Biofuels
While fermentation of ethanol from starch and sugar by Saccharomyces is well established, the BFF can provide an array of services to researchers developing second and next generation biofuels.
- Biomass treatment: Our tanks can be adapted for use as reactors for thermal or chemical biomass hydrolysis to release sugars. Our downstream capabilities allow us to separate the sugars from other process products.
- Production of hydrolytic enzymes: Our experience in fermentation and protein purification allows us to produce multi-gram quantities of biomass hydrolyzing enzymes.
- Fermentation Optimization: Our Das-Gip fed-batch Pro 8 reactor system is ideal for early stage development of process conditions and media. Our suite of New Brunswick Bioflo 3000 units is equally suited to this task.
- Downstream optimization: The BFF has a wide range of equipment for separations and purification and can aid clients in developing and piloting downstream processes for fuels and value added co-products.
- Scale up: We can take a process from 1L to 800L reactors, validating, proving and improving all the way to a commercial process.
- Analytical services: We have a well equipped analytical lab capable of processing samples for sugar and product analysis.
Track Record
The BFF has executed a number of biofuel related projects:
- Large scale production of pure recombinant hydrolytic enzymes using E. coli, Pichia pastoris and other microbial hosts
- Fermentation process development of anaerobic and aerobic cultures for the production of advanced second generation biofuels
- Pilot scale culture (up to 500L) with cellulosic biomass feedstocks including ground pre-treated grasses and softwoods
- Enzyme treatment of cellulosic biomass
- Testing a range of feedstocks for biofuel production