Bioconversion Science and Technology Group

(formerly, the Biochemical Engineering Research Group)

The Bioconversion Science and Technology Group (BST) performs R&D in the disciplines of bioconversion science for the Department of Energy (DOE) relevant applications of bioprocessing. The group also co-sponsors the ongoing Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, which is held annually in May. The Group is also a key element of the Bioprocessing Research and Development (BRDC) Center and is the host for the Bioprocessing Research User Facility (BRF). Bioprocessing is the process whereby a material is converted into another using biological agents (e.g., living microbes or enzymes). This field combines chemical engineering, microbiology and biochemistry. We collaborate with a variety of industries and universities.

Jonathan R. Mielenz, Ph.D., Group Leader, 865-576-8522, mielenzjr@ornl.gov

BST's research interests can be grouped into the following areas:

Production of Fuels and Chemicals (featuring Cellulosic Ethanol Production)

Genomes to Life

Biofuel Cells

Bioprocessing of Fossil Fuels

Biotreatment and Bioremediation

Our Broad Capabilities Are:

• Bioconversion Science (novel reactors, separations, modeling, scale-up, and system integration)
• Multi-phase and nonaqueous biocatalysis (immobilized enzymes and microorganisms, enzymes in inorganic solvents)
• Applied Molecular Biology for microbial strain and enzyme development

Research interests in each of these areas are listed below. Active projects are underlined and linked to project description pages. The funding is primarily from DOE: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, and the Environmental Management Science Program.

Microsoft Powerpoint Overview of the former Biochemical Engineering Research Group (version 6.24.2003)

Bioprocessing R & D Areas

• Ethanol production (Transcriptional analysis of Clostridium thermocellum using microarray technology.)
Mielenz, Raman, McKeown

• Enzyme reactions for nonaqueous biocatalysis (esters, epoxides, polymers, etc.) - Borole, Davison
  
• Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals - Mielenz
  
• Chemicals from renewables via bioderived organic acids (succinic acid, lactic acid) - Davison, Mielenz
• Value-added chemicals from oils and fats - Borole, Mielenz
  
• Production of methane from biowaste - Borole
• Prior activity: Improvement of immobilized glucose isomerase - Davison, Altus Biologics
• Hydrolysis of modified lignin plants
• Assessment of metrics of renewables bioprocessing - Davison, Mielenz

 

Biocatalytic Production of Industrial Chemicals (epoxides, esters)

     Borole, Davison

• Development of thermophilic cytochrome P450 systems - Borole

• Development of highly active enzymes for non-aqueous bioprocessing - Borole, Davison
  
• Development of unsaturated fatty molecules via desaturase action - Borole
  

• Oil applications (Removal of Sulfur, Viscosity Reduction, Upgrading)
  Borole, Davison

  • Microbial desulfurization and bioupgrading

  • Modified nonaqueous enzymes for treatment

  • Electrodispersion contactors and electrospray bioreactors

  • Diesel biodesulfurization

  • Directed evolution of desulfinase and other desulfurization enzymes

  • Engineering peroxidases for oil upgrading

  • Biological hydrogenation, hydrodesulfurization, and biomimetics

  • Polyaromatic benefication

  • Biological nitrogen removal

  • Heavy crude bioupgrading via moisture reduction and alcohol production

   

• Coal Applications
  Borole, Hamilton
  
  • Mercury removal from coal via bioprocessing
  • Pyrite removal via bioconversion
  • Heavy metal removal via biotransformation

Biofuel Cells
     Borole

• Electricity production via microbial and enzyme fuels cells
  
• Optimization of microbial fuel cells for organic and inorganic waste removal
  
• Biofilm establishment and systems biology studies in microbial fuel cells
  
• Development of three-dimensional enzyme electrodes for fuel cells
  

Biotreatment & Bioremediation
     Davison, Kuritz, Borole

• Biofiltration of VOCs (alkanes, NOx, TCE) - Davison
• Bioremediation using nonaqueous thermophilic enzymes (chlorinated solvents) - Davison
• Nonaqueous (‘dry’) biocatalysis for hazardous vapors (CWA, VOCs) - Davison
• PCB Biodegradation
• Biosorption of heavy metals with biopolymers - Davison
• Microbial overexpression of degradative enzymes - Kuritz, Borole
• GEM development and production - Kuritz, Davison
• Fast throughput fermentations - Davison, Borole

Closely Related Research Groups

Microbial Ecology and Physiology Group - (Biosciences Division)

Anthony V. Palumbo, Ph.D., Group Leader

Steven D. Brown, Ph.D. - Functional Genomics and Microbial Physiology

Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology Group - (Chemical Sciences Division)

Elias Greenbaum, Ph.D., Group Leader

Research Staff and Support Personnel

Staffing Personnel and Contact Information

Selected Publication: The Resurgence of Bioenergy, ORNL Review, 40(1), 2007.

Other related links:

Biosciences Division

Environmental Sciences Division

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program (EERE)

• Biomass

Fossil Energy Program

22nd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2000)

23rd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2001)

24th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2002)

25th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2003)

26th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2004)

27th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2005)

28th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2006)

29th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (2007)