| New Biorefinery: Value added products from biomass and biotechnology of sustainable agriculture | 1026281 | Gu, Zhengrong | 10/01/2021 | 09/30/2026 | ACTIVE | BROOKINGS | Biochar, Lignin, anaerobic digestion, electrochemistry, food preservative, manure, oilseeds, graphene | Developing high value products from biomass is necessary to improve the economic sustainability and viability of future bioenergy processes. In this project, integrated biorefinery platforms and sustainable agricultural technologies will be investigated to generate value-added products and enable sustainable agricultural production. This effort will focus on development of three key objectives.Objective 1. Develop fresh produce and meat preservative from glucosinolates as a value added coproduct of oilseeds. Glucosinolates (GLS) and myrosinase (MYRS) will be extracted and isolated via selective adsorption. An adsorbent packet, in which GLS and MYRS are adsorbed on different materials, will enable controllable release of GLS and MYRS simultaneously. Subsequent hydrolysis of GLS by MYRS will release bioactive isothiocyanates in food packaging. The anti-microbial activity of isothiocyanates against food spoilage and poisoning microbes (grey mold, E. coli and Salmonella) will be quantified using FDA standard assay methods.Objective 2. Develop an electrochemical enhanced anaerobic process to convert urea in animal manure to controlled release nitrogen fertilizer and generate electricity for sustainable agriculture. An electrochemical enhanced anaerobic process, using biochar as microbial fuel cell electrodes, will be developed to enhance anaerobic digestion of manure, minimize loss of nutrients, and improve biogas quality. We will also evaluate innovative biochar electrodes to achieve complete mineralization of urea as well as immobilize nitrate in biochar as sustainable releasing fertilizer. We will optimize energy efficiency and conversion selectivity of the electrochemical anaerobic digestion to achieve simultaneously production of high quality bio-natural gas, recovery of sustainable releasing fertilizer, and production of electricity from manure wastes. Furthermore, we will evaluate N and P leaching from soil amended with biochar containing digestates to understand how biochar addition in anaerobic digestion impacts sustainable fertilization pratices.Objective 3. Develop an advanced thermochemical process to prepared graphene from lignin for use as electrodes for energy storge devices, such as Li batteries and supercapacitors. A new flash catalytic thermochemical process (FCTP), which is inspired by a recent success in high power flash graphene preparation including laser and joule heating processes, will be developed and optimized to produce 3D porous graphene from lignin. This project will also quantify how the composition and structure of different feedstocks, heating conditions, and catalysts (type and dosage) of thermochemical processes impact the resulting 3D porous graphene structure, surface chemical properties, and electric energy storage functions. Simultaneously, the reactions of FCTP will be monitored and disclosed through quantitatively analysis of volatile products. Furthermore, a deep understanding of the relationship between porous structure, surface properties of lignin based 3D porous graphene, and their functional performance of energy storage will be established. This project will also prepare bio-jet fuel from volatile co-products of FCTP. According to analysis results of FCTP's condensed volatile products, upgrading processes (such as catalytic hydrodeoxygenation) will be designed to convert the biooil of FCTP to drop-in jet fuel. Novel multifunctional catalysts will be developed. Regeneration of the spent catalysts will also be explored. | In the proposed hatch project, Dr. Gu will focus on the following objectives to enhance sustainable agriculture:Objective 1. Develop fresh produce and meat preservative from glucosinolates as a value added coproduct of oilseeds. Objective 2. Develop an electrochemical enhanced anaerobic process to convert urea in animal manure to controlled release nitrogen fertilizer and generate electricity for sustainable agriculture. Objective 3. Develop an advanced thermochemical process to prepared graphene from lignin for use as electrodes for energy storge devices, such as Li batteries and supercapacitors. |
| The Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy | 1020193 | RUNGE, TROY | 10/01/2019 | 09/30/2021 | COMPLETE | MADISON | dairy manure, nanocellulose, paper coating | Agriculture faces a challenging future due to soil degradation, water quality, and scarcity problems, and climate change impacts driven by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Concurrently, growing populations will continue to drive food demand and, thus, land and farm productivity. Farmers historically responded to demand increases with expansion and intensification, often at the expense of environmental sustainability. The ongoing shift in livestock-crop systems toward consolidation, compounded by decreases in agricultural land has created local areas of imbalance between the cropping and animal systems. With rapidly depleting ecosystem services, it will be critical to adopt agricultural practices which can meet these demands more sustainably. One practice that is of interest is finding more valuable uses of dairy manure to improve profitability and improve nutrient management.The current value-added uses of dairy manure are largely limited to use biochemical processes such as anaerobic digestion and fermentation to produce biomethane and bioethanol and to use thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis and gasification to produce bio-oil, biochar and combustible gases. Moreover, the biochemical process can only utilize part of cellulose and hemicellulose in dairy manure; while the thermochemical process typically requires high temperature. In general, these processes primarily produce relatively low value-added products such as methane and ethanol. Therefore, there is a critical need for additional research devoted to developing new efficient, economically feasible and environmentally benign approaches to tackle the underutilization problem of dairy manure and help enhance farmer benefits and agricultural sustainability.Dairy manures (undigested and anaerobically digested) are abundant, aggregrated, and low-cost lignocellulosic resources as compared to others like wood. