Biofuels
Objectives:
- The primary objective of this project is to determine what corn hybrids are optimal for use in ethanol production in Kentucky. A secondary objective is to perform preliminary experiments with sorghum and damaged wheat for their potential use in ethanol production.
- To determine the effect of controlled pollination on ethanol production efficiencies of commercial corn hybrids
- To develop a protocol for proper testing of corn hybrids for ethanol production efficiencies.
- To demonstrate the range in fossil energy, labor, and cost required to grow and transport biomass into renewable energy products managed on three farms.
- To perform screening assays to evaluate the potential ethanol, electricity, and thermal energy production from farmer managed plots from two varieties of switchgrass.
- Evaluate the sugar content and juice yield from sweet sorghum varieties in Kentucky related to ethanol production.
- Calculate the fermentation efficiency of sweet sorghum juice.
- Measure the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of the bagasse to evaluate it potential as a feedstock for pretreatment and enzyme saccarification.
- Investigate various methods to safely store sorghum juice up to twelve months before fermentation.
- Estimate the economics of sugar production and juice storage using an engineering economic model.
- Develop protocols for siting potential energy crop trials to provide a diverse range of habitats and document baseline environmental data required from each site.
- Establish herbaceous and woody energy crops that would be suitable at each location (for example switchgrass, Indian grass, big bluestem, and miscanthus giganteus, hybrid poplar, willows, and black locust).
- Collect initial data on growth rate, composition, fertility requirements, and changes in soil quality due to biomass production.
Evaluation of high fermentable corn hybrids in Kentucky
Develop an accurate protocol for evaluating corn hybrids for ethanol production
Ethanol and electricity potential of switchgrass in Kentucky
Utilization of sweet sorghum as a feedstock for ethanol production
The overall objective is to evaluate the feasibility of using sweet sorghum as a feedstock for ethanol plants. The objective will be accomplished using the following specific tasks:
Developing a biomass energy crop trial for renewable energy production
In consideration of Kentucky's unique climate and natural resources base, this project is focused on developing the procedures to establish woody and herbaceous energy crop trials and will start by developing two locations at Spindletop and Eden Shale. The objectives of this project are to:
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This site was last updated on September 18, 2009
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