Tag Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
UW–Madison biochemist wins prestigious forestry prize for discoveries that support sustainable energy and product innovations
UW–Madison biochemistry professor John Ralph has been awarded the forestry industry's top prize, alongside collaborator Wout Boerjan, a professor at Ghent University in Belgium, for their groundbreaking research on the molecular structure of lignin, one of the main components of plant cell walls.
UW–Madison researchers develop better way to make painkiller from trees
The process is primarily water based, relies on green solvents, and is continuous rather than a batch reaction, which makes it ideal for industrial applications.
Multitasking microbes: UW–Madison scientists engineer bacteria to make two valuable products from plant fiber
UW researchers have engineered bacteria that can produce two chemical products at the same time from underutilized plant fiber. The discovery could help make biofuels more sustainable and commercially viable.
DOE renews funding for Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center; UW–Madison hub to receive $27.5 million for 2023
The extension will allow GLBRC scientists to continue foundational research to enable the breakthroughs needed for the cost-effective conversion of non-food plants into low-carbon replacements for jet fuel, diesel and other fossil fuels.
At bioenergy crossroads, should corn ethanol be left in the rearview mirror?
New research shows that the carbon emissions from using land to grow corn can negate or even reverse any climate advantages of corn ethanol relative to gasoline.
Donohue to lead Wisconsin Energy Institute
Tim Donohue, a professor of bacteriology, has led the institute as interim director since 2017. WEI provides leadership in energy and clean technology research, scholarship, education and outreach.
Great Lakes research to fuel emerging bioeconomy
GLBRC is laying the groundwork for economically viable and environmentally sustainable biorefineries that use dedicated bioenergy crops grown on land unsuitable for food production — work that could serve as a cornerstone for an emerging bioeconomy.
Bioenergy research discovery paves way to production of new hydrocarbon
A team of researchers have described a pathway for furan fatty acid production in bacteria and other cells. This long chain fatty acid could substitute for petroleum-based products including fuel, engine lubricant, medicines and food additives.
Grassland conservation crucial to success of bioenergy
Protecting these natural lands right here in the U.S. offers an opportunity to make meaningful strides toward climate change mitigation while also improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and the delivery of many other ecosystem services.
Researchers create hybrids of six yeast species to combine useful traits
There may be many potential research and industrial uses for such hybrids, including studies in genetics, cancer biology, brewing and bioenergy.
Industry-ready process makes plastics chemical from plant sugars
New research describes an efficient and economically feasible process for producing HMF — a versatile plant-derived chemical considered crucial for building a renewable economy.
Bio-based chemicals could help reduce fossil fuel use
Petrochemicals, the oil- and gas-derived compounds that serve as the molecular backbones for much of modern commerce, commanded a $539.3 billion market value in 2018.
Engineered microbe may be key to producing plastic from plants
With a few genetic tweaks, a type of soil bacteria with an appetite for hydrocarbons shows promise as a biological factory for converting a renewable — but frustratingly untapped — bounty into a replacement for ubiquitous plastics.
Genes behind lager yeast’s cold- and sugar-loving success revealed
Behind the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage is a yeast adapted to the cold. New research has shown how modern lager yeast adopted the cold-loving and sugar-hungry traits essential to their success.
Broad genome analysis shows yeasts evolving by subtraction
An analysis of the way yeasts evolved individual appetites for particular food sources may be a boon to biofuels research.
Researchers find value in unusual type of plant material
UW-Madison scientists have shown that a recently-discovered variety of lignin, catechyl lignin (C-lignin), has attributes that could make it well-suited as the starting point for a range of bioproducts.
Researchers discover how to protect yeast from damage in biofuel production
The researchers found a strain of yeast with outstanding tolerance to ionic liquids, and identified a gene that makes a protein that works as a pump to remove toxins.
Better solvents = better biomass conversion for biofuels and bioproducts
UW-Madison researchers are pushing for a broader understanding of solvents used to convert non-food biomass to biofuels and bioproducts, which would help them to optimize biomass conversion reactions.
Bio-renewable process could help ‘green’ plastic
Plastics are often derived from petroleum, but Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center scientists at UW–Madison are developing new and renewable ways of creating them from biomass.
DOE selects Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center for next-phase funding
Research at the UW-based center will shift to bioenergy crops such as switchgrass, poplar trees and sorghum that will be grown on non-agricultural land.