Cellulosic ethanol just jumped one step closer to becoming more readily produced for commercial purposes, thanks to Genencor International's revealing of the first commercially available biomass enzyme for second-generation biorefineries.

The uber-enzyme, Accellerase 1000, is actually a mixture of enzymes that reduce lignocellulosic biomass, such as plant matter and crops and grasses. These enzymes could serve as a catalyst for the commercial-scale viability of cellulosic ethanol – an extremely clean source of alternative fuel.

Cellulosic ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 85 to 90 percent when compared to gasoline, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.