You are here

Recombinant Expression and Characterization of Novel Cellulases for Switchgrass Ethanol Production

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-09ER85337
Agency Tracking Number: 90356
Amount: $99,658.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 13 b
Solicitation Number: DE-PS02-08ER08-34
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2109 W. Market Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
United States
DUNS: 618854173
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Doug Corrigan
 Dr.
 (423) 926-4449
 dougcorrigan@proteogenesis.net
Business Contact
 Doug Corrigan
Title: Dr.
Phone: (423) 926-4449
Email: dougcorrigan@proteogenesis.net
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

It is becoming increasingly apparent that we, as a nation, need to quickly develop an alternative and sustainable energy supply. This is due to a host of factors, including uncontrollable fluctuation in oil prices, large oil supplies being controlled by foreign regimes, global shrinking oil supplies, increased global energy demands from emerging economies such as China and India, and unhealthy rises in greenhouse gases associated with fossil fuels. To address this situation, the DOE has identified switch grass as an ideal crop for conversion into bioethanol, and many efforts are now underway to develop a conversion process that is economically practical. The process bottleneck is the breakdown of switch grass cellulose into simple sugars by a group of enzymes known as cellulases. This project will develop a novel enzyme, or set of enzymes, that are capable of breaking down switch grass cellulose into the sugars that are required for ethanol production. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The realization of this technology would result in a renewable source of clean energy, reduction of our dependence on foreign oil, and the creation of a new agricultural and biotechnology market in the United States

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government