Business
New Project and Grant Funding
New Project and Grant Funding.
About this update from Physiomics Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 2044W Physiomics PLC 15 November 2010 \n \n\nPhysiomics plc\n(\"Physiomics\" or \"the Company\")\nPhysiomics to collaborate with Green Biologics Limited and North Energy Associates Limited in the Carbon Trust funded project:\nAdvanced Fermentation Process for Butanol \n \nPhysiomics (AIM: PYC), the Oxford, UK based systems biology company, is pleased to announce that the Company together with Green Biologics Limited (GBL) and North Energy Associates Limited has been awarded a total grant for £268,000 from the Carbon Trust for a project to demonstrate an Advanced Fermentation Process for Butanol. \n \nThe aim is to improve the microbial fermentation process for producing renewable butanol (a \"next generation\" biofuel) using solventogenic Clostridia. The project will focus on improvements in butanol productivity using a novel bioreactor design together with improved microbes and cheaper more sustainable feedstock found in the UK. Example feedstock includes sugar beet pulp, distillers dried grains & solubles (DDGS) and municipal solid waste.\n \nThe advanced butanol fermentation process should reduce production costs below $500/ tonne making it cost competitive with first generation biofuels. In addition, the use of renewable and sustainable feedstock supports significant savings in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the UK, which could total 1,230,000 t eq. CO2/ annum by 2020. \n \nGBL will lead, coordinate and manage the project. GBL will deliver improved biocatalysts and demonstrate a novel fermentation process at laboratory and pilot scale. Physiomics will model microbial population and provide input into how best to optimise the fermentation process. North Energy will complete life cycle assessment (LCA) of the process on model biomass feedstock applicable to the UK. \n \nThe project will occur in two stages: the first stage of the project is due to be completed by 31 March 2011 and the second stage is due to complete 18 months later on 30 September 2012. Full grant funding (for the second stage) and continuation of the project beyond stage 1 is conditional on achieving certain technical milestones during stage 1 for which Physiomics will receive approximately £31,000.\n \nThe grant is from the Carbon Trust's Entrepreneurs Fast Track scheme which prov...