Researchers improve conversion of seaweed sugars to ethanol

In Illinois, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have modified the expression of three genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is used in the fermenation process to break down sugars to ethanol, in order to improve the way seaweed sugars can be converted to ethanol.

Yong-Su Jin, one of the study’s authors said that his group will now explore the feasibility of harvesting and fermenting seaweed on large scales, which may involve cultivating plants along arrays of floats to ensure they receive enough sunlight.

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