Indian-Origin Scientist Demonstrated New Technology, Convert Plant Matter into ChemicalsHot Buzz

May 21, 2018 10:29
Indian-Origin Scientist Demonstrated New Technology, Convert Plant Matter into Chemicals

(Image source from: NewsGram)

California:

Sandia National Laboratories in California, led by an Indian-origin scientist with his team has demonstrated a new technology based on bio-engineered bacteria to produce chemicals that are economically feasible from renewable plant sources.

The technology enables to convert tough plant matter, called lignin for broad use of energy source and making it cost competing.

Lignin is an element of plant cells walls that gives them incredible strength, though it is brimming with energy but getting to that energy is so expensive and complex resulting in bio-fuel noncompeting economically with other forms of transportation energy.

Seema Singh, Sandia bioengineer said, “For years, we have been researching cost-effective ways to break down lignin and convert it into valuable platform chemicals.”

She further added, “We applied our understanding of natural lignin degraders to E. coli because that bacterium grows fast and can survive harsh industrial processes.”

Singh and her team has resolved cost, toxicity and speed difficulties with turning lignin into platform chemicals.

"Now we can work on producing greater quantities of platform chemicals, engineering pathways to new end products, and considering microbial hosts other than E. coli," Singh said.

By Sowmya Sangam

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