Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

September 15, 2008 Waterfront Building, Washington, DC Meeting was called to order at 8:05 AM by Chair Julie Carrier. The Chair convened the meeting, welcomed the attendees, and informed the group of some challenging developments with respect to the proposed new 5-year project submission. The SDC-325 group was mistaken on the deadline for the new project proposal submission. The SDC-325 group found out at the meeting that the new Multi-State project needed to be completed and approved by September 30, 2008, and not by September 30, 2009. The Chair became aware of this misunderstanding in early August, and was forced to promptly submit an early draft of the proposal. The Southern Multistate Research Committee voted to defer approval of the project, and the Chair was informed of this decision only on Friday, Sept. 12. Tasks that needed to be completed to obtain approval of the new 5-year project included: 1) identify how possible collaborations among the SDC-325 participants; 2) list possible outcomes; 3) Identify key review articles; and 4) Search the CRIS database for projects that were related to the current SDC-325. Submission of the revised SDC-325 proposal was set for September 19, 2008, so that approval could be obtained by September 30, 2008. At 8:10 Thomas Klindt addressed the committee as the new administrative advisor of this committee, replacing Roland Mote. Tom reviewed the circumstances that make this committee particularly timely. He reminded the committee that integrated research between participants is one of the main expectations of this committee. 8:20 Self introductions by all in attendance 8:25 Minutes for the 2007 meeting were approved with the following corrections (in bold, under section 8:00): SDC 325&will exist from Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, 2008. And The new 5-year project should be submitted by Apr., 2008 to ensure approval by Oct. 1, 2008. 8:30 Hongda Chen and Carmela Bailey, who are both CSREES National Program Leaders of Plant and Animal Systems Unit, welcomed the group to its third meeting in Washington, D.C., reviewed the history of this group, and explained some logistics for this meeting. 8:40 Brad Rein, CSREES Director of Plant and Animal Systems Unit, provided an overview of the recent Farm Bill and updates on the Science Road Map, restructuring of CSREES into the new National Institute of Food & Agriculture, Sun Grant and the Biomass R&D Initiative. NRI and IFAFS will be restructured into the new Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI) effective 2009. 8:50 Bill Goldner, CSREES Program Leader of SBIR programs, provided insight into USDAs growing role among federal agencies in the area of renewable energy and provided an overview of the Energy Science & Education Workshop in September, 2007, the Strategic Energy Science Plan, and SBIR programs targeting industrial crop products. 9:25 Marie Walsh, a CSREES consultant, reported on a comprehensive review of active and pending CSREES programs in bioenergy and bioproducts, as described in the CRIS database for the period Jan. 1, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2008. The total number of projects deemed to be substantially bioenergy and/or bioproducts in this period was 640 with $85 M in funding, mainly through federal earmarks. The projects were extensively cross-listed in a MS Access database for ready analysis of research overlap and gaps. The meeting was suspended for a break at 10:15 10:30 Bruce Hamilton, NSF CBET Program Director, provided an overview of NSFs organization and programs, especially those which relate closely to this group. 11:00 John Ferrel, DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program Feedstock Development, provided an overview of DOE Bioenergy Centers and partnerships with the Landgrant Universities. DOE currently budgets $4 M/yr to biomass energy through a variety of solicitations. The meeting was suspended for a lunch break at 11:50 12:50 The Chair led a session that was aimed at obtaining input from the group as to how to best address the weaknesses that were pointed out in the SDC-325 proposal. It was decided that Kent Rausch was to collect information to document the outcomes. The group identified key review articles that should be included in the revised SDC-325 proposal. Informal breakout sessions provided details to help articulate how Multi-State collaboration will occur in certain projects. Professional meetings, in which the SDC-325 group is well represented, were identified. SDC 325 was cognizant of the Multi-State Project SERA 38 Biobased energy research and information exchange committee, which is an extension and outreach