Difference between revisions of "Team:HAFS-Korea/Purpose"
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<p> | <p> | ||
Team HAFS-Korea has been searching for an applicable solution to the Food vs Fuel debate. The ineffective<br> | Team HAFS-Korea has been searching for an applicable solution to the Food vs Fuel debate. The ineffective<br> | ||
| − | distribution of edible parts of corn to the fuel industries has created a chain of | + | distribution of edible parts of corn to the fuel industries has created a chain of <br> |
| − | food depletion for factions of industries and livelihoods that rely on corn as a basic | + | food depletion for factions of industries and livelihoods that rely on corn as a basic<br> |
| − | necessity such as South America or Africa. Furthermore, whenever the demand for ethanol | + | necessity such as South America or Africa. Furthermore, whenever the demand for ethanol<br> |
| − | fuel rises for reasons like the increase in petroleum price, the demand for corn-based | + | fuel rises for reasons like the increase in petroleum price, the demand for corn-based <br> |
| − | foods also skyrockets, which includes not only cereals or tortillas but even livestocks | + | foods also skyrockets, which includes not only cereals or tortillas but even livestocks<br> |
| − | like chicken and pork, because corn also provides the feed for these farm animals. | + | like chicken and pork, because corn also provides the feed for these farm animals.<br> |
| − | Simply put, using this new “renewable” biofuel in the current status quo which | + | Simply put, using this new “renewable” biofuel in the current status quo which <br> |
| − | we have to share the food supply with fuel - is not right. Fuel must be provided | + | we have to share the food supply with fuel - is not right. Fuel must be provided<br> |
| − | with a separate source, for its explosively big demand is a problem for sure. | + | with a separate source, for its explosively big demand is a problem for sure. <br> |
| − | In finding a practical solution to this dilemma, we have tried to create a | + | In finding a practical solution to this dilemma, we have tried to create a <br> |
| − | microorganism that can produce ethanol fuel from the inedible portions of corn; | + | microorganism that can produce ethanol fuel from the inedible portions of corn;<br> |
| − | the cellulosic and hemicellulosic stems, leaves, and all the stover leftovers | + | the cellulosic and hemicellulosic stems, leaves, and all the stover leftovers<br> |
| − | outside food. This frees the food part of the Corns or Sugarcanes from being used | + | outside food. This frees the food part of the Corns or Sugarcanes from being used<br> |
| − | as fuels, and instead creates a healthy check and balance; the leftover wasted | + | as fuels, and instead creates a healthy check and balance; the leftover wasted<br> |
| − | after processing food would be recycled to make fuel. This process, most importantly, | + | after processing food would be recycled to make fuel. This process, most importantly,<br> |
| − | should not involve much mechanical or energy-consuming processes, mainly because we | + | should not involve much mechanical or energy-consuming processes, mainly because we <br> |
| − | cannot spend 2 gallons worth of fuel to produce a gallon of biofuel. Here, through | + | cannot spend 2 gallons worth of fuel to produce a gallon of biofuel. Here, through <br> |
| − | our preliminary research, we found out that the contemporary methods of pretreatment | + | our preliminary research, we found out that the contemporary methods of pretreatment <br> |
| − | for cellulosic ethanols were either through acid hydrolysis, thermochemical hydrolysis, | + | for cellulosic ethanols were either through acid hydrolysis, thermochemical hydrolysis,<br> |
| − | and enzymatic hydrolysis.(Badger, P.C. 2002. Ethanol from cellulose: A general review. | + | and enzymatic hydrolysis.(Badger, P.C. 2002. Ethanol from cellulose: A general review.<br> |
| − | p. 17–21. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS | + | p. 17–21. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS<br> |
| − | Press, Alexandria, VA.) Among these, the only hydrolysis pretreatment that works | + | Press, Alexandria, VA.) Among these, the only hydrolysis pretreatment that works<br> |
| − | independently without requiring pressurization or high temperature is enzymatic | + | independently without requiring pressurization or high temperature is enzymatic <br> |
| − | hydrolysis - a self-replenishing, self-controlled microorganism based system that | + | hydrolysis - a self-replenishing, self-controlled microorganism based system that<br> |
| − | requires nothing but the cultured microorganism. E.coli, able to survive under bad, | + | requires nothing but the cultured microorganism. E.coli, able to survive under bad,<br> |
