SBIR Phase II: Evaluation of recombinant HED2 proteins as synergists for cellulosic biofuel production

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This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will use a Homolog of Expansin Domain-2 protein to enhance cellulose performance in large-scale biomass digestion into sugars for biofuel projection. Due to the economics, politics and environmental impacts of reliance on petroleum-based fuel, there is growing interest in using biofuel. Cellulosic biomass provides a readily-available, high-volume feedstock for biofuel production. Successful completion of the objectives will optimize unpurified ZM3 for use as a cellulose synergist in scaled-up conditions for commercialization purposes. Broader impacts associated with developing strategies to decrease the costs and improve the efficiency of the production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass include numerous societal benefits resulting from reduction of petroleum use. Conversion of cell wall biomass from renewable forestry and agricultural feedstocks into biofuels enables the efficient use of waste materials. From an environmental standpoint, the widespread use of cellulose-based biofuel as an alternative renewable energy source could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to the ability of plants to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.