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Biofuel Production Could Get Huge Boost Thanks To Galactan Breakthrough

CleanTechnica -- Researchers from the Department of Energy (DOE) have for the first time identified an enzyme that is capable of significantly raising the amount of the sugar galactan that is present in the cell walls of plants. It has long been a substance of great interest to researchers trying to create advanced biofuels from “cellulosic biomass.”

In contrast to ethanol, new and “advanced” biofuels created from the sugars found in the cell walls of plants could be directly substituted in place of currently used fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. They can take the place of these fuels “on a gallon-for-gallon basis,” and wouldn’t require any modifications to be made to the engines and infrastructures that are currently in use.

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Submitted Dec 25, 2012 By: BennoBlue

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vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,158 Points:132,480 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 9:38:20 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse "You are not saving the Earth. As George Carlin said "The earth will slough off anything we have to throw at it like a small cold or flu"." Sorry, George Carlin was a comedian, not a scientist or theologian. FAIL
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,084 Points:333,720 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 8:43:36 AM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse our scientists can engineer solutions to all problems but is it econimically viable
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:185,515 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 8:09:07 AM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse I am convinced that continued experimentation and development is necessary for future self reliance. And there is no excuse to be using corn for ethanol additives either.
iFueler Champion Author Durham Posts:64,423 Points:179,500 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 11:19:25 PM Ignore iFueler Report Abuse will this "breakthrough" prove out, time will tell
mia3bxs Veteran Author Miami Posts:452 Points:311,940 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 11:09:39 PM Ignore mia3bxs Report Abuse Small-scale applications would need to be thoroughly worked out before we can apply it on a grand-scale to automobiles.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,095 Points:1,623,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 10:58:40 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse The ethanol as a minor additve is not a failure, but the rush of the special greed interests here to the fastest and cheapest means to produce it exclusively from edible corn is a real problem. Corn from ethanol was brought to us all thanks to the well paid lobbyists from the likes of Archer Daniels Midland and several other 'Big Corn' interests together with our easily swayed Congress for any and all big business and financial firm interests. As usual, scientific advancements may create much better and more useful products only if they are not bought off and buried by the largest of our corporations and business groups. Wishing a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all Gas Buddies!
andy1024 Champion Author Allentown Posts:1,702 Points:448,150 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:33:53 PM Ignore andy1024 Report Abuse This makes ethanol look like a complete failure. This may serve a reminder to policy makers that you should not rush a technology unless its side effects are fully studied and reduced to a negligible level.
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,788 Points:409,345 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 8:12:50 PM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse A breakthrough. Government research is paying off.
HorizonChaser Champion Author Montgomery Posts:1,989 Points:456,035 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 6:44:00 PM Ignore HorizonChaser Report Abuse k
BurtB Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,182 Points:1,368,040 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 5:03:09 PM Ignore BurtB Report Abuse The important part to me is does this plant need to push aside corn? or can it be grown on land that is hard for food crop to grow on? We have already seen how the poor of the world suffer American Corn being diverted to create fuel. This from Wealthy first world people worrying about "Man-Made Global warming" instead of people. You are not saving the Earth. As George Carlin said "The earth will slough off anything we have to throw at it like a small cold or flu". It is the height of arrogance to believe that you tiny humans could do anything that the Natural Order (or G-d, which ever you prefer, same point )could not Correct for. Any time someone tells you that you must lose large amounts of money today to fix a problem that might happen in 100 years is trying to trick into something. Even China does not plan more than 30 years in the future. And anyone who thinks that the USA changing their energy consumption is going to effect "Man-made Global warming" has ignored China and India. China alone, is projected to dwarf the US use of fossil fuels in 10-20 years. And neither China or India, or any number of other third world countries, are going to give up fossil fuels to make some spoiled Europeans, or Left wing Americans feel better about living better than most of the other human on this little dirt ball. [Edited by: BurtB at 12/25/2012 6:05:53 PM EST]
BurtB Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,182 Points:1,368,040 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 4:51:53 PM Ignore BurtB Report Abuse The Left loves this stuff. until someone can make money by selling it. Then they will find a way to shut it down. Canucktree is probably right. The article says " Galactan is a type of galactose, which is a 6-carbon sugar that is easily fermentable into ethanol by utilizing yeast. " And ethanol is bad for Engines that are made today.
Eugenian Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,867 Points:363,105 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 3:46:36 PM Ignore Eugenian Report Abuse "Stuff still kills engines." - Canucktree Source? Citation(s)?
LexusLS400 Champion Author Orange County Posts:8,353 Points:1,680,375 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:43:23 PM Ignore LexusLS400 Report Abuse I like the pic of the 2 scientists showing off the pretty plants!
DesertRat2011 Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,623 Points:486,780 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:27:38 PM Ignore DesertRat2011 Report Abuse Will we ever see this at the pump?
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,055 Points:1,359,610 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:27:08 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Cellulosic biomass; when?
