News

November 2009

Significant milestones achieved in second generation fuel production

Over the last month Microbiogen scientists have achieved a number of breakthroughs and been able to successfully demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s enhanced second generation “fuel and food” biorefinery yeast strains. Key areas of success include:

Over 90% theoretical yield from raw hydrolyzates

Microbiogen yeast strain N26 was able to successfully grow on several litres of raw, non-detoxified hemi-cellulose hydrolyzate (sugar cane trash) under aerobic conditions with over 90% conversion of sugars and other carbon sources (including acetate) into yeast biomass. The time taken for the stream clean–up and biomass production was less than 24 hours – in other words industrial rates of growth and yield in raw, concentrated hydrolyzate streams.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation to 10% ethanol

A portion of the yeast produced from the hemi-cellulose was used in conjunction with a cocktail of enzymes to break down and then ferment the sugars contained in the cellulose portion of the biomass. Over a period of 24 hours the Microbiogen yeast – N26 (same yeast that as was grown in the hemi-cellulose hydrolyzate) successfully fermented the available sugars with a final titre of 10% ethanol. As in the case of the hemi-cellulose part of the process, no detoxification was undertaken. The yield of cellulose to ethanol was estimated at 80%.

Implications are significant

Results from Microbiogen research scientists shows it is now possible to significantly increase the efficiency and value of second generation biofuels. One organism can now fulfil many tasks:

(1) Less favourable sugars and even unwanted carbon streams such as acetate can be utilised as the substrate to produce the primary fermenting organism – N26.
(2) Any excess non-GMO N26 can be used as a source of high quality protein and secondary revenue stream.
(3) Sugar streams and operating environments do not need to be detoxified.
(4) The value of excess N26 yeast is expected high – perhaps more than the ethanol itself.
(5) N26 solves the “Food vs Fuel” issue – even for those that worry that future energy crops will divert production from food crops.
(6) The one organism demonstrates industrial growth rates and industrial fermentation rates.
(7) One organism which fulfils multiple roles is expected to generate efficiency and value gains, improving the economics of the whole process.
(8) The Microbiogen yeast N26 is expected to be applicable to a range of substrate and process routes.

September 2009

Microbiogen, PureVision collaborate on world-first ‘food and fuel’ enabling technology

Two leading technology companies are joining forces to combat the ‘food versus fuel’ dilemma historically associated with biofuel production. PureVision, an American renewable technology developer, and Microbiogen, an Australian microbiology company, have signed a formal non-exclusive collaboration agreement that will see Microbiogen’s unique, non-genetically modified (GM) yeast organism utilized by PureVision’s cellulosic biorefinery and fractionation technology to produce both biofuels and protein products (food and feed) from biomass.

By enabling the production of food and feed from non-food crops, this revolutionary approach addresses common concerns about the redirection of food crops for the sole production of biofuels. It also dramatically improves the efficiency of the existing process by utilizing what has previously been regarded as waste biomass, as well as the food part of the crop, for the production of both fuel and protein.

“It’s a great fit,” says Ed Lehrburger, founder and President of PureVision Technology, Inc., a Colorado-based biorefining technology development company. “PureVision’s approach has always been to use non-food feedstocks, such as corn stover, bagasse, wood and non-food energy crops, such as switchgrass to produce more sustainable bio-based products. When Microbiogen contacted us to see if we had the capability to grow non-GM yeasts on our liquid fraction to make protein, we were intrigued about the possibilities.”

According to Geoff Bell, Chief Executive Officer of Microbiogen, its non-GM yeasts have performed well in the laboratory and are now ready to be used in commercial environments. “For over eight years, our company has been developing natural yeast strains that can be used to produce both ethanol and high-quality protein, and we are now in the process of identifying and partnering with a number of companies with complementary technologies to enable us to demonstrate its potential on an industrial scale,” said Mr. Bell. “PureVision’s bio-refinery capability and focus on sustainable fuel production makes this collaboration extremely promising. We look forward to working together to advance and perfect our technologies.”

One of the most exciting aspects of the Microbiogen technology is that, for the first time in the field of biofuels, the organism that ferments the sugars to ethanol also has the ability to clean the waste stream generated by the process and, once fermentation is complete, can then be sold as a valuable high protein food by-product. “Essentially, this means that ethanol producers will be able to have their cake and eat it too,” said Mr. Bell. “This is a ‘win win’ for everyone – production of cost-effective biofuels without the loss of food production.”

According to Mr. Lehrburger, preliminary economics look promising for making both biofuels and protein from non-food biomass in commercial biorefineries. “We’re very excited to be entering into a formal collaboration with perhaps the only company in the world that is focusing on developing non-GM yeast strains for these purposes,” he said.

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For further information, please contact:

info@PureVisionTechnology.com
www.purevisiontechnology.com

Laura Air for Microbiogen +612 8297 1505 or lair@respublica.com.au

August 2009

The Australian Federal Government has offered Microbiogen over $2.5 million funding for its project entitled “Microbiogen’s Second Generation Biorefinery – Converting Sugar Cane Bagasse into Fuel and Feed”. There were over 30 highly competitive applications applying for funding through the Commonwealth’s $15 million Second Generation Biofuels Research and Development Grant Program (Gen 2). Microbiogen’s proposal was one of seven projects that were selected after the assessment process.

View press release