Kaohsiung:Researchers at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) have discovered two cellular mechanisms that could enhance the production of bioethanol feedstock from microalgae. This breakthrough was announced in a news release from the university.
According to Focus Taiwan, the research team, led by Professor Lee Tse-min of NSYSU's Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, identified ways to manipulate these mechanisms. By directing more carbon absorbed by microalgae toward starch and other carbohydrates instead of lipids, the availability of raw material for fermentation could be increased.
Lee emphasized the significance of microalgae in bioenergy research due to their rapid growth and ability to utilize carbon dioxide. These findings could help researchers control carbon allocation in microalgae, aligning with specific research and production objectives.
The study, which spanned eight years, was a collaborative effort involving Lee, Chang Jo-shu from Tunghai University, and Chen Jen-chih from National Taiwan University. Bioethanol, derived from biomass like microalgae, is a crucial component in biomanufacturing and presents an alternative to gasoline.
The research findings were published in October 2026 in the journal "Bioresource Technology."