committee aimed at complementing SDC-325. SDC 325 was also aware of NC 506  Sustainable biorefining systems for corn in the NC region, which is devoted to examining the sustainability of corn to ethanol operations. NC 506 is complementary to SDC 325 and little duplication was reported. A CRIS data search showed the projects Management of Grain Quality and Security for World Markets and Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Composites Production, and Traditional Forest Products, which did not present significant overlap because this current project is not devoted solely either to corn or to forestry-derived feedstock. The project  New Technologies for the Utilization of Textile Materials was located on the CRIS data search and some overlap is detected in Objective C Task 4. Participants took a short break from 2:10 to 2:30 pm 2:30 Presentation by Marie Walsh on biofuel database derived from CRIS reports. Database constructed in MS access. She used 81 key terms to pull out relevant research projects. Her question to the committee was Can we standardize these terms and reduce the number and still have meaningful results? The general consensus was yes, that would be something this committee could assist with. Maria agreed to post the database on the S-1007 website. A discussion ensued about character limitations in CRIS reports, and that might be a result of older technology. The question was raised to Hongda Chen as to whether the size of the CRIS reports could be enlarged. Hongda asked if the four knowledge areas (KAs) were helpful. There was general agreement as to their usefulness; however, the group questioned the fact that these knowledge areas were slanted more towards production Agriculture rather than towards Value-Added Processing. 3:30 -5:00 Station Reports started 1. University of Minnesota (Roger Ruan); 2. Mississippi State (Eugene Columbus); 3. Kansas State (Donghai Wang); 4. University of Tennessee (Al Womac); 5. Michigan State University (Carl Lira); 6. North Carolina State (Jay Cheng); 7. Montana State (Chengci Chen); September 16, 2008 Waterfront Building, Washington, DC 8:05 The Chair began with Committee Business. Mark Wilkins was nominated as Secretary by Bernie Tao. Milford Hanna seconded this motion. Mark Wilkins was unanimously elected. The current officers (2008-2009) are: Dennis Weisenborn  Chair, Sue Nokes - Vice-Chair, Mark Wilkins  Secretary. The 2009 meeting will be held at PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) September 21-22, 2009. Travel arrangements should be made to Richland Airport, Washington State. Mark Wilkins moved we have the 2010 meeting in Knoxville, TN. Sue Nokes seconded it. The motion was approved unanimously. The intent is to tour the lignocellulosic pilot plant being built in TN. 9:00 am Station Reports were delivered: 8. University of Kentucky (Sue Nokes); 9. Louisiana State University (Jonathon Chen); 10. Utah State (Sridar Viamajala); 11. Virginia Tech (Zhiyou Wen); 12. Purdue (Bernie Tao); 13. Clemson (Terry Walker); 14. Oklahoma State University (Mark Wilkins); 15. North Dakota State University (Dennis Wiesenborn); 16. University of Nebraska (Milford Hanna); 17. University of Illinois (Kent Rausch); 18. University of Arkansas (Julie Carrier); The meeting was adjourned at 11:50.

Objective A. Reduce costs of harvesting, handling, and transporting biomass to increase competitiveness of biomass as a feedstock for biofuels, biomaterials and biochemicals. MT S U participates in a regional biomass feedstock partnership project with U IL. The project is studying the potential of using CRP land for bioenergy feedstock production. The MT site represents the Northern Great Plains environment, where a mixture of perennial cool season grasses and legumes could be grown. Soil fertility, growing responses of different species of grasses as well as their quality at different growing stages are currently being evaluated (IL, MT). The University of Tennessee, DOE Oak Ridge National Lab, DOE Idaho National Laboratory and equipment manufacturers are collaborating to comprehensively investigate switchgrass supply from harvest through pre-processing. Experiments address issues with harvesting high yield grass crops, densification, and quality metrics of supply (TN). Investigations on how the bulk density of biomass as a major factor in determining the cost and logistics requirements of handling and moving biomass from farm to biorefinery were conducted. Bulk density is a strong function of the size and shape of the particle and particle density. Mean loose-filled bulk densities were 67.5±18.4 kg/m3 for switchgrass, 36.1±8.6 kg/m3 for wheat straw, and 52.1±10.8 kg/m3 for corn stover. Mean tapped bulk densities