BIOFUELS NEED MORE TERPENES

Enhancing microbial pathways for biofuel production

January 21, 2015 (Phys Org)

“Researchers from the DOE JGI and the Joint Bioenergy Institute identified genes in an E. coli microbial metabolism pathway that could improve the production of terpenes…Terpenes are high-energy compounds produced in microbes and plants that could be used for producing biofuels. Enhancing terpene yields could lead to commercial-scale production of these biofuels…Terpenes are hydrocarbons in plants such as conifers that act as a self-defense mechanism against pests, among other functions. Bioenergy researchers [from from U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) and the Joint Bioenergy Institute] see terpenes as high-energy metabolites that could be used for producing biofuels from plant feedstocks…[T] he biochemical pathway [of terpene production] in eucalyptus leaves [could help] develop a sustainable alternative to jet fuel…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet