May 8, 2007

Corn leaves and stalks developed for ethanol

As most US ethanol is made from corn kernels, leaves and stalks of the newly-developed corn can also be used for to produce the biofuel, the American Association for the Advancement of Science said on its website EurekAlert.

Mariam Sticklen, professor of crop and soil sciences from the Michigan State University said they have developed two generations of Spartan corn which contain the enzymes necessary to break down the cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars in their leaves. The process leaves for more cost-effective and efficient production of ethanol.

Sticklen said this development would allow future corn growers to sell their corn stalks and leaves--which are considered waste products--for their corn grain for ethanol.

Right now, most US ethanol is made from corn kernels as breaking down the cellulose in corn leaves and stalks into sugars that can be fermented into ethanol is difficult and expensive.

Sticklen is co-chairing a panel on energy crops for biofuels being held in Boston. The meeting is the annual international convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.