Novozyme Laboratories Try Mushroom As Fuel Source In Lieu Of Corn

November 11, 2008 10:24 a.m. EST

Raleigh, NC (AHN) - Scientists in Novozymes' laboratories in China, Brazil, Denmark and the U.S. are experimenting with mushroom and licen to discover which one could turn corn cobs and sugarcane stalks into biofuel.

By tapping plant waste, the laboratory hopes to end concerns that the use of food as feedstock would stop the pressure made by bioethanol production on food prices worldwide. The company said it hopes to have an answer by 2010, ahead of its rival Danisco.

Fungi such as mushroom and lichen produce enzymes which consume rotting logs and decaying leaves. Proteins are used by biofuel producers to break down complex carbohydrates in plant cells into a mixture of simple sugars that yeast could eat. Yeast ferments the mixture and produces ethanol. Enzymes available could not break down the tougher parts of plants effectively enough to bring down its cost of production.

Identifying the right enzymes is the major bottleneck in producing fuel from non-food sources, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Novozymes is the world's largest maker of enzyme products.

To boost its research capability, Novozymes added staff on its research department by 13 percent with one-tenth of its 900 scientists and laboratory assistants in search of the right enzyme.

In February 2007, President George Bush visited Novozyme's North Carolina laboratory which is focused on cellulosic ethanol conversion technologies and how to make it commercially viable.