Gregorio. B. Begonia, Ph.D.
Interim Chair, Department of Biology
Professor of Biology

Tel. 601-979-3902
601-979-2586
Fax. (601) 979-2349
Email: gregorio.begonia@jsums.edu

School of Science and Technology
College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Biofuel

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Huey-Min Hwang
Clean up Our Environment and Harvest Renewable Energy with Microorganisms

Microorganisms are usually the most important transformers or degraders of organic contaminants present in natural environments. Microbial bioassays are relatively cheap and fast to be developed for assessing the impact of those contaminants on environmental and human health. Together with solar irradiation, microorganisms often lead to complete detoxification of organic contaminants in aquatic environments. In addition, many fermenting microorganisms can transform various agricultural wastes biofuel into useful fuel chemicals.
With funding from agencies including NIH (National Institute of Health) and DOD (Department of Defense), Dr. Hwang’s research focuses on microbial transformation of naturally occurring and xenobiotic organic compounds. This is of economical and environmental significance, since we are now facing energy crisis and waste recycling difficulty. For example, research data from his ongoing study of the fates and effect of toxic chemicals (including explosives, solvents, herbicides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) can be applied to persistence prediction and toxicity remediation of the contaminants that severely compromise health of the Mississippians and people of the world. By working with scientists from the other major three universities, Dr. Hwang and his colleagues are working on a DOE (Department of Energy) project to develop protocols to maximize ethanol production from sugars present in the acid hydrolyzates of agricultural waste biofuel. Outcome of this study will also affect both local and global communities, since Mississippi is rich in various agricultural wastes and the Earth is in need of alternative energy sources when the fossil fuel reserves are being depleted.

Gregorio Begonia
BIOREMEDIATION OF METAL-CONTAMINATED SOILS

Bioremediation, the use of plants for environmental restoration, is the main research focus of Gregorio B. Begonia, a plant physiologist and Professor of Biology. Specifically, his research efforts are geared toward phytoextraction, a technological subset of bioremediation which involves the use of higher plants to remove inorganic contaminants, primarily metals (e.g., lead, cadmium) from polluted soils. In this cleanup technology, the metal-enriched aboveground biofuel is harvested and a fraction of soil metal contamination removed. The initial phase of his research involves the selection and identification of suitable plants that can tolerate toxic metal levels and at the same time have the natural propensity to take up and translocate substantial amounts of metals to the shoots. So far, he and his colleagues and students have identified two promising plant species that can tolerate and translocate substantial amounts of lead and cadmium to the aboveground biofuel.

Utilizing the two promising plant species, he is exploring other methods whereby he can further enhance the translocation of metals from the roots to the shoots. Along this line of research, he has demonstrated that metal translocation to the shoots can be enhanced through the amendment of synthetic chelates to the contaminated soil. In collaboration with Maria Begonia, a soil microbiologist and Associate Professor of Biology, he has isolated tolerant microorganisms from metal-contaminated soils. As an extension of his research, he is conducting experiments to determine whether these metal-tolerant microorganisms can increase the availability of metals for root uptake. Overall, the output of this bioremediation research can be used as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to current expensive engineering-based metal remediation technologies.

Maria Begonia
UTILIZATION OF BIOFUEL

The utilization of biofuel (commonly known as plant bulk matter) for the production of ethanol is one of the research areas that Maria Begonia, a Microbiologist and Associate Professor of Biology, is working on. Her research endeavors are geared toward the production of alcohol through the fermentation of sugars present in microbially degraded lignocellulosic materials. Lignocellulosic materials can be derived from wood, waste paper and crop residue resources, and municipal solid wastes. In collaboration with Huey-Min Hwang, an aquatic Microbiologist and Professor of Biology, she uses pine and other soft woods to produce the fermentation hydrolyzate. The wood is pretreated with sulfuric acid to convert the wood’s cellulosic components to sugars. Since this hydrolyzate is nasty and contains myriads of chemicals that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms, she and her colleagues and students are looking for ways to enhance the production of ethanol by the microbes (e.g., yeasts, bacteria).

Ethanol has been recognized as a high quality transportation fuel. It can be mixed with gasoline with no modification of the vehicle’s engine. As a renewable energy source, ethanol is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emission. Since the global demand for fuel in the twenty first century is predicted to be more than the capacity of global oil production, there is thus a pressing need for more fuel alternatives. Resultantly, this research will have a tremendous impact in reducing global dependence on fossil-based fuels and providing a cleaner environment.