Biofuel laboratory eliminates detoxification stage

The detoxification phase of biomass conversion may have been eliminated by scientists working in a biofuel laboratory at Virginia Tech.

Scientists at the academic institution were working on simplifying the multi-stage process for releasing energy from biomass.

In particular, the biofuel laboratory has been looking at the pre-treatment, detoxification and fermentation stages.

By using a combination of enzymes to act on the fermentation of the biomass, the Virginia Tech team say they have successfully eliminated the need for detoxification.

This not only simplifies the process and cuts production costs, but it can also enhance biofuel composition by reducing the number of by-products generated.

Virginia Tech's work on natural solutions to human problems also recently included research into abscisic acid.

This has been seen to have anti-inflammatory effects with potential applications in bowel disease and obesity.

The scientists are now working on ways in which the drug might be used safely in human patients.