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UGA discovery may allow scientists to make fuel from CO2 in the atmosphere
Researchers at the University of Georgia have found a way to transform the carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere into useful industrial products. Their discovery may soon lead to the creation of biofuels made directly from the carbon dioxide in the air that is responsible for trapping the sun’s rays and raising global temperatures.
Contact: Adams, MichaelSEC schools dive into academics with renewable energy conference
The Southeastern Conference is best known for its high-powered football teams, but now the athletic conference is spending some of its money on academics. About 400 researchers, students and administrators have gathered at Atlanta’s Hyatt Regency to present academic papers and talk about renewable energy at the first “SEC Symposium.”
Contact: Scott, RobertUGA will lead inaugural SEC Symposium on renewable energy
The inaugural SEC Symposium, to be led by UGA, will be held Feb. 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. The theme of the symposium is “Impact of the Southeast in the World’s Renewable Energy Future.” Participation is open to UGA faculty, staff and students.
Contact: Scott, RobertElephant grass has potential as biofuel crop in southern states
A drought tolerant grass known as elephant grass or napiergrass that is fed to cattle in the tropics is being studied as a possible cellulosic ethanol feedstock in southern states, with encouraging results.
Contact: Cheng, YouyouDiscovery of plant gene lays groundwork for improved biofuel processing
University of Georgia researchers have taken an important step toward the goal of figuring out how to break down plants so that they easily release the simple sugars that can be processed into biofuels. They have identified a previously uncharacterized gene that plays a major role in cell wall development of Arabidopsis plants, a discovery that promises to help turn plants into biofuel more efficiently.
Contact: York, WilliamBSRI Welcomes New Leadership
BSRI welcomes Dr. Alan Darvill as its new director. Dr. Darvill is a Regents Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Plant Biology, Director of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, and the UGA lead for the DOE BioEnergy Science Center. Dr. Darvill will work with Dr. Robert Scott, who becomes the Executive Director and assumes a more operational role, and Associate Director Ryan Adolphson to grow the institute.
Contact: Cheng, YouyouA growing effort: UGA professors receive $2 million to speed biofuel development
In the ongoing search for cleaner, renewable energy sources, biofuels derived from trees, shrubs and grasses have emerged as a strong candidate. But creating the next generation’s energy source is not as simple as growing a few crops; extensive research is required to ensure that these plants produce enough biomass and fuel per acre to make biomass farming economically viable.
Contact: Tsai, Chung-juiBSRI welcomes new Associate Director
BSRI is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Adolphson as its Associate Director, effective 1 March 2012. BSRI will take advantage of Ryan’s expertise and skills in outreach, government, and corporate relations, as well as his broad knowledge of bioenergy field.
Contact: Cheng, YouyouGrass to gas: UGA researchers’ genome map speeds biofuel development
Researchers at the University of Georgia have taken a major step in the ongoing effort to find sources of cleaner, renewable energy by mapping the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy.
Contact: Paterson, AndrewUGA to get $1.2M for algae research, biofuel study
University of Georgia researchers are partnering with the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, on research to determine effective methods of turning algae biomass into biofuels. In addition to engineering research on the conversion technology, the team will also investigate the economic viability of this renewable energy strategy.
Contact: Das, KeshavMiscanthus: A Better Southeast Biofuel Crop
A new partnership between UGA and Mendel Biotechnology focuses on miscanthus, a high-yielding perennial grass that can reach heights of more than 12 feet. Researchers are evaluating miscanthus for heat and electrical power generation and production of liquid transportation fuel and bioproducts.
Contact: Paterson, ANDREWA Co-Fermentation Strategy to Remove the Key Inhibitors and More Efficiently Co-Ferment Mixed Sugars
A new technology has improved ethanol production by removing acetic acid – which inhibits microbial growth – from fermenting feedstocks, while simultaneously converting the mixed sugar stream into ethanol.
Engineering Yeast and other Microorganisms for Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Biomass
A new yeast strain is highly tolerant of the harsh chemical pretreatments needed to breakdown woody pine biomass, while a new combination of microorganisms is used to ferment high-pectin sugars into cellulosic ethanol.
Contact: Peterson, JoyUGA discovery changes how scientists think about plant cell wall formation
University of Georgia researchers have discovered that two proteins come together in an unexpected way to make a carbohydrate, a chain of sugar molecules, in plant cell walls. This fundamental discovery changes the way scientists think about how plant cell walls are made and opens a new door to converting plants to biofuels and other carbon-based products.
Contact: Mohnen, DebraUGA researchers develop ‘super’ yeast that turns pine into ethanol
Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a “super strain” of yeast that can efficiently ferment ethanol from pretreated pine-one of the most common species of trees in Georgia and the U.S. Their research could help biofuels replace gasoline as a transportation fuel.
Contact: Peterson, JoyExtremophiles: Key to Bioenergy?
The Bioenergy Systems Research Institute hosted a symposium on 19-20 September 2011 titled “Extremophiles: Key to Bioenergy?” to explore the use of microorganisms that grow in extreme environments (heat, cold, salinity, etc.) and their enzymes for conversion of biomass.
Contact: Maier, RobertFrom field to fuel: UGA now offering rapid technique for biomass analysis
UGA researchers have begun to employ a new technique, pyrolysis molecular beam-mass spectrometry, to characterize the lignin content of biomass and use these results to screen types of biomass and correlate lignin to the its viability for biofuel production. Very few facilities of this type are available in the world.
Contact: Azadi, ParastooUGA Researchers win $1.34M USDA-DOE Biofuels Grant: Pair Will Attempt to Manipulate Tree Proteins to Speed Growth
UGA researchers are attempting to increase productivity of trees by genetically modifying certain proteins critical to wood formation.
Microalgae Energy Technologies, Renewable Biomass Production for Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Bioproducts
UGA researchers identify ways to enhance fast-growing algae as a source of biomass to produce biodiesel and methane for a local utility, as well as produce residual biomass for fertilizers, poultry feed and even plastics.
Contact: Das, KeshavUGA biomass technology increases ethanol yield from grasses and yard waste
University of Georgia researchers have developed a new technology that promises to dramatically increase the yield of ethanol from readily available non-food crops, such as Bermudagrass, switchgrass, Napiergrass-and even yard waste.
Contact: Peterson, JoyHigh-Temperature Gasification of Biomass Improves Productivity and Efficiency
UGA engineers are finding ways to optimize efficiency and productivity of low-moisture biomass, which is heated at high temperatures in the absence of air to produces gas, fuel oil and biochar, a dense charcoal-like substance that sequesters atmospheric carbon in the soil and adds nutrients.