NRC agreement amended to focus on cellulosic ethanol

Vancouver's Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc (NAT) has amended its current agreement with the National Research Council (NRC) to focus on an area of cellulosic ethanol production that is hampering widespread use of the feedstock for fuel. The two parties agreed to divert existing funding from their collaboration on advanced enzyme technology for the extraction and cleaning of hemp fibre to collaborate on cellulosic technology R&D to produce cellulosic ethanol from feedstock such as corn stalks and corn. The efficient conversion of cellulose to glucose for subsequent fermentation into ethanol is proving exceedingly difficult. NAT and NRC plan to improve conversion by developing technology via protein engineering and an efficient hydrolysis protocol….