New patent issued to develop advanced biofuel production

Dyadic International Inc. has been awarded a new patent for enzyme composition and the development of plant biomass to fermentable sugar conversion.

Mark Emalfarb, president and CEO of Dyadic, discusses how the patent can help biofuel production: 'Plant biomass provide a plentiful source of potential energy in the form of sugars that can be utilised to produce advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals.'

The company's 14th patent relates to the use of C1 genes, which may go on to appear in micro-organisms, such as yeast and fungi. The enzymes containing C1 have a wider pH range and are capable of tolerating pH levels between five and seven. As a result, fermenter operators' observation levels will be more flexible.

C1's genetic make-up is more varied in enzymes for cellulose and lignocellulose based biofuels. There is 'almost two times the amount of gene diversity in C1 than in trichoderma,' Emalfarb comments.

The C1 technology is currently being implemented in Abengoa’s 25 MMgy cellulosic ethanol plant in Hugoton, Kan, to break down plant biomass into fermentable sugars.