Real-Time Imaging of Lignocellulosic Biomass Degradation by Fluorescence Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy
EMSL Project ID
25407
Abstract
The degradation of lignocellulosic biomass by enzymes is a potentially important new source for our nation's energy need. However the structure of lignocellulose in plant cell walls and the reaction mechanisms of enzyme degradation process are very complex and poorly understood. To improve the efficiency of utilization of plant biomass of energy need, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has requested the development of new technologies for real-time characterization of such systems in the course of processing and degradation. We propose to develop a combined AFM and fluorescence imaging approach based on the EMSL equipments to DOE's request. Our combined imaging approach will provide us high spatial resolution, time resolution, chemical specificity to study the enzymatic degradation reaction in real time.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2007-06-01
End Date
2009-07-14
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members