February 2011

i

February 2011

onservation and ing disseminated by the Department of

rgy (DOE). As such, the document complies with information quality guidelines issued by the DOE. The report does not constitute "influential" information, as that term is defined in DOE's information quality g anagement and Budget's Information Quality Bul eport is therefore not subject to the peer review requirements set forth in DOE's guidelines and the Bulletin. Consistent with DOE's guidelines, however, the report was subject to both internal and external pre-dissemination review.

Date published: February 2011

Information current as of: November 2009

This report, prepared pursuant to Section 9008(c)(3)(B) of the Food, CEnergy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246) is beEne

uidelines of the Office of Mletin for Peer Review (Bulletin): the r

i

Executive Summary

he Biomass Research and Developmen(Board) founded the Biomass Conv

Interagency Working Group (BCIWG2007 to coordinate federally supported redevelopment, and deployment (RD&aimed at the development of efficieeffective conversion methods for the pronext-generation, plant-fiber based, cellubiofuels. It includes representation fromdepartments of Energy (DOE), Agricu(USDA), Defense (DOD), and Interior (National Science Foundation (NSF); and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)task, completed in

t Board on

to be overcome in the next five to ten yeathe ambitious RFS mandates for advancesupply through 2022. This report ihelp the federal government maintain a wcoordinated and effective research portfosupport biofuels conversion research.

The report focuses on the conversion ofgrown, nonfood, lignocellulosic (plant-fifeedstocks into liquid transportation fuExamples of such feedstocks includeand forest residue such as corn stover, and portions of municipal solid waste, and

February 2011

ersi) in

sD) ef

nt and du

los th

ltureDO

t.

May 2008, was to condnrn

e pr

ical challengrd

s designeli

sube

els. agric

wood chips,

dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass and e are a

tock of great potential, the technical barriers associated with algae (production, processing, and conversion) are just beginning to be defined and addressed among federal agencies1. For many terrestrial oil crops, the technical barriers are dominated by production challenges rather than

the fall of earch, forts cost-ction of ic e I); the

he Its first uct a

Federal research inventory of biomass coresearch. With that input, along with sevegovernment reports on biomass conversioand technology, its second task was thof the current document.

Many scientific and technolog

version al key science

eparation

es need s to meet biofuels ed to ll-o to

stainably r based)

ultural

short-rotation poplar trees. Although algafeeds

1 The National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap was published in May 2010.

r conversion processes that impact near-term, mid-term, and long-term

ject of future

nological challenges ficient, cost-g lignocellulosic ion fuels on a llenge is biomass ural and chemical

t into plant fiber to th biological and

s. This recalcitrance makes it

converted into ze whole biomass ce issues of catalyst ty.

acing virtually all the mediates never

iates are always in the case of bio-

mselves a complex chemical mix). The mixtures, which

self or from the n, make rmediates more

e, science has achieved y put solutions to

roblem within reach.

The federal government has already committed substantial resources to both basic and applied research on biofuels. Members of the BCIWG will foster the interagency cooperation and coordination that is essential to help meet goals for the development of cost-competitive, next-generation, cellulosic biofuels.

conversion. These and othe

goals (see p. 18) will be the subreports.

Significant scientific and techmust be addressed to achieve efeffective methods for convertinmaterials into liquid transportatcommercial scale. A major charecalcitrance, the inherent structcomplexity that nature has builprotect plants from assault by bonon-biological forcedifficult to cost-effectively process plant fiber into usable intermediates that can beliquid fuels. Processes that utiliand circumvent recalcitrance faactivity, selectivity, and durabili

Another major challenge fprocessing methods is that the interemerge in pure form. Intermedmixed with other chemicals (oroils, are theextraneous chemicals in thesecome either from the plant itsubstances used in deconstructiosubsequent processing of the intedifficult. At the same timadvances in recent years that mathis p

T

February 2011

ii

Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... i

......................... ii

F ........................ iv iv

..........................1

I ..........................3

III. P ..........................6 B ........................... 7 T ........................... 8

........................... 8

........................... 8

........................... 9

........................... 9

........................... 9

........................... 9

IV ........................10 B ......................... 11

......................... 11

......................... 11 12

......................... 12

......................... 13

......................... 14

......................... 15

V ........................16

Appendix A.1 Research Tools—Biological Platform ..................................................................19 Rapid Genomic Sequencing................................................................................................................ 19 High-Throughput Screening/Assays................................................................................................... 19 Bioprospecting/................................................................................................................................... 19 Metagenomics..................................................................................................................................... 19 Synthetic Biology ............................................................................................................................... 19

Table of Contents...................................................................................................

oreword ................................................................................................................The Biomass Research and Development Board.................................................................................

I. Introduction: Benefits and Challenges of Biofuels ........................................

I. The Biomass Conversion Interagency Working Group .................................

athways to Liquid Transportation Fuels.......................................................iological Processing ................................................................................................hermal/Chemical Processing ...................................................................................

Gasification ......................................................................................................Pyrolysis...........................................................................................................Slow Pyrolysis .................................................................................................Fast Pyrolysis ...................................................................................................Liquefaction .....................................................................................................Aqueous Phase Reforming...............................................................................

. Barrier Identification ......................................................................................iochemical Platform: Enzymatic-Microbial Conversion.........................................

Technical Barriers in Pretreatment ..................................................................Technical Barriers in Enzymatic Hydrolysis ...................................................Technical Barriers in Biochemical Fuel Synthesis ...................................................................

Thermochemical Platform .........................................................................................Technical Barriers to Gasification ...................................................................Technical Barriers in Pyrolysis ........................................................................Technical Barriers to Aqueous Phase Reforming ............................................

. Conclusion......................................................................................................

February 2011

iii urces) .............. 20 ......................... 20 ......................... 20 ......................... 20 ......................... 20 ......................... 20 ......................... 21

A ........................22 ......................... 22 ......................... 22 ......................... 22

Advanced Process Analytical Tools ................................................................................................... 23 Process Technology and Optimization ............................................................................................... 23 Techno-Economic Analysis ................................................................................................................ 23

Advanced Imaging (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance [NMR], High-Intensity Light SoHigh-End Computational Modeling ..........................................................................Bioreactor Engineering ..............................................................................................Metabolic Engineering...............................................................................................Protein Engineering ...................................................................................................Process Interface Engineering....................................................................................Techno-Economic Analysis .......................................................................................

ppendix A.2 Research Tools—Thermochemical Platform................................High-Throughput Experimentation............................................................................Computational Modeling ...........................................................................................In situ Tools ...............................................................................................................

iv

February 2011

Foreword

The Biomass Research and Developm(Board) was originally created by Cothe Biomass Research and Developm

2000, to “coordinate research and development activities relatingand biobased products between the

Department of Agriculture and the Deof Energy, and with other departmentagencies of the Federal GovernmenBoard is co-chaired by senior offidepartments of Energy (DOE) and A(USDA) and includes senior officers U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Environmental Protection Agency (ENational Science Foundation (NSPresident’s Office of Science and TPolicy (OSTP). Senior decision makother agencies and offices have als

The Biomass Research and Development Board

ent Bongress ient Act

to biofuel partme

s and t.2” The

cials from tgricultufrom th

U.S. PA),

F), and the echnologers from

o been inv U.S

e, of the

the (as an ex

e National AP

eration

evolve from promising ideas to competitive art supply-

tion, tributio

develop interagency teams to better coordinate activities. In addition, the Board identified two

ard n

by the Board to participate, including theDepartments of Transportation, DefensCommerce, and Treasury; the OfficeFederal Environmental Executive, andOffice of Management and Budgetofficio member.

