
USDA on March 8 celebrated the second annual National Biobased Products Day, a celebration to raise public awareness of biobased products, their benefits and their contributions to the U.S. economy and rural communities.