The Center for Biorenewable Chemicals is one of only 15 Engineering Research Centers currently funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). CBiRC is striving to develop technologies that will support the development of biorenewable chemicals that deliver the functionality of existing fossil-fuel derived, carbon-based chemicals. CBiRC uses know-how combined with innovative research and education programs to redirect valuable renewable biomaterial away from ethanol fermentation into an array of novel fatty acids. CBiRC bases its biocatalysis efforts on the fatty acid or polyketide biosynthetic pathway with a goal of enhancing microbial production through targeted engineering. Combining chemical catalysis with novel fermentation creates an array of novel chemical intermediates (e.g., olefins, diols, dienes, branched and ring structures, ethers and esters). CBiRCs emerging chemical targets are leading to test-beds focused on alpha-Olefins, Dienes, Pyrones, Linear Bi-Functionals (varied chain lengths), and Terminal Acids with Unsaturation. Such test bed evaluations will lead to an assessment of the Life-Cycle aspects of production. CBiRC expects these chemical intermediates to be used in the chemical industry to make an array of polymers such as polyolefins, synthetic rubbers, resins, polystyrenes nylons and biodegradables as well as other biobased materials such as surfactants, additives, cosmetics and adhesives. It is expected that these efforts will pave the way for a more sustainable base for the chemical industry.
CBiRC's education program will improve the supply of creative, adaptive and innovative engineers who can serve as technology leaders and succeed in a global bio-economy. Thus CBiRC is focusing on educating pre-college teachers through research-experience for teachers programs, pre-college students through young-engineer programs, undergraduate students through research-experience for undergraduate programs through academic-year research opportunities, and graduate students through new coursework and degree options that provide training in both biological and chemical catalysis.
