NCERC’s roots in the corn ethanol industry are strong and the role we’ve played over the years is something we’re proud of. Since 2003, the researchers at NCERC have assisted countless ingredient and technology providers with improving their processes and products, supporting the efficiency of the corn ethanol industry as a whole and bringing down its carbon intensity.

In fact, every single corn ethanol facility in the United States is using a technology that has passed through NCERC’s doors on its way to commercialization. Moreover, the use of corn ethanol in the United States’ fuel supply is a significant step in reducing the transportation sector’s carbon intensity as its carbon intensity is 46% lower than gasoline’s. Experts expect that number to grow as the ethanol industry continues to innovate and lower its own carbon intensity.

Through its support of the ethanol industry, NCERC has contributed directly to decarbonizing the transportation sector. We plan to continue to have a hand in corn-to-biofuel and even corn-to-bioproduct production as biorefineries continue to expand and diversify their product portfolios. In fact, we now think of biorefineries as “bio-campuses”, as the alcohol products and coproducts that these facilities produce continue to evolve.

Biofuels are at the heart of NCERC’s mission, and we’re excited about the novel ways we’re contributing to the advancement of biofuels and biotechnology. Our work in the conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) to biofuel has made significant strides recently with the funding of a grant proposal that was submitted to SIUE’s Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP) grant program by Jie Dong, PhD, NCERC’s Director of Fermentation. NCERC is also continuing to improve the conversion of cellulosic materials and agricultural wastes to biofuel through contractual research and self-initiated research projects. The success of these projects will further contribute to the decarbonization of biofuels through robust conversion methods that allows biorefineries to diversify their feedstock streams. Continue reading the blog post on NCERC's website.

Congratulations Dr. Jie Dong on recently receiving funding from SIUE for hemp to biofuel and bioproduct research! This is his second award granted by SIUE in two months and will allow him to hire an additional research assistant who will be dedicated to this project and help run the scale up trial from pretreatment, to enzymatic hydrolysis, and then to fermentation. The funding will also contribute to hemp to bioproducts research as plans are underway to perform a hemp-to-dye project that uses hemp as a feedstock for blue dye and supports a collaborative effort to create 100% hemp-derived jeans.

This funding is being provided through a special SIUE funding program, COVID-19 Assigned Research Time, that enables assistant and associate professors to address promotion and tenure research activities that have been negatively impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic.

In April, NCERC participated in the submission of two concept papers to the U.S. Bioenergy Technologies Office's funding opportunity announcement, which was announced in early April and will provide $61 million for technologies and processes that produce low-cost, low-carbon biofuels. One of the proposals is being led by NCERC's Dr. Yan Zhang and includes collaborators from multiple Department of Energy laboratories, private companies, and academia, and will further develop NCERC's work in cellulosic and advanced biofuel conversion.

In addition to this concept paper, NCERC is also a member of a team that submitted a project concept paper that focuses on the scale up a corn-to-sustainable aviation fuel project.

Proposals are due on June 11 and NCERC will report back on the results of these collaborations!

On May 26, NCERC's leadership team participated in interviews that will be utilized to create a series of brief, promotional videos and showcase the unique benefits that clients experience when working with NCERC. We're excited to partner with Marketicity and Mike Martin Media to produce these videos and craft messaging that resonates best with NCERC'S potential clients.

Starting in early June, NCERC will work on a client trial that requires significant operations support through dozens of Assistant Scientific Analysts, Operating Technicians, and both Laboratory and Plant intern positions. These temporary positions are incredible opportunities for students, recent graduates, or those who want to work in biochemistry to gain impressive hands-on experience.

The minimum requirements for the analyst/technician positions are a high school diploma/GED and 24 months of experience/schooling in related fields/operations. The only minimum requirements to qualify for an intern position is a high school diploma or GED.

Contact NCERC Business Manager Barb Randle with any questions or leads.

After completing the propagation of a single cell protein (aka yeast) for fish feed, NCERC's laboratory student workers dried the material in preparation for it to be sent to our fish feeding-trial partners at the University of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI), who is currently sourcing the fish. The details surrounding the propagation project will be showcased at the 2021 Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) on July 14 in Des Moines.

NCERC is in the early stages of producing high-protein DDGS through an in-situ fermentation of corn kernel fiber. The results of this study will also be showcased at FEW.

NCERC continues to utilize Dr. Jie Dong and his students' expertise to perform a hemp to biofuel conversion project. NCERC plans to scale up this project to our 5L vessel in June and will also showcase this project at the FEW.

Jared has been a valued member of NCERC's team since February 2016 and fulfills a critical role as Operations Manager. In his role, he organizes operations in the pilot plant, maintains facility and equipment, and operates and troubleshoot systems and equipment.

According to Jared, his favorite part of his job is doing something different every day, getting the opportunity to solve difficult problems, and improving the facility to expand its capabilities.

Scottsdale, AZ

May 5-7

Virtual

May 4

Virtual

May 11

Virtual

May 12

Virtual

May 13

Virtual

May 13

NCERC Facility, Edwardsville, IL

May 25

Virtual

May 27

Virtual

June 16

Des Moines, IA

July 13 - 15

Don't miss an issue of NCERC at Work! Click here to subscribe.