Better biomass conversion for biofuels and bioproducts from GLBRC

In Wisconsin, researchers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) discovered a method to break down solvent effects, finding a new way to measure and analyze how a solvent alters the stability of two different points of a chemical reaction, the initial state and the transition state. The method, which relies on experimentation and computation, is the first to provide a window into the fundamental properties of solvent effects. They are looking at how better use of solvents could improve the economics of biorefineries, push a range of new and more sustainable biofuels and bioproducts to market, and provide new sources of revenue for farmers.

Max Mellmer, lead author on the paper, said, “These findings are fundamental to achieving economically competitive biofuels and bioproducts. If we’re going to realize a future in which our fuels and products are bio-based, we have to optimize every step of our conversion processes and develop new and inexpensive ways of making high-value products from biomass.”