In October 2008 the Board released thBiofuels Action Plan (NBAP). The NBoutlines areas where interagency coopwill help biobased fuel production technologies

of

s

nt

he re e

y ited .

solutions. The Board used a five-pchain framework (Feedstock ProducFeedstock Logistics, Conversion, Disand End Use) to identify Board action areas and

n,

2 Pub. L. No. 106-224, 114. Stat. 431, Sec. 305, repealed by 2008 Farm Bill, Pub. L. No. 110-246, 122 Stat. 1651 (enacted June 18, 2009, H.R. 6124) (codified at 7 U.S.C. § 8108).

1) Sustainability and 2) Environment, and Health and Safety—into

ups will provide

t, “conversion” is plant fiber, or

cks to liquid fuels. mplishing this are

ently cost effective to marketplace. The

S) of the Energy y Act (EISA) of 2007

ply of renewable er year (BGY) by allons are expected to

”

ation of a Biomass ing Group

clude members from OD, NSF, and other

agencies. This report satisfies the second deliverable from the BCIWG—an integrated, 10-year, federal research, development, and deployment (RD&D) biomass conversion survey that includes agency roles, goals, and key milestones; and identifies critical gaps.

crosscutting action areas—

which the other working grofuture input.

For the purposes of this reporthe transformation of nonfoodlignocellulose, from feedstoCurrent technologies for acconeither efficient nor sufficicompete effectively in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFIndependence and Securitmandates expanding the supfuels to 36 billion gallons p2022, of which 21 billion gbe “Advanced Biofuel. 3

The NBAP calls for the creConversion Interagency Work(BCIWG), which will inDOE, USDA, EPA, D

T

3 Pub. L. No. 110-140, 121. Stat. 1522. EISA also requires production of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels by the year 2022.

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

1

I. Introduction: Benefits and Challenges of Biofuels

he cars, trucks, buses, locomotives, and airplanes that compose the natransportation system operate almost exon petroleum-based fuels. Howeverreliance on a single fuel source has cchallenges that the nation must addrdemand for oil increases and the procapability of domestic fuel sources decrdependence on foreign oil producers rehigh.. Further, concerns about climate

T bargetion’s

clusiv, such reated

ess. As Uduction

easesmains

chang

house gasesrown in

the impact

ave few eir stainab

ofuels have strong potential to nd clim

e. Corn use, bu

t-fibe

ic petroleumo use tive

ersion technologies are developed—coution.

in vehicle engines could substantially reduce net carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, because the CO2 released while burning the fuel is reabsorbed by the next generation of feedstock plants as they grow.

There are significant scientific and technological challenges to achieving efficient and cost-

rt plant fiber, or sportation fuels on

f challenge for t conversion routes

e, the inherent strength mplexity that

fiber to protect plants

ecalcitrance makes it to move cost effectively from plant

e time, advances ns to these

s biology—much man Genome Project—

rful new tools and and manipulating

ponents—including rganisms—at the vels, to help

overcome these challenges. Over the past several esearch,

ment (RD&D) efforts ientists who are

ystems biology tools to cost-effective biofuels

ade significant advances in chemical catalysis for biofuels conversion. Researchers are adapting a range of traditional thermochemical processes to overcome the challenge of cost-effective conversion, including gasification, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and pyrolysis, which are not constrained by the recalcitrance problem but have other issues, such as scalability and product

s,

ely

.S.

, e

be used as feedstock for biofuel produccombustion of cellulosic biofuels

effective methods to convelignocellulose, into liquid trana commercial scale. A chieseveral of the most significanis biomass recalcitrancand structural and chemical conature has built into plant from breakdown by both biological and nonbiological forces. This rdifficult

and other environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, which releases greenpollutants into the atmosphere, have gconcert with our understanding of

Consumers in the U.S. currently hpractical alternatives to oil to meet thtransportation fuel needs; however, suproduced bi

and

s.

ly

ate

t r

fiber to usable intermediates that can beconverted to fuels. At the samin recent years may put solutioproblems within reach.

First, genomics-based systemof it growing out the Huhas provided an array of powetechniques for understandingbiological systems and complants, enzymes, and microomicroscopic and nanoscale le

address our nation’s energy security achange challenges in the near futurethanol has displaced some petroleumgreater promise lies in cellulosic or planbased biofuels.

In contrast to diminishing domestreserves, the U.S. has to the potential tinedible plant fiber that—if cost-effecconv

ld The

years, federally supported rdevelopment, and deployhave built a community of scaggressively applying sthe problem of achievingprocessing.

Second, RD&D efforts have m

February 2011

2 ping

ethods that operate at lower temperatures and use

ported major admaps

, DOE Barriers toh Agenda

tly and

ewable t together lead

g in biologicch agenda. In

ation (NSF

Lignocellulosic

intly sponsored by NSF and DOE that brought together leading scientists and researchers in the chemical catalysis community.

The federal government has already committed substantial resources to both basic and applied

07, DOE has ver a five year

to research, develop, iofuels technology.

invested almost $550 echnology RD&D. In SF are offering

l support to fundamental research efforts in genomics, metabolic engineering,

have potential

al challenges need to e to ten years in

us RFS mandates for through 2022; this

c approaches to rch that are likely to

nges. The aim of the l government in

maintaining a well-coordinated and balanced research portfolio that supports the biofuels conversion research necessary to meet our national goals for the development and expansion of cellulosic biofuels over the next decade.

quality. Researchers are also developromising new catalytic conversion m

sugars as intermediates.

The federal government has supefforts to develop detailed research roboth of these approaches. In 2006published Breaking the Biological Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Researcthe result of a scientific workshop joinsponsored by DOE’s Office of ScienceOffice of Energy Efficiency and RenEnergy. The workshop broughscientists and researchers workinsystems to map a detailed resear2008, the National Science Foundpublished Breaking the Chemical and Engineering Barriers to

for

Biofuels: Next Generation Hydrocarbon Biorefineries, based on a workshop jo

research on biofuels. Since 20announced plans to commit operiod more than $1 billionand demonstrate cellulosic bSince 2006, USDA has million for new biofuels taddition, both DOE and Nsubstantia

,

ing al

)

catalysis, and chemistry thatapplications in biofuels.

