معرفی هیات مدیره انجمن بیو تکنولوژی ایران

ردیف	نام و نام خانوادگی	سمت در انجمن	تخصص	فارغ التحصیل از	محل کار	E.mail
۱	دکتر محمد علی ملبوبی	رئیس هیئت مدیره	Ph.D بیولوژی مولکولی	کانادا	پژوهشگاه ملی مهندسی ژنتیک	[e-mail]
۲	دکتر محمود تولائی	نایب رئیس	Ph.D بیوتکنولوژی پزشکی	تهران	دانشگاه امام حسین (ع)	[e-mail]
۳	دکتر محسن مردی	خزانه دار	Ph.D اصلاح نباتات مولکولی	تهران	پژوهشکده بیوتکنولوژی کشاورزی کرج	[e-mail]
۴	دکتر اسکندر امیدی نیا	عضو اصلی	Ph.D بیوتکنولوژی پزشکی	تهران	انستیتو پاستور ایران	[e-mail]
۵	دکتر مختار جلالی	عضو اصلی	Ph.D ژنتیک مولکولی	انگلستان	دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه تربیت مدرس	[e-mail]
۶	دکتر سید صفا علی فاطمی	عضو اصلی	Ph.D بیوتکنولوژی	تهران	پژوهشگاه ملی مهندسی ژنتیک	[e-mail]
۷	دکتر بیژن بمبئی	عضو اصلی	Ph.D بیوشیمی	آلمان	پژوهشگاه ملی مهندسی ژنتیک	[e-mail]
۸	مهندس کسری اصفهانی	عضو علی البدل	Ph.D دانشجو ژنتیک مولکولی	تهران	پژوهشگاه ملی مهندسی ژنتیک	[e-mail]
۹	دکتر سید عباس صاحبقدم لطفی	عضو علی البدل	Ph.D بیوشیمی بالینی	تهران	پژوهشگاه ملی مهندسی ژنتیک	[e-mail]
۱۰	دکتر نیر اعظم خوش خلق سیما	بازرس	Ph.D فیزیولوژی	ژاپن	پژوهشکده بیوتکنولوژی کشاورزی کرج	[e-mail]
۱۱	مهندس حسین احمد پور یزدی	بازرس علی البدل	Ph.D دانشجو	تبریز		[e-mail]

ABC's of Biofuels

Hey students! Biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel can make a big difference in improving our environment, helping our economy, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil. This page tells all about biofuels research by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program. Read on to find out about:

• Biofuels for Transportation
• Bioethanol Feedstocks
• Bioethanol Production
• Biodiesel Feedstocks
• Biodiesel Production
• Biofuels and the Environment
• Links
• Biomass and Biofuels Science Fair Project Ideas

Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

Biofuels for Transportation

Most cars and trucks on the road today are fueled by gasoline and diesel fuels. These fuels are produced from oil, which is a non-renewable fossil fuel. Non-renewable fuels depend on resources that will eventually run out. Renewable resources, in contrast, are constantly replenished and will never run out. Biomass is one type of renewable resource, which includes plants and organic wastes.

Biomass Program researchers are studying how to convert biomass into liquid fuels for transportation, called biofuels. The use of biofuels will reduce pollution and reduce the United States' dependence on non-renewable oil. For more information on how biofuels are used in vehicles on the road today, check out the Alternative Fuels Data Center.

DOE's Biomass Program is focusing on bioethanol and biodiesel production. Other DOE research programs are looking at using biomass to produce other types of clean energy and fuels. For more information about bioenergy in general, link to Clean Energy Basics-About bioenergy.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of biomass. Today, it is made mostly from sugar and starch crops. With advanced technology being developed by the Biomass Program, cellulosic biomass, like trees and grasses, are also used as feedstocks for ethanol production. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for cars in its pure form, but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane and improve vehicle emissions. Check out What is Bioethanol? for more information on ethanol.

Bioethanol Feedstocks

Biomass is material that comes from plants. Plants use the light energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide to sugars that can be stored, through a process called photosynthesis. Organic waste is also considered to be biomass, because it began as plant matter. Researchers are studying how the sugars in the biomass can be converted to more usable forms of energy like electricity and fuels.

