In an effort to address growing environmental problems such as pollution and a depletion of the earth’s natural resources, scientists are researching new fuel sources that could alleviate the world’s dependency on oil.

Alternatives under consideration include biofuels – substances made from renewable biomass resources such as: rice straw, corn stalks, sugar cane, pulpwood, bagasse and municipal solid waste. Biofuels include ethanol, methanol, biodiesel and additives for reformulated gasoline.

The technology to make ethanol from biomass (bioethanol) combines a variety of innovations: (i) pre-treated fiber is converted to sugars using enzymes; (ii) these sugars are subsequently fermented to ethanol; and (iii) ethanol is further refined providing alternative fuel. Bioethanol is one of the lowest-cost, consumer-friendly ways to reduce gasoline consumption and carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. It is a clean fuel that can be used in today's cars. One of the many attributes of bioethanol is that it does not contribute net carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Bioethanol-blended fuels are a cost-effective way for countries to meet their emissions reduction targets and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

State-of-the-art enzyme technology, such as cellulases, (More at Enzymes) is a critical element in converting these natural fibers into the sugars, which are subsequently fermented into ethanol.

Dyadic’s C1 integrated technology platform is expected to enable researchers to identify, select and analyze novel enzymes best suited to convert biomass materials into biofuels. We believe our technology may play a significant role in the development of biofuels – such as ethanol – at costs competitive to oil prices, thereby reducing subsidies and ultimately expanding consumers’ use of these renewable energy sources.