An integrated lignocellulosic bioenergy and bioproduct platform from sustainable bioremediation opportunities

该项目旨在通过结合快速生长的木本（木质纤维素）作物杨柳的一些有益的自然特性，在加拿大实现可再生生物能源的潜在可持续性、经济和社会效益。该项目将受污染土地和废水的杨柳生物修复与可持续生物能源和绿色植物化学品的交付相结合。对受污染土地进行复垦的需求很大，仅在北美估计就有650 000个受污染场地。同样，城市废水需要处理，以限制污染物造成的环境损害。在这里，我们建议在受污染的土地和废水处理场地上生产生物能源作物，同时减轻两者对环境的影响。快速生长的柳树是实现这一目标的理想作物，因为除了在温带地区是主要的木质纤维素作物外，它们在污染的土地上也是高产的。这样做的一个合乎逻辑的第二个优点是，植物化学化合物（生物产品）是由植物制造的，作为对压力的防御，允许污染耐受。我们将利用这种自然反应，通过使用杨柳生物修复试验，以诱导植物化学物质丰富多样。该项目是在NSERC的自然资源和能源目标优先领域内设计的：生物能源和生物产品，详细说明了这些可靠的生物能源解决方案和创新生物产品的需求，这些解决方案和创新生物产品将在地方和国家范围内对全球生物经济产生影响。除了预期的科学突破外，主要成果是提高木质纤维素作物的生物能源潜力和植物化学物质生产。该研究对政策制定者和公众关注的问题具有重要意义：减轻废水和污染土地的环境影响，增加可再生能源和绿色化学品生产。该项目汇集了加拿大领先的学者，联邦政府科学家，市政府决策者和先进的生物技术公司，以确保研究将产生有益的经济，环境和社会变化。

The project aims on the potential sustainability, economic and social benefits of renewable bioenergy in Canada by combining a number of beneficial natural properties of the fast growing woody (lignocellulosic) crop, willow. The project integrates willow bioremediation of contaminated land and wastewater with the delivery of sustainable bioenergy and green phytochemicals. The need for reclamation of contaminated land is substantial, with estimates of 650,000 contaminated sites in North America alone. Similarly, municipal wastewater requires treatment to limit environmental damage caused by pollutants. Here, we propose to produce a bioenergy crop on contaminated land and wastewater treatment sites whilst also alleviating the environmental impact of both. Fast growing willows are an ideal crop to achieve this as, in addition to being leading lignocellulosic crop in temperate regions, they are high yielding on polluted land. A logical secondary advantage of this is that phytochemical compounds (bioproducts) are made by the plant as a defence to stress, allowing contamination tolerance. We will exploit this natural response by using willow bioremediation trials to induce phytochemicals to vary in abundance. The project is designed within NSERC's target priority area of Natural Resources and Energy: Bioenergy and Bioproducts, which details the need for these reliable bioenergy solutions and innovative bioproducts to be addressed in a local and national context with impact to the global bioeconomy. The major outcomes, in addition to the anticipated scientific breakthroughs, are enhanced bioenergy potential and phytochemicals production of a lignocellulosic crop. The research has important implications for policy makers and the public concerned with: mitigating wastewater and contaminated land environmental impact, increasing renewable energy and green chemical production. The project brings together leading Canadian academics, federal government scientists, municipal government policy makers and advanced biotech companies in order to ensure the research will have beneficial economic, environmental and social change.