Some plants, like sugar cane and sugar beets, store the energy as simple sugars. These are mostly used for food. Other plants store the energy as more complex sugars, called starches. These plants include grains like corn and are also used for food.

Another type of plant matter, called cellulosic biomass, is made up of very complex sugar polymers, and is not generally used as a food source. This type of biomass is under consideration as a feedstock for bioethanol production. Specific feedstocks under consideration include:

• Agricultural residues (leftover material from crops, such as the stalks, leaves, and husks of corn plants)
• Forestry wastes (chips and sawdust from lumber mills, dead trees, and tree branches)
• Municipal solid waste (household garbage and paper products)
• Food processing and other industrial wastes (black liquor, a paper manufacturing by-product)
• Energy crops (fast-growing trees and grasses) developed just for this purpose

The main components of these types of biomass are:

• Cellulose is the most common form of carbon in biomass, accounting for 40%-60% by weight of the biomass, depending on the biomass source. It is a complex sugar polymer, or polysaccharide, made from the six-carbon sugar, glucose. Its crystalline structure makes it resistant to hydrolysis, the chemical reaction that releases simple, fermentable sugars from a polysaccharide.

• Hemicellulose is also a major source of carbon in biomass, at levels of between 20% and 40% by weight. It is a complex polysaccharide made from a variety of five- and six-carbon sugars. It is relatively easy to hydrolyze into simple sugars but the sugars are difficult to ferment to ethanol.

• Lignin is a complex polymer, which provides structural integrity in plants. It makes up 10% to 24% by weight of biomass. It remains as residual material after the sugars in the biomass have been converted to ethanol. It contains a lot of energy and can be burned to produce steam and electricity for the biomass-to-ethanol process.

For more information about biomass in general, see What Is Biomass?

Bioethanol Production

Key Reactions. Two reactions are key to understanding how biomass is converted to bioethanol:

• Hydrolysis is the chemical reaction that converts the complex polysaccharides in the raw feedstock to simple sugars. In the biomass-to-bioethanol process, acids and enzymes are used to catalyze this reaction.

• Fermentation is a series of chemical reactions that convert sugars to ethanol. The fermentation reaction is caused by yeast or bacteria, which feed on the sugars. Ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced as the sugar is consumed. The simplified fermentation reaction equation for the 6-carbon sugar, glucose, is:

C6H12O6 —> 2 CH3CH2OH + 2 CO2

glucose         ethanol        carbon                                                 dioxide

Process Description. The basic processes for converting sugar and starch crops are well-known and used commercially today. While these types of plants generally have a greater value as food sources than as fuel sources there are some exceptions to this. For example, Brazil uses its huge crops of sugar cane to produce fuel for its transportation needs. The current U.S. fuel ethanol industry is based primarily on the starch in the kernels of feed corn, America's largest agricultural crop.

• Biomass Handling. Biomass goes through a size-reduction step to make it easier to handle and to make the ethanol production process more efficient. For example, agricultural residues go through a grinding process and wood goes through a chipping process to achieve a uniform particle size.

• Biomass Pretreatment. In this step, the hemicellulose fraction of the biomass is broken down into simple sugars. A chemical reaction called hydrolysis occurs when dilute sulfuric acid is mixed with the biomass feedstock. In this hydrolysis reaction, the complex chains of sugars that make up the hemicellulose are broken, releasing simple sugars. The complex hemicellulose sugars are converted to a mix of soluble five-carbon sugars, xylose and arabinose, and soluble six-carbon sugars, mannose and galactose. A small portion of the cellulose is also converted to glucose in this step.

• Enzyme Production. The cellulase enzymes that are used to hydrolyze the cellulose fraction of the biomass are grown in this step. Alternatively the enzymes might be purchased from commercial enzyme companies.

• Cellulose Hydrolysis. In this step, the remaining cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose. In this enzymatic hydrolysis reaction, cellulase enzymes are used to break the chains of sugars that make up the cellulose, releasing glucose. Cellulose hydrolysis is also called cellulose saccharification because it produces sugars.

• Glucose Fermentation. The glucose is converted to ethanol, through a process called fermentation. Fermentation is a series of chemical reactions that convert sugars to ethanol. The fermentation reaction is caused by yeast or bacteria, which feed on the sugars. As the sugars are consumed, ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced.