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inventory reported that the number of dairy cows is currently about 9.40 million. In average, dairy cattle can produce about 12 gal of manure per 1000 lb. live weight per day with 14.4 lb. total solids. It was estimated that more than 110 million tons of animal manure are annually produced in the United States. Dairy manure is enriched in cellulose (about 20% - 35%), depending on the diet of cow, separation, process method and conditions of anaerobic digestion if the manure is processed in a digester.Anaerobic digestion systems for dairy farms are growing in popularity across the United States, which can yield a significant mass of cellulose fibers. The anaerobically digested fiber typically contains about 35% cellulose, 9% hemicellulose (xylose, galactose, arabinose and mannose) and 28% lignin, which accounts for approximately 40% of the anaerobic digested effluent total solid.This fiber can be an important low-cost source for value-added products. However, most of the anaerobically digested cellulose fibers is currently underutilized as soil amendment or animal bedding.Previous studies have considered using the carbohydrates in dairy manure to produce monomeric sugars which can be further upgraded into fuel ethanol and other value-added chemicals. However, our studies and others have shown that enzymes can only partially convert cellulose fibers in dairy manure to fermentable sugars due to high levels of ash and lignin both which are enzymatic inhibitors. Instead this research looks to use the cellulose in the manure fibers to produce nanocellulose materials.Nanocellulose materials are nanometer-sized fibers obtained from lignocellulosic biomass obtained from either hydrolysis of cellulose in concentrated acid solution (typically sulfuric or hydrochloric acid) or obtained by mechanical fibrillation of cellulose, or a combination of chemical or enzymatic treatment and mechanical fibrillation of cellulose. Numerous uses for nanocellulose materials have been proposed, including incorporation in fiber-reinforced polymer composites, substrates for flexible electronics and organic solar cells, coatings, membrane systems, and networks for tissue engineering.One of the most promising early uses of nanocellulose materials is in the papermaking industry. These materials may be incorporated as a binder material to improve the strength properties of paper.Nanocellulose can also serve as a renewable and sustainable alternative to synthetic latex and binders in most coating formulation to improve the barrier properties. Finally, cellulose nanofiber can be directly made into cellulose nanopaper, which can surpass ordinary paper in the mechanical, optical and barrier properties and can be used for many high-tech applications such as flexible energy storage and conversion devices, and printed flexible electronics.There is a critical need for additional research devoted to developing new efficient, economically feasible and environmentally benign approaches to tackle the underutilization problem of dairy manure and help enhance farmer benefits and agricultural sustainability. The proposed research will address the underutilization challenge of dairy manure and anaerobically digested dairy manure via effectively extracting nanocellulose products and exploring these materials in paper coating applications. This research will advance the utilization of manure waste generated in an agricultural system and improve sustainable agriculture. | (1) Research and develop technically feasible, economically viable and environmentally sustainable technologies to convert biomass resources into chemicals, energy, materials in a biorefinery methodology including developing co-products to enable greater commercialization potential. |
| Equipping Wayne County High School students for careers in Ohio`s bioenergy and water/wastewater industries | 1010593 | Ujor, Victor | 09/01/2016 | 08/31/2018 | COMPLETE | Columbus | Bioenergy, biofuel, bioprocessing, waste, wastewater | Ohio's bioenergy/bioprocessing industry has consistently grown over the past decade, eliciting significant increase in the demand for technical skills in bioconversion technologies. The proposed project will provide training in the use of core analytical and operational tools and procedures including assay-based wastewater analysis and digestion, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Spectrophotometer, fermentation (5 L bioreactor), protein and DNA gel extraction and electrophoreses, lignocellulosic biomass pre-treatment and hydrolysis to high school students (grades 10 - 12). Ohio is a predominantly agro-based economy with a robust food processing sector that collectively generate millions of tons of organic residues annually, in addition to municipal solid waste and bio-solids. As