Optimizing enzyme cocktails and process conditions for production of cellulosic ethanol

DSM’s origin and biotechnology roots date back to 1869 when Jacques C. van Marken, an innovative businessman believing in science, founded NG&SF (Dutch Yeast & Spirits Factory) to produce baker’s yeast and potable alcohol. More than a century later, DSM via its joint venture POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, is again involved in ethanol production, but now via licensing advanced yeast and enzyme technologies to an emerging lignocellulosic bioethanol industry based on corn crop residue. Operation of the joint venture’s commercial scale demonstration plant ‘Project LIBERTY’ in Emmetsburg, Iowa has started up in 2014.

The role of DSM’s advanced yeasts and cellulosic enzyme cocktails is to enable the industry to diversify from starch crops to lignocellulosic agricultural residues, unlocking the full industrial potential of this abundantly available, sustainable type of feedstock. While this opportunity has been recognized since many years, enzyme costs were still prohibitive for commercial operations and had to be reduced by a factor of more than 10.

DSM took different approaches to reach this ambitious cost reduction target and developed robust thermostable enzyme cocktails which will a/o be offered as an element of the POET-DSM technology package to parties interested in building their own commercial plants. This presentation will highlight how combined efforts in enzyme discovery and development, high throughput strain development, cocktail optimization, and fermentation as well as application developments were used to make lignocellulosic bioethanol a commercial reality NOW.