research : : nomura research group

Research

The research projects in the Nomura Research Group range from the production of biofuels to the generation of natural materials from biorenwable resources.

Our main projects include:

Development of bio-based fuels and energy.
Conversion of low-value carbon waste streams to value-added biodegradable polymers.
Enzyme and metabolic engineering for improved biodegradable polymer production.
Development of new PHA polymer applications

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoates] (PHAs) are intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds accumulated in various bacteria grown under depletion of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or magnesium. PHAs have attracted research attention because they can be used as biodegradable plastics with a wide range of applications. Because of their potential to replace non-biodegradable plastics, it is desirable to develop methods to improve PHA polymer production.

By taking a multi-disciplinary approach to PHA research where we examine growth conditions, gene expression, and enzymes involved in PHA production, combined with the characterization of the PHA polymer physical properties, we create a platform on which we can engineer new and efficient modes of PHA production and develop new polymers for specific applications.

Biodiesel Production

A current research project being carried out by Greg Boyd is the development of a sustainable biodiesel production facility on the SUNY-ESF campus. Currently we are using waste fry oil generated by Syracuse University dining commons as a precursor for biodiesel production (photos). We are also performing various ASTM tests to validate the biodiesel produced.

PHA production from biodiesel-process waste glycerol

The byproduct of biodiesel production is glycerol . This biodiesel-process waste glycerol is a low value commodity and the purity is very poor as compared to the USP grade of glycerol. A current project in the lab is to develop this waste glycerol as a feedstock for PHA production.

Metabolic engineering for PHA production

We are designing new metabolic pathways for PHA production in recombinant organisms. We do this by removing genes encoding enzymes for metabolic pathways that compete with PHA production and by engineering enzymes involved in PHA production for improved specific activity and substrate specificity.