were 81.8±26.2 kg/m3 for switchgrass, 42.8±11.7 kg/m3 for wheat straw, and 58.9±13.4 kg/m3 for corn stover. Pressure and volume relationship of chopped biomass during compression with application of normal pressure was observed to fit well for Walker model and Kawakita and Ludde model. Parameter of Walker model was correlated to the compressibility with Pearson correlation coefficient of greater than 0.9. Relationship between volume reduction in chopped biomass with respect to number of tapings studied using Sones model indicated that the infinite compressibility was highest for chopped switchgrass followed by chopped wheat straw and corn stover. Degree of difficulty in packing measured using the parameters of Sones model indicated that the chopped wheat straw particles compacted very rapidly by tapping compared to chopped switchgrass and corn stover (TN). The flowability of biomass as a major factor in determining the cost and logistics requirements of handling and moving biomass from farm to biorefinery was investigated. Chopped switchgrass, wheat straw, and corn stover at pre-consolidation pressures of 3.80 kPa and 5.02 kPa indicated Mohr-Coulomb failure. The measured angle of internal friction and cohesive strength indicated that chopped biomasses cannot be handled by gravity alone. The measured angle of internal friction and cohesive strength were 43° and 0.75 kPa for chopped switchgrass; 44° and 0.49 kPa for chopped wheat straw; and 48° and 0.82 kPa for chopped corn stover. Unconfined yield strength and major consolidation strength used for characterization of bulk flow materials and design of hopper dimensions were 3.4 and 10.4 kPa for chopped switchgrass; 2.3 and 9.6 kPa for chopped wheat straw and 4.2 and 11.8 kPa for chopped corn stover. These results are useful for development of efficient handling, storage, and transportation systems for biomass in biorefineries (TN). Corn and sorghum were subjected to size reduction in a hammer mill at speeds of 2330, 3503 and 4674 rpm and feed rates of 1.2, 2.6 and 4.0 kg/min. The study was extended to corn at moisture contents of 9, 15 and 20% (dry basis) and temperatures of 10, 21 and 35°C. Kicks law predicted the grinding characteristics of corn and sorghum (NE). Corn kernel biomass composition methods were developed using wavelet compressed Fourier Transform-Near Infra Red (FT-NIR) spectroscopy, which could eventually be an alternative to wet chemistry quantification protocols. FT-NIR spectroscopy generated spectral data with high dimensionality and collinearity. The conventionally used Partial Least Square (PLS) regression showed disadvantages in building accurate, robust, and broad-based models (TN). Densified feedstock from biomass, such as switchgrass, wheat straw, giant miscanthus, elephant grass, cotton gin trash, and softwood forest trimmings, were produced through pelleting and briquetting. These densification studies showed that biomass moisture content, grind size, and pellet mill die specification were critical parameters for pelletization. Heat value of switchgrass, wheat straw, giant miscanthus, elephant grass, cotton gin trash, and softwood forest trimmings ranged from nearly 7700 to 8100 BTU/lb. Pelletization did not affect the heat value of switchgrass. A sieveless particle size distribution analysis method using computer vision is currently being developed (MS). Baling agricultural residue or material other than grain is significantly influenced by the moisture content, density, and storage conditions. This material was compressed into bales of different bulk densities and moisture contents to evaluate the storability of the material. The bales were wrapped in plastic for ensiled storage, covered with plastic in ambient conditions, and stored under ambient conditions outdoors. The bales are currently being analyzed for changes in sugar content and combustion characteristics. (KY). IL is collaborating with BP (Energy Biosciences Institute) to propose engineering solutions for biomass feedstock production. The five tasks that are currently being address are: pre-harvest crop production; harvesting; transportation; storage; and systems informatics and analysis. Approaches are to evaluate existing technologies, characterize task features, identify information needs and researchable questions, develop prototypes and computer models, conduct experiments and computer simulations, analyze experimental data and simulation output, and deliver results in the forms of operational machinery design/prototype and decision support information/tools (U IL). Consumption of corn in Nebraska has drastically changed in recent years due to tremendous increases in ethanol production. To find locations for new ethanol