Annual/Termination Reports:

[07/01/2004] [01/28/2005] [12/08/2005] [12/08/2006] [02/29/2008]

Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Specific outcomes of this project will be engineering and process data for supporting sustainable, low cost collection, handling, processing and conversion of biobased feedstocks into high value biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals. Analytical and economic descriptions of the various systems will play an important role in this effort. Specific accomplishments for each of the five functional groups follows. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Feedstock Supply Group: In Task 1 (Feedstock Supply) researchers in Puerto Rico obtained sugarcane yields of 120 t/ac and developed growth models. In Task 2 (Harvest, Process, and Handling) a team from the U Tenn and ORNL evaluated corn stover dry matter over time and observed a typical yield of 5.2 tons/ac. Approximately 50% of dm is stalk; biomass in leaf tissue degrades rapidly. Various factors affect dirt contamination of baled stover. They are also evaluating hammermilling methods to densify stover. In Task 3 (Modeling Integrated Feedstock Supply and Process Systems) S Carolina researchers are modeling an energy farm that produces animal feed, produces energy and nutrients from an anaerobic digestor, then returns the nutrients to the field. They have designed a low temperature digestor and are determining operational parameters and costs. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Biofuel Production Group: In Task 1 (Pretreatment for bioconversion processes) U Florida researchers used dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment (121 C, 0.6-1.5% acid, 30-90 min) of rye straw and bermudagrass to increase enzymatic digestibility. Higher acid levels and time increased hemicellulose and cellulose digestion. They are also evaluating detoxification of certain byproducts. Kansas State researchers found that ethanol yields from grain sorghum could be increased by 2.2% by conventional extrusion or by 5.56% by supercritical fluid extraction. In Task 2 (Biological conversion processes) Montana State scientists have begun a project to ferment glycerin (from biodiesel production) into ethanol or citric acid. Louisiana State and Michigan Biotechnology Institute are beginning a collaboration to produce ethanol, succinate, arabinose and xylitol from sugarcane bagasse. Clemson (SC) scientists, anaerobically digesting algal slude, have found: methane production is proportional to biomass loading, and adding 50% waste paper doubles methane production by providing the optimal C:N ratio. U Florida scientists are genetically modifying microbes for ethanol production and have developed strains that can utilize cellulose/hemicellulose oligosaccharides without added enzymes. These strains also have reduced nutrient requirements. Work is underway to develop strains that can produce other products (acetic acid, l-lactic acid, d-lactic acid, and pyruvic acid) at 80-95% of theoretical yield (50 g/L) in mineral salts medium. In Task 3 (Development of improved thermochemical processes for biofuel production) OK State is gasifying perennial grasses and fermenting the syngas to ethanol. Work is progressing on optimization of gasification and determining why the syngas reduces microbial numbers. WV University is thermochemically converting hog and poultry manure into a tar-like fuel that can be blended up to 20% into diesel fuel. Tar yields are 2/3 of initial biomass, and the tar contains 12,000-18,000 BTU/lb. U Nebraska researchers are investigating microemulsion techniques to develop stable fuel blends of ethanol, biodiesel, and diesel. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Biomaterials Group: In Task 1 (Raw feedstock evaluation) U Minn scientists continue to optimize their HRC process for lignocellulose pretreatment. They are also developing a low temperature, total liquefaction process to convert biomass to bio-polyols, which are then converted to biopolyesters or biopolyurethanes. U Nebraska scientists are evaluating starch based foams as replacements for non-degradable expanded polystyrene (EPS) as loose-fill packaging material. However, starch?s hydrophilicity, poor mechanical properties and dimensional stability limit their applications. Research is thus directed at evaluating the effect of acetylating the starch, as well as type of starch, solvent (water vs ethanol), and extrusion conditions. In Task 2 (Methodologies for producing biomaterials) scientists at U IL are investigating improved methods of fractionation that ultimately enhance efficiency of bioprocessing and conversion of biomass to biobased products. Investigators at SD State are developing processes to produce microbial gums (gellan, pullulan, scleroglucan, polyhydroxyalkanoate) from condensed corn solubles (CCS), a byproduct of ethanol production from corn. Scientists are also developing methods to recover the gums from cell biomass (ethanol precipitation and supercritical fluid extraction). In Task 3 (Biomaterial applications) researchers at KS University are developing biobased plastics from PLA and starch with improved properties for disposable applications. This team is also developing biobased adhesives from plant protein and byproducts. MS State has developed processes to recover chitin from crustacean shell waste and produce chitosans with various degrees of deacetylation using low temperatures and low concentrations of caustics. These substances may have biomedical applications in supporting bone/tissue growth. Louisiana State scientists have produced non-woven composites (both uniform and sandwich structures) from bagasse and other agricultural fibers (50-70% fiber) using thermal and liquid bonding methods. They are investigating mechanical, wet, thermal, and acoustical properties for automotive applications. U Nebraska scientists have developed a unique process to extract high quality textile fiber bundles from corn stover. This process maintained fiber length and strength at levels comparable to cotton and flax fibers. U Nebraska scientists have blended cellulose fibers (from corn stalks, wood fiber and oat fiber) with starch acetate to make biodegradable packaging foams via extrusion. Fiber incorporation at lower concentration enhanced the physical properties of the foams.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Biobased Chemicals Group: In Task 1 Biochemical Identification, Characterization and Separation from Biofeedstocks Washington State scientists have found that pretreatment of diary manure with concentrated acid, followed by dilute acid hydrolysis produced higher glucose yields than enzyme hydrolysis. U Arkansas researchers are developing a hot water (100-160 C) based extraction process to recover flavonolignans from milk thistle seed. Higher temperatures reduced extraction time. They are also investigating extraction with organic solvents and have found that 60 C ethanol works best. They are also extracting lycopene from watermelon flesh using CO2 supercritical fluid extraction. Investigators at Virginia Tech studied aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) to purify a model protein, lysozyme, from tobacco protein extract. The PEG/sodium sulfate system was most suitable for lysozyme purification, with a predicted lysozyme yield of 87%, a purification factor of 4 and concentration factor of 14. Future work will explore other model proteins to demonstrate the scalability of the technique in processing large quantities of biomass. U Nebraska scientists employed hot hexane or hot ethanol extraction of grain sorghum kernels and sorghum dried distillers grains to recover long-chained lipids. Major components in whole grain were policosanols (37-44%), aldehydes (44-55%) and acids (4-5%). Long-chained lipids from DDG contained 52% policosanols, 23% aldehydes, 6.4% acids and 17% wax esters/steryl esters. Clemson researchers grew the filamentous fungi Pythium irregulare on rice and fiber flax byproducts to produce w-3 enriched oils, which were extracted with supercritical CO2. Room temperature growth yielded the highest growth rate and oil production. A mammalian cell tissue culture laboratory has being used to test bioavailability of the extracts through Caco-2 monolayer system. The particle size of both rice bran and fungal biomass were important for extraction kinetics. Rice ash is being tested as an absorbent compound for primary purification and fractionation of rice bran oil subjected to supercritical carbon dioxide. In Task 2 Process Development U Arkansas scientists are investigating the biocatalytic potential of microbial extremophiles, including: (1) evaluation of physiology of extremophiles and their extremozymes in conjunction with medically and industrially relevant biotransformations, in particular, glycoside hydrolase activities, cellulase activities, and (2) design and evaluation of extremophilic bioreaction systems for conversion of renewable biological wastes, i.e., starch, cellulosic materials, to high value products. In Task 3 Product Application U Illinois researchers are investigating nutrient flows in the dry grind corn process to provide a basis for modifying streams and improving coproduct quality. Syrup (concentrated thin stillage) had 2.2%(db) phosphorus, roughly twice the level in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). A 40 million gal/y plant produces 2,000 tonne/y DDGS and 16.5 tonne/y phosphorus. U Nebraska researchers evaluated the oxidation of aldehydes to acids in the wax of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Aldehydes were oxidized to acids over 4 months in storage at room temperature, with acid content increasing from 5-7% to 42-51% after 135 days. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Education and Outreach Group: No activity was reported for Task 1 Development of an Advisory Board for the National Resource Center during the reporting period. For <br /> <br>Task 2 Development of Educational Materials in High-Priority Topic Areas U Nebraska developed a joint undergraduate/graduate course in the Spring 2004 semester entitled Computations in Biological Systems. Course objectives were 1) combining engineering fundamentals with principles from biochemistry and biology for investigating unit operations of bioprocesses, plant systems and animal systems, 2) applying engineering mathematics, numerical methods and programming (spreadsheets and MATLab) for analyzing transport phenomena and reaction kinetics in biological systems and 3) modeling and simulating of unit operations of bioprocesses, plant systems and animal systems. Students? comments were positive. Several S1007 members are interested in synthesizing and transferring to stakeholders new technical information concerning conventional forestry systems for sustainable production of bioenergy. The work includes sharing research results, stimulation of new research directions in national programs of participating countries, and technology transfer to resource managers, planners and industry. The emphasis is on an integrated approach to biological, economic, environmental and social components of forestry systems. Multi-disciplinary partnerships of key stakeholders in forest biomass production research, planning and operations are fostered. One of the primary outputs of this effort in 2002 was a publication that synthesized available ecological, physical, operational, social and economic information, and identified gaps in knowledge related to sustainable biomass production and harvesting systems (Richardson, et al. 2002). It emphasized guiding principles and state of the art knowledge in a concise and distilled form, rather than providing a detailed ?how-to? handbook covering every possible situation. No activity was reported for Task 3 (Development of National Resource Center for Biomass Education) during the reporting period.

Publications

Publications<br /> <br>Brune, D.E., Hong Wei-Yen, J.C. Van Olst, M.J. Massingill, J.M. Carlberg and J.R. Benemann. 2002. Integrated Production of Biofuel, Biofertilizer, and High Value Aquatic Biomass in a Controlled Eutrophication Process. The International Conference: Bioenergy, Boise, Idaho 2002. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Brune, D.E., G. Schwartz, J.R. Benemann, M.J. Massingill, J.C. Van Olst, J.A. Carlberg. 2003. Large-Scale Microalgae Cultivation in Agricultural Wastewaters for Biofixation of CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Abatement, Proceedings of DOE Second Annual Carbon Sequestration Conference, Washington, DC, May 2003. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Chiparus, O. and Y. Chen. 2003. An Image Method to Evaluate Bagasse Fiber Dimensions. Bioresource Technology. 90: 305-309.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Chen, Y., Chiparus, O., Sun, L., Negulescu, I., Parikh, D.V., and Calamari, T.A. 2004.<br /> <br>Waste bagasse for production of nonwoven composites. International Sugar Journal.<br /> <br>106(2): 86-92.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Guan, J. and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Functional properties of extruded foam composites of <br /> <br>starch acetate and corn cob fiber. Ind. Crops and Products. 19(3):255-269.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Guan, J., Q. Fang and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Selected functional properties of extruded <br /> <br>starch acetate-natural fiber foams. Cereal Chemistry. 81(2):199-206.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Guan, J., Q. Fang and M.A, Hanna. 2004. Functional properties of extruded starch acetate <br /> <br>blends. J. Polymers and the Environment. 12(2):57-63.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Hwang, K.T., C.L. Weller, S.L. Cuppett and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Changes in composition and thermal transition temperatures of grain sorghum wax during storage. Ind. Crops Prod. 19(2):125-132.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Hwang, K.T., C.L. Weller, S.L. Cuppett and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Policosanol contents and composition of grain sorghum kernels and dried distillers grains. Cereal Chem. 81(3):345-349.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Lakkakula, N.R., Lima, M., Walker, T.H. 2004. Rice bran stabilization and rice bran oil extraction using ohmic heating. Bioresource Technol. 92: 157-161.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Walker, T.H. 2002. Bioprocessing Technologies for Production of Nutraceuticals from <br /> <br>Food and Agricultural Byproducts. Proceedings of the AIT International Conference on <br /> <br>Innovations in Food Processing Technology and Engineering. Bangkok, TH.

