Research Project

  Today's global economy is based upon the production of fossil fuels. But increasingly, as we grapple with the depth of the environmental footprint that the production and use of those fuels leaves, we are searching for sustainable alternatives. One of the most exciting alternatives involves using plant-based material to produce biofuels.

An economy based on the use of these renewable resources will depend upon products made from agricultural crops, feedstock and waste materials. This bio-economy will revolve around new processes that transform low-cost materials into high-value products, while minimizing the release of carbon dioxide and other contaminants into the environment.

This team of chemical engineers, biologists and policy experts will apply their knowledge of gene sequencing and computer modeling to identify, screen, analyze and clone new proteins. The team will then determine their potential as catalysts to transform low-value plant residues and waste products into valuable bioproducts.  They will screen for communities of microbes that are essential to the fermentation of renewable agricultural or waste materials to convert them into fuel.  They will also search for microbial communities that can be used to restore contaminated land and water, by understanding their natural function as one of nature's recyclers to break down the pollution at contaminated sites.  They will carefully assess the viability of new biotransformation processes considering economic, policy and regulatory constraints.

The research team has already worked with pulp and paper mills to develop microbial processes that have reduced the harmful byproducts they produce and generated energy to help power their operations. They have also developed and commercialized a microbial community, called KB-1®, which is already being used to clean up sites contaminated with solvents. In this project, the team plans to apply basic research knowledge and skills to develop other microbial-based processes to transform, reuse, recycle and remediate contaminants and byproducts from common industrial and agricultural processes. Their goal is to contribute to the sustainability of the biorefineries of the future.

This project includes integrated GE³LS research with the aim of developing a framework for the integration of scientific research and public policy analysis, to lower barriers for the entry of new bioproducts into the marketplace.  For more information, click here.

For more information, visit:  www.beem.utoronto.ca