University of Queensland researchers have found a way to more efficiently convert sugarcane into a building block of aviation fuel and other products.
University of Queensland researchers have found a way to more efficiently convert sugarcane into a building block of aviation fuel and other products.
By zeroing in on a specific enzyme, a UQ team working in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has sped up the slowest step in processing sugar into a chemical called isobutanol.
Professor Gary Schenk from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said isobutanol from a renewable resource could be used to make fuels, plastics, rubbers and food additives.
“Our research into this particular enzyme means we can accelerate the production rate and yield of isobutanol from sugarcane, ultimately enabling biomanufacturers to make diverse products at scale sustainably and efficiently,” Professor Schenk said.
Read more at: University of Queensland
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