Scientific and technologicbe overcome in the next fivorder to meet the ambitioadvanced biofuels supplyreport outlines the scientifibiofuels conversion reseaovercome these challereport is to assist the federa

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

3

II. Biomass Conversion Interagency Working The Group

he Biomass Research and DeveloBoard (Board) is the federal governmmulti-agency effort to coordinate Ractivities relating to biobased fueand bioproducts. Created by the BioResearch and Development Act of 200amended), the Board is co-chaired bdepartments of Agriculture and Enerincludes senior officers from the DepInterior (DOI), Environmental ProtectioAgency (EPA), National Science F(NSF) and Office of Science and TechPolicy (OSTP). At the discretion of theother agencies are also invited to pahave included senior representatives oDepartments of Transportation, DefCommerce, and Treasury, as well as theof the Federal

T pment ent’s

D&D ls, biopower

mass 0 (as

y the gy, and artment

n oundation

nology Boar

rticipate,f the

ense, Offi

Environmental Executive and Office of Management and Budget (as an ex

tral roong

l o federa

ty Act (RFS) , which

(BGY) of biofuels by 2022. The RFS includes specific provisions for advanced biofuels that can be produced on a sustainable basis and that have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional petroleum fuels. To coordinate the federally supported research needed to meet the challenging goals of the RFS and other biofuels initiatives, the Board’s major

the development ion Plan (NBAP). The

interagency coordination of

more prominent rgy mix.

interagency working lity; Feedstock

k Logistics; Conversion ; Distribution

ent, Health, and roups were tasked with helping to

coordinate research across the federal tion of cost-able biomass

in the e.

the Biomass Conversion roup (BCIWG) to

research needed to ercially scalable

d, lignocellulosic er alcohols, green

n fuels. These conversion processes can help to reduce

ls and foreign oil and eductions in the volumes of itted by the transportation

sector. With members including working-level representatives from DOE, USDA, EPA, DOD, DOI, and NSF, the BCIWG is engaged in two initiatives:

• Support accelerated RD&D through the development and implementation of mechanisms to improve interagency

,

of

d,

federally sponsored RD&D efforts that could enable biofuels to become a element of the national ene

The Board created several groups, including SustainabiProduction; FeedstocScience and TechnologyInfrastructure; and EnvironmSafety. The g

and

ce the

le

l

government to enable the creaeffective and commercially viproduction and distribution technologies shortest possible time fram

The NBAP also created Interagency Working Gsupport the basic and applied develop cost-effective, commprocesses to convert nonfoofeedstocks into ethanol, highgasoline, diesel, and aviatio

officio member).The Board plays a cenin coordinating programs within and amdepartments and agencies of the federagovernment and bringing coherence tstrategic planning.

The Energy Independence and Securi(EISA) Renewable Fuel Standard the President signed into law in Decemrequires the supply of 36 billion gallon

focus from 2007 to 2008 wasof a National Biofuels ActNBAP outlines the

ber 2007, s per year

dependence on fossil fueachieve meaningful rgreenhouse gases em

February 2011

4 k

s been

fundacross

initial version of this database was completed in May 2008 and is being used internally by the BCIWG.

integrated, 10-year onversion plan (this

document) that includes agency roles, goals entifies gaps.

of the BCIWG from , NSF, EPA, DOD, and DOI and

the research conducted in each program are shown in the Table 1, below.

coordination, promote interagencysharing, and track ongoing federal bioconversion RD&D. This initiative hafulfilled by the establishment of aninteragency database featuring RD&Dfor the fiscal years (FY) 2006–2009 DOE, USDA, EPA, DOD, DOI, and NSF. The

nowledge mass

• Develop a comprehensive,federal RD&D biomass c

ing

and key milestones, and id

The constituent programsDOE, USDA

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

5 Table 1. Members of th s Conversion Interage ing Group e Biomas ncy Work

Federal Agency Program Research DOE Office of ScOffice of BiologicEnvironmental Res

iencal anearc

ea zymatic-microbial arch on chemical catalytic

e, d h

DOE Bioenergy Res rch Centers Advanced fundamental research on enconversion, with some additional reseprocessing.

DOE Office of ScOffice of BiologicEnvironmental Re

iencal and search

SciencProgram

on plants and microbes with relevance to biomass conversion.

e, DOE Genomics e Research Foundational systems biology research

DOE Office of SOffic

cience of Biological and

esear

e In biofuel-relevant plants and microbes.

e, DOE Joint Genom

Environmental R ch

stitute High-throughput genomic sequencing of

DOE Office of ScieOffice of Basic Energy

nce, Catalysis Science and Biosciences Programs

h on chemical catalytic

Sciences

Physical Fundamental, molecular-scale researcprocessing and cell wall structure/recalcitrance.

DOE Office of EneEfficiency and ReneEnerg

rgywable

y, Office of Biomass

Biochemical Conversio anced biofuels hemical routes

anologens, enzymes, separations, etc.) to achieve biofuels

Programs

n to Fuels Innovative approaches to the production of advvia basic and applied research in bioc(ethcost targets.

DOE Office of EnerEfficie

gy ncy and Renewable

of Biom

Thermochemical ConvFuels

novative approaches to the production of advanced biofuels via basic and applied research in thermochemical routes

rading, etc.) to achieve s cost targets.

Energy, OfficePrograms

ass

ersion to In

(gasification, pyrolysis, catalysis, upgbiofuel

DOE Office of EnerEfficiency and ReneEnergy, Office of Programs

gyw

Biom

Inte chemical and thermochemical orefinery technologies with

able

Demonstrations ofBiorefineries

ass

grated Large-scale demonstrations of bioprocesses to validate integrated biindustrial partners.

USDA, Agricultural Research Service (AR h

bioenergy research enables new, commercially preferred biorefining technologies.

S) ARS National Program in Bioenergy Researc

ARS

USDA National InstFood and

ituAgriculture

(formerly the Cooperative State Research Education and

rvice)

ood R

Biobased Products and Bioenergy Produc

SmInnovation Research P

l Materials

ural research on thanol, biodiesel,

catalytic processes, ae, and biorefining and production of

te of Agriculture and FInitiative

Extension Se

esearch

tion

Supports fundamental and applied extrambiofuels research, including: cellulosic erenewable hydrocarbons and novelhydrogen fuel cells, alg

Research Program; all Business rogram;

biobased products.

Agriculturaand others.

Program;

Department of AgricuForest Service

a andService Research Stati

ization research in support forests. Specific areas in

rsion to bioenergy and biobased products include: biomass ion, thermal chemical

conversion, and business case development.

lture, R&D Deputy Are Forest ons

Fundamental and applied biomass-utilof the agency mission to care for our convedeconstruction, biochemical convers

National Science Foundation

Directorates of Engineering and Biology

Fundamental research in genomics, metabolic engineering, and thermal and catalytic chemistry.

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Research and Development

Development of membrane technology for ethanol/water separation.

Department of the Interior Biomass and Forest Health Program

Works collaboratively with DOE and USDA to encourage the utilization of woody biomass byproducts from restoration and fuels treatment projects.

Department of Defense Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics

Development of processes for alternative jet and diesel fuel.

6

III. Pathways to Liquid Transportation Fuels

ignificant challenges remain to accost-effective production of lignocelbiofuels on a commercial scale. Chief athese are the low energy density of cellbiomass and biomass recalcitrance. Thtwo major routes for the conversionbiomass to biofuels: enzymatic/micr(“biological processing”) and therm

S hieving lulosic

mongulosicere are

of cellulobial al/chemic

ocessing”). Ambine the two

st associatel. g

kanes.evelop

fuels are antag

espondin00 Btu

fuel, and139,000 Btu/gal for diesel; compared to 76,0

al for mpat

ineries, d

titute green, drop-in replacements to the petroleum-based fuels in use today.

