DSM announces breakthrough in technology for second generation biofuels
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company
headquartered in the Netherlands, today announces a major breakthrough in the
technology to produce second generation biofuels. This breakthrough will help
second generation biofuels to become more cost effective and to become a viable
alternative to both first generation biofuels and conventional fossil fuels.
Second generation biofuels are manufactured from agricultural residues or
specially cultivated energy crops that do not compete with the food chain
because they can be grown on land that is deemed less suitable for food
production. By enabling second generation processes the biofuels industry will
be able to greatly improve its sustainability as it continues to grow and
replace fossil based fuels.
DSM's breakthrough comes as a result of two separate innovations, the first of
which relates to its enzyme technology. By focusing its research on a fungal
organism that typically thrives in compost heaps or on fallen trees, the company
has identified enzymes that are able to break down biomass into its constituent
sugars much more efficiently compared to products and prototype formulations
available in the market today.
The advantage of these new enzymes lies not only in their ability to break down
biomass into sugars more effectively than conventional enzymes, but also in the
fact that they are able to function at higher temperatures. These unique
properties enable a lower enzyme dosage, better contamination control during
fermentation, increased feedstock loading, reduced energy consumption and
shorter processing time.
DSM's second innovation lies in its new advanced yeast technology.
Microorganisms such as yeasts or bacteria are essential to the biofuel
production process as they are needed to convert the fermentable sugars
generated from the biomass into ethanol, today's most widely used biofuel. There
are two primary classes of fermentable sugars that are liberated from cellulosic
biomass during hydrolysis, six carbon sugars and five carbon sugars. Typically
these microorganisms only consume six carbon sugars resulting in significantly
reduced levels of efficiency in second generation processes.
Through classical strain improvement combined with metabolic engineering DSM has
developed an advanced yeast strain that is capable of converting all the major
sugar components found in biomass (both six carbon and five carbon sugars) to
ethanol. It has been estimated that, taking a mixed sugar fermentation as an
example, the overall ethanol yield using DSM's advanced yeast can be improved by
up to 100% as compared to the yield of standard yeasts used today.
The combination of these two innovations will result in greatly improved process
economics and productivity for second generation biofuel producers coupled with
the sustainability benefits derived from the use of second generation
feedstocks. The investment bank UBS recently estimated that second generation
bioethanol will become the main transportation fuel over the coming decade, with
a market valued at US$80 billion annually by 2022.
John Monks, Business Director Bio-Conversion Solutions at DSM commented: "By
leveraging our century-long heritage in industrial biotechnology, we have been
able to develop highly innovative conversion solutions for the emerging second
generation biofuels industry. DSM holds a unique position in this field, and
among our industry peers, based upon our ability to creatively combine enzyme
and yeast technologies in an integrated way. This places DSM firmly at the
forefront of new technologies that will enable the sustainable production of
second generation biofuels, which will likely become the default transportation
fuel of the future. I'm extremely proud of DSM's achievements to date in this
field and look forward to being able to announce further innovations from our
programs that support future generations of bioethanol."
DSM's approach to market development and business model for second generation
biofuels is also innovative. Rather than opting for the classic industry model
of remotely producing and bulk selling enzymes and yeasts, DSM is working with
customers and partners to develop more localized, on-site production. The
company views this approach as the most sustainable in the long run, because it
bypasses long and expensive global supply chains and to truly integrate
conversion technology into the biofuel process itself.
DSM - the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. creates solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance.
Its end markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care,
pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics,
life protection and housing. DSM manages its business with a focus on the triple
bottom line of economic performance, environmental quality and social
responsibility, which it pursues simultaneously and in parallel. DSM has annual
net sales of about ?8 billion and employs some 22,700 people worldwide. The
company is headquartered in the Netherlands, withlocations on five continents.
DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com
For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications DSM Investor Relations
André van der Elsen Hans Vossen
tel. +31 (0) 45 5787162 tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864
fax +31 (0) 45 5740680 fax +31 (0) 10 4590275
e-mailmedia.relations(at)dsm.com e-mailinvestor.relations(at)dsm.com
[HUG#1428552]
Press release-pdf: http://hugin.info/130663/R/1428552/375915.pdf
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Source: DSM N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Datum: 30.06.2010 - 14:15 Uhr
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