Scientists Develop Bio-Process for Converting Plant Materials into Chemicals
CHAMPAIGN, IL – A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a bio-process using engineered yeast that completely and efficiently converted plant matter consisting of acetate and xylose into high-value bio-products.
Lignocellulose, the woody material that gives plant cells their structure, is reportedly the most abundant raw material on Earth and has long been viewed as a source of renewable energy. It contains primarily acetate and the sugars glucose and xylose, all of which are released during decomposition.