Both types of processing begin with some form of grinding of the plant matter to reduce size and maximize surface area for processing. Barriers in this area are to be found in the Board’s Feedstock Logistics Interagency Working Group report.

conversion : (1) d (2) fuel synthesis. of breaking down

g it to substances—called en be converted into

according he case of e of the newer

g, the desired the

ellulose and

esis gas (syngas), which is a combination of carbon monoxide

results from ely high

e intermediates are atter) and charcoal.

cing virtually all at the intermediates

ey are always case of

omplex chemical cals in these r from the plant itself

n deconstruction, of the intermediates

more difficult. In the case of biological processing, the extraneous chemicals typically have an inhibitory effect on the enzymes and microbes subsequently used in conversion. In the case of new chemical processing methods mentioned above, the extraneous chemicals can prevent the catalytic reactions needed for fuel synthesis from taking place.

osic

al-

ed

For both processing methods, proceeds in two major phasesdeconstruction of biomass anDeconstruction is the processplant fiber and reducinintermediates—that can thfuels. The desired intermediates varyto the type of processing. In tbiological processing and somtypes of chemical processinintermediates are simple sugars which formbuilding blocks of the chemicellulose in plant fiber. In gasification, the desired intermediate is synth

catalytic (“thermal/chemical prhybrid approach that would comethods may also prove effective.

Biological processing is currently most associated with cellulosic ethanol, and thermal/chemical processing is mowith hydrocarbon biofuels such as diesHowever, both paradigms are developinpathways to make both alcohols and alsecond-generation biofuels are being dthe advantages of hydrocarbon biobeing given due consideration. One advtheir higher energy density and corrhigher vehicle miles per gallon: 115,0for gasoline, 126,000 Btu/gal for jet

As ed,

e is gly, /gal 00

ible

(CO) and hydrogen (H2) thatheating plant matter to extremtemperatures. In pyrolysis, thbio-oils (liquefied plant m

One of the major challenges fathe processing methods is thnever emerge in pure form. Thmixed in with other chemicals, or, in the bio-oils, are themselves a cmix. The extraneous chemimixtures, which come eitheor from the substances used imake subsequent processing

Btu/gal for ethanol and 105,000 Btu/gbutanol. Additionally, these fuels are cowith the existing infrastructure of refpipelines, storage tanks, and engines, ancons

February 2011

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

7 The environmental impact and sustainabthe conversion process must also be addfacilitate commercialization of thconversion technologies that grow out research. Issues such as water use, wadisposal, containment of any toxins, eand other potential environmentanecessarily be part of the calculus in dcommercial conversion planprobably too early to predict these environmental challenges with any spissues of environmental i

ilityresse

e new of tod

ste nergy u

l impacts wesignin

ts. While it is

ecificitmpact and

ept clearly in ove towar

re

composit with the

a liquidcellulose from atta

by enzymes or other agents of degradation. Iessing

two atment,

fiber usin

cale to cellul

e ma the

lose, from the lignin, making both accessible to processing by enzymes. Pretreatment exposes the cellulose and hemicelluose to the enzymes. Without pretreatment, using enzymes alone releases only about 20 percent of the sugar. With pretreatment, sugar capture can rise as high as 90 percent. A second goal of pretreatment is to decrystallize the tightly wound cellulose, wholly

more sites for se. Cellulose is not

es not dissolve in cause cotton is pure

crystalline structure of ith enzymes;

us cellulose is far atic hydrolysis. The nt methods applied

ater, steam t acid addition),

solutions (e.g., utions, or ammonia

mmonia fiber .

re is usually some method to attempt

llulose and hemicelluloses ed

th an enzyme- the cellulose and

sugars; this reaction is ication.

vailable, they are es for microbial el. The simplest

ing is the age-old sugars

yeast) into ethanol. gineering, it has become

that process simple s and even

ould be blended to produce green gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. However, synthetic biology research is needed to enable these pathways and allow for commercialization of these technologies.

Each step in this process offers opportunities for modern genomics-based systems biology to effect decisive improvements that could lead to

of d to

ay’s

se, ill g

y,

biological or enzymatic-microbial procdeconstruction typically takes place inseparate steps: (1) chemical pretrefollowed by (2) breakdown of plantenzymes (enzymatic hydrolysis).

Enzymes need access at a molecular splant fiber material in order to split theand hemicelluose into simple sugars. Thfunction of pretreatment is to separatecellulose and, if possible, the hemicellu

or partially, in order to create enzymes to attack the cellulowater soluble (a cotton shirt dothe washing machine becellulose). Also, the tight,cellulose inhibits reaction wdecrystallized or amorphomore amenable to enzymmost common pretreatmetoday use either liquid hot wexplosion (with or withoudiluted or concentrated acid

sustainability will need to be kmind as conversion technologies mcommercial development.

Biological ProcessingCellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin aassembled into a complex, nanoscalenot unlike reinforced concrete, butcapability to flex and grow much like crystal. Lignin shields the

d sulphuric acid), alkaline solwith heat and pressure [e.g., aexplosion treatment (AFEX)]

Following pretreatment, thetype of (imperfect) separationto separate out the ce

e

ck n ,

g

the ose

from the rest of the mixture. The separatsubstance is then treated wicontaining solution to breakhemicelluloses down intocalled hydrolysis or saccharif

Finally, when the sugars are a“fed,” in a solution, to microbprocessing for synthesis of fuform of microbial processmethod of fermentation, or conversion ofby microbes (typicallyThrough biological reen

in possible to develop microbes sugars into higher alcoholhydrocarbon molecules that c

February 2011

8 etitive ic

s permit d enzyme

ics—from

rain forests,re eff

lose. ems

understand as to ic-baseds for itory

ations, tnthesizing

synthesis ditiona

provements isic biomass to fuels

lic and protein engineering, ging

ess engineerin

There are three main pathways for the thermaessing of lignocellulose:

s phase pyrolysis

oted innin

portion of biomass into liquid fuels.

Gasification Gasification, the oldest and most developed alternative, partially burns carbonaceous materials at high temperatures (600°C–900°C) using controlled amounts of air or oxygen,

team. The product gas, syngas, consists

e incorporation of tic gasification),

ultiple thermal and chemical processes potentially eliminating

gies for producing omponents for fuels) he fermentation or

s to ethanol or nd is the catalytic

lcohols or alkanes, upgraded to yield

ied ranges of distillation cuts for gasoline,

at is produced st used and the

s offers an interesting on of fuels such as

vantage is that it is c catalysts to syngas

contaminants such as tar, alkali metals, and hlorides. As a result, the gas cleaning and

be rements for

gas to requirements may be

Pyrolysis produces a sort of “biocrude” or bio-oil intermediate through a moderately high temperature reaction in the absence of oxygen. Bio-oils contain hundreds of oxygenated, organic molecules and must be further processed to produce green diesel or gasoline fuels. A potential advantage of pyrolysis is the production of a higher energy density bio-oil

cost-effective and commercially compbiorefineries for production of cellulosbiofuels. Genomics-based techniquerapid discovery of new microbes anthrough bioprospecting and metagenomsequencing communities of organisms promising environments such as pools, and compost heaps—where natuthe rapid degradation of lignocelluGenomics and the allied tools of systbiology provide the basis for new of the actual operation of enzymes somaximize their effectiveness. Genomtechniques also provide powerful toolreengineering microbes to resist inhibchemicals and high product concentrimprove the performance of fuel-symicroorganisms, and to enable thehydrocarbon fuels beyond ethanol. Ad

the s

mostly of CO and H2.