plants, it is economically necessary to know the availability of corn in the surrounding area. In this study, a GIS-based spatial model was developed to predict the net availability of corn at any location in Nebraska. The net available corn at any location was determined after subtracting the corn consumption by livestock and current ethanol plants from the corn production. Livestock was limited to hogs and cattle on feed because they consume approximately 92% of corn consumed by all livestock in Nebraska. Corn consumption by ethanol plants was assumed to be from a fixed-mile radius, which was varied from 20 to 25 mile to show graphically the net effect on corn availability. The final spatial model shows the regions in Nebraska where there is a corn deficit because of the overlapping influences of the ethanol plants. The spatial model also shows graphically the regions in Nebraska where corn is available for supporting new ethanol plants or other corn based industries ( NE). Objective B. Improve biofuel production processes Improve biofuel production processes Biochemical platform Sweet sorghum, grown at U KT farm located in Lexington, was extracted, filtered and centrifuged. Yeast from a commercial ethanol plant was used to perform the fermentation under non-sterile conditions with no temperature control. Complete fermentation took seven days due to the lack of temperature control, but nearly 95% of the sugar was converted to ethanol. Juice from the Dale variety, which is a common sweet sorghum variety, produced over 400 gallons of ethanol per acre during a two month window. As a comparison, the highest corn yield on the farm was 125 bu/ac and this would result in 340 gal/ac of ethanol. Using the grain from the sweet sorghum increases the ethanol yield by almost 90 gal/ac (U KY). The effect of pretreatment was studied in forage sorghum, where four varieties of forage sorghum, including stems and leaves, were characterized and evaluated as feedstock for fermentable sugar production. Fourier Transform-Near Infra Red (FT-NIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to determine changes in structure and chemical composition of forage sorghum before and after pretreatment as well as after the enzymatic hydrolysis process. Up to a 72% hexose (6 carbon sugars) yield and a 94% pentose (5 carbon sugars) yield were obtained using modified steam explosion with 2% sulfuric acid at 140°C for 30 min and enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase (15 FPU/g. cellulose) and ²-glucosidase (50 CBU/g. cellulose) (KS S). Dilute sulfuric acid concentrations of 0.3% (w/w) to 1.2% (w/w) at temperatures from 120 ºC to 180 ºC over residence times of 5 to 60 minutes were tested on switchgrass and bermuda grass. Carbohydrates were measured using the standard NREL analytical procedures. Of the conditions tested, 1.2% sulfuric acid (w/w) for 30 minutes yielded the highest sugar production of 300 mg sugars / gram of un-pretreated biomass. NaOH pretreatment was tested on bermudagrass. The effect of the NaOH pretreatment at 121°C using 1%, 2% and 3% (w/v) NaOH for 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes was evaluated. Lower NaOH concentrations (0.5% and 0.75%) and lower temperatures (50, 80 and 100°C) were also examined. The optimal NaOH pretreatment conditions at 121°C for glucose and xylose production were 15 minutes and 0.75% NaOH. To maximize total reducing sugars production, pretreatment at 121°C for 30 minutes using 1% NaOH was needed, and this condition allow for the recovery of 83% of the theoretical maximum (NC S). Ammonia fiber explosion (AFEX) pretreatment strategies are currently being investigated at MI SU (MI, NC). In the scope of a USDA National Research Initiative project, hydrolysis enzymes expression by Aspergillus nidulans and Phaenerochaete chrysosporium growing on sorghum stover is currently investigated. The fluid excreted by both fungi, while growing on sorghum stover, was tested for xylanase, cellulase, exopolygalacturonase, and mannanase activities. Xylanase activity was greatest followed by exopolygalacturonase activity, then cellulase activity over 7 days of fungal growth on raw sorghum stover. Little mannanase activity was expressed. Microarrays for both fungi are being constructed to test the levels of gene expression for each of the genes coding for hydrolysis enzymes (OK). Five Kluyveromyces marxianus strains were screened according to their ethanol production during a simultaneous saccharification and fermentations (SSF) process at 45°C using switchgrass pretreated using a liquid hot water process. K. marxianus IMB3 gave the greatest yield and productivity, however, the cells died after 4 days. Saccharomyces cerevisiae D5A