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Fueling the BioeconomyMichigan State University is conducting leading-edge research of biofuels and biobased technologiesBy Brian Warkoczeski, May 2009
"Go Green" isn't simply a game-day chant for Michigan State University (MSU); it's a motto for
harnessing the power of safe, renewable energy sources and using the University's research efforts to
develop new biobased technologies.
The Office of Biobased Technologies (OBT), which is located on MSU's East Lansing campus and has a high-speed connection to Merit's backbone network, serves as the hub of
biobased efforts at MSU, shepherding the research efforts and resources of the University and
pursuing private and public sector initiatives that support the growth of the bioeconomic sector.
OBT works with MSU scientists and educators to provide assistance to biotechnology organizations,
government, and others.
Over 100 MSU faculty members are conducting important biobased research related to
plant material production, raw plant material processing, systems integration,
and business development. The new methods they are discovering could have a major impact on
biofuel production and biobased technologies:
- An MSU-patened process developed by Bruce Dale, associate director of OBT and University Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering and materials science, simplifies the process for creating cellulosic biofuel from
corn. The AFEX (ammonia fiber expansion) pretreatment process uses ammonia to
make the breakdown of cellulose and hemicellulose in plants 75 percent more efficient than
an acid pretreatment method used by biofuel producers. The new process reduces the time and cost of turning plant material into biofuel. The University hopes to transfer the new technology
to a cellulosic ethanol plant in Michigan.
- Dennis Miller, professor of mechanical engineering, has been working with canola plants to
develop biodiesel. In 2008, Miller partnered with General Motors in designing new engines that
run on canola-based fuels. Last fall, the MSU Grounds Department used the canola biodiesel fuel
to power some of its lawnmowers.
- MSU researcher, Kurt Thelen, is investigating ways
Michigan farmers can grow energy crops more efficiently. Approximately 400 gallons of ethanol
can be produced by an acre of corn grain, while an acre of switchgrass can produce close to 1,0000 gallons of ethanol. Thelen and his research team are investigating potential energy crops and methods
to maximize their yield and energy output.
- Christoph Benning, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology,
and his team of researchers have identified a protein necessary for chloroplast development in plants.
Chloroplasts convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into sugars and oxygen during photosynthesis. Researchers are investigating how the protein, Trigalactosyldiacylglycerol 4, effects plants that produce oils, such as corn and soybeans, and their discoveries could possibly lead to new plant varieties specifically created for biofuel production.
Research PartnershipsIn addition to the efforts on its own campus, MSU is working with other universities
to pursue bioenergy research.
MSU is undertaking a partnership with another Merit Network Governing Member, Michigan Technological University (MTU),
to investigate forest-based cellosic biofuels. In March, the federal government allocated $1.4 million for
the biofuel research program at the Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Tree Improvement Center (UPTIC) in
Escanaba. MSU and MTU scientists will work together to research wood-based biofuels and demonstrate
the best ways to use Michigan's vast forest resources to benefit the state's rural communities using
environmentally and economically sustainable methods.
In 2007, Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison received a $50 million
grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), which is located in Madison, Wisconsin. The GLBRC works to remove bottlenecks in the bioenergy pipeline and
educate on issues related to bioenergy. GLBRC research programs focus on five areas related to bioenergy: improving plant biomass, biomass processing, biomass conversion to energy products, sustainable bioenergy development, and technology integration.
Through the collective efforts of its scientists and partner organizations, Michigan State University is tackling
complex bioenergy research. The outcomes could impact the ways we power our automobiles and
lead to economic benefits for Michigan.
About Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research, and outreach for over 150 years. MSU is a member of the Association of American Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the Big Ten athletic conference. Michigan State University founded Merit Network with the University of Michigan and Wayne State University in 1966.
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