Biotech Updates

UM Invention Promises Major Advance in Biofuel Production

March 14, 2008

A bacteria isolated from Chesapeake Bay may revolutionize the production of biofuels from plant products and  left-over brewer's mash, paper trash and some other cellulosic materials. University of Maryland researchers headed by Steve Hutcheson and Ron Weiner developed the technology and started an incubator company called Zymetis for the production of the enzyme which they isolated from the bacteria S. degradans.

 "The new Zymetis technology is a win for the State of Maryland, for the University and for the environment," said University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr. "It makes affordable ethanol production a reality and makes it from waste materials, which benefits everyone and supports the green-friendly goal of carbon-neutrality." The Zymetis process when fully operational can lead the production of 75 billion gallons a year of carbon-neutral ethanol.

For further details, see press release at: http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1613