The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), through its research group, Young Researchers Forum (YRF) is researching on how to develop biocatalysts from under-utilised bioresources for bioethanol production.
The Director General of the NBRDA, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha said this in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.
Biocatalysts are biological entities that speed up chemical reactions and can either be enzymes or microorganisms.
Bioethanol is an alcohol-based fuel made from renewable sources like plants and algae. It can be used as a substitute for gasoline or mixed with it to reduce petroleum consumption.
According to him, bioethanol is very important and Nigeria has all the resources to explore its potential, adding that its production would be useful in establishing bioethanol factories.
“However, the catalyst for the fermentation of sugar to produce ethanol is what we are after, and we have it locally.
`When we isolate the biocatalyst it is going to be useful in helping to establish bioethanol factory which will function very well due to our varying weather conditions,’’ he said.
The NBRDA chief explained that bioethanol has similar uses as the fuels used to generate other classes of energy such as heat, motor power or transportation and electricity.
He said that in contemporary society, bioethanol is the most widespread biofuel, and much attention is being paid to the conversion of biomass to bioethanol.
“Biological energies are renewable fuels with minimal pollution and play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas pollution, and one of them is bioethanol which is obtained from fermentation operations.
“The world’s attention to the use of bioethanol as an energy source is focused on reducing the cost of production and increasing the efficiency of the ethanol industry.
“By consuming ethanol fuel instead of fossil fuels, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions known to be the cause of global warming will be somehow reduced,’’ Mustapha said.
The D-G said the agency was working to contribute to nation building as demonstrated by the establishment of the Young Researchers Forum (YRF).
He also said the forum would serve as a training ground and launching pad for young biotech innovators selected from all departments of the agency.
Mustapha said the YRF was an expression of his desire to create an institutional mechanism to bridge intergenerational gaps through mentorship.
He said developing biocatalysts for bioethanol production was one of the projects the YRF would focus on. (NAN)