Impact Statements

1. The Feedstock Supply Group has determined yields of and storage effects upon representative biomass resources (sugar cane and corn stover). Various harvesting and pre-processing methods are also being evaluated to develop models to assess costs of harvesting, handling, storing and transporting biomass resources
2. The Biofuel Production Group has worked to develop and optimize technologies to produce renewable fuels from biomass at a competitive price. Key targets include physical/chemical pretreatment of lignocellulose, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol or methane. Alternatives also explored include direct thermochemical conversion to a tar-like substance that can be mixed with diesel fuel and gasification followed by syngas fermentation to ethanol.
3. The Biomaterials Group is developing and optimizing integrated processes to convert biomass resources into commercial products such as polyols, foams, composites, fibers, gums, and bioplastics. Processing will involve various biological, thermochemical, and/or physical methods to bioconvert, recover, and purify the various products.
4. The Biobased Chemicals Group is developing processes to economically produce specialty chemicals from biomass. One avenue is direct extraction of biochemicals using various solvents, while another approach is biocatalytic formation of high value chemicals using extremophilic microbes
5. . The Education and Outreach Group is working to identify needed educational materials, developing those materials in distance-based delivery methods and developing a trained work force to support a biobased products industry.

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Report Information

Participants

Milford Hanna  Nebraska; William Gibbons  South Dakota; Terry Walker  Clemson; Carmela Bailey  USDA ; Hongda Chen  USDA (USDA-CSREES Liaison); C. Roland Mote  Kentucky (Administrative Advisor); Lijun Wang  Nebraska; Mike Tumbleson  Illinois; Kent Rausch  Illinois; Eugene Columbus  Mississippi; Raymond Huhnke  Oklahoma; Danielle Julie Carrier  Arkansas; Ruihong Zhang  California; Duane Johnson  Montana; Bernie Tao  Purdue; Shahabaddine Sokhansanj  Oakridge; Mark Worden  Michigan; Czarena Crofcheck  Kentucky; Sue Nokes  Kentucky; Kasiviswanuth Muthukumarappan  South Dakota; David Brune  Clemson; Sundaram Gunasekarran  Wisconsin; Roger Raun  Minnesota; Susan Sun  Kansas; Alvin Womak  Tennessee; Shulin Chen  Washington; Phillip Ye  Tennessee; Greg Wagner  Tennessee; Julie Maupin Furlow - Florida; Mike Penner  Oregon; H. Michael Harrington  DOE (guest speaker)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Correction to Nov, 2003 meeting minutes:
· "K. Muthukumarappan from SDSU volunteered for secretary position and was elected" was incorrect. It should read as, K. Muthukumarappan from SDSU volunteered to create and lead the new listserver for S1007.
· It also should include, Sundaram Gunasekaran of University of Wisconsin-Madison was elected secretary with suggestion that the secretary will then serve as vice president and then president in the following two years.

Wednesday, September 29

· The second annual meeting of S-1007 was held at the NREL Headquarters in Golden, CO with a tour of the research laboratories on Wed, Sept 29, 2004.

Thursday, September 30

7:30 am
· Registration.
8:05 am
· Milford Hanna opened meeting with introductory remarks. He reminded the Station representatives about the annual report. Please send an electronic version of a brief summary to Milford as soon as possible.

8:10 am
· Roland Mote, S1007 Administrative Advisor, made brief remarks. He stressed the importance of the annual report and encouraged including any positive impacts of research in progress if it were to be successful. The current term of the group, which started in 2001, ends in September 2007.

8:20 am
· Hongda Chen, USDA CSEERS Advisor, spoke. He indicated that a proposal for renewal should be submitted by December 2007 and encouraged forming a steering committee to oversee this and a writing committee to start working on the rewrite of the proposal by next year.

8:25 am
· Carmel Bailey, National Program Leader, Agricultural Materials Program, spoke about the possibility of using the groups expertise to review proposal for the Biomass Grants Program.
· The BBCC group is internal to USDA in which 14 agencies are involved which allows coordination with other federal, public, and private agencies. At the stakeholders workshop (held in 1999 and 2004) recommendations for future directions were obtained. More information is available at: www.usda.gov/bbcc

9:00 am
· Hongda Chen introduced Susan Sun (Kansas State U.) who served as the Panel manager for 71.2 Bio-based Products Program of the National Research Initiative Competitive Grant Program of the USDA/CSREES.
· Susan Sun described the NRI proposal review process from last year. Last year was the first time the bio-based products program was administered separately. The total funding allocated was $3 million. Out of 144 proposals only 11 received funding. This year the total funding is $6 million with the funding size ranging from $150k to $500k.
· Hongda Chen indicated that the NRI budget for 2004 was $164 million. The request for 2005 is $180-183 million. The deadlines for the value-added products research program is December 3; and for bio-based products research program it is January 14.
· Hatch proposals submitted for S-1007 group should have project objectives identical top the groups objectives. Specific sub-objectives can be listed under.
·
9:15 am
· Milford Hanna asked the group to think about the committee to organize the rewrite. He reviewed agenda for the station reports in the morning and in the afternoon. The reports will be scheduled alphabetically starting with Arkansas. Reports from station representatives leaving early will be accommodated. Any information submitted can be posted in the groups website at: www.egr.msu.edu.bio

9:20 am to 12:00 noon
· The following station reports were made by the respective representatives. Arkansas; California; South Carolina; Florida; Illinois; Indiana; Kansan; Kentucky; Louisiana; Washington; Michigan; Maryland; Minnesota; North Dakota; Oklahoma; and Oregon.

1:00 pm
· Carmela Bailey discussed the proposal for the S1007 group members to be part of the review team for USDA/DOE Biomass Initiative research projects. There are 15 funded projects which are ready fro site visits and review. Milford Hanna (and University of Nebraska) will coordinate the site review by interested members of the S-1007 group.
· A list of these funded projects was distributed and the members were asked to indicate their preference to serve as site visit review team. The team will consists of 2 to 3 team members plus 1 USDA person.

1:45 pm  3:30 pm
· Five Breakout sessions were held with the following serving as the team leaders: Sue Nokes  Feed Stock; Julie Carrier Biofuels; Dwayne Johnson  Biomaterials; Bernie Tao  Biorefinery; and Mark Worden Education and Training.
· Following the presentation of the breakout session summaries a second round of small group discussions were held. The following team leaders were assigned the task of identifying a potential title for a project proposal: Ray Huhnke  Biomass handling; Julie Maupin Furlow  Microbial conversion; Dwayne Johnson  Biomaterials; and Bernie Tao  Thermochemical Conversion.

Friday, October 1

8 am
· Dr. Chen introduced Mike Harrington  Western Association of Experimental Station Director.
· Five projects were introduced: Project 1: Research cooperation  faculty on DOE advisory board are invited for review panels, Project 2: Extension and Outreach  deployment, 2A greater energy efficiency in homes, 2B alternative energy services; Project 3: Youth education in science/technology; Project 4: Engage research capacity; Project 5: Gap analysis  enhance cooperation between federal depts.
9 am
· Dr. Hanna suggested ideas for future meetings. Idea session on proposal development needed. Dr. Womack suggests 2-3 standard slides for future station presentations including objectives met and key impacts of work. Other suggestions included bringing a copy of the written reports and slide handouts to give to group beforehand to be more effective in creating collaboration, etc.
· Terry Walker will be the group chair in 2005 with Sundaram Gunasekaran serving as vice chair/treasurer. Sundaram will then become chair in 2006. Kent Rauch was elected secretary for 2005, vice chair/treasurer in 2006 and chair in 2007.
· Kent agreed to writing the terminal report and presiding over initiating continuation of S1007 for the next 5-year term if the group chooses to do so at the 2007 meeting.
· The future meeting places were then determined: Knoxville/Oak Ridge with tours of the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab with probable dates of Sept. 19-20, 2005; Minneapolis with tours of University of Minnesota and surrounding biomass industries was chosen for 2006; and Illinois/Peoria was chosen for 2007 meeting.

9:30 am
· State section reports continued with Oregon  Dr. Penner: biosaccharification, cellulases, exoenzymes with tubular active site; Oklahoma State Univeristy  Dr. Huhnke: Grassohol project update; South Dakota  Dr. Gibbons: SFE, PHA project; Tennessee - Dr. Womak: pretreatment and harvesting processes  physical properties and stress analysis; Washington  Dr. Chen: algal bioprocessing and two-stage acid hydrolysis pretreatment; Utah  Dr. Taylor: cellulases and associated bioprocesses.

11:30 am
· Dr. Hanna made closing statements and Dr. Chen expresses thanks to service of Dr. Hanna for this meeting and as the Chair of the group during the past year.
· Meeting adjourned at noon.

