Bacteria that breaks down bay grass could aid in ethanol creation

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - Researchers at the University of Maryland have unveiled a new biomass-to-ethanol process that takes advantage of a bacteria found in the Chesapeake Bay two decades ago.

Enzymes produced by the bacteria, which was found breaking down bay grass, can also digest cellulose in other plant matter, a key step in the ethanol production process.

A university startup company, Zymetis Inc., has been created to commercialize the process, the university said.

"We believe we have the most economical way to make the novel, efficient enzymes needed to produce biofuels from cellulosic material," Zymetis...