EFRI-HyBi: Lignin Deconstruction for the Production of Liquid Fuels

摘要PI名称：Rodney Andrews机构：肯塔基大学研究基金会建议编号：0937657EFRI-HYBI：用于生产液体燃料的木质素分解该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助该奖项的学术价值：木质素作为生产生物燃料的资源目前因其对化学和生物操纵的抵抗力而受到阻碍，因此，缺乏将其转化为燃料和化学品的选择性和成本效益的过程。该项目的总体目标是基于对木质素解构化学的良好理解，开发将木质素直接转化为液体燃料的新工艺。这将需要将生物工程、化学、催化和化学工程结合起来，具体目标如下：i)将关键特性设计到植物细胞中，以促进木质素的下游加工？实现与自然系统完全不同的进化驱动因素。这将包括利用化学生物学的研究工具，结合对关键作物特性的定向分子工程；具体地说，将针对木质素的组成，目的是优化植物新陈代谢，确定化学探针和工程策略，以刺激最容易切割的木质素结构之间的最大单元间联系。Ii)将在分子水平上研究木质素的解构，以指导上述木质素工程活动和木质素利用改进工艺的开发。这些研究将有助于揭示木质素中重要但研究较少的-5键的热和化学解构所涉及的化学，以及揭示木质素中的关键键如何在低温氧化过程中被切割。通过这项研究，将开发改进的催化工艺，将木质素有效地加工成燃料和有价值的化学品。更广泛的影响：虽然许多注意力集中在利用生物质生产乙醇上，但从木质纤维生物质生产碳氢燃料和化学品需要高能力的工艺。这是因为与原油相比，乙醇在化学制造中的用途有限，而且能量密度较低。此外，纤维素生物质转化为燃料的生物途径的发展将导致大量木质素残留物的产生。木质素作为原料也很有兴趣，因为它比纤维素或半纤维素的能量密度更高。因此，如果能够找到有效的方法来解构木质素，将创造一种新的范式，即从(工程)富含木质素的植物中生产生物燃料。木质纤维生物质每年可能生产超过600亿加仑的燃料，取代美国使用的近三分之一的汽油。然而，现有的木质素热解过程需要较高的温度，这使得总体能量平衡变得不太有利。因此，拟议的研究将有助于国家努力为利用我们丰富的生物质资源设计高效、成本效益高的程序。该项目的另一个成果是对学生进行生物燃料设计和生产的关键方面的培训。参与该项目的学术部门与应用能源研究中心之间的合作不仅将使学生接受传统的研究生和本科教育，还将使他们接触到能源研究领域的广泛学科。重点将是向从事工厂设计和操作工作的人员提供该项目化学和工程方面的实际经验，反之亦然。

Abstract PI Name: Rodney AndrewsInstitution: University of Kentucky Research FoundationProposal Number: 0937657EFRI-HyBi: Lignin Deconstruction for the Production of Liquid FuelsThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)Intellectual Merit: The utilization of lignin as a resource for the production of biofuels is presently hampered by its resistance to chemical and biological manipulation, and consequently, by a lack of selective and cost-efficient processes for its conversion to fuels and chemicals. The overarching goal of this project is the development of new processes for the direct conversion of lignin to liquid fuels, based on a sound understanding of the chemistry of lignin deconstruction. This will require the integration of bio-engineering, chemistry, catalysis and chemical engineering, with the following specific objectives: i) Critical properties will be designed into plant cells in order to facilitate the downstream processing of lignin ? implementing drivers of evolution that are totally different from those in natural systems. This will involve the utilization of research tools for chemical biology combined with directed molecular engineering of critical crop properties; specifically, lignin composition will be targeted, with the aim of optimizing plant metabolism and identifying chemical probes and engineering strategies that stimulate maximal interunit linkages among lignin structures that are most readily cleaved. ii) The deconstruction of lignin will be studied at the molecular level, to guide both the foregoing lignin engineering activity and the development of improved processes for lignin utilization. These studies will help to shed light on the chemistry involved in the thermal and chemical deconstruction of the important but poorly studied â-5 linkage in lignin, as well as revealing how critical bonds in lignin can be cleaved in low temperature oxidative processes. Through this research, improved catalytic processes will be developed for the efficient processing of lignin into fuels, as well as valuable chemicals. Broader Impacts: While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol, high capacity processes are required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. This follows from the fact that relative to crude petroleum, ethanol is of limited use in chemical manufacturing and has lower energy density. Furthermore, the development of biological pathways for the conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuels will result in the generation of huge quantities of lignin residues. Lignin is also of interest as a feedstock due to the fact that it is more energy-dense than cellulose or hemicellulose. Hence, if efficient methods can be found for lignin deconstruction, a new paradigm would be created, i.e., that of biofuels production from (engineered) lignin-rich plants. Lignocellulosic biomass could potentially produce over 60 billion gallons of fuel per year, replacing nearly a third of the gasoline used in the US. However, existing pyrolysis processes for lignin deconstruction require high temperatures, making the overall energy balance less favorable. The proposed research will therefore contribute to the national effort to design efficient, cost-effective processes for utilization of our abundant biomass resources. An additional outcome of this project will be the training of students in key aspects of biofuels design and production. Collaboration between the academic departments involved in the project and the Center for Applied Energy Research will not only allow students to receive traditional graduate and undergraduate education, but will also result in their exposure to a broad range of disciplines in the field of energy research. Emphasis will be placed on giving practical experience in the chemical and engineering aspects of the project to those working on plant design and manipulation, and vice versa.