Genencor launches first ever commercial enzyme product for processing lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol
Ethanol offers a potential solution to the world’s energy concerns as is recognized by the US Government. Its Energy Policy Act of 2005 has implemented a national Renewable Fuel Program which mandates 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2012 with a target of 35 billion gallons a year by 2017 – representing a five-fold increase in ethanol production.
The EU has set a target of deriving 10% of its energy from biofuels by 2020 and has a goal of meeting 25% of its road transport energy needs being based on biofuels by 2030.
Potential advantages of cellulosic ethanol
While commercialization of cellulosic ethanol is in its early stages, it offers the tremendous benefit of increasing ethanol production while reducing green house gas emissions.
According to the World Energy Council, converting only 5% of the world’s biomass (a total of 13.5 billion tones) to cellulosic ethanol would meet 26% of the world’s energy needs. Moreover, several studies (RFA & Argonne National Labs) have shown that in comparison to corn-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol offers 3-4 times as much reduction in green house gas emissions.
Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, now introduces Accellerase™ 1000, the first ever commercially available biomass enzyme developed specifically for second generation biorefineries.
Accellerase™ 1000 contains a potent complex of enzymes that reduces complex lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars – an indispensable step for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
AccelleraseTM 1000 will fill a large unmet need for reliable biomass enzyme supply to pilot and demonstration plant developers who are actively working on process development, scale up and integration. Accellerase™ 1000 is the first in what the company expects to be a family of products tailored to different biomass feedstocks and system conditions. The key features that are expected to be important at commercial scale are already built into this first generation product.
Product Features & Benefits
Accellerase™ 1000
Accellerase™ 1000 is the first ever commercially available biomass enzyme developed specifically for second generation biorefineries. The key to successful commercialization of cellulosic ethanol is the optimization and integration of each of the unit operations in the biomass conversion process. Accellerase™ 1000 reduces complex lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars – an indispensable step for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
Accellerase™ 1000 fills a large unmet need for a reliable biomass enzyme supply to pilot and demonstration plant developers who are actively working on process development, scale up and integration.
| Features | Benefits |
| Flexible | Ability to operate in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF), two-step sequential hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), or a hybrid process. |
| Versatile | Enhanced saccharification performance on a range of feedstocks - sugar cane bagasse, corn stover, softwood pulp. |
| Fast-acting | High ß-glucosidase activity increases saccharification rate, speeding ethanol fermentation, and improving yield. |
| High compatibility | Minimal formulation ensures no chemical interference with saccharification carbohydrate analysis or subsequent yeast fermentation. |
|
Supplementary effects |
Nutritive value from unclarified product available to yeast for ethanol production. |
Accellerase™ 1000 will be available for sample and sale immediately. Call the customer relations numbers below or email customer_relations@genencor.com to place your order.
- Europe/Africa /Middle East: +31 71 5686 168
- United States and Canada: +1 800 847 5311
- Asia/Pacific: +65 6511 5600
- Latin America: +54 11 5199 9550
Read more about Genencor's Accellerase™ 1000 product or take a look at one of Genencor’s focus areas: biorefineries.
Food versus Fuel
"One of the things that strikes me in the current debate, is that there is a lot of debate about the necessity of certification and traceability of foodstuffs as raw materials for fuel production. However, if that is the case, how is it possible that none of these are already in place for foodstuffs that are used for human consumption? The biofuels industry is still very small covering less than 0.5% of global land used for food production at present.
The current (justified) criticism with respect to loss of forests, water use and biodiversity should therefore especially be directed at the food industry. In addition, biomass for energy should not contribute to worsening problems. On the contrary, second generation biofuels, with lignocellulosic material (from trees and grasses, organic wastes and residues) could be cultivated next to food with ecological advantages, with lower costs and without direct compitition with food markets.
I believe the debate should focus more on linking biomass production to rural development schemes to ensure sustainable agricultural practices in general, ensuring that technology innovations and market deployment are facilitated by an open dialogue between policy makers and industry, and that all of that is safeguarded by a global sustainability framework.
If we succeed in that, bioenergy can be a (major) contributor to sustainable (rural) development at large and not 'just' an energy supply option."
Quote given by:
Associate Professor A.P.C. (André) Faaij, Coordinator Research Energy Supply & System Studies, Copernicus Institute - University of Utrecht (the Netherlands)
