Novel cellulose finding may lead to new chemicals, biofuels

In Pennsylvania, a multi-institutional research group led by two Penn State faculty members identified, for the first time, how cellulose crystals orient themselves relative to the cell wall in plants, with potential implications for chemical and energy development.

“A more detailed understanding of the structure of plant cell walls could lead to new strategies for breakdown of these materials to create fuels and high-value chemicals,” said Enrique Gomez, co-principal investigator of the study and professor of chemical engineering and materials science and engineering with a co-appointment in the Materials Research Institute. “As such, our work may lead to new strategies for biofuel or biochemical production.”