Accomplishments

Objective 1. Reduce the cost of harvesting, handling, storing and transporting biomass increasing the competitiveness of biomass as a feedstock for biofuels, biomaterials and biochemicals.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Feedstock quantification and characterization.<br /> <br /> (Mississippi) Miscanthus floridulus (giant miscanthus) and M. sinesis (Chinese maidengrass), Pennisetum lolium (Japanese foxtail) and P. purpurea (elephantgrass), Sorghum halpense (Johnsongrass) and S. vulgare (sorghum-sudangrass), Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern gamagrass) Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), and Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) were planted and yields indicated that 90-day harvest cycle probably would result in highest yields and sustainability. Greater harvest frequency caused decline in all species survivability, especially under rain-fed conditions. Ash was high (8%), and caloric potentials were similar at between 3500 and 3900 cal/g of material. The species that showed the greatest yield potential were giant miscanthus, elephantgrass, sorghum-sudangrass; and switchgrass. Switchgrass planted on a 3 ac plot yielded 7.2 tons/ac. The switchgrass can be pelletized but the expense is greater than cubing which will be investigated further. These species were subjected to sequential weathering to determine compositional changes in the standing but frost-killed crop. Yield loses varied by species with switchgrass and giant miscanthus retaining most of their yield (20% loss) after 30 days. Potassium loss was greatest during the first 30 days of weathering. Maximum yields were achieved with 150 lbs/A of nitrogen. Maximum yields are reached by mid-August, but a harvest at this date would compromise plant survival.<br /> <br /> Kansas State is researching grain sorghum as an economically viable crop for biobased products and bioenergy.<br /> <br /> Task 2. Harvest, process and handling.<br /> <br /> (UC Davis) Up to 50% dry matter loss occurred in unprotected rice straw bales in open storage, implying 8 to 12% overall loss for typical open stacks in California and higher costs compared to storage under permanent cover. Modeling and experimental efforts are underway to investigate chemical and biochemical mechanisms of spontaneous combustion in stored rice straw and other biomass materials. <br /> <br /> Work at the University of Kentucky showed that by collecting the fractions of the corn stover with the highest glucose-release potential (the cobs and 74% of the leaves and husks) and leaving the remaining fraction (26% of the leaves and husks, and the stalks) in the field for erosion control, the glucose potential of the collected biomass could increase by 21%.<br /> <br /> (Univ. of Tennessee) Switchgrass stem cross-sections failed with ultimate shearing stresses that were one-fifth the magnitude of ultimate tensile stresses, thereby indicating that shear-dominant size reduction equipment would be much more efficient than tensile-dominant size reduction processes. Mean shear strength was relatively unaffected by moisture content and elapsed time after harvest. Mean tensile strength increased as mean moisture content decreased from about 60 to 10 % wet basis, and tensile strength increased two-fold with a corresponding increase in elapsed time after harvest ranging from 2 to 386 h. This indicated that tensile-dominant size reduction should be conducted early in the harvest process and at a high moisture content to minimize energy consumption for grinding. A gradual decline in stover moisture, from an initial moisture content of about 50 to 70 % (w.b.) for the 25 % (w.b.) grain harvest, exhibited diurnal variation of about 8 % (w.b.). An occasional precipitation event typically resulted in stover moisture reaching original levels from as low as 15 % (w.b.). Combined stalks often had moisture 20 % (w.b.) less than mown stalks. Among the stover components, vertical stalks had the greatest wet mass followed by leaf and husk. Mass and moisture variation of above-ground plant components exhibited two moisture-reduction trends. The first trend was a period of rapid reduction. The second trend was a gradual reduction and stabilization of moisture. Stalk section below the typical ear generally had increased wet mass and dry matter. Wet mass and moisture content of stalks were not significantly influenced by the observed soil and environmental parameters. On an average, the bottom 1 to 4 stalk sections had 66±3% of total wet mass, and 61±3% of total dry matter.<br /> <br /> Task 3. (No report.)<br /> <br /> Objective 2. Expand the scientific knowledge leading to significant economic improvements in biofuel production processes.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Pretreatment for bioconversion processes.<br /> <br /> The University of Kentucky characterized the specific cellulase activity and thermostability derived from solid-state cultivation of thermophilic anaerobic bacteria. Direct measurement of cellulase from SSC cultures was not accomplished due to the strong binding of the cellulose binding domain. Unlike liquid cultivations, the substrate was still present for cellulase adsorption, rendering cellulase separation incomplete. Therefore, an indirect measurement of cellulase activity was conducted by measuring the saccharifying ability of the SSC cultures on new substrate. The maximum measured cellulase activities were 0.003 and 0.01 IU/ml at 37 and 60°C for Avicel; and 0.013 and 0.046 IU/ml at 37 and 60°C for paper sludge as compared to values of 0.012 to 0.1 reported in the literature for liquid production.<br /> <br /> Economic analyses of cellulase enzyme production costs indicated unit costs of $15.67/kg enzyme and $40.36/kg enzyme, for the SSC and SmF methods, respectively, compared to a market price of $36.00/kg.<br /> <br /> (Louisiana State Univ.) The effectiveness of AFEX pretreatment and the LSU process were tested. This LSU process is currently proprietary. The effectiveness of the treatment was monitored using the ability of the commercial enzyme cocktail to produce glucose from the treated materials. For enzyme test, sample loading was approximately 1% (w/v) in phosphate buffer solution. Crude cellulases from T. viride (Sigma Co., Cat. No. C-2274) were used. Currently, the LSU process appears to be a rapid, low temperature, economic method for pretreatment of biomass cellulosics. Within 40 min lignins are separated from cellulose giving a stream containing recoverable chemicals and a pre-swollen cellulosic pulp that easily digested with cellulases. With simultaneous fermentation, theoretical yields of ethanol were produced.<br /> <br /> A second approach was to modify the enzyme process to produce initially, only cellobiose, rather than glucose. Currently we are selecting cellulolytic organisms that produce low levels of ±-glucosidase. A cellobiose source will give the opportunity of sugar modification to other products.<br /> <br /> By middle of 2005 we plan to have an operational pilot system running to study technology and economics for bagasse to ethanol technology. Concurrently we will be working on alternative products from cellulosic biomass.<br /> <br /> <br /> Task 2. Biological conversion processes.<br /> <br /> University of Illinois researchers obtained corn, ground corn, beer, wet grains, syrup and DDGS samples from 9 dry grind plants. Concentrations of most elements were about 3 times those of corn, due to disappearance of starch during fermentation. Concentrations of Na, K and P were much higher in syrup than in wet grains.<br /> <br /> Corn protein content was 8.9 g/100 g. There were no effects of plant or week on corn protein content. Protein contents were 33.1 and 19.1 g/100 g for wet grains and syrup, respectively.<br /> <br /> Phosphorus levels were 3 times higher in DDGS than in corn. High phosphorus levels may become a limiting factor on demand and use of DDGS. Based on chemical characterization of 23 elements in various streams in several dry grind plants, we found no elements exceeded safe or recommended levels. Phosphorus was the only one of concern. Samples were taken at 23 locations in three plants and analyzed for total phosphorus content. Flow of phosphorus was simulated using a computer model for a 2,700 tonne/day plant. Steepwater, gluten and process water contained most of the phosphorus, with CGF steepwater having the most (5,380 g/kg).<br /> <br /> Ground corn was mixed with water and fermented for 72 h at 32°C to yield 37.4 ± 0.8 g ethanol/100 g corn by a gravimetric technique and 35.1 ± 3.1 g ethanol/100 g corn by an HPLC technique.<br /> <br /> To determine effects of corn flour particle size on sugar profile and ethanol yield, a 2L laboratory dry grind procedure was developed. Mash was subjected to addition of ±-amylase (0.24 to 2.4 mg/g corn) and glucoamylase (0.575 to 3.45 mg/g corn); liquefaction (80 to 110°C) and saccharification (50 to 65°C) temperatures; solids content of mash (20 to 35%) and yeast inoculum (5 to 60 ml). The optimized procedure was reproducible with low standard deviation.<br /> <br /> Hybrids were classified according to kernel density and evaluated for sugar profiles and ethanol yields, after saccharification and fermentation, respectively. True density varied from 1,118 to1,218 kg/m3. As hardness varied, ethanol yield varied by 1.89% (v/v) among hybrids. Sugars produced were found to be higher for hard endosperm corn.<br /> <br /> Presence of Aflatoxin B1 altered ethanol yields using the small scale lab dry grind procedure.<br /> <br /> (Mississippi) Clostridium ljungdahlii, C. acetobutilicum, and C. thermoaceticium cultures were evaluated for their ability to convert CO2, H2, and CO into acetic acid and ethanol. One culture had the ability to grow at a high rate with CO as it sole carbon source and produce ethanol. It is being investigated to determine the optimal nutrient composition for growth and ethanol production. Numerous syngas fermenters have and are being screened using a novel isolation approach. Using Winogradsky columns, organisms capable of converting CO2, H2, and CO into acetic acid or ethanol were allowed to establish themselves in a biofilm, and then samples were taken and used to inoculate microcosms for further enrichment of the organisms. The rate of CO2 and H2 consumption resulted in a vacuum being created within the vessels and resulted in a loss of anaerobic conditions and subsequent loss of CO2 and H2 consumption. This was overcome through recent improvements in anaerobic cultivation techniques that have resulted in the prevention of air and more importantly O2 entering the system and providing the microorganisms with 26 times more CO2 and H2. To date, 15 Winogradsky columns have been prepared using a variety of sources of microorganisms ranging from deeply anaerobic sediments to animal manures. Additionally, a novel dynamically charged column assembly has been designed and will be tested. This new system should provide the ecological conditions to culture improved isolates with better chemical production capabilities. The hyperthermophiles continue to show great promise but require more research to optimize growth and ethanol production. Isolation of syngas fermenters has been improved significantly with improvements to culturing techniques and gas management techniques.<br /> <br /> Researchers at the University of Florida have developed an integrated approach for the metabolic engineering of new biocatalysts for the conversion of renewable biomass to fuels and other value added chemicals. Bacterial strains have been engineered for the homogeneous production of acetic acid, L-lactic acid, D-lactic acid, and pyruvic acid in mineral salts medium at 80 to 90 % of theoretical yield (50 g per liter). To enhance microbial tolerance to the high-level formation of these products, levels of cellular osmoprotectants have been enhanced via genetic engineering and medium supplementation. Modifications and improvements continue to be made on ethanologenic strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiela oxytoca to enhance the conversion of xylan and cellulose derived oligosaccharides to ethanol in the absence of enzyme supplementation. In addition, a new strain of Bacillus sp. (strain 17C5) has been isolated that grows readily at pH 5.0, 50°C. Under these conditions, the strain ferments sugar cane bagasse hemicellulose, hydrolyzed by dilute H2SO4 and supplemented with mineral salts and 0.5% corn steep liquor, to L(+)-lactic acid at 89% theoretical yield with an optical purity of 99.5%. A genetic exchange system has been developed for this strain with the goal of inserting metabolic genes to channel the intracellular pools of pyruvate to ethanol and other useful fermentation products. With this same goal, a synthetic Gram-positive ethanol operon has been constructed that enables high-level production and activity of Sarcina ventriculi pyruvate decarboxylase and Geobacillus stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes in diverse Gram-positive bacteria including species of Bacillus and Corynebacterium. Production of recombinant pyruvate decarboxylase activity also has been engineered into extreme haloarchaea which grow at 2  5 M salt. Through the cloning and characterization of several new bacterial pyruvate decarboxylase genes, a novel subfamily of Gram-positive bacterial genes are anticipated to facilitate decarboxylation and carboligation reactions required for production of value added chemicals including flavor additives and (R)- phenyacetylcarbinol, a central intermediate of pharmaceutical ephedrine and pseudoephedrine production. In addition, a large cluster of Gram-positive genes have been cloned and sequenced that are involved in the metabolism of xylans and xyloglucuronic acid.<br /> Task 3. Development of improved thermochemical processes for biofuel production.<br /> <br /> (Mississippi) A Community Power Corp. down-draft gasifier was used to convert soft and hardwood chips to syngas. The gasifier ran consistently and control of the fire-front was at the appropriate level. The output temperature is a key control parameter for the gasification system and this temperature was consistent throughout several test trials. Syngas quality was consistent after the unit has reached the warmed-up condition. Changes in flow rate had minimal effect on the output. CO2 levels were 21 to 25 mol percent, methane levels were from 3 to 4 mol percent, and H2 levels 16 to 18 mol percent. O2 levels can run as high as 18 mol percent, but commonly run in the 13 to 14 percent range.<br /> <br /> (UC Davis) Mineral phase relationships were explored for wood and straw ash separately and in fuel blends over temperatures from 500 to 1300°C. Addition of rice straw to a predominantly wood based fuel caused a marked freezing point depression in the liquidus temperature from above 2000°C to below 1260°C. However, fuel blends containing more than 30% ash from rice straw exhibited enhanced retention of potassium in solid slag, reducing the volatile fraction potentially contributing to heat exchanger fouling. Agglomeration of bed media in fluidized beds was restricted for fuel blends containing less than 8% rice straw, allowing use in commercial systems without further fuel pretreatment such as leaching. Studies were initiated on coupling an anaerobic digester to a thermal gasification system for syngas treatment and fuel gas enhancement through syngas and biogas blending. Experiments were designed to investigate the impacts of tar and producer gas on digester function and operation. Phytoremediation techniques are being developed for producing biomass for bioenergy and bioproducts from agricultural lands that are drainage impaired and have high salt contents. Properties of this biomass are being investigated, as are thermo- and biochemical conversion and manufacturing of particle boards and other products. Statewide assessments of biomass in California were completed including surveys of bioenergy producers in the state. Large undeveloped resource exists within the agricultural, forestry, and urban sectors. Biogasification of various organic solid wastes studies using an APS-Digester at thermophilic temperatures yielded methane production potentials of 292, 284, 431, and 138 L/kgVS fed for animal bedding, green waste, food waste, and dairy manure, respectively, and mixed waste yielded 282 L/kgVS fed. Biogas yield of onion waste was 340 - 470 L / kg VS fed, with methane yields ranging from 50 - 80%. The APS-Digester is being scaled up to a pilot scale facility of 3 tons per day capacity and a commercial scale of 25 tons per day. A two-stage anaerobic fermentation process is being developed to produce hydrogen and methane gases from food processing wastes. Cheese permeate and fruit processing wastes are being studied as feedstocks. Batch experiments showed that the anaerobic digester sludge was a good innoculum for both feedstocks. The hydrogen yield and organic acid production from each feedstock in the first stage fermentation have been determined. <br /> <br /> (Oklahoma State Univ.) The effect of biomass moisture content (mc) on gasification operating parameters and hence producer gas composition, was studied. Switchgrass was harvested at approximately 35% mc (w.b). Bales were dried and gasified in the fluidized bed gasifier at lower mc. Elevated biomass mc decreased the operating temperature by as much as 100oC for a 20% change in mc. The decreased operating temperature altered the composition of the producer gas, i.e. CO and H2 concentrations were lowered by 30-40% when mc was increased from 9% to 29%. Changes in the quantity of ash, tar, and water produced did not seem to show specific patterns with changes in mc.<br /> In an effort to understand and optimize the operation of the fluidized bed gasifier, a full-scale plexiglass model of the gasifier was built and used to study the fluidization process. Feedstocks studied were a switchgrass, bermudagrass, and corn fermentation waste. Baffles were added to the reactor bed in an effort to simulate the added electric heating coils being used for pyrolysis and steam gasification.<br /> <br /> Use of gasifier-generated producer gas in fermentation studies also has continued. Producer gas is being cleaned, cooled, and compressed into storage tanks. It is then used in a bioreactor during fermentation to determine how well the microorganisms can grow and produce ethanol and other value-added products.<br /> <br /> Four-liter bioreactor studies on syngas for the fluidized bed gasifier did not kill the cells but cell growth stopped. The cell decline observed in the bioreactor agreed with a model suggesting no growth and loss of non-growing cells from the exit stream of the bioreactor. These results demonstrate that cell recycle is necessary. Ethanol production increased following exposure to producer gas, whereas hydrogen consumption stopped immediately. Preliminary results suggest that nitric oxide may be the inhibitorperhaps directly interacting with the hydrogenase enzyme. This result demonstrates that nitric oxide, if the inhibitor, must be removed from the producer gas prior to entering the bioreactor. Acetylene, oxygen, ethylene, and methane at the concentrations found in the producer gas did not interfere with cell growth. These results suggest that gas cleanup following gasification may not need to be applied extensively - just some minor cleanup such as removing nitric oxide. <br /> <br /> Objective 3. Develop, evaluate, and optimize integrated processes to convert biomass resources into biomaterials with commercial applications.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Raw feedstock evaluation.<br /> <br /> (Louisiana State University) The thermal characteristics of (TGA) for cellulose, lignin, raw bagasse fiber, and bagasse fibers were determined by thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry profiles. Higher content of cellulose and lower content of lignin resulted in higher onset degradation temperature, higher peak rate of decomposition, and lower residual weight. The onset decomposition temperature and peak rate of weight loss indicated that higher content of cellulose occurred in the bagasse fiber treated with 1.5 to 2N NaOH for 1.5 to 2h.<br /> <br /> The Univ. of Minnesotas Center for Biorefining has a number of projects related to converting biomass to fuels and materials. The Center also is discussing a possible collaboration on microwave pyrolysis/liquefaction with researchers in Norway.<br /> <br /> The University of Nebraska is continuing its efforts to improve the starch acetylation process and to characterize acetylated starch blended with native starch, fibers, other biodegradable polymers and synthetic polymers. Some of our most recent results include<br /> preparing starch acetate nanocomposite foams with four organoclays (Cloisite 30B, 10A, 25A, and 20A) by melt-intercalation methods. XRD results indicated the extents of intercalation depended on the types of organoclay and were exhibited in the sequence of Cloisite 30B>10A>25A>20A. SEM results indicated a decrease in cell size in the starch acetate foam matrix with the addition of nanoclay. Glass transition temperature and onset temperatures of thermal degradation increased with the addition of organoclay into starch acetate matrix. The incorporation of organoclays decreased significantly the compressibilities of starch acetate nanocomposites and did not substantially affect their spring indices. <br /> <br /> Task 2. Methodologies for producing biomaterials.<br /> <br /> (University of Illinois) Modified dry grind processes (QG, QGQF and E-Mill) increased ethanol concentration by 8 to 27%, reduced fiber content of DDGS 24 to 81% and increased protein content of DDGS 26 to 105%, relative to the conventional dry grind process.<br /> <br /> Elutriation (air separation) and classification techniques were developed to remove fiber from DDGS.<br /> <br /> At the University of Kentucky, an extractive process utilizing a heavy solvent to directly convert biomass, was used to convert red and white oak into heavy liquids (pitches), chemical feedstocks (phenols, cresols, and oxygenates), and carbon materials. With biomass conversion levels of 99%, the solvent loss was 36%. A decrease in solvent loss resulted in a lower conversion rate. Continuing research is focused on finding operating conditions where an economical balance between biomass conversion and solvent is achieved.<br /> <br /> In an effort to reduce the cost of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) South Dakota State Univ. scientists conducted 3L bioreactor trials with Pseudomonas putida KT2442 and basal condensed corn solubles (CCS) medium, with agitation of 300-500 rpm and aeration of 2 L/L/min to maintain 30% of the maximum dissolved oxygen level during exponential phase. Variables include carbon sources (glucose, glycerol, corn oil, and soapstock), fed-batch additions of carbon sources, ammonia supplementation, and carbon:nitrogen ratios. Findings thus far indicate the 400 g/L level of CCS was optimal, and that glucose and organic acids (acetic, lactic) were utilized before glycerol. Corn oil, glycerol, and soapstock can be added effectively during stationary phase to boost PHA production. In these trials P. putida yielded over 30 g/L cell mass and 24% of the cell mass was PHA. Researchers previously reported cell yields of 173 g/L, consisting of 30% PHA, in high cell density fed-batch bioreactor trials with oleic acid as the carbon source. Future trials will focus on PO4 and NH4 supplementation feeding strategies, and cell recycling methods to obtain high cell density for PHA accumulation. Dual stage carbon feeding (e.g., glucose/soapstock) will be evaluated. PHA was extracted from the cell pellets using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO2, with 15% ethanol modifier at 60°C and 9000 psi.<br /> <br /> Task 3. Biomaterial applications.<br /> <br /> Kansas States research focus was on improving flexibility of biobased resins from poly(lactic acids) and starch for wide range applications; fundamental research on grain/plant polymers and materials, and applying the knowledge to biobased products for the future; and commercial feasibility testing of a soy adhesive.<br /> (Louisiana State University) Composite weight (planar density) and thickness influenced bagasse/PP, kenaf/PP composite acoustical performances (ASTM E 1050). Larger composite weight and thickness enhanced sound absorption. In general, the bagasse and ramie composites had very similar acoustic performances, and both were superior to the kenaf composite. <br /> <br /> With a greater concern for environmental protection, it is more and more important for automakers to improve recyclability of newly produced vehicles. Recycling auto interior parts is a major barrier to improving vehicle recyclability. Use of natural fibers for producing biobased nonwoven composites for auto interiors could remove this barrier. This research promotes utilization of U.S. agricultural fibrous residues and other fiber crops for automotive interior parts production and investigates new processing technologies that can be adopted to enhance the biobased material performance and to lower production cost.<br /> <br /> (Univ. of Nebraska) High quality textile fibers were extracted from corn stover. The traditional methods of fiber extraction hydrolyzed the corn stover, making the fibers too short and too weak for textile applications. A unique process was developed to extract fiber bundles from corn residues with the length, strength and elongation required for textile applications. Characterizations of fibers and textiles are on going.<br /> <br /> Cellulose fibers extracted from corn stalk were blended with starch acetate to make biodegradable packaging foams. Starch acetate was blended with treated fiber in concentrations of 0, 2, 6, 10 and 14 % (w/w) and extruded in a twin-screw extruder with 12 to 18 % ethanol content as a plasticizer and 5 % talc as a nucleating agent. The samples were extruded at 150 C and selected physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. Fiber incorporation at lower concentrations enhanced the physical properties of the extruded foams. Fiber contents greater than 10 % decreased expansion. Good compatibility between starch and corn fiber was observed.<br /> <br /> Objective 4. Expand the scientific knowledge for development of processes and systems for economical production of biobased speciality chemicals from agricultural feedstocks and residues.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Task 1. Biochemical Identification Characterization and Separation from Biofeedstocks.<br /> <br /> University of Arkansas focus was on energy crops that contain valuable phytochemicals. The idea is to extract phytochemicals prior to or in combination with the dilute acid pretreatment step during enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol. HPLC and MS analyses of methanolic kudzu foliage extracts confirmed the presence of 0.65 % ± 0.16 robinin (kaempferol-3-O-robinoside-7-O-rhamnoside). One mg of FPLC fractionated robinin generated ORAC values of 5.15 ± 2.00 umol/mg Trolox, while one mg of pure robinin generated ORAC values of 12.34 ± 0.45 umol/mg Trolox. Compounds found in the methanol-soluble fraction of A. julibrissin foliage (mimosa) were an unknown quercetin derivative with mass of 610 daltons, hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside), and quercitrin (quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside). The quercetin glycosides accounted for 2.3% of total foliage mass and contributed 85% of total antioxidant activity of the A julibrissin foliage.<br /> <br /> South Dakota State Univ. focused on recovering high value phytochemicals from DDGS. We have recovered and characterized the oil products from DDGS. We have also established a procedure to refine these products for human consumption. In the future, we have plans to study the phytochemical profiles of these products and also the most economical means of recovering these oil products.<br /> <br /> (Univ. of Nebraska) Lipid material (a waxy fraction and an oily fraction) was recovered by hexane extraction of grain sorghum kernels, flour and dried distillers grains (DDG). Waxy fraction yields of 0.16-0.31% (w/w) were observed for 86 commercial grain sorghum hybrids from 1993-1997 seasons and have remained consistent since then. Waxy fraction yields from 1996 hybrids grown in Nebraska were lower than yields from other years and were attributable to weather conditions. <br /> <br /> Long-chained lipids (LCL) composition mg/100g,w/w,db in waxy fractions of unpolished grain sorghum, polished grain sorghum, brown rice, purple rice, whole wheat, flint maize were 223,36.6,32.9,61.2,9.6,9.7 respectively. As would be expected the LCL concentration in DDG was higher than in whole kernel due to the concentration effect of removing the starch.<br /> <br /> Long-chained alcohols or policosanols are a broad group of lipid plant compounds which are effective in limiting oxidation, lowering LDL cholesterol in blood and enhancing ergogenic (endurance) effects on muscle tissue. Approximately 1 kg of policosanols can be recovered from a tonne of DDG. <br /> <br /> Ongoing work expects to further understand the effects of extraction process parameters on the composition of hexane extract, to assess the levels of tocols (Viatamin E compounds) and phytosterols in the oily fractions, to further develop purification methods for lipid fractions and to screen parent lines of grain sorghum for variation in the constituent lipids.<br /> <br /> Task 2. Process Development.<br /> <br /> (UC Davis) Variables for Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation, including vacuum application, photoperiod, surfactant and cell density, were investigated for optimizing transient expression of recombinant protein in leaf tissue. The optimal produced 0.16% recombinant protein, which was 10 times greater than reported levels in transgenic corn seed produced commercially. Protein extraction methods from leaf tissue are being investigated.<br /> <br /> Transient recombinant protein expression using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation appears to be a technology that can potentially be scaled up to produce high-value proteins. It provides safety and environmental advantages compared to other plant-based expression systems because no transgenic crop or vector is exposed to the environment and the possibility of animal or human consumption is eliminated.<br /> <br /> A new multidisciplinary research center, the Center for Nanostructured Biomimetic Interfaces (CNBI) was established at Michigan State University (MSU). The CNBI is combining biotechnology with nanotechnology to develop new enzyme- and cell-based processes for the biomedical and biobased-products industries. Research applications include development of biological fuel cells and reactors that use electricity to drive enzymatic reactions. A new 150 L bioreactor is being installed for process scale-up. <br /> <br /> Task 3. Product Application.<br /> <br /> Stability of grain sorghum waxy fraction or its resistance to oxidation of during storage needs to be established in order to be viable in certain industrial uses such as a polishing wax. Little change was observed in waxy fraction composition and melting point during 5 months of storage in dark at room temperature at the Univ. of Nebraska. Slight but insignificant oxidation of aldehydes to acids was observed during 5 months of storage in sunlight or in dark at elevated temperature.<br /> <br /> Objective 5. Identify needed educational materials, develop those materials in distance based delivery methods and develop a trained work force to support a biobased products industry.<br /> <br /> Task 1. (No report.)<br /> <br /> Task 2. Development of an Advisory Board for the National Resource Center.<br /> <br /> Univ. of Minnesota, Kansas State, South Dakota State and Iowa State, are forming an education consortium in biobased products and bioenergy area.<br /> <br /> At the University of Kentucky, work is being done to develop and distributevirtual tours of an ethanol and a biodiesel production facility in an effort to raise awareness about the need and advantages of renewable fuels. The target audience will be both the general public and state and local government officials. UK also is offering a graduate level class on biorenewables.<br /> <br /> A multi-state consortium including Idaho, Washington State University, and MSU began developing new curricular material related to biorefineries. This work is being sponsored by a USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant entitled, Biorefinery Process Analysis and Design. A white paper developed by the S-1007 Objective V subgroup entitled, Educational Initiatives for a Biobased Economy was sent to Dr. Jim Fischer and Dr. Ian Maw.<br /> <br /> The U of Minnesotas Initiative for Renewable Energy and Environment funded more than 35 projects in the past year. These projects ranged from biomass production to conversion technology, from genomics to increase biomass yield to environment and economy assessments. IREE and the (co) sponsored, and participated in:<br /> <br /> · Energy Alley presents Minnesota's Renewable Energy Research: Status & Opportunities (Nov. 14, 2003)<br /> · Biorefining Video Conference (June 17, 2004)<br /> · The Third Crop Conference<br /> · Research Symposium (Nov. 18, 2004)<br /> <br /> IREE also is coordinating a seminar by Chemrec, an European company developing technology to convert paper mills black liquors to transportation fuels. <br />

