Enzymes for Producing Biofuels

A new genus and species discovered by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) scientists has the potential for widespread use in the biomass industry. The biomass industry is aimed at changing the way that many industrial chemicals are produced today through the promotion of the "biorefinery" concept. A biorefinery is a facility that integrates processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and chemicals from organic materials, such as corn or wheat. The biorefinery concept is analogous to today's petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels and products from petroleum.

NREL packaged this discovery into a enzyme technology that has the potential to improve productivity for the biorefinery. This technology, E1 Thermostable Endoglucanase (E1), allows manufacturers to create industrial chemicals at a greatly reduced temperature, as well as at a greatly accelerated process, which translates into cost savings for the biomass industry. This platform technology is designed to utilize a renewable technology based on enzymes to convert organic materials into sugars, for further development of ethanol/fuel, as well as other chemicals, and products.

In the early 1990s there was speculation regarding the patentability of biological compositions of matter including discoveries such as NREL’s E1. NREL took on the challenge and worked closely with the U.S. Patent Office Examiners to demonstrate that cellulase enzymes displaying thermal tolerance and hyper activity were indeed patentable. NREL then secured the four patents that comprise its E1 technology.

The primary use for enzyme technology worldwide is for the active biological component of detergents and cleaning products. Enzymes are also used in the textile industry, mainly in the manufacturing of fabrics and garments. Enzymes are also used in the areas of recycling/reprocessing operations for cellulosic materials, as well as food and animal feed, pulp and paper, brewing, and grain feedstock processing. The worldwide market value for this new enzyme technology is estimated to be $500 million and growing.

A new enzyme will allow biorefineries to create industrial chemicals at a greatly reduced temperature, as well as at a greatly accelerated process.