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Microbial pathways for advanced biofuel production
1The BioEconomy Centre, Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, U.K.
Biochemical Society Transactions
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Microbial systems are being engineered to produce advanced biofuels, crucial for decarbonizing transportation and mitigating climate change. This review explores these systems and their industrial-scale challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Anthropogenic climate change necessitates the decarbonization of the transport sector.
- Microbial metabolisms are foundational to current renewable fuel production.
- Advanced biofuels are vital for maintaining mobility during the energy transition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural and engineered microbial systems for advanced biofuels production.
- To summarize techno-economic challenges for industrial-scale implementation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of microbial systems for biofuel generation.
- Analysis of techno-economic factors for scaling up biofuel production.
Main Results:
- Overview of diverse microbial platforms for advanced biofuel synthesis.
- Identification of key challenges in industrializing microbial biofuel production.
Conclusions:
- Microbial re-engineering offers a pathway to sustainable transport fuels.
- Overcoming techno-economic hurdles is critical for widespread adoption of advanced biofuels.
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