Bioconversion Science and Technology

The Bioconversion Science and Technology group performs multidisciplinary R&D for the Department of Energy's (DOE) relevant applications of bioprocessing. The group also co-sponsors the ongoing Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, which is held annually in May. The Group is also a key element of the Bioprocessing Research and Development (BRDC) Center and is the host for the Bioprocessing Research User Facility (BRF). Bioprocessing is the process whereby a material is converted into another using biological agents (e.g., living microbes or enzymes). This field combines chemical engineering, microbiology and biochemistry. We collaborate with a variety of industries and universities.

This group's research interests can be grouped into three areas:
Production of Fuels and Chemicals
Bioprocessing of Fossil Fuels
Biotreatment and remediation

Our capabilities can be grouped as Biochemical Engineering (novel reactors, separations, modeling, and system integration); Multi-phase and nonaqueous biocatalysis; and Applied Molecular Biology for Microbial strain and enzyme development.

Further details are on the website. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/bst/index.htm The funding is primarily from DOE: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Nonproliferation, and the Environmental Management.

28th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals

(Contact: Jonathan R. Mielenz, mielenzjr@ornl.gov, 865-576-8522)