An international team of researchers, including scientists from the University of York, has discovered a set of enzymes found in fungi that are capable of breaking down one of the main components of wood.
The enzymes could now potentially be used to sustainably convert wood biomass into valuable chemical commodities such as biofuels.
As an alternative to coal and oil, wood is increasingly one of the more promising sources of advanced biofuels . However, despite its potential, it is a difficult material to breakdown.
Current wood biorefineries have to use pre-treatment processes, making the conversion of wood into fuels and products expensive and energy-consuming.
A key discovery
In ecosystems fungi play a significant role in breaking down wood within the carbon cycle, releasing nutrients back into soil. This property of fungi inspired the researchers to investigate the mechanisms that allow this process to take place.
Co-author of the paper, Professor Paul Walton from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York said: “Back in 2010 we made the key discovery that a group of enzymes found in fungi, contain copper – these enzymes are now known to be an important component in the decomposition of biomass by biology. This research builds on that work by identifying further enzymes from this class which have the ability to break down wood’s challenging molecular structure.
“These enzymes may underpin the development of improved enzyme cocktails for biorefinery applications using wood – unlocking its conversion into a wide-range of valuable commodities in a sustainable way.”
The research, reported in Nature Chemical Biology, has shown that the family of enzymes, called lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), are capable of breaking down xylans – carbohydrate molecules commonly found in wood biomass that are particularly resistant to degradation.
A step closer to a sustainable 21st Century
Working in collaboration with French researchers from the Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Marseille, the researchers isolated the enzymes from fungi that play a vital role in the terrestrial carbon cycle and dominate wood decomposition in forests.
Co-author of the paper Gideon Davies from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York said: “The findings advance our knowledge of the way in which woody biomass degrades in nature.
“This discovery unlocks the key scientific challenge of how biorefineries can convert wood into biofuel in an environmental and cost-effective way, bringing us a step closer to a sustainable 21st Century.”
Learn more: Fungal enzymes could hold secret to making renewable energy from wood
The Latest on: Renewable energy from wood
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Renewable energy from wood” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Renewable energy from wood
- Renewable Risers: 3 Stocks Set to Soar Amid the Electricity Demand Surgeon May 9, 2024 at 4:00 am
Over the past few years, electricity usage in America has increased meaningfully for the first time in two decades. The firm expects that trend to continue going forward, driven by the proliferation ...
- Resilient Peoples and Place: An energy-secure Angoonon May 8, 2024 at 3:21 pm
Late one January evening, with daylight long gone and a cold snap gripping much of Southeast Alaska, the MV Hubbard lowered its gangplank in Angoon. Part of the state-run Alaska Marine Highway System, ...
- Trafigura to buy more of Greenergy in renewable portfolio booston May 8, 2024 at 1:46 am
Trafigura in 2019 established an internal fund to invest in alternative and renewable energy technologies ... Shareholder Activismcategory UK's Wood Group rejects engineering firm Sidara's 1.4 bln ...
- Wood Pellet Fuel Market Insights: Industry Analysis and Forecastson May 7, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Report Ocean published the latest research report on the Wood Pellet Fuel market. In order to comprehend a market holistically, a variety of factors must be evaluated, including demographics, business ...
- Guest column: Prioritizing zero energy povertyon May 7, 2024 at 1:01 pm
In the debate surrounding energy and climate change, where discord often drowns out reason and cooperation, a rallying cry for unity emerges: the imperative to address energy poverty. It transcends ...
- Ørsted boss warns on high prices for renewable energyon May 7, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Renewable energy projects are sensitive to interest rates, which have been rising since 2021, because developers need to raise money to cover high upfront costs — particularly in the wind sector.
- Vermont Legislature passes H. 298, expanding Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standardon May 7, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Senate has voted in favor of H. 298 on the 3rd reading by a voice vote.
- High interest rates hit renewable energy harder than natural gas: Wood Mackenzieon May 6, 2024 at 9:00 pm
Rising interest rates have hit renewable energy harder than fossil-fuel based sources of energy, and could also impact the viability of nascent energy technologies like low-carbon hydrogen, according ...
- Wood Pellets Industry Forecasts Significant 10.2% CAGR Sales Growth, Reaching US$ 24,345.6 Million by 2033on May 5, 2024 at 8:59 pm
The increasing demand for renewable energy is driving the need for wood pellets to reduce usage of fuels that contribute to global warming.
- Energy transition delay will impact investment-Wood Mackenzieon May 2, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Wood Mackenzie published its most recent energy transition ... Writes about those markets as well as climate change, climate science, the energy transition and renewable energy and investment.
via Bing News