Prof Martin TangneyProf Martin TangneyDirector Biofuel Research

Centre

Presentation Part 2

1st law of thermodynamics…

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed

COCO22

in plantin plant

CC

COCO22

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

Use in vehicleUse in vehicleCC

CC

CC

Second generation biofuel

Lignocellulosic Lignocellulosic

bioethanol bioethanol

Lignocellulosic Lignocellulosic

bioethanol bioethanol

Maximise efficiencyMaximise efficiency

Lignocellulose

Yeast do not typically ferment C5 sugars

COCO22

in plantin plant

CC

COCO22

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

Use in vehicleUse in vehicleCC

CC

CC

Second generation biofuelSecond generation biofuelRenewable Sustainable SubstratesRenewable Sustainable Substrates

Sustainable biofuelSustainable biofuel

COCO22

in plantin plant

CC

COCO22

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

in fuel in fuel molecules molecules

Use in vehicleUse in vehicleCC

CC

CC

Renewable Sustainable SubstratesRenewable Sustainable Substrates

Sustainable biofuelSustainable biofuel

Is there anything better than ethanol???Is there anything better than ethanol???Is there anything better than ethanol???Is there anything better than ethanol???

BUTANOL as a FUELBUTANOL as a FUELBUTANOL as a FUELBUTANOL as a FUEL

it has a higher energy yield (C4)

can be readily integrated into existing fuel infrastructure

can be blended with petrol at all concentrations

can be blended with diesel

Can be used together with ethanol

(enhances the performance of ethanol fuel blends)

Clostridium acetobutylicumClostridium acetobutylicum Clostridium acetobutylicumClostridium acetobutylicum

Strictly anaerobic, spore-forming, bacterium Strictly anaerobic, spore-forming, bacterium

isolated in 1912 from cornisolated in 1912 from corn

Ferments carbohydrates into solvents…Ferments carbohydrates into solvents…acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE)acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE)

Strictly anaerobic, spore-forming, bacterium Strictly anaerobic, spore-forming, bacterium

isolated in 1912 from cornisolated in 1912 from corn

Ferments carbohydrates into solvents…Ferments carbohydrates into solvents…acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE)acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE)

Chaim Weizmann

Industrial process pioneered by Chaim Weizmann in Manchester…Industrial process pioneered by Chaim Weizmann in Manchester…

hence, also known as the Weizmann processhence, also known as the Weizmann process

Industrial process pioneered by Chaim Weizmann in Manchester…Industrial process pioneered by Chaim Weizmann in Manchester…

hence, also known as the Weizmann processhence, also known as the Weizmann process

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridia

development of the ABE fermentationdevelopment of the ABE fermentation

BUTANOL as a BUTANOL as a BIOBIO-FUEL-FUELBUTANOL as a BUTANOL as a BIOBIO-FUEL-FUEL

Stimulus for industrial fermentation…World War IStimulus for industrial fermentation…World War I

ACETONE needed for manufacture of explosivesACETONE needed for manufacture of explosivesACETONE needed for manufacture of explosivesACETONE needed for manufacture of explosives

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridia

development of the ABE fermentationdevelopment of the ABE fermentation

● ● 1920’s – butanol for butyl acetate based lacquers1920’s – butanol for butyl acetate based lacquers● ● 1920’s – butanol for butyl acetate based lacquers1920’s – butanol for butyl acetate based lacquers

● ● World War II – acetone for World War II – acetone for

corditecordite

● ● new strains of new strains of ClostridiumClostridium isolated isolated

● ● a better substrate - molassesa better substrate - molasses

● ● Global productionGlobal productionUK, USA, France, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Egypt…UK, USA, France, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Egypt…

second only to alcohol production by yeastsecond only to alcohol production by yeast

● ● Global productionGlobal productionUK, USA, France, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Egypt…UK, USA, France, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Egypt…

second only to alcohol production by yeastsecond only to alcohol production by yeast

Economic success of the ABE fermentationof the ABE fermentationEconomic success of the ABE fermentationof the ABE fermentation

1960’s – discontinued in UK and USA1960’s – discontinued in UK and USA1960’s – discontinued in UK and USA1960’s – discontinued in UK and USA

1980’s – discontinued in South Africa1980’s – discontinued in South Africa1980’s – discontinued in South Africa1980’s – discontinued in South Africa

Production continued in former USSR and ChinaProduction continued in former USSR and China

Economic demise of the ABE fermentationEconomic demise of the ABE fermentation

Key factors…Key factors…

• Rise of petrochemical industry Rise of petrochemical industry

• Prohibitive cost of substrateProhibitive cost of substrate

Summer 2005…

"Delivering solutions that reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels is a global imperative. BiobutanolBiobutanol holds tremendous

potential for delivering solutions in the near term." - Charles O. Holliday, Jr., DuPont Chairman & CEO

“butanolbutanol is a next generation biofuel that will supersede ethanol and biodiesel as the biofuel of choice for road transportation within 10 years”

Dr Edward GreenGreen Biologics Ltd

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridiaRE-RE-development of the butanol fermentationdevelopment of the butanol fermentation

BioconversionBioconversion

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridia

ABE fermentationABE fermentation

BioconversionBioconversion

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridia

ABE fermentationABE fermentation

SubstrateSubstrate

BUTANOLBUTANOLBUTANOLBUTANOL

ProductivityProductivityProductivityProductivitySolventogenic clostridia exhibit remarkable metabolic flexibilitySolventogenic clostridia exhibit remarkable metabolic flexibilityRenewable resourcesRenewable resources

feedstock opportunities

• agricultural/bioindustrial process wastesagricultural/bioindustrial process wastes

• wood process wasteswood process wastes

• biomass (corn stover, grasses etc)biomass (corn stover, grasses etc)

• marine biomassmarine biomass

Solventogenic clostridia exhibit remarkable metabolic flexibilitySolventogenic clostridia exhibit remarkable metabolic flexibilitySubstrateSubstrate

Solventogenic clostridiaSolventogenic clostridiaRE-RE-development of the butanol fermentationdevelopment of the butanol fermentation

ABE in Brazil

“there is fuel in every bit of vegetable matter that can be fermented” Henry Ford 1925

“there is fuel in every bit of vegetable matter that can be fermented” Henry Ford 1925