UK Renewable Energy Initiative
Crops & Feedstock Processing
The Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy
This multi-state project is directed toward reducing the cost of handling biomass, and expanding the scientific knowledge leading to significant economic improvements in biobased products. The project intends to identify educational materials to train a workforce to support biobased industry. A website has been launched which serves as a clearinghouse for information related to research on biomass conversion.
Contact: Sue Nokes (snokes@bae.uky.edu), Czarena Crofcheck, Mike Montross.
Collection and Characterization of Biomass for Fuel and Chemical Production
Corn stover is a potential feedstock for the production of fuels and chemicals that could generate additional farm revenue of $70/acre. Corn stover has been characterized to determine variations in composition so suitable equipment and processes can be developed. Collection of specific fractions of corn stover (primarily cobs and leaves) would increase the glucose yields from saccarification of the fractionated stover, while the stover left behind in the fields (primarily stalks) should provide sufficient erosion control. Collection of cobs, leaves, and husks could be accomplished with minor modifications to current combines, considering existing combines provide separation of corn from cobs, leaves, and husks. Based on recent results, the amount of glucose released from stover would increase by approximately 21% by selectively collecting cobs and leaves and leaving stalks and leaves in the field. Preliminary economic analysis indicates that the ethanol cost could be reduced by 17% if the glucose potential of the biomass feedstock was increased by selective fractionation.
Contact: Mike Montross (montross@bae.uky.edu), Scott Shearer, Czar Crofcheck.
Algal Production using CO2 emitted from Power Generation for Green Electricity, Fuel and Chemical Production
Microalgae mass cultures can use solar energy to convert power plant flue gas and other concentrated CO2 sources into biomass that can be used to produce renewable fuels such as methane, ethanol, biodiesel, oils, and hydrogen and to other fossil-fuel sparing products and processes. The advantage of microalgae systems lies in their potential for high productivity, giving them a small footprint compared to other biological systems. Other facts of algae include: (1) algae contains fat, carbohydrates, and protein. Some of the micro-algae contain up to 60% fat. Once the fat is “harvested” – approximately 70% can be harvested by simple pressing – what remains becomes a good animal feed or can be processed to produce ethanol; (2) algae grows in aquatic environments. With support from KY GOEP, UK Center for Applied Energy Research and collaborators in College of Engineering and College of Agriculture are forming a statewide research cluster whose mission will be to identify and demonstrate methods to reduce CO2 emissions associated with energy production within the state. The goal of the research cluster is proposing the establishment of a green energy production farm to utilize massive greenhouse gas CO2 production from Kentucky fossil fuel combustion sources (e.g. electricity generation, and industry processing), to produce high value-added green products such as fish/shrimp, green electricity and transportation liquid fuels. The research cluster will study a novel, closed-loop, renewable-energy cycle for meeting future energy needs and reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions via an enhanced-growth algal ecosystem.
Contact: Rodney Andrews (andrews@caer.uky.edu) and Kunlei Liu.