Recent work has dealt with thcatalysts in the gasifier (catalyso that m

hot ects

ing

o

occur in the same reactor,process steps.

There are two main strateliquid fuels (or blending cfrom syngas. The first is tcatalytic conversion of syngahigher alcohols. The secoconversion to produce awhich can be catalyticallyspecif

of l

n

g.

diesel, jet fuels such as Jet-A and JP-8, and kerosene. The liquid fuel thdepends on the type of catalyprocess parameters.

The fermentation of syngaalternative for the productiethanol or hydrogen. One adless sensitive than inorgani

technical tools that can offer imthe conversion of celluloinclude metabobioreactor engineering, advanced imatechniques, and advanced proc

Thermal/Chemical Processing

l/

the

conditioning requirements for syngas mayless stringent than the requiconventional catalytic conversions of synfuels and meeting theseless costly.

Pyrolysis

chemical procgasification, pyrolysis, and aqueoureforming. Both gasification andovercome the recalcitrance problem nprevious section and both convert the lig

and/or s

c

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

9 intermediate, which could be transportsmall, modular pyro

ed fromlysis units at remote sites

es to bio-oil production

ower ntact

at ambient pressure (compared to fast duce bio-oil, gases, and char

sis m

re rapid f 450°C–500°C and shorter

presschar. The biomst also be drie

izing water dard

atively lower temperatures (300°C–400°C) in the absence of oxygen. The biomass feedstock does not need to be dried for liquefaction. The bio-oil produced from liquefaction has a lower oxygen content compared to the bio-oil derived from fast pyrolysis and is water insoluble.

e frequently in the action selectivity

uce a bio-oil that contains less oxygen,

orming produces hydrocarbon

r-in-water solutions lignocellulose has

s are reacted over e liquid phase to form possible to produce

and jet fuel directly from onversion of the sugar drolysis processes

reviewed under “Biological Processing.” A consist of

ar intermediates y reforming to hydrocarbons over

inorganic catalysts.

In the next section, the technical challenges and barriers associated with both types of processing—biological and thermal/chemical—are described.

to

Catalysts are being used morpyrolysis stage to increase reand proda centralized refining site.

Current approachinclude:

Slow Pyrolysis Slow pyrolysis is characterized by slheating of 450°C–500°C and longer cotimes pyrolysis) to pro .

ust

Aqueous Phase RefAqueous phase reforming fuels from concentrated sugavia chemical catalysis. Once been deconstructed into sugars or sugar-like monomers, those intermediatean inorganic catalyst in thhydrocarbons. Thus, it is green gasoline, diesel,sugar cane, via chemical cintermediates from the hy

The biomass feed stock for slow pyrolybe dried.

Fast Pyrolysis Fast pyrolysis is characterized by moheating rates ocontact times (1–2 seconds) at ambientto produce bio-oil, gases, and feedstock for fast pyrolysis mu

Liquefaction Bio-oils can also be produced by utilat higher pressures (120–200 stanatmosphere [atm]) and rel

ure ass d.

hybrid, overall process mightenzymatic dissolution to sugfollowed b

has a lower tar content, and is easier to upgrade into a marketable fuel.

10

IV. Barrier Identification

ost is the overarching barrier in all process steps, regardless of conversion mesummary of other basic and applied rebarriers for the biochemical and chemprocesses is shown in Table 2. The gre

the intrinsic recalcitrance of the lignocellTherefore, many of the postufermentation to ethanol, enzybiological conversion t

C thod; a

search ical atest

phase reforming route of chemical conversion is

ulose. lated routes, either matic or synthetic

o hydrocarbons, or aqueous phase reforming to hydrocarbons, face new fundamental challenges that require

, long-term RD&D efforts.

Platform: Ther

ses

technical barrier to the biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass and to the aqueous innovative

mal and Inorganic Catalytic Conversion

Table 2: Key Barriers for Biochemical and Chemical Conversion Proces

Biochemical Platform: Enzymatic-Microbial Conversion

Pretreatment: •

• Lack of complete access to the cellulose Generation of inhibitors that reduce the yield of fermentable sugars and that make downstream processing more difficult

Hydrolysis: n and inadequate yield of product hydrolyzed by current enzymes • Slow rate of reactio

Biochemical Fuel Synthesis:

roducts to the microbes used for

Inability of existing microbes to process all the sugars in lignocelluloses efficiently n fuels (green gasoline, diesel, jet fuel)

• Toxicity of pretreatment byproducts and fuel synthesis psynthesizing fuel

•

• Lack of natural processes to produce hydrocarbo• Lack of value-added coproducts

Thermochemical Platform: Thermal and Inorganic Catalytic Conversion

Gasification:

s from a broad range of feedstocks (within different

n facilities (small, medium, large) of clean-up catalysts at high conversion efficiencies

and ash accumulation in catalyst bed (for catalytic gasification) fermentation microbes

ld, and lifetimes mall-scale, catalytic facilities

• Lack of low-cost production of syngaregions)

• Insufficiently scalable gasificatio• Insufficient lifetime• High cost of catalysts• Low conversion capacities of syngas• Low syngas bioreactor efficiencies • Low catalyst selectivity, first-pass yie• Lack of cost-effective, s

Pyrolysis:

duct bio-oil • Instability of product bio-oil • Expense of construction materials • Lack of low-cost hydrogen reactant for hydrotreating • Lack of low-cost, corrosion-resistant, construction materials • Inadequate yield, selectivity, and stability of catalysts

• High oxygen and acid content of pro

Aqueous Phase Reforming:

• Not yet proven for cellulosic biomass • Inadequate catalyst activity, selectivity, and stability

February 2011

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

11Biochemical PlatEnzymati

form: c-Microbial

mical s into w. The

then ass into five

, which caer

dixture of

n also be shortcut for the

m lignocellulose is oprocessing, in which the

thesisd in a single step.

in

The major shortcomings of current pretreatment technologies include:

• Incomplete access to the material • Generation of inhibitors that reduce the yield

and make downstream fficult.

s are also d pretreatment can

s that reduce sugar re toxic to) the microbes

used for fuel synthesis. The nature and amount the type of

treatment process and the feedstock.

hnical Barriers in Enzymatic ysis

an optimal for olysis due to:

ial hydrolyzed by

on have made plant ent material—likened

t there are many e plant fiber is

handful of enzymes currently being used is a tiny subset of the cellulases—or cellulose degrading enzymes—that exist in nature. There is a widespread conviction among scientists that more effective enzymes and enzyme “cocktails” can be found

Figure 1. Overview of Biochemical Biomass Conversion Pathways and Products

Conversion The current pathways for the biocheconversion of lignocellulosic biomasbiofuels are outlined in Figure 1 belopathways involve pretreating andenzymatically breaking the biomand six carbon (C5 and C6) sugarsthen be fermented into ethanol and othalcohols or converted by microbes intohydrocarbons. The intermediate progasification, syngas, which is a mcarbon monoxide and hydrogen gas, cafermented into alcohols. A

n Tec

Huct of Current enzymes are less th

hydr

production of biofuels froconsolidated biproduction of intermediates and the synfuel are combine

of

• Slow rate of reaction • Inadequate yield of mater

current enzymes

Millions of years of evolutifiber an amazingly resilieven to flexible concrete—buenvironments in nature wher

