Turning corn fiber into ethanol

Iowa State University researchers have used mold to convert corn fiber into ethanol. The discovery could turn byproducts of corn milling into another source of fuel. Researchers have demonstrated they have a process that can convert corn fiber -- a byproduct of the wet milling process that produces corn syrup -- into fuel-grade ethanol on a very small scale. The mold produces enzymes that break down corn fiber into the simple sugars that are fermented into ethanol.

"I believe this is a breakthrough," said van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and the leader of the research project. "But I also want to caution that we need to do a lot more research."

This is another project that deserves watching to see if we can squeeze more ethanol out of a corn plant.

Turning corn fiber into ethanol, Iowa State University press release, May 31, 2006

Comments

[DevanJedi]

This is a fantastic development; precisely the kind of thinking we require. I like the ideas that involve waste->energy conversion; similar to the GreenFuel people's idea of using algae to convert CO2 emissions to biofuel. Nice.

[ManBearPig]

This is a fantastic development