A -- Synthetic Enzymes for Selective Hydrolysis of Soluble Cellulose Oligomers or Other Soluble Polysaccharides

The Idaho National Laboratory has conceived a method to create synthetic enzymes that would catalyze the release of soluble monosaccharides or disaccharides from soluble linear plant polysaccharide oligomers. The synthetic enzymes could be physically separated from the solution / mixture without the use of expensive membrane or chromatographic processes. This method, once developed, would allow potentially lower-temperature processing, with complete recovery and reuse of the enzyme, eliminating the limits of enzyme cost on renewable biomass utilization for production of fuels and chemicals. This technology could apply to the production of fuels (e.g. ethanol) and chemicals (e.g. lactate, succinate, etc.) from lignocellulosic biomass. This principle could also be extended to starch polymers to replace amylases, to pectins to replace pectinases, or any polymer for which there exists a hydrolytic enzyme. The INL is soliciting interest from qualified industrial firms that would like to participate in development and commercialization of this technology. It is anticipated that commercialization will be carried out by licensing this technology to a company. Development of the technology would be through Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with most or all of the funding support being provided by the participant(s). The INL invites interested parties to contact us regarding the technology and its development and licensing. Interested parties should respond on or before December 20, 2006. For questions regarding the technology, licensing, and working with the INL, please contact John Snyder: John R. Snyder, Ph.D. Telephone: +1 (555) 000-0000 E-Mail: contact@example.gov