Researchers find biofuels promise in mutated plants

In Iowa, researchers at Iowa State University have discovered genetic mutations to cellulose in plants could improve the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels, partly using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as part of the study.

The study also reports the cellulose produced by the mutated plant could be more efficiently processed into the sugars necessary for biofuel production.

The research team’s paper said developing techniques to modify the structure of plant cellulose in crops for better and easier conversion to fermentable sugars “could be transformative in a bio-based economy.”