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles:<br /> Belyea, R.L., K. D. Rausch and M.E. Tumbleson. 2004. Composition of corn and distillers dried grains with solubles from dry grind ethanol processing Biores. Technol. 94:293-298.<br /> <br /> Calvo, L.R., M. Otero, B.M. Jenkins, A. Moran and A.I. Garcia. 2004. Heating process characteristics and kinetics of rice straw in different atmospheres. Fuel Processing Technology 85:279-291.<br /> Chen, Y., O. Chiparus, L. Sun, I. Negulescu, D.V. Parikh and T.A. Calamari. 2004. Waste bagasse for production of nonwoven composites. International Sugar Journal. 106(2): 86-92.<br /> <br /> Crofcheck, C. L. and M. D. Montross. 2004. Effect of stover fraction on glucose production using enzymatic hydrolysis. Trans. ASAE. 47(3):841-844.<br /> <br /> Datar, R.P., R.M. Shenkman, B.G. Cateni, R.L. Huhnke, and R.S. Lewis. 2004. Fermentation of Biomass-Generated Producer Gas to Ethanol. Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 86(5):587-594.<br /> <br /> Dien, B.S., N. Nagel, V. Singh, R.A. Moreau, M.P. Tucker, N.N. Nichols, D.B. Johnston, M.A. Cotta, K.B. Hicks, N. Quang and R.J. Bothast. 2004. Fermentation of quick fiber produced from a modified corn milling process into ethanol and recovery of corn fiber oil. Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 115:937-949.<br /> Duan, L., D.J. Carrier and E. Clausen . 2004. Extraction of health beneficial compounds from milk thistle using hot/liquid water. Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 114:559-568.<br /> <br /> Ganjyal, G. and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Effects of extruder die nozzle dimensions on expansion and micrographic characteristics of acetylated starch. Starke. 56(3-4):108-117.<br /> <br /> Ganjyal, G.M., Reddy, N., Yang, Y. and Hanna M.A. 2004. Biodegradable packaging foams of starch acetate blended with corn stalk fibers. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 93(6): 2627-2633.<br /> <br /> Guan, J., K. Eskridge and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Functional properties of extruded acetylated starch-cellulose foams. J. of Polymers and the Environment. 12(3): 113-121.<br /> <br /> Guan. J., Q. Fang and M.A. Hanna. 2004. Marcomolecular characteristics of starch acetate extruded with natural fibers. Trans. of ASAE. 47(1):205-212.<br /> <br /> Johnston, D.B. and V. Singh. 2004. Enzymatic milling of corn: optimization of soaking, grinding and enzyme incubation steps. Cereal Chem. 81:626-632.<br /> <br /> Kohli, N., P.R. Dvornic, S.N. Kaganove, R.M. Worden, and I. Lee. 2004. Nanostructured cross-linkable micropatterns via amphiphilic dendrimer stamping. Macromolecular Rapid Communications. 25:935941.<br /> <br /> Lau, S., D.J. Carrier, L. Howard, J. Lay, J. Archambault and E. Clausen . 2004. Extraction of antioxidant compounds from energy crops. Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 114:569-584. <br /> <br /> Maupin-Furlow, J. A., M. A. Gil, I. M. Karadzic, P. A. Kirkland, and C. J. Reuter. 2004. Proteasomes: perspectives from the archaea [update 2004]. Front Biosci. 9:1743-1758.<br /> <br /> Montross, M. D. and C. Crofcheck. 2004. Effect of stover fraction and storage method on glucose production during enzymatic hydrolysis. Bioresource Tech. 92:269-274.<br /> <br /> Patel, M., M. Ou, L.O. Ingram, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2004. Fermentation of sugar cane bagasse hemicelluose hydrolysate to L(+)-lactic acid by a thermotolerant acidophilic Bacillus sp. Biotechnol. Lett. 26:865-868.<br /> Rausch, K.D., C.I. Thompson, R.L. Belyea and M.E. Tumbleson. 2003. Characterization of light gluten and light steep water from a wet milling plant. Biores. Technol. 90:49-54.<br /> <br /> Singh, V. and D.B. Johnston. 2004. An enzymatic process for corn wet milling. Adv. Food and Nutr. Res. 48:151-171. <br /> Singh, V., D.B. Johnston, R.A. Moreau, K.B. Hicks, B.S. Dien, and R.J. Bothast. 2003. Pre-treatment of wet-milled corn fiber to improve recovery of corn fiber oil and phytosterols. Cereal Chem. 80:118-122.<br /> <br /> Shukla, V.B., S. Zhou, L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, J.F. Preston, and L.O.Ingram. 2004. Production of D(-)-lactate from sucrose and molasses. Biotechnol. Lett. 26:689-693.<br /> <br /> Thorsell, S., F.M. Epplin, R.L. Huhnke and C.M. Taliaferro. 2004. Economics of a coordinated biorefinery feedstock harvest system: lignocellulosic biomass harvest cost. Biomass and Bioenergy. 27(4):327-337.<br /> <br /> Ulmer, J.D., R.L. Huhnke, D.D. Bellmer, and D.D. Cartmell. 2004. Acceptance of ethanol-blended gasoline in Oklahoma. Biomass and Bioenergy. 27(5):437-444.<br /> <br /> Underwood, S.A., M.L. Buszko, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2004. Lack of protective osmolytes limits cell growth and volumetric productivity of ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11 during xylose fermentation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:2734-2740.<br /> <br /> Other communications:<br /> <br /> Jenkins, B.M., V. Tiangco, Z. Zhang, G. Simons, G.C. Matteson, R.B. Williams, H.I. vonBernath, L. Yan and M. Gildart. 2004. Biomass energy and power development in California: resources, generation, and future potentials. Paper V8.50, Proceedings 2nd World Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry, and Climate Protection, 10-14 May 2004, Rome, Italy.<br /> <br /> Johnson, D. 2004. Canola: Applications in high performance lubricants. Encyclopedia of Plant and Crop Science.<br /> <br /> Ulmer, J., R. Huhnke, B. Parr, and D. Bellmer. 2004. Alternative Energy. Educational video. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Oklahoma State University.<br /> <br /> Theses and Dissertations:<br /> Yu, M. 2004. Ultimate strength characteristics of switchgrass stem cross-sections at representative processing conditions. Thesis - MS in Biosystems Engineering. Univ. of Tennessee. August 2004.<br /> <br /> Zhuang, J. 2004. Economic Analysis of Cellulase Production by Clostridium thermocellum in Solid State and Submerged Fermentation. Thesis. University of Kentucky. <br /> <br /> Patents:<br /> <br /> Patent disclosure filed on soy oil-based home heating fuel. Purdue University. 2003.<br /> <br /> Patent disclosure filed on urea fractionation of fatty acid methyl esters. Purdue University. 2003.<br /> <br /> Patent disclosure filed on soy-based jet aviation fuels. Purdue University. 2003.<br /> <br /> Patent disclosure filed on aqueous separation processing of lipids. Purdue University. 2003.<br />

