Ionic solvent based pretreatment processes for biorefineries

这项拟议的计划是雷曼博士之前(也是第一次)NSERC发现基金的延续，该基金的重点是生产第二代生物燃料--生物丁醇。它建立在生物质加工、发酵设计、高通量筛选和放大相关研发方面的经验，并可以利用最先进的研究基础设施。拟议的计划满足了以真正的生物精炼方法从木质纤维生物质工业化生产生物燃料的需求，通过生产大量灵活的有用产品来最大化生物质的价值，这些产品很容易集成到当前的生产过程中。木质纤维素生物质主要由纤维素、半纤维素和木质素组成，所有这些都必须加以利用，以生产经济上可行的产品。*因此，这项探索基金的长期目标是与有利的工业伙伴密切合作，开发先进的生物质预处理技术以及随后的燃料和化学品的发酵生产。*短期目标包括综合应用先进的生物质化学分馏技术和随后通过综合生物精炼进行的有价化。这些目标将通过研究生将实施的三个具体项目来实现：a)开发使用离子溶剂的生物质预处理，b)开发经过处理的生物质的微生物混合培养过程，以及c)开发新的原位产物去除技术。*拟议的项目旨在为非常多样化的有机物提供转化技术。生物化学和热能生物质联合转化可使生物质完全转化为高价值产品，而不会产生低价值残留物。强大的生物精炼过程的显著好处是：减少残留物造成的污染，增加农林副产品的价值，从垃圾填埋场转移，净减少温室气体排放，并将可再生资源整合到传统化石燃料和化学产品中。农业和林业残渣的生物精炼将导致残渣和废物新市场的发展，从而极大地改善林业、农业、工业和市政经营的经济性，使其更可持续，为社会所有成员带来巨大利益。通过该计划接受培训的学生将接受多学科教育，并接触到国际工业和学术网络，为他们在加拿大生物经济领域担任领导职位做好准备。**

The proposed program is a continuation of Dr. Rehmann's previous (and first) NSERC Discovery grant, which had focused on the production of biobutanol, a second-generation biofuel. It builds on experience in biomass processing, fermentation design, high-throughput screening and scale-up related research and development and can take advantage of state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The proposed program addresses the need for the industrial production of biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass in a true biorefinery approach, maximizing the value of biomass by producing a vast flexible array of useful products, easily integratable into current production processes. Lignocellulosic biomass is composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, all of which have to be utilized in order to produce economically viable products.***The long-term¬ objectives of this Discovery grant are therefore the development of advanced biomass pretreatment technologies and the subsequent fermentative production of fuels and chemicals in close collaboration with enabling industrial partners. ***Short-term objectives include combined applications of technologies for advanced chemical biomass fractionation and subsequent valorization through integrated biorefining. These objectives will be met through three specific projects to be carried out by graduate students: a) Development of biomass pretreatment with ionic solvents, b) Development of microbial mixed cultures processes for pretreated biomass, and c) Development of novel in-situ product removal techniques.***The proposed program aims to provide a conversion technology for very diverse organic matter. Combined biochemical and thermal biomass conversion could result in full conversion of biomass to high-value products, without low-value residue. The noticeable benefits of a robust biorefining process are: reduction of pollution created by residues, increased value from agricultural and forestry co-products, diversion from landfills, net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and integration of renewable resources into conventional fossil fuel and chemical products. Biorefining of agricultural and forestry residues would lead to the development of new markets for residual materials and wastes, hence greatly improving the economics of forestry, agricultural, industrial and municipal operations, and making them more sustainable, to the great benefit of all members of society. Students being trained through this program would receive a multidisciplinary education and gain exposure to international industrial and academic networks, preparing them well for leadership positions in the Canadian bioeconomy.**