Biofuels Mini-Symposium:
The Biofuel Revolution: Potential Technologies, Implications, and Predictions
Friday, Dec. 4, 2009; 1-4 pm
2150 Torgersen Hall, Virginia Tech
This mini-symposium will provide attendees with an overview of promising second and
third generation biofuels technologies that are currently under development or
envisioned. The speakers are nationally recognized and upcoming research leaders in
biofuels technology. Their presentations will review the existing state of biofuel science,
potential developments and commercialization within the next 5 to 10 years and their
visions of biofuels frontier science. In the concluding panel discussion, the panel will
focus on the frontiers of biofuels research science and answer questions from the
audience.
Program:
1:00 Welcome and Introductions, Dr. Theo Dillaha
1:15 Designer Biorefinery: Tomorrow’s Green Fuels, Dr. Foster Agblevor
1:45 The Role of Genomics in the Biofuels Revolution, Dr. Ryan Senger
2:15 Fuels and Chemicals from Microalgae - Opportunities and Challenges, Dr. Zhiyou
Wen
2:45 Fueling Tomorrow’s Vehicles with Sugar: The Ultimate Passenger Vehicle Fuel
Solution, Dr. Percival Zhang
3:15 Panel Discussion: The Biofuel Revolution: Potential Technologies, Implications,
and Predictions
4:00 Reception
Presentation Abstracts and Speaker Bios
Designer Biorefinery: Tomorrow’s Green Fuels, Dr. Foster A. Agblevor
Abstract: The need for domestic energy production has spurred new interests in the production of
biofuels. Virginia Tech is a national leader in the development of thermochemical conversion methods to
convert agricultural residues (such as poultry litter), woody and herbaceous biomass to biofuels and
chemicals. We are also developing new techniques that will use feedstocks specially designed using
genetic engineering tools to make the conversion process easier. This presentation will discuss current
technologies and the futuristic technologies that will revolutionize biofuels production.
Speaker: Dr. Foster A. Agblevor obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Toronto. He is currently an Associate professor of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech and
an Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Tech he was a Senior Chemical
Engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. His research interests
include thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals and fractional
catalytic pyrolysis of energy crops and agricultural residues such as poultry litter. He has transportable
pyrolysis demonstration plants in Virginia using both woody biomass and poultry litter for the production of
biooils.
The Role of Genomics in the Biofuels Revolution, Dr. Ryan Senger
Abstract: Biofuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, isopropanol, and hydrogen can be produced from
cellulosic feedstocks by several bacteria. However, to do this in high yields, biofuel production pathways
and tolerance to these toxic chemicals by the bacterium need to be improved. Through knowledge
obtained from genomics, we can now construct mathematical models of entire cells consisting of
thousands of chemical reactions in order to test new hypotheses on the computer before testing in the
laboratory. Genomics has also led to combinatorial approaches in which genetic variants compete
against one another in a combinatorial "survival of the fittest" assay that leads to new and improved
strains. This presentation will describe how genomics can contribute to the biofuels revolution.
Speaker: Dr. Ryan Senger joined Virginia Tech as an Assistant Professor of Biological Systems
Engineering in January 2009. Before joining Virginia Tech, he was an NIH National Research Service
Award postdoctoral fellow at the University of Delaware and Northwestern University in their chemical
engineering departments. Dr. Senger received his PhD in chemical engineering from Colorado State
University in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Millikin University. Dr. Senger's
research interests are in systems biology and metabolic engineering related to renewable fuels and
chemicals production. Specifically, he has generated a genome-scale mathematical model of the
biobutanol producer Clostridium acetobutylicum (consisting of over 500 chemical reactions) and has
engaged in using this model to develop superior industrially relevant strains. Since joining Virginia Tech,
Dr. Senger has started the Systems Biology and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory in Biological Systems
Engineering, and his research group is developing new technologies for amino acids production and
unlocking the keys to the digestion of cellulose by biofuel-producing clostridia.
Fuels and Chemicals from Microalgae - Opportunities and Challenges, Dr. Zhiyou Wen
Abstract: Microalgae constitute a large resource of genetic and metabolic diversity, which has been
largely untapped for products of commercial interest. In recent years, microalgae have gained broad
interest as an alternative biofuels feedstock. This presentation will provide an overview of the algal
biofuels production chain and the current and projected status of this emerging technology.
Speaker: Dr. Zhiyou Wen’s background is chemical/biochemical engineering with particular focus on
fermentation processes development. He obtained his PhD from the University of Hong Kong and
worked as a postdoctoral associate at Washington State University before joining Virginia Tech as an
Assistant Professor of Biological Systems Engineering and extension specialist in 2005. His current
research program focuses on the development of biomass refineries and bioenergy production with three
research areas: (1) producing liquid biofuels from autotrophic microalgae culture, (2) developing highvalue products through heterotrophic algal fermentation, and (3) developing anaerobic animal waste
treatment for biogas production, nutrient removal, and pathogen reduction.
Fueling Tomorrow’s Vehicles with Sugar: the Ultimate Passenger Vehicle Fuel Solution, Dr.
Percival Zhang
Abstract: This presentation describes an efficient technology for producing hydrogen from biomass sugar
and how this technology can be adapted for vehicular transportation. The technology uses biomass
sugars as a hydrogen carrier and results in complete conversion of sugars and high purity hydrogen
production. Successful development and implementation of this technology would result practical sugarpowered vehicles with high power density, high energy density, affordable fuel costs, and nearly zero
greenhouse gas emissions.
Speaker: Dr. Yi-Heng (Percival) Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Biological Systems Engineering at
Virginia Tech and an affiliated investigator of the DOE BioEnergy Science Center. Prior Virginia Tech, he
was a biofuels research scientist, postdoc associate, Ph.D. student at Dartmouth College. He received his
BS and MS in biochemical engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai.
His research interests include cost-effective production of second generation of liquid biofuels (e.g.,
ethanol), third generation biofuels (e.g., hydrogen and electricity), biomass conversion, biorefinery design,
cellulase engineering, cellulose hydrolysis modeling, consolidated bioprocessing microorganism
development, synthetic biology, enzymatic biofuel cells, and life cycle analysis.
For more information, contact: Theo A. Dillaha, professor of biological systems engineering,
540-231-6813 or dillaha@vt.edu