• Pentose Fermentation. The hemicellulose fraction of biomass is rich in five-carbon sugars, which are also called pentoses. Xylose is the most prevalent pentose released by the hemicellulose hydrolysis reaction. In this step, xylose is fermented using Zymomonas mobilis or other genetically engineered bacteria.

• Ethanol Recovery. The fermentation product from the glucose and pentose fermentation is called ethanol broth. In this step the ethanol is separated from the other components in the broth. A final dehydration step removes any remaining water from the ethanol.

• Lignin Utilization. Lignin and other byproducts of the biomass-to-ethanol process can be used to produce the electricity required for the ethanol production process. Burning lignin actually creates more energy than needed and selling electricity may help the process economics.

Converting cellulosic biomass to ethanol is currently too expensive to be used on a commercial scale. So researchers are working to improve the efficiency and economics of the ethanol production process by focusing their efforts on the two most challenging steps:

• Cellulose hydrolysis. The crystalline structure of cellulose makes it difficult to hydrolyze to simple sugars, ready for fermentation. Researchers are developing enzymes that work together to efficiently break down cellulose. Read more about Enzymatic Hydrolysis.

• Pentose fermentation. While there are a variety of yeast and bacteria that will ferment six-carbon sugars, most cannot easily ferment five-carbon sugars, which limits ethanol production from cellulosic biomass. Researchers are using genetic engineering to design microorganisms that can efficiently ferment both five- and six-carbon sugars to ethanol at the same time.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a mixture of fatty acid alkyl esters made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a petroleum diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and air toxics from diesel-powered vehicles. Check out What is Renewable Diesel? for more information on biodiesel.

Biodiesel Feedstocks

In the United States, most biodiesel is made from soybean oil or recycled cooking oils. Animals fats, other vegetable oils, and other recycled oils can also be used to produce biodiesel, depending on their costs and availability. In the future, blends of all kinds of fats and oils may be used to produce biodiesel.

Biodiesel Production

Key Reaction. The main reaction for converting oil to biodiesel is called transesterification. The transesterification process reacts an alcohol (like methanol) with the triglyceride oils contained in vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled greases, forming fatty acid alkyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin. The reaction requires heat and a strong base catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The simplified transesterification reaction is shown below.

base

Triglycerides + Free Fatty Acids (<4%) + Alcohol ——> Alkyl esters + glycerin

Pretreatment Reaction. Some feedstocks must be pretreated before they can go through the transesterification process. Feedstocks with less than 4% free fatty acids, which include vegetable oils and some food-grade animal fats, do not require pretreatment. Feedstocks with more than 4% free fatty acids, which include inedible animal fats and recycled greases, must be pretreated in an acid esterification process. In this step, the feedstock is reacted with an alcohol (like methanol) in the presence of a strong acid catalyst (sulfuric acid), converting the free fatty acids into biodiesel. The remaining triglycerides are converted to biodiesel in the transesterification reaction.

acid

Triglycerides + Free Fatty Acids (>4%) + Alcohol ——> Alkyl esters + triglycerides

Process Description.

• Acid Esterification. Oil feedstocks containing more than 4% free fatty acids go through an acid esterification process to increase the yield of biodiesel. These feedstocks are filtered and preprocessed to remove water and contaminants, and then fed to the acid esterification process. The catalyst, sulfuric acid, is dissolved in methanol and then mixed with the pretreated oil. The mixture is heated and stirred, and the free fatty acids are converted to biodiesel. Once the reaction is complete, it is dewatered and then fed to the transesterification process.

• Transesterification. Oil feedstocks containing less than 4% free fatty acids are filtered and preprocessed to remove water and contaminants and then fed directly to the transesterification process along with any products of the acid esterification process. The catalyst, potassium hydroxide, is dissolved in methanol and then mixed with and the pretreated oil. If an acid esterification process is used, then extra base catalyst must be added to neutralize the acid added in that step. Once the reaction is complete, the major co-products, biodiesel and glycerin, are separated into two layers.

• Methanol recovery. The methanol is typically removed after the biodiesel and glycerin have been separated, to prevent the reaction from reversing itself. The methanol is cleaned and recycled back to the beginning of the process.

