Dow Energy Prize for Jack Pronk
27 November 2009 by M&C/BTDow Benelux has awarded its 2009 Energy Prize to Jack Pronk, Professor of Industrial Microbiology at TU Delft. Together with the other members of his research group, he has succeeded in modifying baker''s yeast for use in the efficient production of bio-ethanol from pentose sugars. The Minister of Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven, personally presented him with the prize on Wednesday 25 November, during the ‘Energy Unleashed’ symposium.
Ethanol
Dow Benelux awarded Jack Pronk the 2009 Energy Prize for being the first to develop strains of baker''s yeast capable of producing biofuel (ethanol) from the sugars xylose and arabinose at a high theoretical yield and high activity. Large quantities of these sugars are present in cheap agricultural raw materials and in specific energy crops that do not compete with food crops, such as elephant grass. The findings are currently being prepared for large-scale implementation by industrial concerns both at home and abroad. With regard to the production of bio-ethanol and other bulk chemicals, this will contribute to significant increases in yields and sustainability. The strains that have been developed represent an international breakthrough for the industrial production of ethanol from pentose-containing raw material flows.
Department of Biotechnology
This is the second occasion on which a Biotechnology department professor has been awarded the Energy Prize. In 2007, the honour fell to Mark van Loosdrecht, for his contribution to an innovative wastewater treatment method. Dow Benelux established the prize in 1985 for individuals recommended by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) for exceptional services in the promotion of renewable developments in industry (including the processing industry). The prize, which is being awarded for the 20th time this year, involves a sum of € 25,000.
Breakthrough in follow-up research
Jack Pronk’s research group can expect to be the focus of even more attention in the coming weeks. Last week the group announced a breakthrough in bio-ethanol production. Their findings represent three major improvements in the production of bio-ethanol (more ethanol, less acetic acid and the elimination of glycerol as a by-product). Last week, it was also announced that one of the researchers in the group has been awarded a VIDI grant. This money will fund research aimed at using synthetic biology to change the metabolic route used by baker’s yeast in the breakdown of sugars (glycolysis). The goal is to speed up sugar consumption and to enhance our understanding of glycolysis.