research efforts towards biofuel production from renewable resources break new grounds, small and medium-scale companies in Ohio are vigorously pursuing bioconversion of lignocellulose-derived sugars to bioethanol and bio-butanol, while biogas production has grown significantly in the State. Additionally, water resource recovery through wastewater treatment has never been more critical in light of growing human population. These factors have spawned a massive need for staff with technical expertise in the hydrolysis of agro-derived biomass feedstock, wastewater treatment, and biofuel research. High school students are largely unaware of career opportunities that abound in Ohio in the areas of biofuels and wastewater treatment. According to Renewable Energy of America, Ohio's renewable energy sector has created 126,855 jobs, the sixth highest in the country. The proposed project will serve as medium for introducing high school students in Wayne County, Ohio to career opportunities in biofuel-related research and production, agricultural biomass feedstock hydrolysis, fermentation of food processing wastes, biogas production and wastewater treatment. High school students from Wooster High School and Northwestern High School will receive a two-month training in the laboratory over the summer (June and July) at the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), both at the Wooster campus of The Ohio State University. This training will also allow high school students to interact with students on the two-year Associate of Science Degree program in Renewable Energy at ATI, as well as researchers involved in different aspects of bioenergy research at OARDC. A career workshop involving industry partners from Quasar Energy, Cleveland, Ohio will be conducted at the end of the training program. Exposure to the above listed techniques employed in the drive for engineering robust biofuel-producing microorganisms, biomass hydrolysis and wastewater treatment will likely steer high school participants to pursue careers in the bioprocessing and wastewater treatment sectors. This will ensure the supply of much needed operators, technicians and researches in Ohio's growing bioenergy industry and in wastewater treatment. | The central goal of the project is to spark an interest in job opportunities in Ohio's bioenergy and water/wastewater industries amongst high school students in Wayne County through experiential training in core industry-relevant skills.The specific objectives are;To provide hands-on training in the operation of HPLC and GC, Fermentation Technology, DNA and protein gel electrophoresis, Genomic DNA and protein isolation, use of spectrophotometer, agricultural biomass hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste and wastewater to high school students.To expose high school students in Wayne County, Ohio to career opportunities in the biofuel/bioprocessing and water/wastewater industries through training and interactions with industry experts from Quasar Energy Group and other local Waste Management Engineering firms and with Renewable Energy students of Ohio State ATI.To provide a platform for professional interaction and exchange of ideas between science teachers (agricultural and environmental sciences, chemistry and physics) at Wooster and Northwestern High Schools with their counterparts from Ohio State ATI and OARDC - Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.To encourage stronger industry-academia relations between Quasar Energy Group (other local Waste Management Engineering firms) and, Ohio State ATI and OARDC, towards fashioning problem-solving curricula that prepare students for the workplace. |
| The Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy | 1002249 | Demirci, Ali | 01/14/2014 | 09/30/2018 | COMPLETE | UNIVERSITY PARK | Biofuel, Biomass, Fermentation, Logistics, Storage, Supply Chain, Synthetic Biology | Use of increased renewable resources will require deliberate development of technologies for efficient use of resources due to three converging issues: (1) decrease in productive agricultural land areas under urbanization pressures; (2) clearing of land areas using unsustainable methods; and (3) increasing world population with an increased standard of living including a clean environment. One billion hectares of land will be cleared by 2050, resulting in the release of three Gt/year of greenhouse gases (Tilman et al., 2011). Global population will reach nine billion by 2050, resulting in increases in global food demand from 2005 to 2050 (Tilman et al., 2011). Breadth of these intersecting problems are so vast that constructive solutions can be designed and implemented only through collaborations crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries.The objectives of this project are to address research relating directly to SAAESD Goal 1 F (biobased products) and H (processing agricultural coproducts); research will influence Goal 5 B (rural community development and revitalizing rural economies) indirectly. Because renewable energy systems occupy large land expanses, they are typically not located in urban areas, promoting economic development of rural US communities. Transitioning from sequestered-carbon sources such as oil, natural gas and coal, to more renewable energy systems requires research and development work. Without this productive research, the technical capacity to switch from a sequestered-carbon economy to a diverse bioresource-based economy will be severely hampered with unanswered questions, undeveloped technologies, and under-delivered capacity in production and utilization of bioresources. Research proposed