Proof-of-concept for lignocellulose processing to fuels using engineered thermophilic bacteria and cotreatment

Enchi Corporation proposes an SBIR project aimed at an innovative approach for low-costprocessing of lignocellulose to fuels and chemicals based on engineered thermophilic bacteriacombined with milling during fermentation (cotreatment).This approach termed C-CBP avoidsthe two process steps responsible for the high cost of current technology: thermochemicalpretreatment and added enzymes.We target the application of C-CBP with the shortest path tocommercialization: corn stover to ethanol.The potential of C-CBP for disruptive reductions in the cost of lignocellulose processing isindicated by peer-reviewed technoeconomic analysis carried out in collaboration with the NationalRenewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in which an advanced scenario featuring C-CBP iscompared to an NREL-defined base-case featuring dilute acid pretreatment and added fungalcellulase with coproduced electricity.Compared to the base case the advanced scenario has an 8- fold shorter payback period and economic feasibility at 10-fold smaller scale. Extensions of thisanalysis show project payback periods for performance parameters in Phase I and Phase II.Phase I aims to provide an initial proof of concept that the various components of the C-CBPapproach can be functionally integrated and will enable Phase II activities aimed at realizingcommercially-viable performance.Tasks include: 1.Corn stover fermentation using thermophiliccocultures and cotreatment; 2. Technoeconomic analysis; and 3. Preparation of the Phase IIproposal. A large-scale ethanol producing company will provide corn stover and participate inTask 2. A consultant will also be included to provide expertise on biomass milling for cotreatmentand estimating costs for the equipment to be used at large scale.Enabling low-cost conversion of corn-stover to ethanol via C-CBP would lead to increased revenueand job creation for both corn farmers and fuel producers. The difficulty of convertinglignocellulose carbohydrate into a fermentable form i.e. overcoming the recalcitrance oflignocellulose is the barrier addressed by this proposal.Establishment of C-CBP for low-costethanol production from corn stover would thus be an important step toward realizing the long- anticipated vision of expanded use of cellulosic feedstocks in the bioeconomy and rural America.