Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | BB/L013738/1 | |
| Title | Plant Biomass Biorefinery Network (PBBNet) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Other bio-energy) 25%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity) 25%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 25%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 25%; |
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| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 50%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 50%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 30%; Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 20%; |
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| Principal Investigator |
Prof S (Simon ) McQueen-Mason No email address given Biology University of York |
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| Award Type | Research Grant | |
| Funding Source | BBSRC | |
| Start Date | 14 January 2014 | |
| End Date | 13 January 2018 | |
| Duration | 48 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £1,120 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Transport Systems and Vehicles | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Prof S (Simon ) McQueen-Mason , Biology, University of York (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Professor TDH Bugg , Chemistry, University of Warwick (0.001%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | We propose the establishment of a Plant Biomass Biorefinery Network (PBBNet) to establish a cohesive multi-disciplinary network of researchers and stakeholders with interests in lignocellulose-derived biorenewables in order to overcome fragmentation of the research community in this area and develop systems based approaches to move this area forward. This network will have benefits for a wide range of stakeholders with interests in the biorenewable fuels and chemicals industries, these include: 1. Researchers in the areas of working in feedstock improvement (crop breeding), feedstock production (farming), logistics and transportation, processing (engineers and chemists), deconstruction (biologists, engineers, chemists), fermentation (biologists and engineers), product recovery, anaerobic digestion and combustion for heat and power generation from residues, and water and plant nutrient recycling and capture. 2. The network will also involve and benefit environmental scientists interested in sustainability issues and social scientists and economists studying the impact of new industries 3. The work is also directly relevant to policy makers from the government sector, working to decrease the UK's carbon footprint, stimulate new industries and revive the rural economy. 4. The network will involve and benefit a wide range of commercial enterprises working in the farming, logistics, engineering, chemical engineering, fermentation, anaerobic digestion, enzymes, water purification, fuel, chemicals and natural products industries. 5. The general public, through being made aware of the benefits and challenges in establishing sustainable bio-based industries These stakeholders will benefit directly by being part of the network. These benefits will come from: 1. helping develop policy documents to help influence relevant government policy, and public funding of research in this area. 2. defining major research challenges relevant to their interests 3. overcoming fragmentation in the sector and gaining benefits from taking part in multi-disciplinary innovative research to tackle major challenges 4. forming collaborations to compete for major funding on the national and international stages 5. the attraction of talented young researchers into areas relevant to their interests 6. from being part of a community of researchers committed to developing a sustainable future for mankind The network will benefit the nation's health, wealth and culture by enabling the establishment of new industries and jobs in areas that will help improve our environment by reducing carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. |
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| Abstract | The need to curb greenhouse gas emissions from unsustainable use of fossils fuels coupled with declining global reserves of petroleum and increasing costs of their extraction provide strong drivers to develop alternative methods for fuel and chemical production. Plant biomass is currently the only renewable and sustainable non-food renewable, sustainable feedstock available on a scale commensurate with current use of petroleum. Lignocellulosic biomass is a rich source of fixed carbon incorporated into a range of polymers comprising mainly polysaccharides and lignin. These polysaccharides consist mainly of cellulose and complex matrix hemicelluloses that form a cohesive network that is effectively cemented into a robust composite material by the phenolic polymer lignin. Lignocellulosic plant biomass also contains a wide range of less abundant chemicals and polymers including sterols, waxes and fatty acids. Thus, this non-food feedstock has the potential to provide a wide range of bulk and speciality chemicals that can serve as the basis for producing most of the products we currently obtain from petroleum. At present, the development of new industries based on plant biomass is challenged by the lack of cost-effective approaches to convert lignocellulose into useful component parts for bioprocessing. We also currently lack a clear joined up vision across the supply chain that combines the necessary disciplines of biology, chemistry and engineering and identifies where the major challenges and opportunities to establishing this new industry lie. We propose the establishment of a Plant Biomass Biorefinery Network (PBBNet) to establish a cohesive multi-disciplinary network of researchers and stakeholders with interests in lignocellulose-derived biorenewables in order to overcome fragmentation of the research community in this area and develop systems based approaches to move this area forward. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 15/12/14 | |
