CAREER: Fundamental Understanding of Behaviors and Impacts of Cell Wall Lignin during Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Fuel Ethanol

0847049PanThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009（Public Law 111-5）.知识专长：纤维素乙醇是下一代生物燃料。然而，原料预处理和酶法糖化的低效率限制了纤维素乙醇的商业化生产。木质素占生物质的15-30%，并将纤维素结合在一起形成不可吸收的基质，是导致低效率的关键因素。本研究的目的是了解木质素在生物转化过程中的变化以及木质素与酶相互作用的机理。研究了原料和预处理原料中木质素的结构以及不同预处理过程中木质素结构的变化。此外，木质素模型化合物将被用来阐明木质素反应的机制，在预处理过程中，并确定在糖化过程中木质素对酶的影响。综合教育计划旨在为新兴的生物产业培养更多高素质的学生。将为本科生和研究生开发一门新的生物精炼课程。为了吸引和培养学生进入生物能源领域，将支持高中生和本科生开展暑期项目。研究生将通过与加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省大学的国际合作进行培训，这将使学生接触到该领域的前沿研究。此外，还将为学生建立一个生物能源论坛，为学生提供一个平台，以跟踪生物能源的前沿研究和开发;与学术界，政府和工业界的专家会面;并为他们未来的教育和职业建立网络。更广泛的影响：这一综合提案对提高科学和技术认识，促进教学、培训和学习，以及对社会和工业产生了广泛的影响。该研究成果将提高对木质素的科学和技术认识，并为优化预处理和糖化工艺以及开发新型酶提供指导，以提高纤维素乙醇的生产效率。此外，本研究所获得的基本认识对造纸工业和林产工业也有一定的借鉴意义。综合教育计划将使不同层次的学生（K-12，本科生和研究生）参与研究，教学，学习和专业发展。此外，这一综合项目将加强大学、政府和工业之间在研究和教育方面的合作。例如，加拿大的不列颠哥伦比亚省大学将在拟议的研究和研究生培训方面进行合作。威斯康星州副州长承诺支持拟议中的研究和教育计划。Lampel Innovation Inc和Novozymes对拟议的研究感兴趣，并愿意合作。

0847049PanThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Intellectual Merit: Cellulose ethanol is the next generation biofuel. However, the low efficiency of feedstock pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification limits the commercial production of cellulose ethanol. Lignin, which accounts for 15-30% of biomass and binds cellulose together to form a recalcitrant matrix, is a key factor contributing to the low efficiency. The goal of the proposed research is to understand the changes of lignin during the bioconversion and the mechanisms of lignin-enzyme interactions. The structure of lignins in both feedstocks and pretreated materials and the structural changes of lignin during different pretreatments will be investigated. In addition, lignin model compounds will be used to elucidate the mechanisms of lignin reactions during the pretreatments and to determine the impacts of lignin on enzymes during saccharification. The integrated education plan aims to train more high-quality students for the emerging bioindustry. A new biorefining course will be developed for both undergraduate and graduate students. To attract and train students to the area of bioenergy, high school students and undergraduate students will be supported to conduct summer projects. Graduate students will be trained through an international collaboration with University of British Columbia, Canada, which will expose the students to the frontier research in this area. In addition, a bioenergy forum for students will be created, which will provide students a platform to follow the cutting-edge research and development in bioenergy; to meet experts from academia, government and industry; and to create network for their future education and career. Broader Impact: This integrated proposal has broad impacts on enhancing scientific and technical understanding, on promoting teaching, training and learning, and on society and industry. The outcomes of this research will enhance the scientific and technical understanding of lignin and provide guidelines to improve production efficiency of cellulose ethanol by optimizing pretreatment and saccharification technologies and developing novel enzymes. In addition, the fundamental understandings from the research will also benefit paper industry and forest products industry. The integrated education plan will involve students at different levels (K-12, undergraduate and graduate) in research, teaching, learning and professional development. Furthermore, this integrated project will enhance the collaboration in research and education among universities, government and industry. For example, the University of British Columbia, Canada, will be collaborating in the proposed research and graduate student training. Lt. Governor of Wisconsin has pledged supports to the proposed research and education plan. Lignol Innovation Inc and Novozymes are interested in the proposed research and are willing to collaborate.