Alternative Bio Fuels from the Sea?

So far, bio fuels are produced from starchy plants which are, as a matter of fact, necessary as food. The aim of the project is to identify enzymes that allow the utilisation of the alternative raw materials cellulose and chitin so the industrial refining of these materials becomes a good option. Until now the production of ethanol from cellulose or chitin is very difficult because the molecule chains are very resistant against complete decomposition. But an effective way to split cellulose and chitin – the two most frequent renewable raw materials worldwide – would offer a new path for the preparation of bio fuels.

 
The Norwegian working group identified an enzyme reacting on the surface of crystalline chitin and thus introduces chain breaks and oxidises the ends of chitin chains. This treatment with the enzyme CBP21 promotes the efficiency of further enzymatic chitin degradation by chitinases (hydrolytic enzymes). To enhance the activity of CBP21 reaction conditions have to be adjusted.

 
Further aims of the project are to improve the efficiency of the method to decompose chitin (from crustaceans or fungi) and cellulose in terms of process and costs and to draw new ways for the production of bio fuels.

Project runtime: 2008-2013

Sources:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/330/6001/219
http://www.umb.no/umn-umb/article/lignocellulose-to-biofuels
http://www.umb.no/umn-umb/article/research-team-4-results-status
http://www.oekomotive.net/index.php/magazin/artikel/156