Technical Barriers Pretreatment

of fermentable sugarsprocessing more di

Current pretreatment methodcompromised by high cost, anproduce chemical byproductyields and inhibit (i.e., a

of these byproducts depend onpre

ydrol

readily degraded. The

February 2011

12 some enzym

to ved

neticain

es andmes could significantly

nd lower the cost

Biochemical Fuel Synthesis eral

luding:

ducts and fuused for

bes to process althe sugars in lignocelluloses efficiently

oduce esel,

al icrobeg fuel

ulose a inhibit

ded, thesth

lf aboe

sugar that is readily processed by a wide range of microbes. However, hemicellulose degrades into both six-carbon and five-carbon sugars, and finding or engineering a microbe or community of microbes that can efficiently process both types of sugars poses a challenge. The composition of the particular feedstock is especially pertinent to this discussion. Woody biomass has a very

ofile than that of rn stover and

ible that microbial that can process

that result when tructed. Fifth, current

es lack processes such as cell solids,

lignin, and CO into value-added products that from and improve biorefineries.

nents of biochemical ysis stage, and the

stocks to fuel present fic endeavor promising

le success from dedicated research me from the agencies

om ical and

al Platform r the production of

ulosic biomass include gasification to

rmented to alcohol cher-Tropsch

drocarbons; (2) which

catalytic or biomass, can be via aqueous phase

reforming and other associated catalytic processes; and (3) biomass can be pyrolyzed into bio-oil, which can then be converted into hydrocarbons via catalytic hydrotreating reactions. The same types of reactions are used to convert oily plant and animal feedstocks into hydrocarbons. Like consolidated bioprocessing, a catalytic version of pyrolysis exists in which

in the natural environment, whilemanufacturers are using genomic toolsdevelop new enzymes with improcharacteristics. Also, plants can be geengineered to contain enzymes to assist conversion. Discovering novel enzymreengineering enzy

e

lly

/or

of

• Lack of natural processes to prhydrocarbon fuels (green gasoline, difuel)

• Lack of value-added coproducts

First, as mentioned above, traditionalpretreatment processes produce chemicbyproducts that inhibit or poison the mchemical catalysts used for synthesizinSecond, intertwined with the hemicellother chemicals that may also have aneffect. As the hemicellulose is degrachemicals are released into the solution. A challenge is the toxicity of the fuel itsecertain concentrations. Fourth, cellulosdegrades into glucose, a six-carbon

different compositional prherbaceous plants such as coswitchgrass, and it is possstrains will need to be tailoredthe different sugar contents these feedstocks are deconsbiocatalytic-based biorefinerifor converting byproducts

improve the effectiveness ahydrolysis.

Technical Barriers in

Biochemical fuel synthesis poses sevchallenges, inc

• Toxicity of pretreatment bypro el

2

both minimize waste streams the profitability of cellulosic

Both the individual compoconversion, such as the hydroloverall pathway from feeda well-defined scientiremarkab

synthesis products to the microbes synthesizing fuel

• Inability of existing micro l programs. Advances can cothat support biofuel research as well as fr

jet

s or . re ory e ird ve

other sources, such as the medpharmaceutical sectors.

ThermochemicThermochemical pathways fobiofuels from lignocellthe following methods: (1)syngas, which can then be feor reacted via the catalytic Fissynthesis reaction to hyintermediate five- and six-carbon sugars, can be produced from either enzymatic deconstruction of converted into hydrocarbons

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

13

biomass is converted into biofuels, in thihydrocarbons, in a single step.

s cas

cleanup poses severa

f syngas,

talysts a

mulation)

is owever, th

syngas from biomass gasification can contain other contaminants. These contaminants must be minimized or removed to enable the efficient conversion of syngas to fuels or power and to limit undesirable emissions. Contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3), and tar can be corrosive and can foul and/or poison catalysts. The composition of the gaseous

ation of biomass is , the process

g agent (water [H2O] or situ or separate

ed), and the feedstock composition, harvest, and

need for broad research s and reactor e solutions for

S. locations.

ols are required to syngas; the

sts; competitive onents of the syngas

impurities removal

There is a critical need to maintain the quality of syngas while minimizing capital and operational costs. Closely tied to this barrier is the need to understand and mitigate deactivation that is due to transient concentrations of impurities and accumulation of trace impurities, which can be done through long-term studies of catalysts with

Figure 2. Overview of Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Pathways and Products

e

• Lack of low-cost production oespecially at small scale

• Insufficient lifetime of clean-up cahigh conversion efficiencies

• High cost of catalysts and ash accucatalyst bed (for catalytic gasificatio

The syngas resulting from gasificationcomposed mostly of CO and H2; h

products from the gasificdependent on gasifier designparameters, the gasifyinair), the use of catalysts (incatalyst b

Technical Barriers to Gasification Syngas production and l which can vary with location,

season. There is a clearon numerous biomass streamdesigns to assure cost-effectivspecific U.

challenges, including:

t

n in

e

Advanced analytic research toexamine the impurities in the reaction with clean-up catalyreactions with other compstream; and the effectivenessfrom the gaseous product.

February 2011

14 ed from a variety of different

over a ngas o

ift” roach a

the catalumulation in the catalyst be

poses several

syngas

ngas there

only at concentrations up to gher

ery lowtion rates with

elevated pressures ass trans

r size, maintaining g

ent and operating costs are challenges

Fuel synthesis via inorganic catalysis poses several challenges, including:

• Low catalyst selectivity, first-pass yield, and lifetime

• Lack of cost-effective, small-scale, Fischer- Tropsch facilities

y exothermic dized bed

hese characteristics can and/or physical attrition

here can be oke formation or clogging of

ith wax byproducts during

scale syngas production at remote sites is being examined.

d for , Fischer-Tropsch

synthesis, there other catalytic routes to hydrocarbons such

ed by methanol to cess). However, like

ional processes, they are viable only on a very large scale.

Technical Barriers in Pyrolysis able bio-oil poses several

ges, including:

ntent of product bio-

l materials

entrations of m.

Oxygenated hydrocarbons are more chemically reactive than non-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and this contributes to the poor stability of bio-oils relative to petroleum or petroleum-derived products. High oxygen content also correlates with high acidity and, therefore, corrosiveness. Cost-effective and environmentally benign methods for inhibiting acid formation or

syngas derivbiomass streams.

Catalytic gasification (gasification catalyst bed), can produce a tar-free sydesired CO/H2 ratio via a “water-gas shreaction. The main barriers to this app

f a

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is highland often carried out in a fluiconfiguration. Both of timpact the deactivation of the catalyst. Additionally, tsignificant c

re ysts d.

catalytic active sites wFischer-Tropsch synthesis.