• Biodiesel refining. Once separated from the glycerin, the biodiesel goes through a clean-up or purification process to remove excess alcohol, residual catalyst and soaps. This consists of one or more washings with clean water. It is then dried and sent to storage. Sometimes the biodiesel goes through an additional distillation step to produce a colorless, odorless, zero-sulfur biodiesel.

• Glycerin refining. The glycerin by-product contains unreacted catalyst and soaps that are neutralized with an acid. Water and alcohol are removed to produce 50%-80% crude glycerin. The remaining contaminants include unreacted fats and oils. In large biodiesel plants, the glycerin can be further purified, to 99% or higher purity, for sale to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Biofuels and the Environment

Global Warming. The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere. The carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases allow solar energy to enter the Earth's atmosphere, but reduce the amount of energy that can re-radiate back into space, trapping energy and causing global warming.

One environmental benefit of replacing fossil fuels with biomass-based fuels is that the energy obtained from biomass does not add to global warming. All fuel combustion, including fuels produced from biomass, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But, because plants use carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to grow (photosynthesis), the carbon dioxide formed during combustion is balanced by that absorbed during the annual growth of the plants used as the biomass feedstock—unlike burning fossil fuels which releases carbon dioxide captured billions of years ago. You must also consider how much fossil energy is used to grow and process the biomass feedstock, but the result is still substantially reduced net greenhouse gas emissions. Modern, high-yield corn production is relatively energy intense, but the net greenhouse gas emission reduction from making ethanol from corn grain is still about 20%. Making biodiesel from soybeans reduces net emissions nearly 80%. Producing ethanol from cellulosic material also involves generating electricity by combusting the non-fermentable lignin. The combination of reducing both gasoline use and fossil electrical production can mean a greater than 100% net greenhouse gas emission reduction. In the case of ethanol from corn stover, we have calculated that reduction to be 113%.

Vehicle Emissions. Petroleum diesel and gasoline consist of blends of hundreds of different hydrocarbon chains. Many of these are toxic, volatile compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes, which are responsible for the health hazards and pollution associated with combustion of petroleum-based fuels. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides sulfur oxides and particulates, are other specific emissions of concern. A key environmental benefit of using biofuels as an additive to petroleum-based transportation fuels is a reduction in these harmful emissions.

Both bioethanol and biodiesel are used as fuel oxygenates to improve combustion characteristics. Adding oxygen results in more complete combustion, which reduces carbon monoxide emissions. This is another environmental benefit of replacing petroleum fuels with biofuels. Ethanol is typically blended with gasoline to form an E10 blend (5%-10% ethanol and 90%-95% gasoline), but it can be used in higher concentrations such as E85 or in its pure form. Biodiesel is usually blended with petroleum diesel to form a B20 blend (20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel), although other blend levels can be used up to B100 (pure biodiesel).

Links

Ethanol

Ethanol-As a Fuel This is a comprehensive college-level curriculum, prepared by Northwest Iowa Community College, discussing details of ethanol production, use and environmental benefits.

Biomass and Biofuels Science Fair Project Ideas

Middle School

"Photosynthesis" This experiment, from Newton's Apple, demonstrates how plants make food from sunlight.

"What is Ethanol and how does it make a car run?" This experiment, from Newton's Apple, demonstrates how yeast ferments different types of food.

Greenhouse Gas Effect This experiment, from the California Energy Commission, demonstrates how the greenhouse gas effect keeps the earth warm.

Peanut Power This experiment, from the California Energy Commission, demonstrates how energy is stored in plants.

NREL's Renewable Energy Activities Choices for Tomorrow (REACT) Middle Level Grades 6-8 (PDF 3.80 MB)

• Which has more heat energy: vegetable oil or petroleum oil? This experiment demonstrates how different types of fuel produce different amounts of energy (p.61 of the pdf).
• Which grass produces more biomass? This experiment demonstrates how different types of plants generate different amounts of biomass (p.65 of the pdf).

