Genetically Engineered Trees Make Paper and Biofuel More Easily
Researchers at UBC have created a tree with a modified polymer that allows for easier paper making and biofuel production. This achievement means reduced chemical use, fewer environmental impacts, and less energy needed when these trees are used for the purposes of paper and biofuel production. From UBC News:
“One of the largest impediments for the pulp and paper industry as well as the emerging biofuel industry is a polymer found in wood known as lignin,” says Shawn Mansfield, a professor of Wood Science at the University of British Columbia.
Lignin makes up a substantial portion of the cell wall of most plants and is a processing impediment for pulp, paper and biofuel. Currently the lignin must be removed, a process that requires significant chemicals and energy and causes undesirable waste.
Researchers used genetic engineering to modify the lignin to make it easier to break down without adversely affecting the tree’s strength.
“We’re designing trees to be processed with less energy and fewer chemicals, and ultimately recovering more wood carbohydrate than is currently possible,” says Mansfield.
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