Biotech Updates

SIUE Makes Biofuel Breakthrough

June 15, 2012

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) researchers announced the development of an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective biofuel produced from the non-edible part of a corn kernel. The research team used a mechanical process called fractionation, wherein the corn kernels are broken down into three components. According to John Caupert, one of the researchers, the corn kernel's fiber cannot be fermented through conventional processes but through fractionation, it is possible to convert the fiber into ethanol.

Caupert and team reported their research during the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop at the Minneapolis Convention Center held from June 4-7, 2012. According to the researchers, the technology is now commercially available.

Read more information at http://www.siue.edu/ and http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/ethanol-71467-research-center.html.