herein is designed to help address these limitations as conducted by professional scientists and engineers either directly with or strongly associated with the Land Grant University system.This project is written at a time when US natural gas has increased in productivity and decreased in costs. The natural gas production was 22.1 trillion cubic feet in the first nine months of 2012 compared to 21.0 for the same period in 2011. Although, natural gas may be considered the energy panacea for the next decade, natural gas combustion is a net emitter of greenhouse gases. Natural gas can certainly play a major role in assisting in the transition from sequestered-carbon based energy systems to renewable ones. However, due to continual increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations economically viable renewable energy systems must be developed and implemented. The Land Grant University system can partner with important policy-setting agencies including United States Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Energy (US DOE), Defense (US DOD), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for doing the research that will allow us to meet our renewable energy production goals. | (1) Develop deployable biomass feedstock supply knowledge, processes and logistics systems that economically deliver timely and sufficient quantities of biomass with predictable specifications to meet conversion process-dictated feedstock tolerances. (2) Investigate and develop sustainable technologies to convert biomass resources into chemicals, energy, materials and other value added products. (3) Develop modeling and systems approaches to support development of sustainable biomass production and conversion to bioenergy and bioproducts. (4) Identify and develop needed educational resources, expand distance-based delivery methods, and grow a trained work force for the biobased economy |
| Sorghum Biorefining: Integrated Processes for Converting all Sorghum Feedstock Components to Fuels and Co-Products | 0427783 | NGHIEM N P | 10/29/2014 | 10/28/2019 | ACTIVE | WYNDMOOR | SWEET, SORGHUM, GRAIN, SORGHUM, BIOMASS, SORGHUM, ETHANOL, BUTANOL, PLATFORM, CHEMICALS, VALUE-ADDED, CO-PRODUCTS, CELLULOSE, HEMICELLULOSE, LIGNIN, METHANE, BIOREFINERY | Not applicable | 1: Develop technologies that enable the integrated processing of sorghum grains and sweet sorghum juice at existing biofuels production facilities and that enable the commercial production of new co-products at sorghum-based biorefineries. 1A: Develop technologies that enable the integrated processing of sorghum grains at existing biofuels production facilities. 1B: Develop technologies that enable the integrated processing of sweet sorghum juice at existing biofuels production facilities. 1C: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of new co-products at sorghum-based biorefineries. 2: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of marketable C5-rich and C6-rich sugar streams from sorghum lignocellulosic components. 2A: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of marketable C5-rich sugar streams from sorghum lignocellulosic components. 2B: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of marketable C6-rich sugar streams from sorghum lignocellulosic components. 3: Develop technologies that enable the commercial conversion of sorghum lignocellulosic components into fuels and industrial chemicals. 3A: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of industrial chemicals from the C5-rich sugar stream obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sorghum cellulosic components. 3B: Develop technologies that enable the commercial production of additional ethanol and industrial chemicals from the C6-rich sugar stream obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose-enriched residue. 3C: Develop technologies that enable the use of byproducts and wastes generated in ethanol and other fermentation processes in the sorghum biorefinery for production of energy and chemicals. |
| Technologies for Improving Industrial Biorefineries that Produce Marketable Biobased Products | 0427427 | ORTS W J | 10/01/2014 | 09/30/2019 | COMPLETE | ALBANY | BIOPRODUCTS, BIOENERGY, SORGHUM, BIOMASS, POLYHYDROXYALKANOATES, POLYSACCHARIDES, BIOMASS, ENZYMES, FIBERS, COMBINATORIAL, CHEMISTRY, DIRECTED, EVOLUTION, NANOTECHNOLOGY, NANO-ASSEMBLIES, CELLULOSE, PECTIN, DIACIDS, POLYMERS, POLY(HYDROXYBUTYRATE), PHA, BIOFUELS, CITRUS, ALMONDS, EXTRACTION, RENEWABLE, FERMENTATION, BIOREFINERY, FOOD, WASTE, ENZYMES | Not applicable | This project provides technological solutions to the biofuels industry to help the U.S. meet its Congressionally mandated goal of doubling advanced biofuels production within the next decade. The overall goal is to develop optimal strategies for converting agricultural biomass to biofuels and to create value-added products (bioproducts) that improve the economics of biorefining processes. Specific emphasis is to develop strategies for biorefineries located in the Western United States by using regionally-specific feedstocks and crops, including sorghum, almond byproducts, citrus juicing wastes, pomace, municipal solid wastes (MSW), and food processing wastes. These feedstocks will be converted into biofuels, bioenergy and fine chemicals. Objective 1: Develop commercially-viable technologies for converting agriculturally-derived biomass, crop residues, biogas, and underutilized waste streams into marketable chemicals. Research on converting biogas will involve significant collaboration with one or more industrial partners. Sub-objective 1A: Provide data and process models for integrated biorefineries