SunEthanol and Harvard University Collaborate to Advance Biofuels Research

June 13, 2008 – Vol.13 No.12

SunEthanol and Harvard University Collaborate to Advance Biofuels Research.

Under the collaboration, Harvard Medical School researchers will work to develop new genetic strains of a proprietary natural bacterium that SunEthanol is using to convert cellulose into ethanol. The new genetically modified strains might be capable of delivering higher yields of ethanol than the native source, a critical step in creating an economically viable alternative to the production of ethanol from corn.

SunEthanol is developing the "Q Microbe" – which a member of its team discovered near the Quabbin Reservoir in Central Massachusetts – to produce ethanol from a variety of plentiful biomass feedstocks, including switchgrass, corn stover, wheat straw, sugar cane bagasse, and wood pulp.

The research will take place in the laboratory of George Church, PhD, a professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Computational Genetics. The Church laboratory will apply its significant expertise in DNA synthesis and genome engineering to create modified strains that will then be tested by scientists at SunEthanol for improvements in biomass conversion and ethanol production. SunEthanol will have an option to license any of the strains created under the partnership.

The collaboration will be managed by the Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD) which is responsible for all activities pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new inventions and discoveries made at Harvard. OTD also serves to further the development of Harvard technologies through the establishment of sponsored research collaborations with industry.

SunEthanol's Q Microbe (tm) represents a Complete Cellulose Conversion (C3) technology. Instead of the conventional enzyme and yeast process, C3 technology consolidates multiple steps into a single efficient and natural process, resulting in a lower cost of production. (6/12/08)

Links:

SunEthanol
http://www.sunethanol.com

Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD)
http://otd.harvard.edu

--- SunEthanol's Cellulosic Technology Boosts Ethanol Production 700 Percent.

--- SunEthanol Wins Grant to Develop Ethanol Made from Non-food Plant Materials.

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No