Japanese researchers create enzyme for efficient production of ethanol

A research group in Japan has created the technology to produce large amounts of cellulose-decomposing enzymes in solid culture, from fungi growing on a solid substrate, opening the door to the efficient manufacture of ethanol from plants without the need to pre-treat the raw materials. The collaboration of Gekkeikan Sake’s research laboratory, Akihiko Kondo of Kobe University’s Faculty of Engineering, and Osaka University’s School/Graduate School of Engineering led to the discovery of a promoter that can trigger vigorous production of cellulose-decomposing enzymes, followed by the successful incorporation of the promoter into Aspergillus. The research group studied the traditional Japanese method of making Aspergilli for the production of refined sake, aiming for a method to mass-produce in solid culture enzymes that would help eliminate the pre-treatment step in the decomposition, fermentation and distillation of biomass for feedstock use only, such as rice hulls and rice straw, to produce ethanol. (August 28, 2008)