WP OBJECTIVES
1. To develop both chemical and biological routes for intermediates to second generation biofuels at the laboratory and pilot scales.
2. To identify and produce novel efficient bacterial strains for respective conversion of pure C5 and C6, sugars to bioethanol and to 2,3-butanediol.

• To identify at least one novel bacterial strain capable of growing at 50-60°C, pH 5.5-6.5 in pre-treated wheat straw with a dry matter content of a least 20%, and showing improved thermophilicity, product selectivity, and resistance to product inhibition. 
• To obtain a genetically modified variant of such strain, which has an ethanol yield of at least 80% of theoretical from both glucose and xylose (0.40 g/g).
• To deliver a fermentation platform, including fermentation strain and process parameters, to WP5.

3. To make step improvements in conversion efficiency and economics of catalytic processing of syngas, mixed acids, polyols and lipid oils into second generation biofuels, through research and development of advanced nanocrystalline catalysts allied with novel structured reactors
4. To supply a structured reactor miniplant for installation in a sidestream of the entrained gasifier plant at Energy Technology Centre (Piteå, Sweden) for demonstration of syngas conversion to Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons or dimethyl ether (DME, C₂H₆O).
5. To gather the relevant data for mass, energy and carbon dioxide balances to inform the integration and assessment activities of the project.

WP ACTIVITIES
Task 2.1 is concerned with the biological conversion of pure C5 and C6 sugars (derived from hemicellulose in WP1) to ethanol and 2, 3-butanediol (C₄H₁₀O₂). Intensified catalytic conversion of 2,3-butanediol to butanol (C₄H₁₀O) will also be developed.
Task 2.2 is concerned with the development of generic catalytic conversions of intermediate feedstocks from WPs 1, 3 and 5, based on hydrogenation, aqueous reforming and syngas chemistry. The feedstocks employed are those that are available within potential biorefinery scenarios:

• Mixed polyols from hydrolysis of biomass,
• Fatty acids and esters from waste water (municipal or refinery sources),
• Synthesis gases (imported directly or from the gasification of refinery wastes, imported bio-oil or imported char)
• Imported plant seed oils and lipid fractions.

A highly interactive collaboration between the University of Oxford and Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz will focus on developing suitable catalysts coated onto specially designed structured reactors for carrying out gas phase, gas/liquid and liquid phase reactions. This work will lead to laboratory scale “proof of concept” and “mini-plants” for the specified intensified process steps. In addition, process concepts will be tested by installing small scale reactors on process streams at United Utilities Water PLC  (hydrotreating volatile fatty acids and esters) and at Energy Technology Centre  (liquid fuels from synthesis gas).
Task 2.3 is concerned with evaluating the performance characteristics of the derived second-generation biofuels All the derived experimental data for mass, energy and CO2 balances will be supplied to WPs 5 and 7.

WP EXPECTED RESULTS
Development of a number of catalytic processes for the production of second-generation biofuels.