Pecologix Political Ecology Blotter

The design of an ionic liquid that has the ability to dissolve cellulose has been attempted from the viewpoint of a cellulase. N,N-diethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-N-methylammonium alanine ([N221ME][Ala]) is a good solvent for cellulose. Dissolution in [N221ME][Ala] converts the crystalline structure of cellulose from Type I to II, which is known to be a form easily digested by cellulases. [...]

In total, the project received more than $160 million in investor financing, plus $162.25 million in government commitments. On the government tab, a $76 million DOE grant in 2007, the aforementioned loan guarantee, and a $6.25 state grant. Overall, the DOE released $43.6 million of the project funds, before suspending payments earlier this year and [...]

Transferring a maize gene into other types of plants can enhance their potential for biofuel production, researchers report. George Chuck and colleagues transferred the maize gene Corngrass1 (Cg1) into a variety of plants including switchgrass, which is commonly used to produce biofuel. The leaves of the Cg1-expressing plants became structurally and biochemically similar to juvenile [...]

The main objective of this life cycle assessment (LCA) study is to determine the environmental consequences of the inclusion of second-generation biofuels (bioethanol from palm oil biomass) toward current palm oil biodiesel production through a ‘seed-to-wheel’ LCA analysis. Their energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission indicators are evaluated with consequential approach for system delimitation. Although [...]

There is an intense ongoing debate regarding the potential scale of biofuel production without creating adverse effects on food supply. We explore the possibility of three land-efficient technologies for producing food (actually animal feed), including leaf protein concentrates, pretreated forages, and double crops to increase the total amount of plant biomass available for biofuels. Using [...]

The emerging interest in cellulosic biofuel production has led the call for alternative cropping systems that maximize production along with the accompanying regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services. We evaluate the potential for biomass harvested from invaded wetlands to achieve these goals. The ecosystem service trade-offs associated with a wetland invader harvest are evaluated followed [...]

Fungal degradation of plant biomass may provide insights for improving cellulosic biofuel production. We show that the model cellulolytic fungus Neurospora crassa relies on a high-affinity cellodextrin transport system for rapid growth on cellulose. Reconstitution of the N. crassa cellodextrin transport system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae promotes efficient growth of this yeast on cellodextrins. In simultaneous [...]