Mon May 19, 2008 9:00am EDT

 

Email | Print |

Share

| Reprints | Single Page | Recommend (-)

[-] Text [+]

--  Research Leads to Creation of Eco-friendly Biosurfactants and
       Polymers

  --  Honorees from Agriculture Research Service Facility in
       Wyndmoor, PA
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Glycerine-derived, eco-friendly biosurfactants and polymers -
produced from renewable resources and quickly biodegradable - are
getting their moment in the sun.

  Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), who
helped develop these new bioproducts, are the recipients of the 2008
Glycerine Innovation Award, sponsored by The Soap and Detergent
Association (SDA) and the National Biodiesel Board.

  The award was presented at the 99th Annual Meeting of the American
Oil Chemists' Society in Seattle, Washington. Recipients received a
commemorative plaque and a $5,000 honorarium. The SDA/NBB Glycerine
Innovation Award recognizes outstanding achievement for research into
new applications for glycerine, with particular emphasis on commercial
viability.

  Innovation Tackles the Glycerine Glut

  With the expansion of the biodiesel industry, glycerine (a
biodiesel co-product) continues to be produced in quantities that are
in excess of historical levels. In order to help glycerine maintain
its value and aid in biodiesel economics, researchers have looked for
innovative ways to find new uses for glycerine.

  Drs. Richard Ashby, Daniel Solaiman and Thomas Foglia work at
USDA's Agriculture Research Service Eastern Regional Research Center
(ERRC) in Wyndmoor, PA. They undertook a multidisciplinary approach to
find new commercial uses for glycerine. Their research centers on
bioprocessing - producing new biological materials.

  By feeding glycerine to microbes, such as bacteria and yeasts, and
allowing the microbes to use their natural genetic and enzymatic
tools, the team successfully demonstrated that a number...