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Steen Riisgaard has developed a new technique through which the common sugar can be converted into oil substitute. It may sound crazy, but he has perfected a mechanism by which the Novozymes can convert corn and sugarcane into everything from biofuels, fabrics to washing-powder additives.
Riisgaard runs a company which produces the industrial enzymes, Novozymes.
However experts say that, corn, sugarcane or beet should be used to feed the hungry mass instead of aiding a part of the population. They fear that such a step may pollute the air and raise food prices.
Riisgaard claims that sugars cannot be used for any other purpose. So attempts should be made to turn it to usable products.
He also said, “For the past 10 years we have been working on finding the new oil that will be more sustainable and also renewable.”
“Sugar will be the basis for an entire new chemicals industry,” he added.
According to the researcher, most parts of the plants are left unused and there is no mechanism till now to convert them to useful products. So Novozymes can help in breaking down the fibrous material into glucose, which can then be used to make useful products like fuel, fabrics and packaging materials.
As per statistics, the bioproduct can replace today’s oil-dependency.
Riisgaard said that Novozymes would be ready for volume production by next year.
Similarly, some other plants such as prairie switchgrass and woodchips can also be used for second generation biofuels.