Impact Statements

1. High losses associated with unprotected or tarped storage of rice straw in California conditions show that more permanent storage, although higher in capital cost, will typically result in lower storage costs over the life of the project, decreasing overall feedstock supply by $4-10 per dry ton and improving quality.
2. Improved control of slagging and fouling in thermochemical conversion systems will reduce operating costs and increase the range of fuel types that can be considered for these systems. Coupled thermo- and biochemical systems should reduce costs of gas cleaning while potentially improving fuel gas properties and providing additional capacity for waste treatment. Energy and products from biomass produced as part of phytoremediation programs will help offset the costs of remediation. Improved re
3. High rate anaerobic fermentation/digestion systems for waste conversion will reduce the cost of bioenergy production, making distributed energy generation more economically attractive for both rural and urban communities and also reduce the environmental impact by these waste streams.
4. Production of PHA from a low value byproduct of corn ethanol plants has the potential to dramatically improve the economics of these facilities. Moreover, since PHA is completely biodegradable, replacement of petroleum plastics with PHA will have significant environmental benefits
5. Corn contains several phytochemicals that have proven health benefits. Recovery of these phytochemicals from the corn processing stream would allow corn ethanol plants the option to sell high value nutraceutical products
6. Value-added agricultural products derived from the byproducts of biodiesel
7. At least two collaborative proposals were prepared and submitted, one to DOE and one to USDA as a result of connections made at the S 1007 meetings.

