Dr. Thomas Jeffries Presents at the 2008 International Fuel Ethanol

Tag : lab products
Xethanol Corporation (AMEX: XNL), a diversified renewable energycompany, today announced that Dr. Thomas Jeffries addressed theFuel Ethanol Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee this morning toreport on his research sponsored by Xethanol. Dr. Jeffries, aProfessor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducts researchat the Forest Products Laboratory of the U.S. Department ofAgriculture in Madison. Dr. Jeffries spoke on fermentation ofcellulose and hemicellulose from corn waste. His Xethanol-sponsoredresearch at the Forest Products Lab focuses on the reduction of thenet cost of renewable fuel made from wood and agricultural waste.

During his presentation, Dr. Jeffries discussed the key advantagesof why ethanol produced from agricultural (corn) residues is moreenergy efficient than ethanol produced from corn grain alone. Keypoints of his speech discussed the benefits that farmers canrealize from this process. For example, residues can be recoveredwith little additional energy input, and the sale of agriculturalresidues can provide farmers with additional income. In addition,Dr. Jeffries elaborated on the pretreatments to recover sugars thatare becoming available, along with several technologies usingsulfuric, sulfurous, or oxalic acids ethanol and other productsthat can be made from the hemicellulosic sugars. Commercial enzymesare also available to recover sugar from the pretreated residuewith cellulases and xylanases release fermentable sugars yielding atotal sugar from corn waste approaching 90%.

David Ames, Xethanol's CEO commented, "We are pleased with theprogress that Dr. Jeffries and his team are making. Althoughproduction of ethanol from cellulosic by-products has been possiblefor many years, cost efficiently producing ethanol in this mannerhas been the challenge. Dr. Jeffries' work is moving us closer tothat goal."

Xethanol-sponsored researchers at the Forest Products Lab havedeveloped yeasts that ferment xylose and cellulose to ethanol usinga native xylose fermenting yeast that can be employed commerciallywithout environmental concerns, more than doubling the fermentationrate by engineering a single gene. Researchers have also identifiedmore than 10 targets for additional genetic development, and othersare being developed for higher value products. Hydrolysatefermentation trials are currently underway, and the process isbeing evaluated for commercial trials.

The Fuel Ethanol Workshop took place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort& Convention Center in Nashville. Dr. Jeffries presented onJune 18, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Central)

About the Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

The fuel ethanol workshop program agenda is developed by a steeringcommittee of ethanol producers. The committee's objective is tohelp meet the needs and interests of the growing ethanol industryby focusing on issues and topics that improve production and plantoperations. For additional information please visithttps://www.fuelethanolworkshop.com.

About Xethanol Corporation

Xethanol Corporation is a diversified renewable energy companyfocused on alternate energy products and technologies as well asproducing ethanol and other co-products. Xethanol may invest inrenewable energy and clean technology, including biomassgasification for electricity production, wind power, solar power,energy storage, energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, wasterecycling and agricultural processes.

Xethanol has research agreements in place, including several aimedat efficient production of cellulosic ethanol. In addition to itswork with the USDA Forest Products Lab in Madison, Wisconsin,Xethanol is working with other leading scientific institutions inthe country, including the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden,Colorado; Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia; and the Energy andEnvironmental Research Lab in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

For more information about Xethanol, please visit its website athttp://www.xethanol.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements made in this press release may constituteforward-looking statements within the meaning of the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-lookingstatements are based on management's current expectations andinclude known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors,many of which the company is unable to predict or control, that maycause the company's actual results or performance to differmaterially from any future results or performance expressed orimplied by such forward-looking statements. These statementsinvolve risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertaintiesassociated with whether the research the company is sponsoring willlead to commercial success. These risks and uncertainties are inaddition to other factors detailed from time to time in thecompany's filings with the SEC, including the section entitled"Risk Factors" in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2007. The company cautions investors that anyforward-looking statements made by the company are not necessarilyindicative of future performance. The company is not responsiblefor updating the information contained in this press release beyondthe published date, or for changes made to this document by wireservices or Internet services.