News
SWEET success: DOE competition brings GLBRC science closer to market
What started as a last-minute contest entry for a group of Michigan State University students has resulted in a journal publication and a better understanding of how to translate science into marketable solutions to real-world problems.
In August, President Obama announced that the U.S.
Creating biofuels from region-specific biomass could make a huge dent in fossil fuel use for transportation. But moving lightweight, bulky biomass from farms to factories could leave a large carbon footprint, and get expensive quickly.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Pretreating non-edible biomass – corn leaves, stalks or switch grass – holds the keys for unlocking its energy potential and making it economically viable, according to a team of researchers led by Michigan State University.
Bruce Dale
Bruce Dale, Leader of GLBRC's Deconstruction Research Area, talks about biomass pretreatment, and its role in the biofuels pipeline.
MADISON - For thousands of years, bakers and brewers have relied on yeast to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yet, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers eager to harness this talent for brewing biofuels have found when it comes to churning through sugars, these budding microbes can be picky eaters.
David Rothamer
GLBRC engine researcher David Rothamer explains the differences between cellulosic ethanol and corn ethanol.
Bruce Dale
Bruce Dale, Leader of GLBRC's Deconstruction Research Area, talks about the age-old discussion of whether cellulosic ethanol is efficient to create.
David Rothamer
GLBRC engine researcher David Rothamer explains what ethanol is and why it's a good fuel.
Doug Landis
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) project area leader Doug Landis talks about biodiversity, why it's important, and why our researchers are looking at how it'll affect the biofuels industry as a whole.
Imagine if farmers could grow plants, press their seeds to extract oil, and use that oil to sustain their farm operations rather than relying on fossil fuels. Building on ten years of research and collaboration, scientists at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) have isolated an enzyme that brings this scenario one step closer to reality.