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Report Information

Participants

Arkansas (UARK): Julie Carrier (carrier@uark.edu)
California (UCDavis): Jean VanderGheynst (jsvander@ucdavis.edu)
Hawaii (UH): Qing X. Li (qingl@hawaii.edu)
Illinois (UIUC): Vijay Singh (vsingh@uiuc.edu)
M. E. Tumbleson (mtumbles@uiuc.edu)
Kent David Rausch (krausch@uiuc.edu)
Indiana: Bernard Y. Tao (tao@purdue.edu)
Kentucky (UK): Czar Crofcheck (ccrofche@bae.uky.edu)
Louisiana (LSU): Yan Chen (chenyan@lsu.edu)
Michigan (MSU): Mark Worden (worden@egr.msu.edu)
Minnesota (UMN): Roger Ruan (ruanx001@umn.edu)
Mississippi (MSU) Bill Batchelor (bbatchelor@abe.msstate.edu)
Eugene Polomba Columbus (Columbus@abe.msstate.edu)
Montana (MSU): Chengci Chen (cchen@montana.edu)
Nebraska (UN): Milford Hanna (mhanna1@unl.edu)
North Dakota: Dennis Wiesenborn (d.wiesenborn@ndsu.edu)
Oklahoma (OSU): Raymond Huhnke (rhuhnke@olstate.edu)
Mark Wilkins (mark.wilkins@okstate.edu)
Oregon (OSU): Michael Penner (mike.penner@oregonstate.edu)
South Carolina (Clemson): David Brune (debrune@clemson.edu);
Terry Walker (walker4@clemson.edu)
South Dakota (SDSU): K. Muthukumarapaan (muthukum@sdstate.edu)
Tennessee (UTK): Alvin Womac (awomac@utk.edu)
Phil Ye (xpye@mail.ag.utk.edu)
Doug Hayes (dhayes1@utk.edu)
Wisconsin (UW-Madison): Sundaram Gunasekaran (guna@wisc.edu)
ORNL (TN) and UTK: Shahab Sokhansanj sokhansanjs@ornl.gov
William David Batchelor (ORNL tour)
Mark R. Wilkins (ORNL tour)
Administrators in attendance:
Roland Mote (cmote@utk.edu), Administrative Advisor
Mark Peters  USDA, NRCS, Beltsville, MD Mark.Peters@wdc.usda.gov

Brief Summary of Minutes

Monday, September 19, 2005
08:24 Terry Walker began the meeting with 24 attending. Attendees were introduced, followed by a welcome by Roland Mote, administrative advisor. If S-1007 is to continue, members need to make a decision at this meeting and select a rewrite subcommittee. A draft rewrite will be needed at the 2006 meeting. Mote will then establish a development committee which will operate for two years until a new committee is established. Draft report should be about 3 pages and describe problems to be addressed by the committee. The development committee is a bridging mechanism; S-1007 would continue to operate. Objectives can be revised, but S-1007 has to terminate and a new number issued.
08:35 Walker reviewed the agenda and gave a project overview. A rewrite subcommittee will be formed at the meeting. Objectives were reviewed. Station reports should be brief so the S-1007 annual report can be produced easily. Walker asked station reports be 1 to 2 pages, excepting list of publications. Publications should be relevant to S-1007 objectives; format will be sent to the committee.
08:49 Mark Peters, economist, NRCS, Biomass R&D Initiative. DOE and USDA personnel were pleased with reports given by reviewers. Reports helped justify continuance of the Initiative. Peters presented background on USDAs Biomass R&D Initiative.
09:17 Thomas Klindt, Dean of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, director of experiment station, University of Tennessee gave a presentation about the Sun Grant Initiative.
09:28 Kelly Tiller, Agricultural Policy Analysis Center, University of Tennessee, presented government regulations that affect demand for biodiesel and ethanol.
09:55 Break
10:30 Meeting reconvened by Walker and station reports given (AR, CA, HI, IL, KY, LA, MN, MI, MS).
01:05 Tours of Plant Biotechnology Research and Forestry Products Research Centers.
03:05 Station reports resumed (MT, NE, ND, OR, OK).
04:23 Walker led discussion of rewrite of S-1007. One committee deliverable could be creation of vision papers or white papers relating to bioproduct issues. A subcommittee will meet this evening and report tomorrow: Obj. 1: Sohkansanj and Womac; Obj. 2: Huhnke, Penner, Hanna; Obj. 3, Chen, Ruan; Obj. 4, Carrier, Walker; Obj. 5, Tao and Worden. Objectives could be rewritten, but noted that current objectives resulted from lengthy discussion. Current objectives were agreeable to most members at the committees origin. Tao is organizing the meeting.
04:58 Station reports resumed (IN, SC, SD, TN, WI). Meeting adjourned at 5:49.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
08:12 Walker started the meeting with 25 attending and reviewed the agenda. Minutes from 04 meeting were approved. Meeting locations were discussed. For 2006, the meeting will be in the Minneapolis area; in 2007 it will be in Peoria. For 2008, may be good to return to the Southern region after being in the Midwest for 06 and 07. Motion was approved to have 2008 meeting in Washington, DC. Secretary for 2006 meeting will be Carrier (AR). Ruan will find potential tours and handle meeting logistics. Extended tour could be conducted the day before the committee meeting; tour of Nature Works, 3M discussed as possibilities. 2006 meeting dates: late September. We will meet near the same date next year unless there are major conflicts.
08:31 Presentation of Objectives by rewrite committee. Sohkansanj. Obj. 1. Develop knowledge and technologies that make the uninterrupted supply of low cost high quality biomass possible. This would: create confidence in biomass as a reliable feedstock, create technologies for a profitable business in biomass supply ventures, ensure adequate return to producers and ensure safety and health of biomass operations. This will cover collection, storage, densification, particle size reduction etc.
08:39 Hanna. Obj. 2. (divided into ethanol and biodiesel) Biodiesel. Other biofuels would be included along with lubricants. For biodiesel, Hanna has a start on a white paper. Paper could be used for project rewrite. MT and ND have been contacted already to work on this effort. MS may be helping.
08:44 Penner. Obj. 2. Ethanol. Presented draft objective that would not compete with large groups already working in this area. Will include starch to ethanol as well as cellulose to ethanol work. AR, IL, KY, OK, FL, SD are to be involved.
08:48 Ruan. Obj. 3. Biomaterials. SD, LA involved.
08:52 Carrier. Obj. 4. Biobased Chemicals. 1. value added prior to energy conversion (ex: phytochemicals). 2. valued added after (DDGS). 3. fermentations top 30, top 12. A lot of effort on 1 and 2 could increase effort on 3. 1 and 2 may focus on higher value but lower volume. Could divide into coproducts and ethanol efforts. Collaborators: NE, MN, SC, SD, OK, OR, others involved with fermentation.
08:58 Worden. Obj. 5. Education. Expertise is not focused at a single station, so someone wanting training could not go to just one location. Internet education would provide access to expertise represented by the committee. 1) Need to have picture of industrys desire for training. As a group, come up with a survey to get industry response. 2) White papers to increase awareness of the committee objectives; ways to improve education on issues related to bioproducts; Worden has a draft of paper started on educational issues and needs. Could offer a short course for industry in connection with S-1007 meeting.
09:09 Discussion of rewrite subcommittee continued. Tao requested a paragraph from each member and interest area within one week of this meeting. Integrated systems could possibly be emphasized more in the revised objectives. Transesterification is not mentioned in the current document.
09:30 Meeting adjourned for travel and tour of ORNL.

Accomplishments

<br /> Accomplishment Summary:<br /> Group progress reports completed for each objective; 94 total publications generated; more than 11 grant applications submitted; 40 contributing state projects; Objectives in rank order of activity = 2, 4, 3, 1, 5.<br /> <br /> <br /> The accomplishments listed for S1007 group initiatives based on milestones set for the five objectives are summarized in Table 1. The Group Activity Rank is based on the four milestones including completion of the annual progress report, publications, number of known grant applications from group members and number of state project involvement stated in the progress report results. A total of 94 publications, more than 11 grant applications, and 40 state project results were reported in the progress report. Based primarily on publications and state project involvement, Objectives 2, 3 and 4 had the most involvement from committee members with Objective 1 still having substantial interest, but little activity was reported for Objective 5 even though most members felt that the educational aspects were still a vital role for this committee. Perhaps increased activity in this area will result from research and educational findings based on the focus areas in the first four objectives throughout the initial 6-year term of the Project S1007. <br /> With recent incentives for bioenergy, solar energy and hydrogen initiatives stated in the 2005 congressional energy bill, the S1007 group appears to be on target for researching the appropriate areas that would ultimately begin the process of energy diversification and reduction of dependency on foreign oil, particularly in the areas of biobased, renewable fuels. Within the past year, a substantial increase in the distribution of bioethanol (in the form of E85) and biodiesel (in the form of B20) as well as a marked increase in hybrid automobile sales in the US, have demonstrated a direct public interest in these alternatives, in part as a response to the rapid increase in fuel and oil prices. Cargill-Dow has released several products on the market containing polylactic acid (PLA) in the form of packaging materials that is a result of research into new biodegradable, biobased materials related to Objective 3. Educational and promotional incentives have played a recent role nationally with an example of BioWillie biodiesel fuel intended to impact the trucking industry with promotion by the popular country singer and biofuel investor, Willie Nelson. Greater impact in the education of US citizens and the global market on sustainable and renewable energy and materials is projected to enable greater markets for these newly researched biobased materials. The S1007 group plans to modify the objectives, initiatives and milestones for the next term of this project in the final year of this term based on accomplishments and impacts summarized at the end of the term.<br />

