Korean and Canadian researchers team to develop new biofuel production process

In Korea, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) recently announced that it has developed an effective biofuel production process through the KIST-UBC (University of British Colombia) lab program in Vancouver, Canada. The process leverages the genetic engineering of lignin and bio-derived deep eutectic solvents (DESs).

A lignin genetic engineering scheme that can separate lignin more effectively was developed by researchers from the Joint BioEnergy Institute. Using this new technology, a part of lignin’s structure was altered and made shorter, requiring only a small amount of energy or chemicals to remove the lignin.

A bio-derived deep eutectic solvent (DES) developed by KIST researchers was later added to this process. Finally, an analysis technology developed by UBC was used to complete the biofuel production process and ensure the process’s economic feasibility.

KIST proposed and carried out joint research with the University of British Columbia in Canada and the State University of New York (College of Environmental Science and Forestry) in the United States. Together, the researchers were able to maximize and combine the potential of several different fields, including genetic engineering, process technology, and analysis technology.