that utilize sorghum and available solid waste to produce ethanol, biogas and commercially-viable coproducts. Sub-objective 1B. Convert biogas from biorefining processes into polyhydroxyalkanoate plastics. Sub-objective 1C: Apply the latest tools in immobilized enzymes, nano-assemblies, to convert biomass to fermentable sugars, formaldehyde, and other fine chemicals. Objective 2: Develop commercially-viable fractionation, separation, de-construction, recovery and conversion technologies that enable the production of marketable products and co-products from the byproducts of large-scale food production and processing. Sub-objective 2A: Add value to almond byproducts. Sub-objective 2B: Apply bioenegineering of bacteria and yeast to produce diacids, ascorbic acid and other value-added products from pectin-rich citrus peel waste. Sub-objective 2C: Convert biomass into commercially-viable designer oligosaccharides using combinatorial enzyme technology. |
| Developing Technologies that Enable Growth and Profitability in the Commercial Conversion of Sugarcane, Sweet Sorghum, and Energy Beets into Sugar, Advanced Biofuels, and Bioproducts | 0426599 | KLASSON K T | 09/22/2014 | 09/02/2019 | ACTIVE | New Orleans | SUGARCANE, SWEET, SORGHUM, ENERGY, BEET, SUGAR, PRODUCTION, BIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS | Not applicable | The overall objective of this project is to enhance the value of sugarcane, sweet sorghum, and energy beets, and their major commercial products sugar, biofuel and bioproducts, by improving postharvest quality and processing. Specific objectives are: 1. Develop commercially-viable technologies that reduce or eliminate undesirable effects of starch and color on sugar processing/refining efficiency and end-product quality. 2. Develop commercially-viable technologies that reduce or eliminate undesirable effects of high viscosity on sugar processing/refining efficiency and end-product quality. 3. Develop commercially-viable technologies to increase the stability and lengthen storage of sugar feedstocks for the manufacture of sugars, advanced biofuels, and bioproducts. 4. Develop commercially-viable technologies for the biorefining of sugar crop feedstocks into advanced biofuels and bioproducts. 5. Identify and characterize field sugar crop quality traits that affect sugar crop refining/biorefining efficiency and end-product quality, and collaborate with plant breeders in the development of new cultivars/hybrids to optimize desirable quality traits. 6. Develop, in collaboration with commercial partners, technologies to improve the efficiency and profitability of U.S. sugar manufacturing and enable the commercial production of marketable products from residues (e.g. , bagasse, trash) and by-product streams (e.g., low purity juices) associated with postharvest sugar crop processing. Please see Project Plan for all listed Sub-objectives. |
| BIOREFINING PROCESSES | 0418775 | ORTS W J | 11/16/2009 | 09/30/2014 | COMPLETE | ALBANY | BIOFUELS, EFFICIENCY, SEPARATION, CORN, MOLECULAR, ENZYMES, WHEAT, SORGHUM, PROTEIN, FERMENTATION, ENERGY, ETHANOL, STARCH, ALCOHOL, EVOLUTION, BIOREFINERY, REFINING | Not applicable | Objective 1: Develop enzyme-based technologies (based on cleaving specific covalent crosslinks which underlie plant cell wall recalcitrance) thereby enabling new commercially-viable* saccharification processes. Objective 2: Develop new enzyme-based technologies that enable the production of commercially-viable* coproducts such as specialty chemicals, polymer precursors, and nutritional additives/supplements from raw or pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. Objective 3: Develop pretreatment technologies that enable commercially-viable* biorefineries capable of utilizing diverse feedstocks such as rice straw, wheat straw, commingled wastes (including MSW), sorghum, switchgrass, algae, and food processing by-products. Objective 4: Develop new separation technologies that enable commercially-viable* and energy-efficient processes for the recovery of biofuels, biorefinery co-products, and/or bioproducts from dilute fermentation broths. |
| BIOPROCESS AND METABOLIC ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOFUELS AND VALUE-ADDED COPRODUCTS | 0403945 | DIEN B S | 12/15/2000 | 08/08/2004 | COMPLETE | PEORIA | value added, fermentation, conversion, biomass, crop residues, plant fibers, corn, xylans, cellulose, genetic engineering, biotechnology, enzyme production, fuel, ethanol, butane diol, lactic acid, enzymes, microorganisms, energy, optimization, systems development, new technology | Not applicable | Develop pretreatment, enzyme, and fermentation technologies for the conversion of corn fiber and other agricultural substrates into biofuels (e.g., ethanol, butanol) and value-added fermentation products (e.g., enzymes, polysaccharides, lactic acid). |
| VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS FROM PLANT MATERIALS | 0402375 | WEIMER P J | 10/01/1999 | 06/02/2004 | COMPLETE | MADISON | manures, alfalfa, value added, agricultural engineering, non food commodities, forage legumes, plant enzymes, transgenic plants, fractionation, fermentation, adhesives, energy sources, composites, glycocalyx, filtration, product development, product evaluation, industrial uses, construction materials, phytases, plant fibers, saccharification | Not applicable | 1. Develop methods for harvesting forages and other cellulosic materials that retain feedstock qualtiy. 2. Develop methods to assess the energy feedstock quality of herbaceous biomass crops. 3. Develop low-cost, user-friendly assessment and processing technologies for biomass producers and processors. 4. Develop varieties of switchgrass adapted to the northern USA. 5. Develop technologies for processing and converting biomass materials to value-added products, including fuels, industrial chemicals, and enzymes. |