Lesson Plans

• Biofuel Production (PDF 197 KB)
• Environmental Aspects (PDF 495 KB)
• Photosynthesis and Biomass Growth (PDF 405 KB)
• Biofuel Utilization (PDF 225 KB)

High School

NREL's Research Projects in Renewable Energy for High School Students (PDF 1.10 MB)

• What is the efficiency of ethanol production from various biomass sources? This experiment compares the relative yields of ethanol from different biomass sources, like sugar, fruit and corn (p. 13 of the pdf).
• What kinds of plants have the most heat energy in a given quantity of biomass? This experiment compares the heat energy in a variety of sources like peanuts, corn, milkweed (p. 15 of the pdf).
• How much energy can be obtained from alcohol fuels? This experiment compares the heat energy in ethanol, methanol, and other types of alcohols (p.16 of the pdf).
• What factors affect biomass growth? This experiment demonstrates how varying fertilizer use, soil type, light exposure, etc. affects biomass growth (p.16 of the pdf).

Bioethanol Production Process Diagram

Student Glossary of Biomass

Student Glossary

This glossary will help understand the vocabulary used in the Biofuels for Students section. For greater technical detail refer to the Glossary for Researchers.

acid: A solution that has an excess of hydrogen ions (H⁺).

alcohol: An alcohol is an organic compound with a carbon bound to a hydroxyl group. Examples are methanol, CH₃OH, and ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH.

aromatic: A chemical that has a benzene ring in its molecular structure (benzene, toluene, xylene). Aromatic compounds have strong, characteristic odors.

B20: A mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel based on volume.

bacteria: A small single-cell organism. Bacteria do not have an organized nucleus, but they do have a cell membrane and protective cell wall. Bacteria can be used to ferment sugars to ethanol.

base: A solution that has an excess of hydroxide ions (OH-)in aqueous solution.

benzene: An aromatic component of gasoline, which is a known cancer-causing agent.

biodiesel: A biodegradable transportation fuel for use in diesel engines that is produced through the transesterfication of organically- derived oils or fats. It may be used either as a replacement for or as a component of diesel fuel.

biofuels: Biomass converted to liquid or gaseous fuels such as ethanol, methanol, methane, and hydrogen.

biomass: An energy resource derived from organic matter. These include wood, agricultural waste and other living-cell material that can be burned to produce heat energy. They also include algae, sewage and other organic substances that may be used to make energy through chemical processes.

by-product: Material, other than the principal product, generated as a consequence of an industrial process or as a breakdown product in a living system.

carbohydrate: A class of organic compounds including sugars and starches. The name comes from the fact that many (but not all) carbohydrates have the basic formula CH2O.

carbon dioxide: (CO₂) A colorless, odorless gas produced by respiration and combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Plants use it as a food in the photosynthesis process.

carbon monoxide: (CO) A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion.

cellulase: A family of enzymes that break down cellulose into glucose molecules.

cellulose: A carbohydrate that is the principal component of wood. It is made of linked glucose molecules that strengthens the cell walls of most plants.

catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, without being consumed or produced by the reaction. Enzymes are catalysts for many biochemical reactions.

combustion: A chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen that produces heat (and usually, light).

E-10: A mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline based on volume.

E-85: A mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline based on volume.

energy crop: A crop grown specifically for its fuel value. These include food crops such as corn and sugarcane, and nonfood crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass.

enzyme: A protein or protein-based molecule that speeds up chemical reactions occurring in living things. Enzymes act as catalysts for a single reaction, converting a specific set of reactants into specific products.

ester: An ester is a compound formed from the reaction between an acid and an alcohol. In esters of carboxylic acids, the -COOH group of the acid and the -OH group of the alcohol lose a water and become a -COO- linkage.

ethanol: (CH₃CH₂OH) A colorless, flammable liquid produced by fermentation of sugars. Ethanol is used as a fuel oxygenate. Ethanol is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages.

fatty acid: A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid (an acid with a -COOH group) with long hydrocarbon side chains.

fermentation: A biochemical reaction that breaks down complex organic molecules (such as carbohydrates) into simpler materials (such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and water). Bacteria or yeasts can ferment sugars to ethanol.

fossil fuel: A carbon or hydrocarbon fuel formed in the ground from the remains of dead plants and animals. It takes millions of years to form fossil fuels. Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels.

