RITE and Honda Jointly Develop New Technology To Produce Ethanol From Cellulosic Biomass.Tokyo, Japan, Sept 14, 2006 - (JCN JCN Japan Corporate News JCN Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience JCN Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing JCN Journal of Christian Nursing JCN Job Control Number JCN Journal of Child Neurology JCN joint communications network (US DoD) Newswire) - Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and Honda R&D Co., Ltd., the Honda Motor Co., Ltd. subsidiary responsible for research and development, today announced that their cooperative research has resulted in ethanol production technology from soft-biomass*, a renewable resource Noun 1. renewable resource - any natural resource (as wood or solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time natural resource, natural resources - resources (actual and potential) supplied by nature of plant-derived material. Carbon dioxide carbon dioxide, chemical compound, CO2, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. (CO2) released by the combustion of bio-ethanol is balanced by the CO2 captured by plants through photosynthesis and, thus, does not increase the total amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Bio-ethanol, therefore, has attracted attention as a carbon-neutral fuel, an energy source effective as countermeasure coun·ter·meas·ure n. A measure or action taken to counter or offset another one. countermeasure Noun action taken to counteract some other action Noun 1. to global-warming. Existing bio-ethanol production, however, faces supply limits, as it is produced primarily from sugar and starch starch, white, odorless, tasteless, carbohydrate powder. It plays a vital role in the biochemistry of both plants and animals and has important commercial uses. of sugarcane and corn feedstock feed·stock n. Raw material required for an industrial process. Noun 1. feedstock - the raw material that is required for some industrial process raw material, staple - material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing , which are also utilized as food. In its collaborative research, RITE and Honda have established the basic technology to produce ethanol fuel Ethanol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It can be used as a fuel, mainly as a biofuel alternative to gasoline, and is widely used in cars in Brazil. from cellulose and hemicellulose hem·i·cel·lu·lose n. Any of several polysaccharides that are more complex than a sugar and less complex than cellulose and found in plant cell walls. hemicellulose structural polysaccharide of plants. *, both found in soft-biomass*, including inedible leaves and stalks of plants, such as rice straw. Until now, such soft-biomass represented a challenge to convert to ethanol. Thus, the new process represents a large step forward for practical application of soft-biomass as a fuel source. The RITE-Honda process, newly developed as an integration of the sophisticated bio-technology of RITE and the engineering technology of Honda, paves the way to bio-ethanol production from cellulose and hemi-cellulose, with the potential to significantly increase fuel production. The process consists of the following operations. I. Pretreatment pretreatment, n the protocols required before beginning therapy, usually of a diagnostic nature; before treatment. pretreatment estimate, n See predetermination. to separate cellulose from soft-biomass II. Saccharification of cellulose and hemicellulose III. Conversion of sugar into ethanol using microorganisms IV. Ethanol refinement Current technology allows fermentation inhibitors, collaterally formed primarily during the process of separating cellulose and hemicellulose from soft-biomass, to interfere with the function of microorganisms that convert sugar into alcohol, leading to extremely low ethanol yield. Up to now, an appropriate solution has not been found to this the largest obstacle to alcohol production from soft-biomass. World renowned for its development of a bio-process for chemical commodities production utilizing microorganisms, RITE established the RITE process featuring remarkably high production efficiency, and has also reported a number of other achievements, including bio-ethanol production related issues. Now, RITE and Honda have successfully developed the RITE-Honda process, which substantially reduces the harmful influence of fermentation inhibitors. The RITE-Honda process succeeds through utilization of RITE strain, a microorganism microorganism /mi·cro·or·gan·ism/ (-or´gah-nizm) a microscopic organism; those of medical interest include bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. developed by RITE that converts sugar into alcohol, and by application of engineering technology of Honda, enabling a significant increase in alcohol conversion efficiency, in comparison to conventional cellulosic bio-ethanol production processes. The RITE-Honda process, resulting in a significant increase in production of bio-ethanol, and expansion of biomass utilization, holds enormous potential as a major step forward toward the realization of an energy