Production of sugar (�energy�) beets (Beta vulgaris L.) in Arkansas is targeted for establishing an industrial-scale sugar (sucrose) feedstock platform as part of a regional strategy to produce advanced biofuels and biobased products in the Mid-South Delta. Energy-efficient processing technologies and development of co-product streams are critical for the overall economic viability of bioenergy crops. Expanded beet production will generate millions of tons of wet pulp processing residue that will have to be dealt with. The overall goal of this research is to establish the utility of naturally thermally-tolerant enzymes for innovative applications in processing pectin-rich beet pulp. We hypothesize certain enzymes can impart specific structural modifications to cell walls in beet pulp under process that will reduce water-holding capacity of the pulp. This will directly lower energy inputs to dry pulp. We will present current work to develop a bioproduction platform for thermostable enzymes using the yeast Pichia pastoris.

Bioproduction of thermostable enzymes for energy-efficient processing of sugar beets

244th National Meeting (2012)

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