Presidential Young Investigator Award

研究将集中在可再生能源 资源和废物处理。 的能力 生活系统将在这种情况下进行探索，使用 一种综合的方法，采用工程，生物， 化学原理。 一个特别的重点是 一种基本的理解， 实现应用目标。 具体领域 包括乙醇生产， 木质纤维素和厌氧废物处理， 补救措施 目前和预期的与乙醇有关的研究 生产解决了产品的代谢控制 形成、纤维素酶动力学和生物反应器设计。 嗜热细菌和酶是特别的 兴趣 代谢控制的研究将 包括对微生物生理学的理解 和能量学与工程方法， 操纵发酵罐环境，以便 提高乙醇产量。 生物反应器设计 木质纤维素连续高温发酵 浓度将在实验和 理论上 这将包括审议 活塞流纤维素分布，差异停留 由于底物肉汤，细胞和底物的时间 密度差异和细胞-基质粘附 现象，并在体内建模和理解 纤维素水解和发酵。 厌氧废物处理和补救方法 将包括选择性抑制硫酸盐还原 细菌（SRB）通过生物化学为基础的战略。 在 此外，生理基础的相对 通常通过厌氧系统获得的不完全处理， 以及解决这一问题的可能方案， 处理。 最后，厌氧系统的使用， 对危险废物的解毒进行调查， 包括工程学和生物学的考虑。

Research will be carried out focusing on renewable resources and waste treatment. The capabilities of living systems will be explored in this context, using an integrated approach employing engineering, biological, and chemical principles. A particular focus is fundamental understanding which could make a contribution toward the realization of applied goals. Specific areas of interest include ethanol production from lignocellulose, and anaerobic waste treatment and remediation. Current and anticipated research related to ethanol production addresses metabolic control of product formation, cellulase kinetics, and bioreactor design. Thermophilic bacteria and enzymes are of particular interest. Investigation of metabolic control will involve coupling understanding of microbial physiology and energetics with engineering approaches to manipulating the fermentor environment in order to increase ethanol yields. Bioreactor design for continuous fermentation of lignocellulosics at high concentrations will be pursued both experimentally and theoretically. This will encompass consideration of plug-flow cellulose distribution, differential residence time of both cells and substrate due to substrate-broth density differences and cell-substrate adhesion phenomena, and modeling and understanding in vivo cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation. Approaches to anaerobic waste treatment and remediation will include selective inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) via biochemically-based strategies. In addition, the physiological basis for the relatively incomplete treatment often obtained by anaerobic systems, and possible solutions to this problem, will be addressed. Finally, the use of anaerobic systems for the detoxification of hazardous wastes will be investigated, including both engineering and biological considerations.