For ease of logistics, small-

the high cost and limited lifetime of as well as ash acc

Fuel synthesis via fermentationchallenges, including:

• Low conversion capacities of fermentation microbes

• Low syngas bioreactor efficiencies

Currently available microbes for syfermentation are product-inhibited, and produce ethanol

fore as methanol synthesis, follow

a gasoline (a commercial proconvent

few percent. This limitation results in hiethanol-recovery costs. The developmstrains that can tolerate higher ethanolconcentrations would increase this techcommercial viability.

In addition, because CO and H2 have vsolubilities in water, fermentasyngas are low. Although

ent of nology’s

in fer

in

• High oxygen and acid cooil

• Instability of product bio-oi• High cost of construction • Catalyst instability

Bio-oils contain higher concoxygen-containing molecules than petroleu

syngas fermentors would increase mrates and reduce reactomicrobial productivity and minimizinequipmany high-pressure process, including fermentation.

This effort also creates a neecomplementary, small-scaleprocesses.

In addition to Fischer-Tropschare

The production of stchallen

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

15neutralizing acids would enable technology

amount of geneous

ose and the reactions of which they are

optimal

are processeeactions

hysic detail of th

nical and chemical breakdown oficr

Research in this area wthe use of homogeneous or heterogeneous

eral

rials o

y o

fuels will ses: (1)

ove oxygen as water, (2) en as CO2, and

ain hydrocarbons. While using catalysts optimized for the hydroprocessing and catalytic cracking of petroleum products is a good starting point, the optimal catalysts for processing bio-oils will likely be very different.

Once catalysts have been refined for the conversion of bio-oils to fuel, long-term or

be required to Without a detailed

st lifetimes once they are ils, a viable process for the

priate cost cted.

of bio-oil in existing h on construction

ing back and forth -oil streams and crude oil streams.

rs to Aqueous Phase Reforming

dissolution and aqueous ral challenges,

including:

ic biomass selectivity, and

line via aqueous phase onstrated for cane sugar

erway to utilize sion of hydrolyzed

of talysts in the liquid phase are as yet

unresolved. These fundamental issues are in addition to the reaction engineering, heat integration, and other process design issues that accompany the scale-up from benchtop research to commercial operation. Research and development efforts are needed in multiphase reactors design.

readiness.

Biomass can contain a significantminerals, which likely act as heterocatalysts. Detailed understanding of thminerals capable would help to identify an process.

Although numerous reaction pathwaysinvolved in pyrolysis or liquefaction fundamental understanding of these rand their dependence on chemical and pconditions is lacking. In addition,mecha

s,

material requirements for hydrotreatment should consider the effect of switchbetween bio

al e

Technical Barrie

the Homogeneous catalyticbiomass building blocks at sub-m

scales is lacking.on-length

ould aid phase reforming poses seve

catalysts.

Fuel synthesis from bio-oils poses sevchallenges, including:

• High cost of hydrogen reactant for hydrotreating

• High cost of corrosion-resistant mateconstruction

• Inadequate yield, selectivity, and stabilitcatalysts

Converting bio-oils into hydrocarbon likely involve three catalytic proceshydroprocessing to rem

f

f

• Not yet proven for cellulos• Inadequate catalyst activity,

stability

The production of biogasoreforming has been demfeedstocks and efforts are undthis technology for the convercellulose. Issues of durability and poisoning ca

decarboxylation to remove oxyg(3) catalytic cracking of longer-ch

accelerated aging studies will probe deactivation processes.knowledge of the catalyexposed to bio-oproduction of fuels with approestimates cannot be constru

In order to facilitate the use petroleum refineries, researc

16

V. Conclusion

ignificant scientific and technologicchallenges face the large-scale develotruly efficient, commercially viable, comethods for converting nonfood plant fibliquid transportation fuels. Nonethelesfederally sponsored research portfolioin these pages—comprising both transformational basic and applied both aggressive and sufficiently divthe in

S al pmentnversi

er is, the descri

research—erse. Wit

creased resources provided by the feder

now l paths to a

ecently as 200the possib

ctive uc

rs wethe

bon uel—bymeans.

iversityssible to

predict whether the key breakthroughs will come from biobased or thermal/chemical conversion methods, or whether we may find the greatest advantage in a hybrid approach that combines the two. To meet the ambitious goals for biofuels supply set forth in the EISA RFS, it is critical that we pursue the range of promising

l opportunities at

and direction of progress are

t. It is in the very ry to transform and

back from the d biofuels, we can be, in terms of

nd technology, five n order to achieve the EISA

ilestones, summarized not as a prediction, but

of broad objectives to e federal

pport, provide in this field.

ng the federal ng this research is ient for success.

e BCIWG in uable forum for

managers from to keep apprised

of other agencies’ activities and to help ensure a balanced and effective federal biofuels research portfolio. This portfolio will contribute to the scientific and technological foundation of a new cellulosic biofuels economy to enhance our nation’s energy and economic security; and to help protect our global environment in the years ahead.

of on nto

bed

is h al

scientific and technologicahand.

History teaches that the pacescientific and technologicalnotoriously difficult to predicnature of scientific discovesurprise. Nonetheless, working2022 EISA goals for advanceanalyze where we will need tobiofuels conversion science aand ten years hence iRFS objectives. These min Figure 3, are presented

Government since FY 2007, multiple investigators and teams of scientists are pursuing a wide range of potentiasolution.

Progress has been notable. As rattention focused almost solely on of cellulosic ethanol. While cost-effecellulosic ethanol remains the subject of m

5, ility

h

of

as a framework and a sethelp gauge our progress as thgovernment continues to suoversight, and plan research

Continued coordination amoagencies and offices sponsorithe other indispensable ingredThe Board in general and thparticular have provided a valfederal officials and programdifferent agencies and offices

current research, within a few short yeahave expanded our goals to include development of cost-effective hydrocarbiofuels—green gasoline, diesel, jet fboth biobased and thermal/chemical

At this stage in the research effort, a dapproaches is appropriate. It is impo

February 2011

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

17Figure 3. Key Milestones for Biofuels Conversion Science and Technology

February 2011

18

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

19

Appendix A.1 Research Tools—Biological Platform

enomics-based systems biology haprovided an array of powerful new totechniques for understanding and mabiological systems and components, incplants, enzymes, and microbes, at microscopic and nanoscale levels. will help overcome the challenges omicrobes and enzym

G solnipulating

luding theThes

f dees that are effective

into intermediate products and synthesizing those

uen• Modern, high-throughput genomic

nted and

modifying organisms (both plants and

portant to ping new feedstocks have been

trs

stand and modify

encig

tly sequences more than 15 billion base pairs per month.

High-Throughput Screening/Assays • Major tools of genomics-based biology

rapidly screen organisms for traits such as catalytic efficiency or susceptibility to

ols use robotics and hnologies that replace

niques that handled samples one by one; high-throughput

ccelerated eutical industry.

archers have been new, high-throughput screening

gies for the accelerated study of enzymes, and microbes specifically

relevant to biofuels.

isms can degrade lose. Bioprospecting entails nvironments that are rich in these such as tropical rainforests or

then sequencing them ), to identify new,

es.

