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Oilseed Straw Assessed as Possible BioFuel


Researchers at the Institute of Food Research investigating the convertion of surplus annual straw stock from oilseed rape into biofuel, have been discovering insights into how the process could be made more efficient, as well as how the straw itself could be improved. For straw stock to be turned into a biofuel, a pre-treatment stage is necessary to enable enzymes to convert complex carbohydrates (saccarification) into a glucose form suitable for fermentation into ethanol. Professor Keith Waldron and his team have been using facilities at the Biorefinery Centre on Norwich Research Park to look at the pre-treatment steps, particularly the use of steam explosion to drive a number of chemical reactions in the biomass. A rapid pressure-release following this ‘pressure cooking’ causes the material to be ripped open further improving accessibility to the stored sugars.


Pilot Steam Explosion Unit in the Biorefinery Centre at Norwich Research Park


They varied the temperature and duration of steam explosion and then used a variety of physical and biochemical techniques to characterise what effects varying the pre-treatments had on the different types of sugars before and after the saccharification.


In a further study funded by the BBSRC / EPSRC Integrated


Biorefining Research and Technology Club, the scientists discovered the key factors that determine the efficiency of the saccharification process itself. One particular compound, uronic acid, was found to limit the rate at which enzymes worked, while final sugar yield was closely related to the removal of xylan, a common component of plant cell walls. The abundance of lignin, a ‘woody’ cell wall component, was positively related to the amount of available sugars.


Using these findings the IFR is now working with colleagues at the University of York and the John Innes Centre to see whether there are ways of breeding more biofuel-ready varieties of oilseed rape, with the same yields of oilseed but with more amenable straw. In addition, a full understanding of the polysaccharides and other compounds made available during pretreatment may mean other valuable co-products, like platform chemicals, may be viably produced from the surplus straw.


References: Steam explosion of oilseed rape straw: Establishing key determinants of saccharification efficiency, Bioresource Technology 162, 175-183 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.115 Changes in the composition of the main polysaccharide groups of oil seed rape straw following steam explosion and saccharification, Biomass and Bioenergy 61 121-130 doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.12.003


30957pr@reply-direct.com Scientists Test Genetic Control for Malaria


Scientists from Imperial College London have tested a new genetic method that distorts the sex ratio of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the main transmitters of the malaria parasite, so that the female mosquitoes that bite and pass the disease to humans are no longer produced. In the first laboratory tests, the method created a fully fertile mosquito strain that produced 95% male offspring. The scientists introduced the genetically modified mosquitoes to five caged wild-type mosquito populations. In four of the five cages, this eliminated the entire population within six generations, because of the lack of females. The hope is that if this could be replicated in the wild, this would ultimately cause the malaria-carrying mosquito population to crash. Lead researcher Professor Andrea Crisanti from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London said: “Malaria is debilitating and often fatal and we need to find new ways of tackling it. We think our innovative approach is a huge step forward. For the very first time, we have been able to inhibit the production of female offspring in the laboratory and this provides a new means to eliminate the disease.”


Dr Nikolai Windbichler, also a lead researcher from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, said: “What is most promising about our results is that they are self- sustaining. Once modified mosquitoes are introduced, males will start to produce mainly sons, and their sons will do the same, so essentially the mosquitoes carry out the work for us.” “The research is still in its early days, but I am really hopeful that this new approach could ultimately lead to a cheap and effective way to eliminate malaria from entire regions. Our goal is to enable people to live freely without the threat of this deadly disease,” concluded Dr Roberto Galizi from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London. The study is funded by a grant from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, through the Vector-Based Control of Transmission: Discovery Research (VCTR) program of the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Research Council.


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Animal Replacement Science 2014 – 27 November, London


There is an increasing awareness of the challenges and limitations of using animals in research, not least of which are the issues associated with translating the results of such research to humans. Animal Replacement Science 2014 will focus on recent developments and challenges in translating research for human relevancy. This inaugural conference, to be held on 27th November 2014 at Charles Darwin House, London, will consist of research presentations from invited speakers covering a wide range of scientific disciplines. The conference will include poster sessions and will conclude with a panel- led discussion to explore the challenges, innovations and applications of animal replacement technology. If you are a scientist currently applying animal replacement


techniques in your research, have an interest in using such techniques in the future or are involved with setting research policy the DHT would like to invite you to register and also submit an abstract for consideration for either a poster and/or oral presentation.


Abstract submission deadline is 27th September 2014. Early registration deadline is 27th October 2014. This conference is limited to 100 delegates,as such please register early to avoid disappointment. For more information about the conference and for the latest updates please visit the conference website www.animalreplacementscience.com


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WWEM 2014


Conference Programme Announced


The organisers of WWEM 2014, the international Water, Wastewater and Environmental Monitoring conference and exhibition, have announced the details of the Conferences that will take place at the Telford International Centre in the UK, 5-6th November. The first day’s Conference will focus on the monitoring aspects of industrial and municipal monitoring, whereas the second day will address some of the key issues relating to sampling and laboratory analysis. WWEM 2014 (www.wwem.uk.com), the 6th in a series of highly successful environmental monitoring events, will provide delegates with the latest information on the techniques, technologies, methods, standards and regulatory requirements that relate to the monitoring which takes place both on-site and in the laboratory, covering sampling, field analysis, gas detection and continuous water and wastewater monitoring applications. The first day of the Conference will include presentations by senior individuals from the Environment Agency, CSA-Sira, WRc and Siris Environmental, addressing key environmental monitoring issues such as Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA), CEN standards for water quality and flow monitoring equipment, MCERTS, independent instrument approval, and examples will be given of ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ of flow monitoring. Addressing a laboratory analysis theme, Day 2 of the Conference has been organised by British Measurement and Testing Association. The speakers represent the national accreditation body, UKAS, large water companies and commercial laboratory-based organisations, presentations addressing issues such as proficiency testing, the UKAS document TPS 47, the lowering of detection limits, good sampling protocols, mobile data capture and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). Intriguingly, Professor Clive Thompson from ALcontrol will deliver a presentation entitled: ‘Sampling and analysis in relation to Priority Substances Directive 2012/39/EU’ for which he says he will provide “a devil’s advocate response.” In addition to the main Conferences, delegates will also be provided with access to over 80 Workshops, a Flow Demonstration area, Forums on Flow and SMART Water, and an exhibition featuring over 130 stands representing more than 250 of the world’s leading providers of test and monitoring equipment and related services. CPD points will be awarded to Conference delegates and the cost to attend will be £55 per day. However, registration for the event is free of charge and pre-registered visitors are provided with free access to the exhibition and to the workshops, in addition to free on-site parking, and complimentary lunch and refreshments.


Further information on www.wwem.uk.com.


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