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Objective 1. Reduce the cost of harvesting, handling, storing and transporting biomass increasing the competitiveness of biomass as a feedstock for biofuels, biomaterials and biochemicals.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Feedstock quantification and characterization.<br /> <br /> NE  University of Nebraska-Lincoln<br /> The feasibility and feedstock resources available to strategically locate soybean and bio-diesel processing facilities in Nebraska is assessed. <br /> Hazelnut oil fatty acid composition and properties were investigated in view of potential oleochemical applications. Initial analyses suggest that hazelnut oil is a potential feedstock for oleochemicals. As part of a collaborative project with the University of Montana, both winter and spring camelina are being evaluated for adaptation to the High Plains region and screened to improve adaptation at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff, NE. <br /> <br /> MN  University of Minnesota<br /> Collaborative proposal is developed to augment laboratory capabilities and resources in the general areas of biomass characterization, biochemical conversion, thermochemical conversion, effluent characterization, bio-based products manufacturing and products characterization. <br /> <br /> MT  University of Montana <br /> We evaluated sweet sorghum and sweet stem pearl millet for their adaptability to Montana environments, developed production systems to maximize biomass and sugar (ethanol) yield, and evaluated multi-product crops for potential fuel ethanol and livestock feed production. Biomass- and sugar-derived ethanol appears to be the most likely candidate for production in Montana. Lignocellulosic ethanol has a great potential in where corn grain is not available as ethanol feedstock. <br /> Economic analysis based upon crop production costs and yield stability analysis show camelina, crambe and flax to be the most stabile and profitable crops for the High Plains of Montana. Because of value, flax and crambe were eliminated from biodiesel manufacture. Flax was further eliminated due to oxidative stability. <br /> <br /> ND  North Dakota State University<br /> The mass flow rate data from a process model was linked to cost data for evaluating the economic feasibility of biodiesel production in North Dakota with canola oil as the feedstock. Capital investment cost analysis shows the presence of considerable economies of scale for the biodiesel production process. Total annual biodiesel product cost analysis shows that the major portion (>80%) of the total product cost is the raw materials cost, similar to the analysis of previous economic feasibility studies.<br /> <br /> TN - University of Tennessee<br /> Comprehensive investigation of size reduction processes of switchgrass, corn stover, wheat straw, and wood chips using electronic instrumentation of a linear knife grid and rotary knife mill, hammer mill, and disk refiner to discover low-energy input conditions to produce high-quality, pre-processed feedstock. Particle sizing and separation of size-reduced materials have the aim of providing the maximum surface area for subsequent pre-treatment and conversion, and improved process targeting of anatomical plant components based on chemical traits.<br /> <br /> LA- LSU AG Center<br /> LSU Agricultural Center has instituted a survey of available biomass resources available in the state, after holding a conference to target research and development in the state. It has also made available some start-up funds for biomass research development.<br /> A major program on utilization of sugarcane biomass is ongoing between the USDA, LSU Sugar Station and US DOE and the Audubon Sugar Institute. The USDA and Sugar Station are focusing of development and use of energy cane, high biomass producing sugarcane that will withstand cold and freeze conditions. <br /> <br /> Task 2. Harvest, process and handling.<br /> <br /> CA - UC-Davis<br /> <br /> Bioenergy policy: Planning for sustainable development and utilization of biomass resources in California was conducted through a statewide collaborative process resulting in recommendations for a number of actions in research, education, market development, feedstock access, and policy, legislation, and regulation.<br /> <br /> Spontaneous combustion of biomass in storage: Calorimetry results were analyzed to determine kinetics of rice straw oxidation under different atmospheres and at different moisture contents. Results were used in developing a model of self-heating in biological materials to predict and control onset of spontaneous combustion in storage. Model predictions suggest that straw near but below the fiber saturation point is at greatest risk. <br /> <br /> MN  University of Minnesota<br /> <br /> The Objective of this project it to define systems to collect, store, preprocess (dry and densify), and deliver biomass (corn stover, perennial grasses, or legumes) of increased density and consistent quality to end-users. Some of the factors to consider include sources, end uses, collection, processing, storage, product characteristics, environmental benefits, economics, and marketing.<br /> <br /> Objective 2. Expand the scientific knowledge leading to significant economic improvements in biofuel production processes.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Pretreatment for bioconversion processes.<br /> <br /> NE  University of Nebraska-Lincoln<br /> <br /> Oil expression tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of a novel oil expeller designed and fabricated to operate on a 200W solar photovoltaic (PV) power source. It is being tested in rural areas of Tanzania where electricity is not available.<br /> <br /> IL - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign<br /> The increasing volume of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from ethanol production is reducing its market value. High phosphorus content of DDGS could limit use in animal diets, because of animal waste disposal issues. Water removal from DDGS is a costly processing step and affects the economics of ethanol processing. Technologies to remove germ and fiber from DDGS could produce a new coproduct suitable for feeding to nonruminants; this would expand the markets for DDGS. Reducing phosphorus in DDGS would sustain markets for conventional DDGS. Development of more efficient methods of water removal would increase ethanol processing efficiency and reduce processing costs. <br /> <br /> DDGS provide income to offset costs of processing; issues that affect marketing have implications on the economic viability of dry grind plants. Two issues relate to elements in DDGS: high concentrations and excessive variation. Element concentrations were determined in primary process streams from dry grind plants. Concentrations of most elements in corn were not different among processing plants and were similar to published data. Syrup had the highest element concentrations. Appropriate processing of thin stillage (the parent stream of syrup) could reduce the element content of DDGS. Variations in element contents of DDGS and parent streams were not due to corn. <br /> <br /> Fouling of thin stillage evaporators has been identified as an energy consumption issue in dry grind facilities. Using an annular fouling apparatus, batches of thin stillage were analyzed to determine repeatability of fouling rate and induction period measurements. Dry solids, protein and ash concentrations and pH were correlated to fouling rate and induction period to determine how variation in thin stillage affects these fouling parameters. <br /> <br /> We evaluated how thin stillage pH and acid type used during pH adjustment affected fouling as measured by induction period, fouling rate and deposit composition. Concentrations of most elements, including P, Ca, Mg, Mn and K, increased with increased pH. Phosphorus was the most abundant mineral element in fouling deposits. Induction periods were similar for the two acids. Thin stillage pH had an influence on deposit concentration, fouling rate, and induction period.<br /> <br /> ND- North Dakota State University<br /> <br /> More than 36 million acres of agricultural land in the United States has been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and produce an average of 4.5 tons per acre. CRP land may be a sustainable source of biomass for biorefineries producing ethanol and other biobased chemicals. The objectives of this project are: (1) to evaluate and optimize existing pretreatment technologies for processing heterogeneous biomass from CRP areas for ethanol production; (2) to analyze the economic feasibility of producing cellulosic ethanol from CRP grasses and to determine the optimal location and size of an ethanol plant to minimize final ethanol production costs; and (3) to examine management strategies that will optimize biofuel production and that are also compatible with the current CRP program objectives.<br /> <br /> Fractionation of field peas could lead to higher value feed products while providing a supplemental feedstock to a rapidly growing corn ethanol industry. The goal of this research is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of fractionating field peas and utilizing the starch as a supplemental ethanol feedstock in North Dakota. <br /> <br /> LA- Lousiana State University Ag. Center<br /> The Audubon Sugar Institute is operating a small pilot operation, operating at high solids loading, for conversion of sugar cane bagasse to ethanol, evaluating different caustic pre-treatment methods. Also under investigation are the other potential commercial by-products that are produced as a result of the various pretreatments. <br /> <br /> TN  University of Tennessee<br /> The University of Tennessee developed processes to solubilize biomass using ionic liquids that are environmentally friendly and can be effectively recovered for process re-use. Also a millisecond catalytic converter was developed to rapidly, and efficiently to produce syngas and hydrogen. <br /> <br /> OK  Oklahoma State University<br /> Hydrothermolysis pretreatment is being applied to Alamo switchgrass at 10% solids to prepare grass for subsequent hydrolysis and fermentation. Prehydrolyzate from switchgrass treated 190°C and 20 min had the greatest xylose concentration (6.0 g/L), and all prehydrolyzates had less than 1 g/L of HMF and furfural produced. Additionally, dilute acid pretreatment is being applied to residue produced during an on-farm sweet sorghum process to prepare it for enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The effect of sorghum harvest time on the residue's susceptibility to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis is being evaluated.<br /> <br /> Task 2. Biological conversion processes.<br /> <br /> NC  North Carolina State University<br /> <br /> Protocols for pretreatment of switchgrass, enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose from switchgrass, and fermentation of the reducing sugars in the hydrolysates to produce ethanol are being established. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment is used to remove hemicellulose from switchgrass and lower the crystalinity of the grass. Alkaline pretreatment is also tested for removing lignin from the switchgrass. Microwave pretreatment is also used for lowering the cellulose crystalinity and increasing the porosity of the biomass. After each pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis is conducted with cellulase enzymes (endoglucanase, exo-glucanase, and glucocidase) to degrade the cellulose into reducing sugars. These sugars are further tested with yeast for fermentation to produce ethanol.<br /> <br /> OK  Oklahoma State University<br /> <br /> Thermotolerant yeast strains called Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB strains are being tested for use in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation processes at temperatures above 40°C to increase cellulase activity and cellulose hydrolysis rates. Also, these yeast strains have shown a limited ability to ferment xylose to ethanol. The effects of media composition, pH and temperature on xylose consumption and ethanol and xylitol production from xylose are being investigated.<br /> Inhibition of ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus due to orange peel oil was evaluated. A solution modeling enzymatic hydrolyzate of Valencia orange peel was used for fermentations. Peel oil levels equaling 0.05% (v/v) reduced ethanol production as compared to control in both yeasts. No difference between the yeasts species was observed in ethanol production (p<0.05).<br /> <br /> CA  University of California at Davis<br /> <br /> Anaerobic digestion of food waste and dairy manure was studied. Adding food waste to the dairy manure for co-digestion is recommended as an effective means to improve the dairy manure digesters. Research was also conducted with an aim to increase the rate of degradation of lignocellulosic biomass materials in anaerobic digesters. Research is now underway to perform detailed microbiological studies to improved the microbial culture used in anaerobic digestion. <br /> <br /> Saline crops and autoclaved municipal organic solid wastes were evaluated for their potential to be used as feedstock for fermentable sugar production via dilute acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. The results showed that the two grasses had the highest glucose yield (87% cellulose conversion) and fastest reaction rate during the enzyme treatment. The autoclaved municipal organic solid wastes showed reasonable glucose yield (64% cellulose conversion). Athel has higher glucose yield (60% cellulose conversion) than Eucalyptus (38% cellulose conversion). <br /> <br /> Salmon oil, a byproduct of salmon processing, was investigated as a feedstock for biodiesel production via transesterification. It was found that due to the high acid value of salmon oil, alkaline-catalyzed transesterification was not an effective method for producing the biodiesel from the salmon oil. The salmon oil biodiesel contained 26.64% saturated fatty acid methyl esters compared to 13.68% for corn oil biodiesel. Also, salmon oil biodiesel contained relatively high concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) acid methyl esters. Despite the different fatty acid contents, salmon and corn oil biodiesels had comparable physical properties. <br /> <br /> SC- Clemson University<br /> <br /> Five 4-L digesters were operated with mixtures of algal biomass (as Spirulina) and dairy manure (DM) or mixtures of algal biomass and rice hulls (RH) to investigate the impact of digester loading rate and type of carbon supplementation on gas yield and digester ammonia concentration. Both dairy manure and rice hulls were successfully demonstrated to be utilizable as a source of supplemental digester carbon. <br /> Digester effluent was used to fertilize outdoor algal cultures to evaluate the useful and recoverability of N and P from the digester effluent. The overall nitrogen recovery (from digester effluent to algal biomass) was radically different in algal reactors operated at 22 to 25 degrees C, as opposed to 29 to 30 degrees C. <br /> <br /> FL  University of Florida<br /> New E. coli strains have been recently developed that perform as well in mineral salts medium as in Luria broth, converting sugars to chirally pure lactate or ethanol, each at greater than 95% of theoretical yield. Co-products are below 1 mM each. Additional engineered strains also produce pyruvate, acetate, and other products. Most resulting strains ferment their weight in sugar to product each hour. <br /> <br /> HI  University of Hawaii<br /> <br /> Ralstonia eutropha was used to elucidate protein changes in response to organic acids how to regulate PHA metabolism and other primary metabolism as well as defense systems. A number of proteins in R. eutropha were found to be induced with 1D-PAGE and nano liquid chromatography tandem MS/MS and western blotting. With the up-regulation of proteins, a dramatic change occurred in the induction of PHA metabolism via fatty acid biosynthesis for acetate, oxidation for propionate and both for levulinic acid. Acetate kinase was induced in response to acetate and levulinic acid treatment. The three tested organic acid induced several proteins participated in amino acid biosynthesis, purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis, and cofactor biosynthesis in R. eutropha with very much variation. <br /> <br /> Task 3. Development of improved thermochemical processes for biofuel production.<br /> <br /> OK  Oklahoma State University<br /> The following are some important observations from a series of gasification experiments using switchgrass, bermudagrass, and corn fermentation waste as feedstocks.<br /> " Addition of supplemental heat significantly increased CO and H2 in the producer gas compared to air gasification.<br /> " Steam gasification generated significantly higher levels of CO and H2 compared to the air gasification modes. <br /> " Under steam gasification, higher levels of CO and H2 were achieved while maintaining comparable tar quantities compared to air gasification modes.<br /> " Higher reactor temperatures provide a greater opportunity for conversion of biomass to higher concentrations of CO and H2 and lower tar production.<br /> " Minimizing N2 provides a higher heating value of the gas that also contains over 10% CH4 and over 6% CO2 gases. <br /> <br /> NE- University of Nebraska at Lincoln<br /> <br /> The solid residue of DDGS, after extraction of high value components, was converted to bio-oil and syngas using fluidized bed technology. The initial experimental results indicated that higher gasification temperatures, a proper steam to biomass ratio, a proper fluidizing gas velocity, smaller particle size and lower moisture content resulted in production of more syngas. The highest hydrogen yield was 70 g H2/kg biomass, which was obtained at a temperature of 800oC, a steam mass flow rate of 0.5 kg/m2s, and steam to biomass ratio of 2. <br /> <br /> MN- University of Minnesota<br /> <br /> Corncob powder was used as a model of biomass. Process variables to be studied include temperature, time, catalysts, solid loading, gas composition, and liquid composition. The products from the supercritical water assisted reactions are expected to consist of three phases: water soluble phase, heavy oil phase and gaseous phase. The gas phase consisted of hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and small amount of hydrocarbon. The liquid phase consisted of hydrocarbon, ketone, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, ester, nitrogenated compound and related derivatives. The microwave pyrolysis process can produce about 45% gas, 30% liquid and 25% carbon solid. <br /> <br /> Objective 3. Develop, evaluate, and optimize integrated processes to convert biomass resources into biomaterials with commercial applications.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Raw feedstock evaluation<br /> <br /> IL  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign<br /> <br /> Wet fractionation technologies involve a brief corn soaking period followed by milling to recover germ and pericarp fiber before fermentation of the endosperm slurry. In dry fractionation, a dry degerm defiber (3D) process is used to separate germ and pericarp fiber before fermentation of the endosperm fraction. Effects of wet and dry fractionation technologies on fermentation rates and ethanol yields were studied. The wet process had the highest fermentation rate; the 3D process had the lowest fermentation rate and highest residual sugars at the end of fermentation. Strategies to improve fermentation characteristics of the 3D process were evaluated using two saccharification and fermentation processes. The endosperm fraction obtained from 3D process was liquefied by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermented using either separate saccharification (SS) and fermentation or simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). Corn germ soak water and B-vitamins were added during fermentation to study effects of micronutrient addition. The endosperm fraction fermented using SSF produced higher ethanol yields than SS. Addition of B-vitamins and germ soak water during SSF improved 3D process fermentation and resulted in 2.6 and 2.3% (v/v) higher ethanol concentrations and fermentation rates compared with the 3D process treatment with no addition of micronutrients.<br /> <br /> ND  North Dakota State University <br /> <br /> Oilseed meal is a major low-value co-product in the production of biodiesel. Canola and soybean meal contain 35 to 38 and 44 to 54 % protein, respectively. Functional properties of canola protein will likely be different from those of soy proteins; the applications best suited to each type of protein should be identified. Conventional industrial methods for oil extraction use relatively high temperatures. Such methods produce a meal that is well suited for animal feed; however, the resulting denatured protein offers fewer options for industrial use compared to the native protein. Therefore, defatted meals should also be produced under conditions that retain native protein. Canola and soybean meal also contain sugars, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides which may be isolated and converted to high-value products. <br /> <br /> Task 2. Methodologies for producing biomaterials.<br /> <br /> IL  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign<br /> <br /> A dry degerm, defiber (3D) process was used to separate germ and pericarp fiber prior to endosperm fraction fermentation. Recovery of germ and pericarp fiber in the 3D process results in removal of lipids from the fermentation medium. Lipid metabolism, which is important for cell growth and viability, cannot proceed in strictly anaerobic fermentations. Three lipid treatments (fatty acid ester, alkylphenol, and ethoxylated sorbitan ester 1836) were most effective in improving final ethanol concentrations. <br /> <br /> We also determined effectiveness of microfiltration and ultrafiltration systems in altering water, solids (protein) and ash contents of corn processing streams. <br /> <br /> Batches of light (~7% solids) and heavy (~14% solids) gluten were obtained from a wet mill and processed by microfiltration. Samples of permeate and concentrate from microfiltration were analyzed and compared to gluten streams from wet milling. Microfiltration of light gluten resulted in concentrate and permeate streams similar in composition to light gluten processed using a centrifuge, suggesting microfiltration is as effective as centrifugation in partitioning solids and water in light gluten. <br /> <br /> Performance of amylase corn in dry grind processing compared with performance of exogenous amylases used in dry grind processing. Amylase corn (1 to 10% w/w) was added to an isogenic corn having the same genetic background as amylase corn. Samples were evaluated for fermentation yields using laboratory procedures. Ethanol concentrations during fermentation were compared to the control (0% amylase corn addition or 100% isogenic corn) which was processed with a conventional alpha amylase. One percent amylase corn treatment (adding 1% amylase corn to isogenic corn) was sufficient to liquefy starch. Following fermentation, ethanol concentrations from the 1% amylase corn treatment were similar to the control. <br /> <br /> Wet and dry milling characteristics of an amylase corn were evaluated using laboratory wet and dry milling procedures. Different amounts of amylase corn (0.1 to 10%) were added to an isogenic control (corn of the same genetic background as the amylase corn) as treatments and samples were evaluated for wet and dry milling fraction yields using laboratory procedures. Fraction yields for all amylase corn treatments were compared to the control (0% amylase corn or 100% isogenic control). No differences were observed in wet and dry milling fraction yields among the control and 0.1, 1 and 10% amylase corn treatments. <br /> <br /> CA- University of California at Davis<br /> <br /> Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transient expression experiments were performed in harvested switchgrass leaves to identify the effects of wounding by bead beating, surfactant concentration and vacuum application on in planta ß-glucuronidase expression and leaf decay. Bead beating was successful for wounding the plant surface, but did not improve the consistency of expression. Surfactant was necessary for improving contact between the leaf surface and Agrobacterium suspension and consistently improved expression when vacuum application level was low (25 kPa). <br /> <br /> MN  University of Minnesota<br /> <br /> Biorefining Approach to Utilization of Grains<br /> Many high value functional and health compounds such as anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, polysaccharides, etc, can be extracted from the grains before they are processed to ethanol. Furthermore, many residues are left after the fermentation process, which can be further fractionated or converted bioenergy and biomaterials. The objective of this work is to develop models for different biomass systems, and evaluate the technological and economic implications of these models.<br /> <br /> Developing and Demonstrating a Scalable Renewable-Hydrogen-to-Ammonia System<br /> Recent developments in wind-to-hydrogen technology have made wind an even more appealing renewable energy source. Progress is made in the production of hydrogen from various biomass sources, such as agricultural crop residues, forest wastes, animal wastes, and municipal wastes. Making ammonia fertilizers from wind-hydrogen is an alternative. <br /> <br /> Task 3. Biomaterial applications.<br /> <br /> IL  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign <br /> <br /> Removal of fiber from DDGS using sieving and elutriation (the elusieve process) provided two coproducts: DDGS with reduced fiber, increased fat and increased protein concentrations and a fraction with high fiber concentration. Sieving was used to create five size categories (869 to 234 micron openings). The two smallest size categories comprised >40% (w/w) of the original DDGS and had reduced fiber and increased protein and fat contents relative to the original DDGS. Elutriation of the remaining three size categories increased protein and fat contents and reduced fiber contents in the heavier fractions. <br /> <br /> MN  University of Minnesota<br /> <br /> The lignin part of the lignocellulose is largely used as a low-value fuel. Thus the development of useful materials from industrial byproduct lignins will enhance the profitability of biorefining operations and hasten the deployment of biorefineries in rural communities as the proportion of commodity products derived from renewable resources steadily increases.<br /> <br /> Objective 4. Expand the scientific knowledge for development of processes and systems for economical production of biobased speciality chemicals from agricultural feedstocks and residues.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Biochemical Identification Characterization and Separation from Biofeedstocks.<br /> <br /> NE  University of Nebraska at Lincoln<br /> Total yields and compositions of sorghum DDGS lipids obtained by supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction were compared with those obtained by Soxhlet extraction with hexane and recirculated solvent extraction (RSE) with hexane. <br /> <br /> SC- Clemson University<br /> <br /> Byproducts from canola that have demonstrated excellent potential as a substrate for the filamentous fungi, Pythium irregulare and Mortierella alpina capable of producing these omega-3 enriched oils when grown at optimal conditions. The oils are easily extracted with supercritical CO2 and are essentially odor-free compared to fish oils containing similar fatty acids. Another investigation is underway to assess the conditions for improved supercritical fluid extraction.<br /> <br /> TN  University of Tennessee<br /> <br /> The University of Tennessee developed Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopic analysis techniques to improve upon current rapid assessment techniques of plant materials, along with wet chemistry validation.<br /> <br /> Task 2. Process Development.<br /> <br /> VA  Virginia Tech<br /> Recombinant beta-glucuronidase (rGUS) expressed in transgenic tobacco was used as a model acidic protein. Results showed that rGUS was preferentially precipitated when the polyethyleneimine (PEI) dosage was beyond 200 mg PEI/g total protein. Through direct comparison, this study shows that PEI may be used as an initial fractionation step in replacement of AEX to facilitate the purification of acidic recombinant proteins from transgenic tobacco.<br /> <br /> Objective 5. Identify needed educational materials, develop those materials in distance based delivery methods and develop a trained work force to support a biobased products industry.<br /> <br /> Task 1. Education and Outreach<br /> <br /> TN  University of Tennessee<br /> A peer-reviewed, web-based data base,BioWeb is being developed to organize and deliver information regarding the full range of producing, pre-processing, pre-treating, and conversion of biological materials into fuels and products. <br /> The University of Tennessee, in partnership with North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T University is developing and testing distance learning curriculum that will be in the public domain, and includes six graduate and two undergraduate courses. <br /> <br /> Task 2. Development of an Advisory Board for the National Resource Center.<br /> <br /> NE  University of Nebraska at Lincoln<br /> <br /> We have incorporated renewable energy topics into two of our undergraduate Biological Systems Engineering courses. We are developing an interdisciplinary minor in renewable energy.<br /> We were involved with numerous biodiesel programs during the last year. Attendees included soybean producers, soybean processors, alternative feedstock suppliers, economic development resource providers, and potential biodiesel producers.<br /> <br /> OK  Oklahoma State University<br /> <br /> We are collaborating with the National Corn to Ethanol Center and several other members of S1007 on an NSF grant to start the National Bioprocess Education Consortium to develop education materials on bioprocessing for community colleges and universities. We are also developing a new graduate course on renewable energy in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.<br />