| System For Advanced Biofuels Production From Woody Biomass In The Pacific Northwest | 0225392 | Gustafson, Richard | 09/01/2011 | 08/31/2019 | COMPLETE | Seattle | Biofuels, bioenergy, biofuels, biomass production, biorefining, commercialization, curriculum, distribution (economics), drop-in fuels, energy crops, environmental models, extension programs, genetic transformation, higher education, hybridization, life cycle assessment, pacific states, plantations, poplar, professional education, program evaluation, residuals, rural development, social impact, supply chain, sustainability science | The United States is not on track to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) targets for advanced biofuels production under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (Biofuels Interagency Working Group, 2010). Our agricultural and forestry sectors can provide feedstock to support the fledgling industry (Perlack et al., 2005). However, lack of integration across the entire supply chain has led to sub-optimal solutions and stunted commercial rollout of the advanced biofuels industry. This project, led by the University of Washington, provides a holistic approach to the establishment of a regional biofuels industry with a project that encompasses research, extension, and education components. | The overall goal of this project is to ready the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for a 2015 introduction of a 100% infrastructure compatible biofuels industry that meets the region's pro-rata share of Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) targets using sustainably grown regionally appropriate woody energy crops, thereby helping to revitalize the region's agriculture/forestry sectors with establishment of a sustainable advanced biofuels industry that supports both large and small growers and brings jobs to rural communities in the region. We will complete a three prong integrated program of research, extension and education to achieve this goal. The desired actions (medium term outcomes) for the three project components are: RESEARCH - Mitigate technology risks along the entire supply chain so that a woody energy crop-based biofuels industry, which makes significant contributions towards RFS2 targets, can be built in the PNW. EXTENSION - Build a critical mass of competent small- and medium-size growers to provide the industry with timely supply of purpose-grown woody energy crops, and address the needs and concerns of stakeholders that will be impacted by an advanced biofuels industry in the PNW. EDUCATION - Build a critical mass of well-trained workers capable of filling the cross-disciplinary needs of the biofuels industry. Capstone activities for the project are: 1. GreenWood Resources, the Nation's larger grower of hybrid poplar, will establish and operate four 200-acre energy farms managed with low-input silviculture. 2. ZeaChem Inc., a leading biorefinery developer, will modify its 10 ton(dry)/day biorefinery in Boardman, OR to produce multiple 8,000 gallon truckloads of biobased gasoline and jet/diesel, which will be distributed to consumers on a test basis by Valero Energy Corporation. 3. Deployment of sustainability, extension and education programs by world-class regional institutions will lead to the establishment of a critical mass of well-trained growers and workers. Successful completion of these activities will lead to the desired actions of adequate risk reduction to allow the financing, construction, and operation of multiple biorefineries in the region. |
| The Design and Development of an Experimental Anaerobic Digester for Organic Waste | 0217691 | Ososanya, E | 04/16/2009 | 04/16/2012 | COMPLETE | WASHINGTON | alternative fuel, anaerobic digestion, animal waste, bio wastes, biodegradation, biogas, biomass, digester, energy, gas chromatograph, geothermal, hydrolysis, methane gas, organic waste, organic waste, renewable energy, solar, wind | The ever growing demand for energy world-wide can only be met by considering the possible range of energy solutions, and the technology to produce emerging sources of energy, to reduce our dependence on oil - a non renewable fossil fuel. Renewable energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass [1,2,3,4], and alternative fuels are promising clean energy resources of the future, which are environmentally friendly and which sources replenish itself or cannot be exhausted. Biomass energy is derived from waste of various human and natural activities, including, municipal solid waste, manufacturing waste, agricultural crops waste, woodchips, dead trees, leaves, livestock manure, hotels and restaurant wastes, etc., which are abundant anywhere and everywhere, at any time. Any of these sources can be used to fuel biomass energy production with the design of an efficient digester or processing plant to harness the energy from the biological mass. By designing and building a new Anaerobic Digester, a number of possible solutions to alternate energy can be experimented which include digestion of animal waste, organic wastes, and bio wastes. This study also will research the use of alternate fuel for the District of Columbia Taxi Cabs. | This research will build a pilot waste anaerobic digester at the DC Agricultural Experiment Station Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland for the production of biomass and demonstrates that using the resources