fungi: Fungi are plant-like organisms with cells with distinct nuclei surrounded by nuclear membranes, incapable of photosynthesis. Fungi are decomposers of waste organisms and exist as yeast, mold, or mildew.

global warming: A term used to describe the increase in average global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect. Scientists generally agree that the Earth's surface has warmed by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 140 years.

glucose: (C₆H₁₂O₆) A six-carbon fermentable sugar.

glycerin: (C₃H₈O₃) A liquid by-product of biodiesel production. Glycerin is used in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants.

greenhouse effect: The heat effect due to the trapping of the sun's radiant energy, so that it cannot be reradiated. In the earth's atmosphere, the radiant energy is trapped by greenhouse gases produced from both natural and human sources.

greenhouse gas: A gas, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, tropospheric ozone, methane, and low level ozone, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.

hydrocarbon (HC): An organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon. In vehicle emissions, these are usually vapors created from incomplete combustion or from vaporization of liquid gasoline. Emissions of hydrocarbons contribute to ground level ozone.

hydrolysis: A chemical reaction that releases sugars, which are normally linked together in complex chains. In ethanol production, hydrolysis reactions are used to break down the cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass.

municipal solid waste (MSW): Any organic matter, including sewage, industrial, and commercial wastes, from municipal waste collection systems. Municipal waste does not include agricultural and wood wastes or residues.

nitrogen oxides (NO_x): A product of photochemical reactions of nitric oxide in ambient air, and the major component of photochemical smog.

non-renewable resource: A non-renewable energy resource is one that cannot be replaced as it is used. Although fossil fuels, like coal and oil, are in fact fossilized biomass resources, they form at such a slow rate that, in practice, they are non-renewable.

organic compound: An organic compound contains carbon chemically bound to hydrogen. Organic compounds often contain other elements (particularly O, N, halogens, or S).

oxygenate: An oxygenate is a compound which contains oxygen in its molecular structure. Ethanol and biodiesel act as oxygenates when they are blended with conventional fuels. Oxygenated fuel improves combustion efficiency and reduces tailpipe emissions of CO.

ozone: A compound that is formed when oxygen and other compounds react in sunlight. In the upper atmosphere, ozone protects the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Though beneficial in the upper atmosphere, at ground level, ozone is called photochemical smog, and is a respiratory irritant and considered a pollutant.

particulates: A fine liquid or solid particle such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or smog, found in air or emissions.

petroleum: Any petroleum-based substance comprising a complex blend of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil through the process of separation, conversion, upgrading, and finishing, including motor fuel, jet oil, lubricants, petroleum solvents, and used oil.

photosynthesis: A complex process used by many plants and bacteria to build carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water, using energy derived from light. Photosynthesis is the key initial step in the growth of biomass and is depicted by the equation: CO₂ + H₂O + light + chlorophyll = (CH₂O) + O₂

polymer: A large molecule made by linking smaller molecules ("monomers") together.

polysaccharide: A carbohydrate consisting of a large number of linked simple sugar, or monosaccharide, units. Examples of polysaccharides are cellulose and starch.

reaction: A chemical reaction is a dissociation, recombination, or rearrangement of atoms.

renewable energy resource: An energy resource that can be replaced as it is used. Renewable energy resources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and biomass. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is also considered to be a renewable energy resource.

starch: A molecule composed of long chains of glucose molecules. Many plants store the energy produced in the photosynthesis process in the form of starch.

toxics: As defined in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, toxics include benzene, 1,3 butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and polycyclic organic matter.

transesterification: A chemical process which reacts an alcohol with the triglycerides contained in vegetable oils and animal fats to produce biodiesel and glycerin.

triglyceride: A triglyceride is an ester of glycerol and three fatty acids. Most animal fats are composed primarily of triglycerides.

volatile: A solid or liquid material that easily vaporizes.

yeast: Any of various single-cell fungi capable of fermenting carbohydrates.

Hyaluronic Acid equals profitability

Novozymes Biopolymer ensures optimized utilization of sodium hyaluronate through a direct customized approach to any given formulation in medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Company and product specific advantages:

• The safety of our products comes from a complete and thorough characterization of our host strain; Bacillus subtilis. Novozymes Biopolymer is a safe partner and is part of the Novozymes Group, the biotech-based world leader in enzymes and microorganisms.