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Administrative Advisor:
Roland Mote, Univ. Tennessee

USDA Representative:
Carmela Bailey, USDA CSREES

Officers:
Chair: Kent Rausch, Univ. Illinois
Vice-Chair: Julie Carrier, Univ. Arkansas
Secretary: Dennis Wiesenborn, North Dakota SU

Other Attendees:
Arizona (UA): Joel Cuello
Hawaii (UH): Qing Li
Illinois (UI): Mike Tumbleson
Indiana (Purdue): Bernie Tao Iowa (ISU): Tom Brumm
Kansas (KSU): Susan Sun, Donghai Wang
Kentucky (UK): Sue Nokes
Louisiana (LSU): Yan Chen, Dorin Boldor
Michigan (MSU): Carl Lira
Minnesota (UMN): Roger Ruan
Montana (MSU): Chengci Chen
Nebraska (UN): Milford Hanna
North Carolina (NCSU): Jiayang (Jay) Cheng
Oklahoma (OSU): Mark Wilkins
Oregon (OSU): Michael Penner
South Dakota (SDSU): Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan (Muthu)
Tennessee (UTK): X. Philip Ye
Texas (TAMU): Cady Engler
Utah (USU): Sridhar Viamajala
Virginia (VT); Zhiyou Wen

Brief Summary of Minutes

SEE ATTACHMENT

Accomplishments

ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED IN ATTACHED MEETING MINUTES

Publications

PUBLICATIONS INCLUDED IN ATTACHED MEETING MINUTES

Impact Statements

1. Ø S-1007 has provided a pool of experts for various functions, such as site visits and proposal evaluations for the USDA/DoE Joint Solicitation on the Biomass Research and Development Initiative.
2. Ø Research on use of biofibers in textile applications will contribute to infrastructure development needed for biomass collection and storage.
3. Ø Research showed that rice straw storage options reduced biomass feed costs by $4 to $10 per dry ton, while improving quality.
4. Ø Research has developed protocols to produce an environmentally-friendly bioplastic (PHA) from corn processing coproducts and has facilitated the design of processing protocols aimed at extracting nutraceuticals from corn processing streams.
5. Ø Ongoing research is identifying biomass-derived phytochemicals that can have health benefit value, developing technology that will enable biomass particle size reduction at the lowest possible energy costs, developing systems capable of sustaining algae cultivation for lipid and biomass production and developing expertise in solid-state fermentation.
6. Ø Ongoing research is contributing to the overall goal of an economical process for conversion of cellulosic materials to ethanol.
7. Ø Research is contributing to the body of knowledge on algae derived ethanol which has become a topic of much discussion in recent months.

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