Robotic assay systems could ensure consistent biofuel composition

Removing the human element from a key part of the production process could ensure that biofuel composition is consistent whatever the saccharification level of the biomass used.

Scientists have published findings in Biotechnology for Biofuels following their creation of a robotic assay system intended to deconstruct lignocellulose and remove the barrier to production that is posed by breaking down cell walls.

"We developed a high-throughput saccharification assay based on a robotic platform that can carry out, in a 96-well plate format, the enzymatic digestion and quantification of the released sugars," they write.

The team from the University of York and Scottish Crop Research Institute add that the robot can detect different saccharification levels in plant samples, which could allow the optimal biofuel composition to be used in each case.

Biotechnology for Biofuels looks at the application of innovative techniques for all aspects of fuel production, from growing the feedstock to deconstructing and fermenting the sugars used to provide the energy source.