SBIR-STTR Award

The production of bioethanol is performed under non-sterile conditions and as a result is subject to contamination. The industry typically treats the contamination with harsh chemicals and/orantibiotics with residues making their way into the byproducts including animal feed. Estimates put the losses in production at 2 to 4% which translates at the lower end to an annual industry- wide loss of 316 million gallons or $474 million at a price of $1.50 per gallon. This figurere presents a significant loss in revenue to an industry which operates on narrow margins. Bacterial contamination in bioethanol production is due primarily to lactic acid bacteria (LAB).This SBIR Phase I proposal aims to address LAB contamination by using bacteriophage lysins that act on bacterial cell walls incorporating and optimizing USDA patented technology. The work will be carried out in collaboration with the NCAUR USDA lab in Peoria Illinois. The goal is to identify the most effective lysins against LAB in simulated ethanol fermentations using media sourced from ethanol plants. A successful optimization of a lysin blend will enhance energy efficiency and reduce reliance on antibiotics and chemicals. The use of antibiotics accelerates the rate of microbial resistance and renders their use ineffective for human infections. Eliminating the need for sourcing special handling and storage of chemicals reduces the hazards associated with their use at an ethanol plant. These goals are consistent with the USDA goals of deployment of new technology that has economic environmental and societal benefits.