Program Topics

  Monday, April 19

Session 1 – Biomass Microbial Strain Development

Microorganisms are powerful biocatalysts but the ideal microorganism for full and rapid conversion of the multiple substrates in biomass does not exist. This session will present recent research progress to overcome the fundamental limitations to rapid bioconversion of biomass substrates (sugars, synthesis gas, etc). Research topic include new microbial strain discovery, progress using genetic engineering, microbial evolution and systems biology approaches for as well as testing of natural or constructed consortia for bioconversion.

Session 2 – The Science of Biomass Recalcitrance

Cost-effect deconstruction of biomass to permit rapid bioconversion is challenging and has spurred fundamental studied into why biomass is resistant to bioconversion. This session will highlight advances in the study and understanding of plant cell wall structure and composition, emphasizing efforts to improve biomass deconstruction efficiency.

Poster Session

  Tuesday, April 20

Session 3 – Biomass Enzymes Characterization and Catalysis
Enzymes are central to biochemical deconstruction of biomass whether added externally or produced by the bioconversion microorganism. This session will highlight advances in enzyme discovery, characterization and modification to improve enzyme performance, characterization of new thermophilic enzymes, and the growing interest in lignin-degradation and related enzymes.

Session 4 – Hydrocarbon and Algae-based Biofuels
Petroleum-based fuels include diesel, jet turbine fuel as well as gasoline. This session will present recent progress in development of new fungible fuels such as biogasoline, jet fuel and algae-based biodiesel as technology is developed to meet broader markets aimed at fuller displacement of petroleum with biomass-derived fuels.

Session 5 – Developments in New/Improved Biomass Sources
Research aimed at producing improved plant cultivars is underway worldwide with the goal of producing biomass sources with improved characteristics. This session will highlight research on breeding to improve plant yield, advances in domestication of promising biomass species, in planta expression of enzymes, developments in crops with reduced recalcitrance and better processing characteristics, and advances in plant systems biology research. 

Session 6– Biorefinery Deployment and Industry Infrastructure
Advanced biofuels technologies are starting to emerge from the laboratory and enter the commercial marketplace. Speakers in this session will describe current efforts and progress in demonstrating and deploying advanced biofuels/biorefining technologies. In addition, this session will contain selected presentations discussing the issues related to delivery and use of alternative fuels in society including delivery logistics, and engine manufacturer acceptance of alternative fuels.

Poster Session 2

  Wednesday, April 21

Session 7 – Biomass Sustainability and Land Use
Unlike non-renewable fossil fuels, the new renewable fuels and chemicals industry must be developed to be permanently sustainable. This session will address the issues and facts regarding what is sustainability, discuss practices that promote sustainable production of biomass, and investigate the complex issue of land use as related to development of a renewables industry.

Session 8 – Biomass Pretreatment and Fractionation
Lignocellulosic biomass is difficult to economically disassemble at high yield due to the presence of highly modified structural carbohydrates and aromatic (lignin) polymers. Papers in this session will discuss recent developments in chemical and biochemical pretreatment or fractionation processes – both existing and new approaches – that make biomass more amenable to cost-effective bioconversion.

Free Afternoon

Special Topic: International Bioenergy Centers Update
During the last two years bioenergy research centers and institutes have been emerged to develop fundamental knowledge and applied technology for production of biomass-derived fuels and chemicals. Invited speakers from the three DOE bioenergy centers plus international bioenergy institute/center speakers will present research goals and progress over the last couple years since their inception.

  Thursday, April 22

Session 9 – Biomass Production and Logistics
Existing and newly developed biomass sources will need to be produced and delivered to the biorefinery with the lowest possible cost. Here we will present studies and demonstrations of biomass production technology and advances in harvesting technology and supply chain logistics critical to dramatically reducing the feedstock cost.

Session 10– Applications of Biomass Enzyme Technology
The development and use of enzyme for biomass deconstruction will be the emphasis of this session that will present progress in testing improved enzymes for SSF bioconversion, application of new enzyme for biomass conversion, and other applied uses of enzymes for biochemical conversion of biomass.

Session 11 – Microbial Biomass Conversion
Application of newly developed microorganism for ethanol and biochemical production will be presented in this session. Topics include the fermentative testing of newly development microbes, efficiency of bioconversion, the response of microorganisms to pretreated biomass substrates and inhibitors, and the response of advanced microorganisms to genetically-modified biomass sources.

Session 12 – Bioprocessing and Separations Technology
An economically viable bioprocess requires definitive biomass characterization, effective material handling and bioconversion technologies in combination with efficient downstream product separation and recovery. Papers in this session will describe advances in biomass analysis technology, as well as the development, testing and demonstration of bioconversion processes at various stages of process integration.

Reception and Banquet