sustainability society. The achievement solves the last remaining fundamental hurdle to ethanol production from soft-biomass. Thus, RITE and Honda will pursue research for mass production, including development of systems to integrate four operations, currently operated independently, into a continuous flow within one plant, recycling energy* to pursue energy conservation and cost reduction. A demonstration project is envisioned within a pilot plant to assess the social compatibility and economic efficiency of the new bio-alcohol production system. Based on the success of this collaborative research, RITE and Honda, will pursue further advancement to establish a bio-refinery* for production of not only ethanol, but various industrial commodities including automotive materials from biomass. In this way, RITE and Honda will contribute to the prevention of global-warming through the further reduction of CO2, with the goal of realizing a sustainable society. About Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) Established in 1990 by the joint investment of the Japanese government and private enterprises, with the goal of conducting fundamental research on countermeasure technology for global-warming, particularly climate change. Engaged in efforts to stabilize climate change through development of alternative energy research and CO2 sequestration CO2 sequestration is the capture, extraction, separation, collection, etc, of carbon dioxide and a means for its storage or use. See main article on carbon capture and storage for information on large scale permanent sequestration and/or storage of industrially-produced CO2 technologies. Location: Kizugawa-dai, kizu-cho soraku-gun, Kyoto, JAPAN President:Yoshihisa Akiyama About Honda R&D CO., Ltd. Fundamental Research Center An operation established for fundamental research and development within Honda R&D Co., the Honda Motor Co., subsidiary responsible for research and development. The Fundamental Research Center was established in April 1986, and has engaged in the development of the bipedal bipedal adjective Capable of locomotion on 2 feet walking humanoid robot  It has been suggested that Android & Actroid be merged into this article or section. , ASIMO ASIMO Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility (Honda Humanoid Robot) , and HondaJet, as well as
fundamental research on the bio- and energy-sector.Location:Wako-shi, Saitama, JAPAN Director:Tomohiko Kawanabe (Senior Managing Director of Honda R&D) * Biomass Biomass is a renewable organic resource of plant-derived material, excluding fossil resource. In a limited sense, the term refers to livestock excreta excreta /ex·cre·ta/ (eks-kret´ah) excretion (2). ex·cre·ta pl.n. Waste matter, such as sweat or feces, discharged from the body. , waste wood, and plant residue after the removal of edible parts. Biomass represents organic materials that plants produce through photosynthesis from atmospheric CO2 and water, and thus does not increase atmospheric CO2 when burned. * Cellulose and hemicellulose The primary ingredients of the fibrous fibrous /fi·brous/ (fi´brus) composed of or containing fibers. fi·brous adj. Composed of or characterized by fibroblasts, fibrils, or connective tissue fibers. part of plants. Comprises one-third of natural vegetable materials. Conventional technology was insufficient to utilize cellulose for alcohol production. * Energy-recycling within a continuous flow system Utilizing the heat and energy from within a highly efficient system as a key to reduce production costs. For example, heat from one of four operations, can be used to support another operation. * Bio-refinery A different concept from an oil-refinery, representing plants or technologies for the production of bio-fuels and resins from biomass. Publicity materials relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc this announcement are available at the following URLs: http:// www.honda.co.jp/PR/ (for the use of journalists,) or http://www.rite.or.jp/English About Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (TSE See Tokyo Stock Exchange. TSE 1. See Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). 2. See Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE). :7267/NYSE:HMC/LSE:HNDA.L) is one of the leading manufacturers of automobiles and power products and the largest manufacture of motorcycles in the world. Honda has always sought to provide genuine satisfaction to people worldwide. The result is more than 120 manufacturing facilities in 30 countries worldwide, producing a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment and automobiles that bring the company into contact with over 19 million customers annually. For more information, please visit http://world.honda.com. Source: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Contact: RITE / Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth TEL +81-774-75-2301 FAX +81-774-75-2314 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications TEL +81-3-5412-1512 FAX +81-3-5412-1545 Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K. |
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