produced more ethanol at a faster rate than did IMB3 despite the SSF temperature being lower (37°C) (OK). Gasification Biomass gasification was performed on a bench-scale fluidized-bed gasifier with steam and air as fluidizing and oxidizing agents. Distillers grains and solubles, a byproduct of ethanol production, were used as the biomass feedstock for the gasification. The goal was to investigate the effects of furnace temperature, steam to biomass ratio and equivalence ratio on gas composition, carbon conversion efficiency and energy conversion efficiency of the product gas. The experiments were conducted using a 3 x 3 x 3 full factorial design with temperatures of 650, 750 and 850 °C, steam to biomass ratios of 0, 7.30 and 14.29 and equivalence ratios of 0.07, 0.15 and 0.29. Gasification temperature was found to be the most influential factor. Increasing the temperature resulted in increases in hydrogen and methane contents, carbon conversion and energy efficiencies. Increasing equivalence ratio decreased the hydrogen content, but increased carbon conversion and energy efficiencies. The steam to biomass ratio was optimal in the intermediate levels for maximal carbon conversion and energy efficiencies. A model was developed to describe the performance of a bench scale fluidized bed gasifier and predict product composition, flow rate and temperature from a given biomass composition, steam to biomass ratio, equivalence ratio and furnace temperature profile using Aspen Plus. The gasifier was divided into zones which had different reaction temperatures. Mass balance and minimization of Gibbs free energy were applied for determining the product composition. Experiments for validation of the model were performed on a bench-scale fluidized bed gasifier using distillers grains as the feed material. The results showed that the predicted flow rate of hydrogen was similar but the predicted flow rate of methane was lower and the predicted total gas flow rate was higher than the experimental results (NE). An exploratory downdraft gasifier was designed, fabricated and extensively tested using switchgrass. This gasifier had an internal separate pyrolysis and tar cracking section (PTC). High temperatures in the cyclonic section facilitated biomass pyrolysis. Combustion products from the cyclonic section passed through a char gasification chamber, where additional tar cracking occurred. Gasification tests on 11.6% dry basis switchgrass showed the oxidation zone temperatures in the range of 1000 to 1110°C. Conclusions that were drawn from this testing were the following: Among the four levels of specific air input rate tested, 542 kg/ h-m2 of combustion zone area resulted into highest performance; the average values for hot gas and cold gas efficiencies were 82% and 72%, respectively; the lowest heating value of gas was 1566 kcal/Nm3; CO, H2 and CO2 concentrations were 23%, 12% and 9%, respectively; the corresponding average specific gasification rate was 663 m3 dry gas/h-m2 of combustion zone area; as the specific air input rate increased to 647 kg/h-m2 of combustion zone area, CO2 concentration increased to 14%, while the CO and H2 concentrations decreased to 19 and 10%, respectively; and, the anticipated establishment of high temperature swirling flows in annular section of the PTC could not be achieved because the high temperature zone was shifted downward mainly because of the low-density nature of the chopped biomass (OK). A catalyst-based process is currently being developed, where the synthesis gas, will be converted to gasoline. This technology is made possible by a dual-function catalyst that reduces the CO to methanol and then condenses the methanol to gasoline with the elimination of water (MS). Pyrolysis U MN and MS SU have collaborated for developing a reaction model to describe the pyrolysis of corn cobs. MN is determining that performing a chemical pretreatment to the biomass prior to the pyrolysis step resulted in an increase in the product selectivity. The addition of catalyst in the pyrolysis process increased the bio-oil proportion ( MN). MS is developing a generation II Pyrolysis Reactor, which produces 120 gallon of raw bio-oil per dry ton of biomass. MS is producing bio-oil with desirable properties, a water content of 5% water and an acid value of 32. The bio-oil was upgraded by hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and produced a 35% yield by weight of upgraded oil in a 30 minute autoclave batch run (MN, MS). Biodiesel MT S U is currently evaluating camelina and canola as a biodiesel feedstock. In partnership with camelina and canola breeders, work is currently underway to improve camelina and canola yields, oil profile, and to reduce glucosinolate