| − | stressful conditions, could best do the job - which we concluded that we need to | + | stressful conditions, could best do the job - which we concluded that we need to <br> |
| − | give the E.coli the ability to produce cellulase in order to enhance the process. | + | give the E.coli the ability to produce cellulase in order to enhance the process. <br> |
| − | Another aspect we considered was its effectivity in the fermentation process, which | + | Another aspect we considered was its effectivity in the fermentation process, which <br> |
| − | made us suspect that the bacteria’s specialty in fermentation could also enhance its | + | made us suspect that the bacteria’s specialty in fermentation could also enhance its<br> |
| − | cellulase production rate. Furthermore, E.coli provides a wide range of application | + | cellulase production rate. Furthermore, E.coli provides a wide range of application <br> |
| − | in means of bioengineering, with its ease of plasmid insertion and extraction. | + | in means of bioengineering, with its ease of plasmid insertion and extraction. <br> |
| − | In short, E.coli would make the best basis for the bioengineering. Through this, | + | In short, E.coli would make the best basis for the bioengineering. Through this,<br> |
| − | we aim to “catch two birds with one rock”; one for socio-economic innovation | + | we aim to “catch two birds with one rock”; one for socio-economic innovation <br> |
| − | and another for a debate-free renewable energy eco-friendly and easy to obtain | + | and another for a debate-free renewable energy eco-friendly and easy to obtain <br> |
anywhere around the world as long as plant matters exist. | anywhere around the world as long as plant matters exist. | ||
</p> | </p> | ||
Revision as of 03:17, 19 September 2015
Purpose
Team HAFS-Korea has been searching for an applicable solution to the Food vs Fuel debate. The ineffective
distribution of edible parts of corn to the fuel industries has created a chain of
food depletion for factions of industries and livelihoods that rely on corn as a basic
necessity such as South America or Africa. Furthermore, whenever the demand for ethanol
fuel rises for reasons like the increase in petroleum price, the demand for corn-based
foods also skyrockets, which includes not only cereals or tortillas but even livestocks
like chicken and pork, because corn also provides the feed for these farm animals.
Simply put, using this new “renewable” biofuel in the current status quo which
we have to share the food supply with fuel - is not right. Fuel must be provided
with a separate source, for its explosively big demand is a problem for sure.
In finding a practical solution to this dilemma, we have tried to create a
microorganism that can produce ethanol fuel from the inedible portions of corn;
the cellulosic and hemicellulosic stems, leaves, and all the stover leftovers
outside food. This frees the food part of the Corns or Sugarcanes from being used
as fuels, and instead creates a healthy check and balance; the leftover wasted
after processing food would be recycled to make fuel. This process, most importantly,
should not involve much mechanical or energy-consuming processes, mainly because we
cannot spend 2 gallons worth of fuel to produce a gallon of biofuel. Here, through
our preliminary research, we found out that the contemporary methods of pretreatment
for cellulosic ethanols were either through acid hydrolysis, thermochemical hydrolysis,
and enzymatic hydrolysis.(Badger, P.C. 2002. Ethanol from cellulose: A general review.
p. 17–21. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS
Press, Alexandria, VA.) Among these, the only hydrolysis pretreatment that works
independently without requiring pressurization or high temperature is enzymatic
hydrolysis - a self-replenishing, self-controlled microorganism based system that
requires nothing but the cultured microorganism. E.coli, able to survive under bad,
stressful conditions, could best do the job - which we concluded that we need to
give the E.coli the ability to produce cellulase in order to enhance the process.
Another aspect we considered was its effectivity in the fermentation process, which
made us suspect that the bacteria’s specialty in fermentation could also enhance its
cellulase production rate. Furthermore, E.coli provides a wide range of application
in means of bioengineering, with its ease of plasmid insertion and extraction.
In short, E.coli would make the best basis for the bioengineering. Through this,
we aim to “catch two birds with one rock”; one for socio-economic innovation
and another for a debate-free renewable energy eco-friendly and easy to obtain
anywhere around the world as long as plant matters exist.