DOE Bioenergy Research Centers

Title :

Cellulosic Biofuel Production Steps and Biological Research Challenges

Description :

This figure depicts some key processing steps in an artist’s conception of a future large-scale facility for transforming cellulosic biomass (plant fibers) into biofuels. Three areas where focused biological research can lead to much lower costs and increased productivity include developing crops dedicated to biofuel production (see step 1), engineering enzymes that deconstruct cellulosic biomass (see steps 2 and 3), and engineering microbes and developing new microbial enzyme systems for industrial-scale conversion of biomass sugars into ethanol and other biofuels or bioproducts (see step 4). Biological research challenges associated with each production step are summarized in the right portion of the figure.

Citation :

Bioenergy Research Centers: An Overview of the Science, U.S. Department of Energy, February 2008. DOE/SC-0104.

Credit or Source :

Genome Management Information System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Medium Res :

Medium-Resolution Image

Hi Res :

High-Resolution Image

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