Microbial metabolic engineering
(01/07/06-30/06/10)
This project is developing a strategy to commercially produce itaconate in E.coli. Itaconate is used as a specialty plasticiser used in paint and ABS polymers (which are used in the manufacture of a wide range of products including computer and household appliances). E.coli remains the preferred strain for metabolic engineering (eg PDO from DuPont, PHA from Metabolix), hence an efficient sucrose metabolising E.coli strain would be highly sought after.
Project Leader: Prof Lars Nielsen, UQ
Bioactive natural products from sugarcane
(01/07/06-30/06/09)
Researchers aim to deliver products from sugarcane and sugar production waste streams with low glycemic index (GI) that improve prostate health and release health-promoting anti-oxidants. They are surveying sugarcane varieties, mill/refinery process streams and sugar industry by-products for commercially interesting bioactive flavonoids, and investigating their development potential for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies.
Project Leader: Dr Carol Morris, SCU
Use of endogenous bacteriocins to manipulate the rumen microbial ecology
(01/07/06-30/06/10)
The project will identify existing antimicrobial growth promotants for cattle and assess the potential for economic production of these from molasses. The aim of these objectives is to reduce the cost of animal feed and to increase the use of waste products from sugarcane processing.
Project Leader: Prof Lars Nielsen, UQ
Alternative sugars: new options for the sugar industry
(01/07/06-31/12/09)
This project aims to identify and capture market opportunities for production of sugar alternatives offering human health or industrial chemical benefits. Specifically, the project will:
- identify sugars of potential commercial interest
- identify a new source of sought after enzymes and clone the genes
- demonstrate production of the sugar in a GM organism
- protect the IP for exploitation
- prepare a plan for further research and commercialisation
Project Leader: Dr Anne Rae, CSIRO Plant Industry
Environmental implications of product diversification in the Australian sugar industry
(01/07/06-30/06/09)
This project is based on the growing interest in and demand for biofuels and biorefinery products in Australia and overseas. Scientists will work with CRC SIIB partners to:
- estimate the environmental impact of selected diversification products from the sugar industry (ie lactic acid, ethanol, pentose sugars, lignin etc) through life cycle analysis
- continue to monitor the market potential of and evaluate the economic viability of the industry investing in selected diversification options
Project Leader: Dr Mal Wegener, UQ
Purification of juice
(01/07/06-30/06/08)
Clean cane juice or pure sucrose has potential as a base biorefining stock. Researchers are developing a way of chromatographically separating the raw cane juice into sucrose, organic acid (aconitic acid) and flavenoid compound (colorant).
Project Leader: Dr Matt Hardin, UQ
Microbial metabolic engineering
(01/07/06-30/06/10)
This project is developing a strategy to commercially produce itaconate in E.coli. Itaconate is used as a specialty plasticiser used in paint and ABS polymers (which are used in the manufacture of a wide range of products including computer and household appliances). E.coli remains the preferred strain for metabolic engineering (eg PDO from DuPont, PHA from Metabolix), hence an efficient sucrose metabolising E.coli strain would be highly sought after.
Project Leader: Prof Lars Nielsen, UQ
Bioactive natural products from sugarcane
(01/07/06-30/06/09)
Researchers aim to deliver products from sugarcane and sugar production waste streams with low glycemic index (GI) that improve prostate health and release health-promoting anti-oxidants. They are surveying sugarcane varieties, mill/refinery process streams and sugar industry by-products for commercially interesting bioactive flavonoids, and investigating their development potential for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies.
Project Leader: Dr Carol Morris, SCU
Use of endogenous bacteriocins to manipulate the rumen microbial ecology
(01/07/06-30/06/10)
The project will identify existing antimicrobial growth promotants for cattle and assess the potential for economic production of these from molasses. The aim of these objectives is to reduce the cost of animal feed and to increase the use of waste products from sugarcane processing.
Project Leader: Prof Lars Nielsen, UQ
Alternative sugars: new options for the sugar industry
(01/07/06-31/12/09)
This project aims to identify and capture market opportunities for production of sugar alternatives offering human health or industrial chemical benefits. Specifically, the project will:
- identify sugars of potential commercial interest
- identify a new source of sought after enzymes and clone the genes
- demonstrate production of the sugar in a GM organism
- protect the IP for exploitation
- prepare a plan for further research and commercialisation
Project Leader: Dr Anne Rae, CSIRO Plant Industry
Environmental implications of product diversification in the Australian sugar industry
(01/07/06-30/06/09)
This project is based on the growing interest in and demand for biofuels and biorefinery products in Australia and overseas. Scientists will work with CRC SIIB partners to:
- estimate the environmental impact of selected diversification products from the sugar industry (ie lactic acid, ethanol, pentose sugars, lignin etc) through life cycle analysis
- continue to monitor the market potential of and evaluate the economic viability of the industry investing in selected diversification options
Project Leader: Dr Mal Wegener, UQ
Purification of juice
(01/07/06-30/06/08)
Clean cane juice or pure sucrose has potential as a base biorefining stock. Researchers are developing a way of chromatographically separating the raw cane juice into sucrose, organic acid (aconitic acid) and flavenoid compound (colorant).
Project Leader: Dr Matt Hardin, UQ