content in camelina meal. Funded by a Western Sustainable Research and Extension grant, a cropping systems study is currently underway at two locations in Montana and one location in Wyoming by incorporating camelina into wheat rotation systems. Since wheat is the major cash crop in the Northern Plains, it is not feasible to replace wheat acreage with camelina for biodiesel feedstock production. However, camelina production may not have to compete with wheat acreage by considering camelina as a rotation crop for wheat. As stated, the study is currently underway and results will be published in the project cycle (MT). UT SU is working on producing oil from algal culture. UT SU has characterized over 30 different algal and cyanobacterial species. These cultures are now routinely cultivated and maintained in the laboratory. In addition to lab-scale studies on growth and lipid production by these strains, researchers in UT have been able to cultivate mass cultures of algae in open raceway ponds. In addition, UT researchers are also working on developing a system for integrating algal biofuel production with municipal wastewater treatment and nutrient removal (UT). The most urgent need of the biodiesel industry is increased supply of vegetable oil. High-throughput methods are needed to analyze new, higher-yield canola varieties. A Perten Near Infra Red analyzer was calibrated to determine oil and moisture content and fatty acid profile for whole, intact samples of canola seed, and used to screen 3,000-5,000 canola samples within four weeks. This rapid analysis made possible the selection of varieties for a winter nursery in Chile, which in turn helped accelerate the breeding effort. Oil yield per acre of top-yielding lines was 18% greater than checks (ND). The economics of extracting oil from corn at different processing stages during corn ethanol production were evaluated. The oil can be extracted from the corn germ, the DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles) or the thin stillage by mechanical expression, hexane extraction, supercritical extraction using carbon dioxide or centrifugation. An Excel program was developed for the above scenarios to calculate net feedstock cost, total capital cost, total operating cost, annual oil revenue, annual saving and net profit. The program also compared the costs and profits during each process. Using the case of a 50 MM gal/year ethanol plant, and based on current available information, it was estimated that maximum net profits were $21.18 MM/year for hexane extraction from DDGS and $21.75MM/year for supercritical extraction from DDGS. The profits from the oil extraction during the above two process were 18.8 and 19.3 % of ethanol revenue, respectively. However, more information about the process operating parameters and more accurate price information for the commodities and operations at the industrial scale are being obtained. This information will lead to more accurate predictions about the feedstock cost, operating cost, capital cost and finally net profit during each extraction scenario (NE). Evaluations for oil yield of the 100 top producing shrubs at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE and selected properties of hazelnut oil, including fatty acid profile, free fatty acid, iodine value, viscosity, oxidative onset temperature and cloud point, of the top 25 producing shrubs were conducted. Investigations on the preparation of hazelnut oil based biodiesel were performed. Hazelnut oil was extracted from hybrid hazelnuts and the crude oil was refined. Hazelnut oil-based biodiesel was prepared via transesterification of the refined hazelnut oil with excess methanol using an alkaline catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, time and catalyst concentration on the yield of diesel were examined, and selected physical and chemical properties (including viscosity, oxidative onset temperature, cloud point, and heat of combustion) of the biodiesel were evaluated. The results showed that hazelnut oil-based biodiesel had better fuel properties than its soy oil-based counterpart (NE). U IL is funded by the DOE Graduate Automotive Technology Education Center of Excellence to evaluate the performance of advanced biofuel combustion engines. This collaboration includes investigating biodiesel fueled engines under low temperature combustion (LTC), which are able to address NOx and particulate matter emissions simultaneously. This investigation included estimating properties of pure biodiesel and biodiesel/diesel blends for LTC modeling, investigating the effect of biodiesel fuel properties on LTC engines and their emissions, and developing strategies for reducing emissions and increasing