ABSTRACTS

Tenth Annual IBE Meeting

Biology-inspired processing and biocatalysis

Session Chairs:
Tom L. Richard
Pennsylvania State University
James R. Kastner
University of Georgia

Directed Evolution of Human Estrogen Receptors for Fun and Profit

Huimin Zhao, Zhilei Chen, and Karu Chockalingam, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois-Champaign

Human estrogen receptor is a member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily that regulates hormone-responsive genes in ligand-inducible manner. Nuclear receptors play important roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, and are associated with several human diseases such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.
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Engineering E. coli to Maximize the Flux of Reducing Equivalents Available forCofactor-Dependent Transformations

Patrick C. Cirino and Lonnie O. Ingram, Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University and Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida

Lignocellulosic residues from plant biomass are largely composed of carbohydrate polymers, which can be converted into sugar mixtures consisting primarily of glucose and xylose. Our research is aimed at utilizing these sugars as sources of energy and carbon backbone for the production of biocatalysts and "renewable" chemicals and fuels through metabolic engineering.
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Screening Extremophiles for Bioconversion Potentials

Jin-Woo Kim and Tonya Peeples, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa

Extremophilic systems have areas of potential industrial benefit which are highlighted in the ability of organisms to survive at high temperature and low pH. The technology of using the extremophiles would reduce the number of processing unit operations that are required for the conversion of bio-renewable resources, including lignocellulosic corn-based feedstocks as well as starch and sugar based feeds, to valuable products.
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Effects of Cell Immobilization on Ethanol Yield and Cell Growth Rates with Saccharomyces Cervisiae

Bryce Myers, Timothy Taylor, and Ryan Summers, Biological Engineering Program, Utah State University

Research with Saccharomyces cervisiae in an immobilized cell reactor has demonstrated an increase in ethanol yield and a decrease in cell mass production compared to production in a suspended cell reactor. Most of the past studies on glucose-ethanol conversion have been based on classical suspended cell batch fermentations. These types of fermentations have many limitations . . .
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Biological Hydrogen Production via the Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Rohit Datar, Jie Huang, Ali Mohagheghi, Esteban Chornet, Stefan Czernik, and Pin-Ching ManessNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

Hydrogen is a clean fuel and its production from renewable resources will address both the environmental needs and energy independence. Many bacteria contain one or more hydrogenase enzymes to catalyze H2 production according to the equation 2H+ + 2e-1 H2 (3).
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 Biotransformation of Corn Stover Pyrolysates by Extremophilic Organisms

Stephen E. Fischer, Jin-Woo Kim, and Tonya L. Peeples, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas

Pyrolysis is very promising technology for the conversion of woody biomass (e.g., corn stover) to organic liquids suitable for fermentation to value-added products. Unfortunately, the oil produced contains inhibitory components, and requires significant post-treatment before it can be utilized by conventional organisms. Because they thrive in harsh habitats, extremophilic organisms offer potential advantages in this regard.
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Ensiling Corn Stover with Enzyme Addition as a Feedstock Preservation Method for Particleboard Manufacturing

Haiyu Ren1, Tom L. Richard, Zhilin Chen, Monlin Kuo, Yilin Bian, Kenneth J. Moore, and Patricia Patrick, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

Ensilage can be used to both preserve and pretreat biomass feedstock for further downstream conversion into chemicals, fuels, and/or fiber products. This study examined the silage of enzyme treated corn stover as a feedstock for particleboard manufacturing.
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Enzymes as Catalysts in the Synthesis of Biodiesel

Michael J. Haas and Thomas A. Foglia, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center

'Biodiesel' is the name given to the simple alcohol esters of fatty acids when they are intended for use as a fuel for diesel engines. Compared with petroleum-based fuel, biodiesel reduces the production of undesirable exhaust emissions, profoundly reduces greenhouse gas production, reduces reliance on imported petroleum, and enhances rural community income.
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Advanced Catalysts from Biomass

James R. Kastner, Rangan Gangavarum, Quentin Buquoi, and Nathan Melear1, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Georgia and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Currently, there are little high value markets for solid residuals from biomass (e.g., peanut hulls, pecan shells, sawdust, bark…). We propose to generate advanced environmental catalysts from the pyrolytic char of lignocellulosic residues (agricultural and forestry) for the development of air pollution control technologies in agricultural, food, and chemical industries.
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Efficient Bioprocessing of Insoluble Lignocellulosic Residues in Submerged Fermentation by Application of Soluble Alkaline Lignocellulose Extract

V. Sahai, G. Gupta, R. Kumar, S. Mishra, V.S. Bisaria, Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India

Lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural and forestry residues provide a cost-effective and uniquely sustainable resource for production of many biochemical products and organic fuels which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, improve economy, dispose solid wastes, and improve air quality . . .
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Pathogen Inactivation in Biosolids and Safe Agricultural Land Application

Christopher Y. Choi, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Arizona

In the U.S., more than sixty percent of treated sewer sludge is recycled as Class B biosolids and land-applied. However, burdensome restrictions for agricultural land application have made it imperative to explore methodologies to produce Class A biosolids. Drying beds are a viable method of sludge dewatering with significant merits such as low cost and easy maintenance.
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