FACULTY

Renata Bura

Renata Bura

Assistant Professor
Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass; Biomaterials from lignin and plant components


Office: Bloedel 344
Phone: 206-616-2179 
Email: renatab@u.washington.edu

Graduate Interest Group(s): BIORESOURCE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

B.Sc., Applied Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, 1997
M.A.Sc., Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 2000
Ph.D., Forest Products Biotechnology, University of British Columbia, 2004

My research focuses on:

  • Fractionation of biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin
  • Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural and hardwood biomass into biochemicals, including (1) robust pretreatment processes for mixed feedstocks (agricultural and hardwood residues) and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) of combined streams (water soluble and insoluble; and (2) steam pretreatment and pulping
  • Improvements of hydrolytic enzymes for industrial applications
  • Role of accessory enzymes during saccharification process
  • High-throughput microassay evaluating enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass
  • Utilization of yeast and ethanologenic bacteria during fermentation of hexoses and pentoses
  • Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) for high sugar streams
  • Utilization of algae for biodiesel production
Courses Taught:
PSE 406 Natural Products Chemistry (3)
PSE 476 Pulping and Bleaching Processes (3)
Recent Publications:
Chandra, R. P., R. Bura, W. Mabee, A. Berlin, X. Pan, and J.N. Saddler. 2007. Substrate pretreatment: The key to effective enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosics? in Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, Biofuels (Olsson, L., Ed.), pp 67-93, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg.
Ewanick, S., R. Bura and J.N. Saddler. 2007. Acid-catalyzed steam pretreatment of Lodgepole pine and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 98(4) :737-746.
Öhgren, K., R. Bura, F. Lesnicki, J.N. Saddler, and G. Zacchi. 2007. SSF versus SHF for steam-pretreated corn stover. Process Biochemistry 42 (5): 834-839.
Öhgren, K., R. Bura, J.N. Saddler, and G. Zacchi. 2007. Effect of hemicellulose and lignin removal on enzymatic hydrolysis of steam pretreated corn stover. Bioresource Technology 98: 2503-2510.
Berlin, A., N. Gilkes, D. Kilburn, V. Maximenko, R. Bura, A. Markov, A. Sinitsyn, and J.N. Saddler. 2006. Evaluation of cellulase preparation for hydrolysis of hardwood substrates. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 130(1): 528-545.
Berlin, A., V. Maximenko, R. Bura, K-Y Kang, N, Gilkes, and J.N. Saddler. 2006. A high–throughput microassay to evaluate enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 93 (5): 880-886.
Mabee, W., D. Gregg, C. Arato, A. Berlin, R. Bura, N. Gilkes, O. Mirochnik, X. Pan, K. Pye, and J.N. Saddler. 2006. Updates on softwood-to-ethanol process development. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 129 (1-3): 55-70.
Berlin, A., Gilkes, N., Kilburn, D., Bura, R., Markow, A., Gusakov, A., Okunev, O., Sinitisyn, A. and J.N. Saddler. 2005. Evaluation of novel fungal cellulose preparation intrinsically enriched with accessory activities for their ability to hydrolyse softwood substrates. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 3 (2): 175-184.
Berlin, A., N. Gilkes, D. Kilburn, A. Kurabi, R. Bura, and J.N. Saddler. 2005. Weak lignin-binding enzymes-a novel approach to improve the activity of cellulases for hydrolysis of lignocellulosics. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 121(1-3): 163-170.
Kurabi, A., A. Berlin, N. Gilkes, D. Kilburn, R. Bura, A. Markow, A. Gusakov, O. Okunev, A. Sinitisyn, and J. N. Saddler. 2005. Enzymatic hydrolysis of steam-exploded and ethanol organosolv-pretreated Douglas-fir by novel and commercial fungal cellulases. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 121(1-3): 219-230.
Bura, R., R.J. Bothast, S.D. Mansfield, and J.N. Saddler. 2003. Optimization of SO<sub>2</sub>-catalysed steam explosion of corn fibre for ethanol production. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 106(1-3): 319-335.
Bura, R., S.D. Mansfield, J.N. Saddler, and R.J. Bothast.2002. SO<sub>2</sub>-catalysed steam explosion of corn fibre for ethanol production. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 98(1-9): 59-72.
Bura, R., M. Cheung, B. Liao, J. Finlayson, B.C. Lee, I.G. Droppo, G.G. Leppard, and S.N. Liss. 1998. Composition of extracellular polymeric substances in the activated sludge floc matrix. Water Science Technology 37: 325-333.