Biocatalysis

Genencor reported on progress in its project with Goodyear Tire to develop a process to produce isoprene, the building block of rubber in products such as tires.

In a presentation at the Society of Industrial Microbiology conference in San Francisco this week (August 1-5, 2010), Genencor described how synthetic biology is being applied to increase the yield and rate of production of this large volume chemical currently entirely derived from petroleum. BioIsoprene, as they call the renewably-produced isoprene, would make the tire and rubber industry less dependent on petroleum-derived materials.

Verenium, the enzyme developer that was created when Diversa merged with cellulosic ethanol developer Celunol, has now sold its cellulosic business to BP for $98.3 million. Included in the transaction are the facilities in Jennings, LA and San Diego, CA.

Verenium will retain its specialty enzyme business, including its enzymes for facilitating biofuels production.

As a result of this deal, Verenium is returning to its original focus on biocatalysis and the development of improved enzymes for industrial applications. Read the press release here.

The winners of the 2010 Presidential Green Chemistry awards include Merck and Codexis for their collaborative work on a new enzyme-based process for manufacturing Januvia and LS9, Inc for its work toward developing a petroleum-like biofuel. The full list of recipients is here.

Novozymes, the largest and IMHO best enzyme maker on the planet, has just introduced another innovation. It is called GH-61, which tells you nothing about what it really is. Novozymes calls it an “enzyme booster” that turbocharges the enzymatic degradation of cellulose. Imagine: an additive that boosts the performance of Novozyme’s already high-performing cellulases. Accelerating the conversion of waste cellulosic raw materials–things like corn cobs, straw, corn stalks, sugar cane bagasse (the stalks left over after the sugar has been crushed out), and the like– into sugars that can be fermented to produce biofuels is step forward on the path toward more plentiful and less expensive biofuels.

Commercialization has just been initiated, and sales are only beginning. But CEO Steen Riisgard says: “We are a real company, and when we say we are ready, we mean we are ready.”

I believe him.

Shell has announced that it is creating a $21 billion joint venture (that’s billion, with a B) to produce fuel ethanol with Brazilian ethanol producer Cosan. Sugar cane will be used as the feedstock. The venture will be one of the top three ethanol producers in the world–so far.

South San Francisco-based LS9 announced today that it has developed a microbe that can produce advanced biofuels directly from cellulosic biomass, such as woodchips, in a “one-step” fermentation process that eliminates the need for additional chemicals and industrial processes.

Always at the leading edge of innovation, Apple has just filed a patent application on a solar-powered iPod, iPhone or other device. Much cooler than biofuels …

Here’s an amusing news item. According to researchers at the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University, tobacco could be a superior biofuel crop. By genetic modification, the oil accumulation in tobacco leaves was increased to 6.8% of dry weight. With tobacco leaf productivity near 1.5 tons per acre, adding the oil in leaves to the oil in tobacco seeds ((approximately 0.24 tons/acre), the total oil yield could increase to as high as .34 tons, or 90 gallons, per acre — 60% higher than oil yields from soybeans.

Colorado-based Gevo announced a new agreement with Bye Energy (Love that name!) to develop aviation fuels. According to a statement by the companies, they have initiated static engine tests with general aviation aircraft using a sustainable fuel alternative. No terms were disclosed. For previous news on Gevo, click here.

There is no shortage of biofuels conferences to attend. The 5th Annual Biofuels FInancial Conference is coming up in Minneapolis, MN June 24-25.