Neutrons for biofuels

Neutrons are being used extensively for research programs that support the development of new and optimized strategies for efficient low-cost conversion of lignocellulosic bioamss into biofuels and other bioproducts. They provide important information on structure and dynamics that cannot be easily obtained using other technqiues. In this talk, we will review how neutron diffraction and scattering techniques are being combined with other complementary experimental and theoretical techniques to provide a more complete multiscale understanding of the structure and properties of lignocellulosic biomass and how they change during pretreatment. This new understanding is leading to significant improvements in biomass conversion processes. We will also review how neutron crystallography is being used to provide a detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanism of enzymes involved in biomass hydrolysis and sugar metabolism. This information is guiding the re-engineering of these proteins so that they have improved properties for the production of biofuels. The application of neutrons for biofuels is supported by the BioSANS beam line at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Protein Crystallography Station at Los Alamos National Laboratory, both of which are funded by the Office of Biological & Environmental Research of the US Department of Energy.