• The purity comes from utilizing white biotechnology and state-of-art recovery processes where our biological solutions create the necessary balance between better business, cleaner environment and better lives. 

• The consistency in our production methods gives uniform products from batch to batch.  We can deliver hyaluronic acid in any amount to any location in the world via our distribution network or directly from our factories in Denmark and China.

• The professionalism in our partnering approach as well as in our general product offerings make the benefits stand out clearly. We take pride in understanding our our sodium hyaluronates' meaning for our customers. Utilizing our strong know-how from Novozymes' leadership in biotechnology, we provide a solution that will enhance synergies providing our customers with an even better future.

Hyaluronic acid - advanced wound healing

Sodium hyaluronate (HA) plays several key roles during the wound healing process. In the initial wound, sodium hyaluronate binds to fibrin and fibrinogen, contributing to clot formation and enhancing the migration of inflammatory cells (macrophages, etc).

Hyaluronic acid benefits in wound care

Sodium hyaluronate synthesis is up-regulated at sites of tissue injury (i.e., during wound healing). HA accumulation is enhanced immediately after injury and remains elevated during the inflammatory and early granulation/re-epithelialization stages of wound repair.

• Sodium hyaluronate has multiple functions during topical wound repair, particularly in the inflammatory and early granulation stages. HA interacts with fibrin clots and initially modulates host inflammatory cell infiltration into the inflamed site.
• Sodium hyaluronate induces production of growth factors and cytokines in inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and keratinocytes, and protects and presents growth factors involved in topical wound repair, such as Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), to their cognate receptors.

 

Hyaluronic acid for accelerated wound healing

HA acts as an antioxidant by scavenging radical oxygen species (ROS) from inflammatory cells, and thus functions to both stimulate and limit inflammation at the wound site. During the formation of granulation tissue, HA promotes migration of both keratinocytes and fibroblasts, regulates cell proliferation, and contributes to the structure of the provisional matrix of granulation tissue

Biofuel - the fuel of the future

The second in a series of short articles about how biological solutions have driven the evolution of industry.

Global warming is a hot environmental issue. How do we reduce our use of fossil fuels, which add to the greenhouse effect? One alternative to the petrol used in motor vehicles is fuel ethanol. To produce ethanol from grains such as corn (maize), wheat, barley, rye or sorghum, an enzymatic treatment is required. Enzymes break down the starch into fermentable sugars. This is where Novozymes comes in. Novozymes has become a major supplier of enzymes to fuel ethanol manufacturers around the world and has developed special enzymes for this purpose.

The vast majority of ethanol is currently used as an oxygenate or octane booster in blends of around 10% with petrol. In the USA, where the production of fuel ethanol is booming, more than 1% of the total fuel used annually in vehicles consists of ethanol. There are reports of about eight to ten new fuel ethanol plants being opened every year, primarily in the Midwest.

When ethanol burns, it simply produces water and carbon dioxide. Supporters of ethanol point to the lower emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide compared to petrol. A blend of petrol and 10% ethanol emits 5% less carbon dioxide than ordinary petrol. Furthermore, the crops used to make ethanol absorb as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as is released when the ethanol is combusted. Ethanol also offers a chance to phase out the petrol additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a harmful chemical.

In the USA, fuel ethanol is currently made from corn, and 7% of US corn production is used in its manufacture. For liquefaction, Novozymes' Liquozyme® SC is the market leader. The other main enzyme used in the USA is the glucoamylase Spirizyme® Fuel. Wheat and barley are being converted into fuel with these and additional viscosity-reducing enzymes in Europe and Australia, while China is using mostly corn in brand new fuel ethanol plants.

Today, grains rich in starch are being converted into fuel ethanol, but in future cellulose will also be used. Cellulose is the most abundant organic material on Earth, and biomass such as agricultural residues could become an unlimited source of energy. One of the technical barriers is how to convert cellulose into glucose, but Novozymes has already come a long way in developing cellulases that can do this economically. If the technology becomes commercial, it could spawn a whole new industry for converting biomass into fuel ethanol and other valuable products. Local mills would need to be built near the sources of biomass. These are exciting possibilities in a world suffering from global warming and a dependence on finite supplies of oil for its fuel needs.