Tnerbeel Champion Author Houston Posts:8,830 Points:1,749,810 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:18:36 PM Ignore Tnerbeel Report Abuse Don't look for it at the pump any time soon.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,493 Points:734,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:11:47 PM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse No food or crop land for fuel.
Canucktree Champion Author Alberta Posts:4,901 Points:1,021,600 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:11:43 PM Ignore Canucktree Report Abuse Stuff still kills engines.
bobzilla11 Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,202 Points:496,270 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:11:38 PM Ignore bobzilla11 Report Abuse soylent green is people
JerryBx7 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,667 Points:1,142,165 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:11:20 PM Ignore JerryBx7 Report Abuse Another wait and see.
Wesk8 Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,116 Points:1,346,755 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:07:17 PM Ignore Wesk8 Report Abuse I wonder how well this stuff will age in charred oak barrels??
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,364 Points:2,259,730 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:06:44 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Great technology - keep it going
braves89 Champion Author Chicago Posts:7,653 Points:1,631,460 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:05:03 PM Ignore braves89 Report Abuse could be good would certainly be more enviromentally friendly
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,372 Points:1,979,960 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:03:52 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse As with many many experiments, this could be a great thing. Or not. Time will tell. Maybe.
heysailor Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:9,592 Points:2,334,620 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 1:03:48 PM Ignore heysailor Report Abuse Quick teabaggers; you only have a short time to stop this dead in its tracks.
sljbc475 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,225 Points:873,350 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 11:38:23 AM Ignore sljbc475 Report Abuse Make it affordable.
merlinCO Champion Author Colorado Posts:1,645 Points:342,370 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 11:19:16 AM Ignore merlinCO Report Abuse Bring in more ethanol and beat the oil mongers publicity stunt.
Lugi1967 Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,788 Points:1,002,395 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:48:32 AM Ignore Lugi1967 Report Abuse Sci Fi
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,519 Points:1,128,045 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:38:09 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Lets see if anything comes of this in 20 years.
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,187 Points:360,235 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:24:32 AM Ignore evowner Report Abuse The expanded corn product is only for industrial use. There is no shortage of corn for "food". Cellulose research may be one of the greatest potential for renewable fuels.
deputydog082 Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,791 Points:661,315 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:14:53 AM Ignore deputydog082 Report Abuse anything is better than using corn as fuel instead of food!
Discovery02 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:2,560 Points:310,665 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 9:14:43 AM Ignore Discovery02 Report Abuse Good research that will benefit the country whether they realize it now or not.
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,330 Points:311,140 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:58:40 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse And how much more taxpayer research money are they going to want for this?
zwsn01 All-Star Author Alabama Posts:691 Points:441,025 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:49:30 AM Ignore zwsn01 Report Abuse Great Research
SUPERSTEVIEO Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,523 Points:787,115 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:47:24 AM Ignore SUPERSTEVIEO Report Abuse what is the large scale production schedule? and what wil lthe selling price be? will this eplace a food cereal or other produce?
grandmacbc Champion Author Buffalo Posts:6,540 Points:1,430,775 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:42:12 AM Ignore grandmacbc Report Abuse Doe is actually now doing its original mission? must be in danger of being down sized!
livedream Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,690 Points:756,035 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:37:10 AM Ignore livedream Report Abuse Great lab work by the researchers! I hope this will eliminate the usage of corn for ethanol. Very interesting article! Thanks, BennoBlue for this article submission! Merry Christmas, Everyone!! :)
JLSindy Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,491 Points:674,015 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:21:30 AM Ignore JLSindy Report Abuse Better use for plant sugar than to put in coffee! Sounds creative and hopeful!
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,610 Points:899,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:15:20 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Hope it works, the radical at the head of the EPA is tone deaf to the ethanol outrage !!
mazdaboy Champion Author Portland Posts:7,893 Points:2,099,230 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 7:15:10 AM Ignore mazdaboy Report Abuse Now we are talking. Sounds like an improvement over ethanol from corn.
Straitliner Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,505 Points:238,500 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 6:23:11 AM Ignore Straitliner Report Abuse Merry Christmas and Happy new year!!!!
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,450 Points:1,137,560 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 5:11:42 AM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse Fascinating. Fantasy science work in progress.
Hamish Champion Author Ontario Posts:21,918 Points:2,320,920 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 4:36:58 AM Ignore Hamish Report Abuse Happy Holidays
heydano67 Champion Author California Posts:1,671 Points:358,510 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 3:22:34 AM Ignore heydano67 Report Abuse keep working on it
pricewar Champion Author Ogden Posts:1,945 Points:275,215 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Dec 25, 2012 2:13:26 AM Ignore pricewar Report Abuse progress of technology maybe some day will overcome