Research Highlights

Engineered Softwood
Great Lakes Bioenergy researchers and collaborators engineered softwoods to incorporate a key feature of hardwoods. The resulting pine (shown here) processes more easily into pulp and paper.

Great Lakes Bioenergy research consistently results in new discoveries and new technologies. Here, we highlight high-impact research from all three of our research areas.

Facilitating student investigations into making liquid fuel from plant biomass
In September, GLBRC Education and Outreach leaders John Greenler and Leith Nye, in collaboration with Travis Tangen at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, published a laboratory protocol that facilitates student engagement in bioenergy research.
Naturally occurring yeast strains applicable to bioenergy production have genetic determinants that are functionally linked to stress tolerance
Most biological catalysts used for biofuel production have come from nature, where there is selective pressure to adapt to changes in the environment. As such, natural populations contain a diversity of genetic traits, some of which may be useful for bioenergy production.
Clues to mechanism for increased reaction rate of acid-catalyzed biomass conversion in GVL solvent
The choice of solvent for lignocellulosic biomass conversion can influence the reaction rate, yield of product, and the type and yield of undesirable side products. Gamma-valerolactone (GVL) is an organic solvent shown to produce a high yield of sugar and solubilized lignin streams from acid-catalyzed biomass.
Farm supply response for bioenergy feedstocks in the Midwest
In order to successfully develop a second-generation biofuels industry, the agricultural sector will need to supply bioenergy feedstocks, which refer to cellulosic biomass (non-food plants), which typically consists of crop residues, perennial grasses, and short-rotation trees.
New target for engineering lignin for biofuel production identifies
Plants cell walls contain polysaccharides that can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars. Lignin, which is also present in the cell walls, hinders enzymatic saccharification. Thus, lignin must be removed or cleaved prior to saccharification, which requires chemicals and energy and increases cellulosic biofuel production costs.
Next-generation ammonia pretreatment enhances cellulosic biofuel production
Lignocellulosic crop residues are a promising alternative feedstock for producing liquid fuels and chemicals for modern biobased economies, and biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid fuels requires pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of the biomass to yield fermentable sugars. To compete with traditional refineries, biorefineries must achieve high carbohydrate-to-fuel yields with low enzymatic input and facilitate lignin valorization to co-products extending beyond simply using lignin to generate heat and power. Most pretreatment processes require high enzymatic loadings to achieve higher sugar yields under industrially-relevant conditions.