Maryland researchers find enzyme that converts cellulose to sugar in one step; potential cost breakthrough for cellulosic ethanol

In Maryland, researchers have launched a new company, Zymentis, to commercialize a new enzyme they say will convert plant cellulose into sugars in one step. The researchers, from the University of Maryland, said that their discovery could produce as much as 75 billion gallons of ethanol using a synthetic version of a Chesapeake Bay marsh grass bacterium, S. degradans.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $33.8 million in research grants to four cellulosic ethanol projects in California and New Jersey. The four-year research grants come from a $1 billion fund the DOE established to finance cellulosic ethanol research. The grants are for projects researching advanced enzymes for converting cellulose into sugars.

Industry will add another $37 million to the research effort. Grants were awarded to DSM Innovation Center, Genencor, Novozymes and Verenium. The latter three are based in California, while DSM is based in New Jersey.

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