Researchers Investigating Production of Cellulosic Bio-Butanol

15 January 2008

A team of researchers headed by Lars Angenent at Washington University in St. Louis is working to produce bio-butanol from a variety of lignocellulosic materials.

The basic process under investigation consists first of physical and thermal pre-treatment to make the lignocellulosic material more amenable to degradation. Digesters comprising a selected mixed culture of different microbes under optimized conditions then convert the pre-treated biomass into butyrate. Fermenters then convert the butyrate to bio-butanol.

The thrust of my lab is the use of mixed cultures. The advantage of mixed cultures is that it can take just about any waste material, and through our manipulations, convert it into something valuable. For instance, I can alter the pH in this culture. By keeping it neutral, I can get methane gas, but when I lower the pH, I can get butyrate. If I have a pure culture, on the other hand, I have to worry about other organisms slipping in and altering or contaminating the environment.

—Lars Angenent

Angenent is the principal investigator of a USDA grant for $425,000 for this research, along with his co-P.I.s from USDA.