Researchers increase cellulosic ethanol production rates

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

From an article on the BusinessWire:

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xethanol Corporation (AMEX: XNL), a renewable energy company, has announced that its latest laboratory research results show significant increases in the rate of cellulosic ethanol production.

Researchers working at the Forest Products Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture in Madison, Wisconsin are developing technology to reduce the net cost of renewable fuel made from wood and agricultural residue. Dr. Thomas Jeffries leads that effort.

Dr. Jeffries reports that research sponsored by Xethanol “has improved the rate of ethanol production from xylose wood sugar by 22% and has increased the ethanol yield by 11% as compared to the control strain of yeast.”

David Ames, President and CEO of Xethanol, commented, “This is more evidence our research and technology strategy is taking the company in the right direction – potentially reducing the cost of making ethanol from non-corn sources, and helping our country cut its dependence on foreign oil”.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell said, “We are proud of the work of Dr. Jeffries at our Forest Products Laboratory. Improving production of biofuels from woody materials is an important goal for the Forest Service and continues a long tradition of biomass utilization research. Improved efficiency in converting woody biomass to energy provides additional opportunities for stewardship of both public and private forested lands by making more efficient use of materials generated from forest management activities.”