that are easily available makes the production of energy efficient and reliable. The energy producing potential of the different types of waste products will be studied through continuous monitoring of the digestion biochemical processes, operating parameters, the energy content, and the analysis of the biogas products. A Fuzzy logic Controller of the Anaerobic Digester System will be designed in parallel with the physical digester to enable us to model mathematically or simulate certain aspects of the digester processes for increased efficiency and process stability. This study will also research the environmental impact of the use of alternate fuels by performing an engineering analysis of energy consumption by Taxi Cabs in the District of Columbia. The goal will be to evaluate the differential environmental impacts of various types of fuels used by the taxi cabs and to answer two questions: What are the advantages of having an alternate fuel for District taxi cabs Are there any potential environmental benefits through the use of biofuels by DC taxi cabs The objectives of this research are: (i) To design and engineer an efficient, reliable, and low-cost anaerobic digester for waste processing; (ii) To analyze the potential of biogas production from anaerobic digestion of the organic waste of the city of Washington DC; and (iii) To maximize methane gas production. The overall objectives of environmental impact analysis will include: (a) Collect data and catalog the number of taxi cabs in the District and their fuel consumption patterns, number of fuel service stations, and types of fuel; (b) Conduct statistical analysis of collected data; (c) Relate urban air quality to different types of fuel consumption; (d)Evaluate the impact of alternative fuel on the environment; (e) Conduct preliminary cost-benefit analysis of using biofuel; (f) Educate the stake holders and students about the use of alternative fuels; and (g) Support state and federal agencies in providing relevant information. |
| IMPROVEMENT OF THERMAL AND ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES FOR FOODS | 0206290 | Teixeira, A. A. | 10/01/2005 | 09/30/2010 | COMPLETE | GAINESVILLE | thermal processing, food processing, non-thermal processing, microwave heating, ohmic heating, high pressure treatments, pulsed electric fields, radio frequency processing, jet impingement processing, frying, baking, drying, microbial kinetics, nutrient retention, food quality, food packaging, retorting | The US food processing industry must respond to the growing consumer demand for foods that fulfill their nutritional needs and expectations. To address the increased demands for these products, new and existing process technologies must rise to the challenge and play a pivotal role in the improvement of the quality of value-added agricultural and food production. The development of such processes requires new knowledge of food properties, the response of the quality attributes in foods to thermal and non-thermal processes, models defining heat, mass, and momentum transfer, process control via sensor development, and systems that ensure food safety. The overall purpose of this project is to address the increased desire for new food products, new packaging, more convenience, new delivery systems, and safer and more nutritious foods at lower cost. During the next 5-year cycle, research into traditional processes (e.g., microwaving, canning) will continue, but the emphasis
will shift to non-traditional processing. A whole new body of knowledge is required by integration of engineering principles with molecular biology, biochemistry and microbiology. Thus, the need for biophysical properties, understanding of transport processes in biological systems and scale-up from the molecular scale. Modeling is playing increasing roles in both design and research in industry as well as in academia. Relevant information related to microbial death kinetics for alternative processes is being collected and evaluated. | 3. To identify and describe transport mechanisms occurring in food processes. 4. To develop mathematical models for analysis, design and improvement of food processes. |
| ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD WASTE BIOMASS FOR THE EFFICIENT PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY BIOGAS | 0200286 | Schanbacher, F. L. | 04/01/2004 | 09/30/2009 | COMPLETE | COLUMBUS | anaerobic digestion, biomass, manures, food waste, methane, biogas, hydrogen, energy sources, waste utilization, waste, renewable resources, production efficiency, recycling, systems development, engineering, engines, fuel cells, process development, new technology, energy conversion, animal waste, snack foods, dairy cattle, corn silage, rumen fluid, sludge, energy production | This research initiative is rooted in the need for alternative energy sources that are renewable and competitive with imported petroleum fuels. Nearly all of the agricultural production entities, whether crop, horticultural, or animal in nature, create significant quantities of waste biomass. Closed system anaerobic digestion of these wastes offers the opportunity to produce a clean form of fuel (methane and/or hydrogen) with minimal environmental emissions | Initially this research is to develop laboratory scale anaerobic digestion systems to determine the metabolic and nutritional requirements of digesters for efficient conversion of diverse biomass feedstock types to biogas energy. Secondly, it is important to develop sensitive analytical technologies to monitor metabolic changes of feedstocks during biodigestion as well as define the purity of biogas produced as a necessary guide in the development of anaerobic process strategies. Sequentially, it is important to scale anaerobic digestion of biomass to produce competitive quantities of clean biogas for reliable power for process heat, combustion or turbine engines, or solid-oxide fuel cells. Finally, we intend to integrate biomass utilization and energy conversion technologies for a holistic environmental and energy conversion strategy to provide effective energy production and waste remediation. |
