LORRE carries out fundamental research that impacts the engineering and agricultural
research enterprises at Purdue University. The research draws on expertise, infrastructure, and fundamental science in a range of areas that are combined into multi-disciplinary problem solving approaches. Fundamental topics are in biotechnology, bio-nanotechnology, bioproducts from agriculture and renewable resources, and biorecovery. The Laboratory combines fundamental science in biology and bioprocessing technology in a manner that integrates discovery, learning, and engagement through the practice of bioprocess engineering.

LORRE receives many requests for background information regarding current trends and future opportunities in bioenergy, bionanotechnology, bioseparations, and bioprocess engineering. In addition, we also receive requests for information on standard laboratory procedures that are used in our research and upon which results outlined in the “Presentations” section of this webpage are based. For the convenience of visitors to our website, we have included research background information, which we believe will be of general utility. In some cases, these publications and procedures have been generously shared for use on our website by authors who are experts in their field, and who have been willing to share their insights with others on our website.

Please click on the link below to learn more about current research being conducted by LORRE researchers on the pretreatment of corn fiber. This research directly impacts the ethanol industry in its attempts to produce ethanol in the most efficient, cost-effective manner.

"Building a Bridge to the Ethanol Industry - Follow-Up Project", M. Ladisch, N. Mosier, G. Welch, and B. Dien, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/SR-510-33894, April 2003

A major component of LORRE's research is bioenergy, and in particular, corn stover. An authoritative review and summary of the harvesting, availability, and cost of corn stover is offered by Jim Hettenhaus. This is described in the document entitled, “The Carbohydrate Economy”. Please click on the link below to view this article.

"Talking About Corn Stover with Jim Hettenhaus", The Carbohydrate Economy, Vol. 4, No. 2, p. 1, 8-11, Summer 2002

Recombinant yeast 295ST, evaluated by researchers at VBC and Tembec, was found to enhance ethanol produced by 130 C vs. non-xylose fermenting yeast, on spent sulfite pulping liquor that contains xylose. Please click on the link below to learn more:

"Xylose Fermentation by Genetically Modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae 259ST in Spent Sulfite Liquor", Bioresource Technology, 92, 2, 163-171, (2004). 

LINKS

The USDA Chief Economist's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, http://www.usda.gov/oce/index.htm , provides useful summaries of the economic impact of bioethanol and biodiesel production. Included are several concise, yet thorough, studies in the net energy balance of corn ethanol production, with the latest update published in 2001.

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2006 Bioenergy Symposium

On February 23, 2006, the 2006 Bioenergy Symposium was held at Purdue University. The Symposium presented state-of-the-art research and technology for transforming renewable resources into liquid fuels and other sources of energy production. Invited speakers and Purdue researchers discussed the technologies currently being implemented, together with discovery efforts for obtaining major advances in converting renewable resources into liquid transportation fuels. Speakers gave both industry and university perspectives on biodiesel, ethanol fuels from corn and cellulosic feedstocks, marketing and distribution challenges for renewable fuels, policy and economic issues, ethanol energy balances, and current technologies for dry mills that produce ethanol. Please click on the links below to view the slide presentations of each of the speakers.

Biofuels Research at Purdue University
Ladisch, M. R., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Center for the Environment (C4E)
Engel, B., Lee, L. S., Oliver, L., Taylor, C., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Engineering Plants to Support a Bio-ethanol-based Economy
Chapple, C., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Past, Present and Future of Dry Grind Corn Process
Singh, V., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Dry Grind Processing Bridge to Cellulosic Ethanol
Mosier, N., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Biofuels: Challenges & Opportunities
Smith, C., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Potential Implications of Indiana's Booming Ethanol Industry
Hurt, C., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Biomass Gasification in a Dry Grind Ethanol Facility: Benefits and Challenges
Takehara, D., Miller, D., Brown, R., Jerke, J., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Results of Fuel Ethanol
Wu, M., Wang, M., 2006 Bioenergy Symposium, The Energy Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University, February 23, 2006.

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If you are interested in learning more about the work of LORRE researchers, please browse the "Publications" area of our website.