Enhancing the Toxicity Tolerance of Microorganisms for Use in Butanol Production and Other Applications

The production of renewable butanol has proven one of the most promising but also challenging applied research objectives of the 21st century thus far. Even as pilot demonstration and commercial efforts seek to accelerate the adoption of butanol as a biofuel and biochemical building block, fundamental issues in managing toxic and other inhibitory effects on microorganisms remain far from resolved. The potential commercial applications of the project are magnified by the technologys synergistic design to work with any microorganism, including genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), and in nearly all existing process designs, including retrofitting existing bioethanol refineries. In this way, the proposed technology is uniquely suited for becoming a technology-of-choice for converting agricultural resources and residues into sustainable biobutanol. This effort can help achieve energy independence, diversify uses of agricultural and rural resources, and reduce negative economic and environmental impacts associated with continued dependence on petroleum.