| Bio-energy engineering combining nano-technologies and microbial fuel cells | 0198382 | Christy, A | 10/01/2009 | 09/30/2014 | COMPLETE | COLUMBUS | agricultural waste, bioenergy, cellulosic biomass, microbial fuel cells, nanotechnology | Microbial fuel cells can generate small but sustainable electrical power by harnessing the natural abilities of some microbes. This research specifically uses the microbes found in the digestive tract of cows which are well suited to using cellulosic materials such as hay and grass as feed and have also been recently found to be electrochemically active. The goal is to increase power production in these fuel cells by using nano-technology and miniaturization techniques. Potential impacts include more economical applications for bio-energy, reduced dependence on non-renewable energy sources, treatment of lignocellulosic agricultural wastes, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. | The long term goal is to develop a microbial energy conversion process that uses cellulosic waste as its feedstock, does not generate intermediate byproducts such as methane, and produces sufficient electrical power for applications where other forms of electricity are not readily available. The overall objectives of this research are to: (1.) Expand scientific knowledge of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as a bioenergy option. (2.) Increase power production in MFCs by using nano-technology and miniaturization techniques. |
| PROTEASOMES IN THE ARCHAEA | 0177264 | Maupin, J. A. | 11/20/1997 | 03/31/2009 | ACTIVE | GAINESVILLE | bacteria, biochemistry, proteinases, enzyme structure, archaebacteria, methanogenic bacteria, enzyme function, methanosarcina, methanogenesis, bacterial physiology, bacterial genetics, evolution, systematics, rumen microorganisms, carbon cycle, proteolysis | The Archaea, such as methanogens and hyperthermophiles, play a major role in the global carbon cycle and production of beneficial products due to their extreme metabolic diversity. However, very little is known about protein turnover in this class of organisms. The purpose of this study is to learn more about the role of energy-dependent proteolysis as a regulatory process in the Archaea. | The objectives of this project are to investigate the structure and function of the proteasome (a) large-molecular-weight proteinase) from the acetotrophic methanogen Methanosarcina thermophila. The results are expected to: (i) advance the field of acetotrophic methanogenesis which accounts for over 60% of the biologically produced methane (a green-house gas), (ii) expand the fundamental knonwledge of the evolution, mechanism, and function of proteasomes in all of nature; (iii) provide a broader underestanding of the biochemistry, genetics, and physiology of M. thermophila and the methanogenic Archaea; and (iv) help to further define the evolutionary relationshps between the Archaea and Eucarya domains. |
| ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR OF EMERGING ORGANIC CHEMICALS OF CONCERN | 0161008 | Lee, Linda | 10/01/2010 | 09/30/2015 | COMPLETE | WEST LAFAYETTE | aerobic degradation anaerobic degradation, bisolids, dissolved organic material, perfluorinated compounds, persistence, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, telomer compounds | The physical, chemical, and biological processes control persistence, distribution, and potential human and ecological exposure of contaminants in the soil, water, and in some cases, complex waste environment. Both applied and basic research will be conducted to address environmental fate of emerging organic compounds of concern (human pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PPCPs) and perfluorinated organic chemicals used in rendering textile fabrics stain-resistant and in aqueous fire fighting foams used to fight fires. Specific objectives include: (1) assessing the fate of emerging organic compounds of concern in land-applied biosolids; and (2) quantifying the abiotic and biotransformation potential in soil, aquifers, water, and landfill systems of perfluorinated compounds. Information will be critical to the development of management and remediation alternatives for reducing the release and transport of these compounds of concern released through land application of biosolids, discharged form wastewater treatment facilities, used-product placement in landfills, and military fire-training exercises. | The goal of this program is to identify and quantify reactions that control the persistence and distribution of organic contaminants in the soil and water environment, which directly influence their potential towards human and ecological exposure. Specific objectives for the next 5 years include: (1) Quantify the fate of emerging organic compounds of concern (human pharmaceuticals and personal care products, PPCPs) in land-applied biosolids; and (2) Quantify the abiotic and biotransformation potential in soil, aquifers, water, landfill systems, and the subsurface under military fire-training areas of perfluorinated compounds used for rendering textile fabrics stain resistant and in aqueous film-forming foams. |