Synthetic Biology tists have produce long-

hydrocarbon molecules, first step toward potential large-scale

microbial production of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

• Scientists are seeking to reduce the costs of conversion through the reengineering of single microbes or microbial communities to perform the deconstruction and fuel synthesis steps.

s and

• High-throughput genomic sequtechnologies are rapidly improvinJoint Genome Institute curren

deconstruction. These toother innovative tectraditional wet-lab tech

e tools veloping in

technologies have also adiscovery in the pharmac

• Federally supported resedeveloping deconstructing lignocellulosic material

products into liquid fuels.

Rapid Genomic Seq cing

Bioprospecting/ Metagenomics • Innumerable microorgan

lignocellu

sequencing provides unprecedecapabilities for understanding

microbes).

• Many microbes and plants imdevelosequenced.

• Genomic sequencing is the foundasystems biology and the typical fi

ion of t step in

compost heaps—and en masse (metagenomicsmore powerful enzym

attempting to underorganisms.

ng . DOE’s

• Federally supported scienreengineered microbes to chain alcohols anda

technoloplants,

sampling emicrobes—

February 2011

20

ance [Ntensity Light

f aie

enable the study of the conversion proce to discover

elop improved enzymes.

e ent. This

ypothe in the laboratory, leads t

echanis

orte of the

ized fo

urecitly engineered to

high-solids precursors, such as those fromlignocellulosic feedstocks, to makedevelop pretreatment and hydrolysis bioreactors that efficiently process biomass in this manner, and to do so at a commercial scale, would mean significantly reducing overall process costs.

ering f the genomic information

s are modifying rely novel

microorganisms ield,

or to improve tolerance to inhibitor hich in turn will decrease the

ng fying new enzymes,

in engineering and logies that exist today

atalytic rates and the sts of known hydrolytic

apturing these improvements in near term may mean significant cost-

savings for the cellulosic ethanol built today.

s part of an ust take into dstock that can be given geographic

in mind, modeling and pursued to tailor conversion

at the most optimal ective biorefinery design. One

goal of interface engineering is to define the optimal pretreatment parameters for a given feedstock or downstream hydrolysis process. Another goal is to implement cost-effective separative technologies for a given feedstock or a given fuel-producing microbe to best utilize the solubilized sugars and residual biomass/chemicals.

Advanced Imaging (NucMagnetic ResonHigh-In

lear MR],

host of s that

Metabolic Engine• With the wealth o

being generated, scientistexisting or designing entimetabolic pathways withinto optimize the fuel synthesis rate and y

Sources) • Scientists are taking advantage o

powerful new imaging technologss compounds, w

to the nanoscale level, helpingand dev

High-End ComputationModeling • Scientists are in the early stages of

advanced computer modeling to unaspects of the conversion process that ar

al

using derstand

cost of producing biofuels.

Protein Engineeri• In addition to identi

scientists are using protegenetics-based technoto improve the cproduction co

difficult to observe by experimmodeling, often used to generate hlater tested

ses enzymes. Cthe

o ms.

ant biofuels

r

s. Few handle

fuel. To

biorefineries being

Process InterfaceEngineering • Conversion processes a

integrated biorefinery maccount the type(s) of feesustainably produced in alocation. With thatdemonstrations are beingand integrate downstreamprocess steps to arriveand cost-eff

insights regarding biocatalytic m

• In addition, there have been impadvances on the applied sidresearch effort:

Bioreactor Engineering • Most bioreactors have been optim

making pharmaceuticals and other bioproducts from liquid cell culthave been expli

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

21Techno-Economic Ana• Engineers are designing and te

economic models by integrating va

the overall process. Theto the mitigation of risk icommercial-scale

lysis sting techno-

rious technology breakthroughs to assess the financial impact these technologies bring to

se studies are critical n building a

biofuels refinery and to the evaluation and identification of process areas that need further research and development.

22

Appendix A.2 Research Tools—Thermochemical Platform

he fine chemicals and petrochemihave spent significant resources and tdeveloping expansive chemistry and chengineering toolsets to establish more eand selective processes. Techniques funderstanding and controlling chemicand components from the molecule- thmicro- and macro-length scalesThese tools are being refined and re

cal fields ime

oralr

are all ndev

ion to resolve thcting the lignoc

ate products and

ze

quypically balanced iments exe

re

le readiler to validation reactions on a

scale.

• Federally supported researchers and industrial partners have been developing new, high-throughput experimentation technologies and reactor configurations for the accelerated development and study of catalysts.

Modeling ly stages of using

ter modeling to further d engineering

process that are through

, chemical and used to reduce the

y ext set of

e progress towards this modeling can

ing the mechanisms of elerate the ts, enhance process

y usage. modeling will enhance high-

ughput experimentation by guiding process analytical

al validation stages pathway to

e dynamics of a , in situ tools are

ass-derived streams. In u tools have been developed to examine

primarily gas-solid interfaces, particularly with controlled synthetic reactions streams, with great success. Further development to examine complex gas, liquid, and solid interfaces at demanding temperatures and pressures will facilitate enhanced understanding of catalysts in biomass-derived streams.

emical fficient systems ough the eeded.

eloped e ellulosic

fuels.

systems

Computational • Scientists are in the ear

advanced compuunderstand the chemical anaspects of the conversionoften difficult to observe experimentation. Ideallyengineering modeling is number of negative outcome experiments bprojecting or guiding the nexperiments to acceleratthe market. Additionally,lead to insights regardcatalysts in order to accoptimization of reactancontrol, and optimize energComputational

for the specific applicatchallenges of deconstrumaterial into intermedisynthesizing those products into liquid

High-Throughput Experimentation • Automated and parallel processing

that rapidly prepare, test, and analycatalysts will accelerate catalyst dsubsequent optimization on a small scale. The number, and sometimes the measurable quantities are t

esign and

ality, of

cuted quired to the next

y larger

discovery and in situ or tools through the initiand, subsequently, onto a process optimization.

In situ Tools • To better understand th

catalytically active siteneeded to probe biomsit

against the number of experin a parallel. Significant focus isensure that the results used to rankgeneration of catalysts at this scatransf

thro

T

February 2011

10 YEAR FEDERAL R&D PLAN FOR BIOMASS CONVERSION

February 2011

23Advanced Process

delopment

reactant e

ic tools. Thesee the

nd reaction

advancement in this area is required in order control and

r efficiency and selectivity of

nd

• Few commercial-scale reactors have been explicitly engineered to handle the high-solids, biomass-derived precursors needed to make biofuels. Developing gasification, pyrolysis, and intermediate upgrading and

that efficiently treams presents

al usage of d minimization of unproductive

developing large-es.

ic Analysis nd testing techno-rating various

hs to assess the nologies have on

. These studies are critical to the mitigation of risk in building a commercial-scale biofuels refinery and to the evaluation and identification of process areas that need further research and development.

Analytical Tools • In the pharmaceuticals and food in

significant advances in the devprocess analytical tools of complexand product streams utilize multivariatanalysis and/or chemometrics in combination with spectroscopare beginning to be used to examincomplex matrices of feedstocks astreams derived from biomass. Further

ustries,

desired products.

Process Technology aOptimization

fuel synthesis reactors process biomass-derived smany challenges. Optimresources an

of side streams is critical to scale competitive process

Techno-Econom• Engineers are designing a

economic models by integtechnology breakthrougfinancial impact these techthe overall process

to facilitate tighter closed-loopenable greate

February 2011