University of Houston researchers develop more resilient yeast for cellulosic ethanol

In Texas, Science News reports that University of Houston researchers have developed a more resilient yeast to convert corn stover into ethanol that has yields on a par with producing ethanol from corn kernels. By genetically modifying baker’s yeast, the aldehydes byproduct of the feedstock preprocessing that often kills yeasts and has thus far limited the ability to produce cellulosic ethanol from corn stover and other crop wastes are defused. With the aldehydes converted into alcohol, the toxicity to the yeasts is neutralized and even woody feedstocks can be used successfully.