1. Geoff Bell - Microbiogen
Australia Task 42 Update
October 2017
Geoff Bell - Microbiogen

2. Microbiogen Optimisation Project – Grant
Three year project:
“Biocatalyst optimisation for efficient production of biofuels from non-food biomass and deployment through a global partner corporation”
Core partners: Global Biotech firm with support from the Australian Government
Total spend in Australia: $8M (US$6.5M) by Microbiogen alone of which some to come from Government
Opportunity and aim: Optimisation of the next generation yeast catalyst that can:
Bio-catalyst that operates under challenging hydrolyzate conditions
Maximise yield of valuable products from non-food biomass
Fuel and feed produced under optimised engineering conditions NOT optimised biological conditions
(2)

3. …the challenge is: higher yields, lower costs and more from same substrate
Issue Technical Impact Economic Impact
Limited hydrolyzate resistance Low solids loading Higher operating and capital costs
Slow fermentation Long residence times Higher operating and capital costs
Incomplete fermentation Lower yields Lower unit revenues
Heavy inoculation required Large propagators + sugar loss Lower yields and higher unit costs
High unwanted by-products Waste glycerol and xylitol Lower yields and higher unit costs
Low temp and acid resistance Low solids loading Higher operating and capital costs
(3)

4. The Project: Optimise catalyst for conversion of sugars to biofuel and by-products
Organic acid resistance
Hydrolyzate resistance
Over 10 years of development to achieve unique industrial genetics
Speed of fermentation
Growth on non-sugars
Temperature tolerance
Low residual sugars
Microbiogen unique multi-genic assembly technology
World’s best optimised yeast for lignocellulosic ethanol production
GM yeast that is already used in multiple full scale lignocellulosic facilities
(4)

5. High value, high protein by-product
Less residual sugars
Smaller tanks
Two areas of application: Fermentation and Waste Clean-up
Lower waste
Less yeast catalyst
The superior industrial characteristics benefit the fermentation process
The unique ability to grow on non-sugars benefits waste clean up and high value by-products
Higher solids
High value, high protein by-product
Yeast by-product
No sugar used for prop
Greater water recycle
(5)

6. Expect a 25% reduction in effective costs
Renewable Developments Australia
Project Location – Charters Towers Australia
Expect a 25% reduction in effective costs
Increased conversion efficiency
Lower unwanted by-products
Less bio-catalyst required
Higher solids loadings
High value by-product
Impact of lower costs/higher revenues is a significant improvement in lignocellulosic bio-refinery economics
(6)

7. High likelihood of success
Renewable Developments Australia
Project Location – Charters Towers Australia
High likelihood of success
First round of development already concluded with excellent results
All core genetics already developed over last decade
Utilises proven proprietary Microbiogen technology
World class leading partner – Global Biotech Company
(7)