Novozymes Says Partners with Petrobras for Biofuel

Danish industrial enzymes producer Novozymes said it would work with Brazil's Petrobras to develop new ways of producing advanced bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse.

Reuters reports that the deal covers the development of enzymes and production processes to make second-generation cellulosic ethanol from bagasse in an enzymatic process, Novozymes said in a statement.

"Like Novozymes, Petrobras sees development of cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane residues as a key strategic project," Poul Ruben Andersen, Novozymes director of bioenergy, said in the statement.

"While this is still in an early technology development process I am confident that both parties will greatly benefit from this partnership as cellulosic ethanol is commercialized in Brazil," he said.

Bagasse is the fibrous residue remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice. Enzymes are used to break down biomass into sugars that can be distilled into bioethanol.