Three TU Delft researchers have made a major advance in the development of second generation cellulosic biofuels, made from plant and agricultural waste.
By inserting a bacterial gene in yeast, the researchers produced improvements on three fronts: more ethanol, less acid and the elimination of the unwanted by-product glycerol.
The gene from the bacterium E. coli, enables the yeast to convert acetic acid into ethanol. This change also means that glycerol is not produced as by product.
To apply this advance on industrial scale it will be necessary to test the concept on industrial yeast strains. The Delft researchers have applied for patents on the invention, and hope to speed up industrial application through intensive collaboration with industry.
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