efficiency from biodiesel combustion (IL). The conversion of crude glycerol to acrolein is currently studied. Acrolein is a versatile intermediate for methionine, acrylic acid, glutaraldehyde, methyl pyridine, 1,3 propanediol synthesis. The current selling prices are of crude glycerin are $0.25/lb, while those of acrolein are $1.33/lb. Currently, acrolein is produced from propylene oxidationpetroleum based (TN). Glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, was investigated as a substrate to algae system for high value lipids generation. When algae was fed 90 g/L of crude glycerol in a batch culture process, the cell density reached 18 g/L in 5-6 days, while the specific glycerol consumption rate was 2.41 g glycerol /g biomass×day. The specific growth rate of the alga was 0.68 d-1, corresponding to a ~1.0 day of doubling time. The study demonstrated that, as a substrate, crude glycerol was similar to glucose in terms of maximum cell dry weight and biomass productivity. Based on this preliminary study, the effect of feeding biodiesel-derived glycerol, which contained impurities, on algal biomass composition was investigated. Although the crude glycerol contained methanol and soap, its use had no bearing on the final content of the desired high value lipids. The total cellular lipid content ranged between 43 and 51%, with the major fatty acids as palmitic (C16:0) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6, w-3) (VA). Objective C. Identify, develop, and evaluate sustainable processes to convert biomass resources into biochemicals, biocatalysts, and biomaterials (non-fuel uses) Approximately 6 to 7 L thin stillage is produced concomitantly with 1 L ethanol. Thin stillage concentration requires evaporation of large amounts of water. IL evaluated the use of ultrafiltration as an alternative to evaporation. Total solids, ash and neutral detergent fiber contents of thin stillage were measured. Total solids in retentate streams were found similar to those from commercial evaporators used in industry (25 to 35% total solids). Fat was concentrated from 9.7 to 21.4% (dry basis) in the retentate stream. Ash content was reduced 60% in the retentate stream. Membrane filtration appears to be a method to reduce or eliminate evaporator energy requirements and a method to provide new coproducts from thin stillage (IL). Dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) were blended with starch at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 50%, and extruded into thin films at barrel temperatures of 100, 110 and 120 oC. Moisture and glycerol, at 20 and 40%, respectively, were added as plasticizers to improve the film forming characteristics of the starch-DDGS mixture. The effect of DDGS concentration in starch films was analyzed by characterizing the physical, tensile, thermal and water vapor permeability properties. Addition of DDGS resulted in films with rough surface texture, but higher flexibility as compared to starch films. The tensile stress, percent tensile strain and Youngs modulus decreased progressively with increasing concentration of DDGS, while the water vapor permeability was largely unaffected. Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy showed formation of new peaks between the starch and DDGS (NE). The use of high value lipids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6, w-3) which are produced from algae grown on glycerol, was investigated. To prevent oxidation of DHA, 22:6, w-3, 400 ppm of vitamin E were added to the lipid mixture. The degradation of DHA in algal oil was modeled by an auto catalytic equation. A response surface design was used to determine the optimum concentration of algal oil and vitamin E for maximum DHA and minimum oxidation during a two week storage period. The optimum combination was determined to be 3 % algal oil and 110 ppm of vitamin E. The combination of 3 % algal oil and 110 ppm of vitamin E was added to mozzarella cheese and stored for 3 weeks; and, results showed that the oxidation and degradation of DHA, 22:6, w-3 was arrested. Approximately 0.1 g of DHA, 22:6, w-3 is delivered with the consumption of a 28g serving of this fortified- mozzarella cheese. Two to 25 servings of this fortified- mozzarella cheese are approximately equivalent to the DHA, 22:6, w-3 consumed from a 3 oz serving of fish, depending on the type of fish (VA). Lipid materials from sorghum DDGS were extracted using a reflux method of extraction with hexane. Extractions for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h were completed. Extraction yields and the amount of plant sterols and policosanols in the hexane extracts were quantified by Gas Chromatography. The amount of lipids recovered increased from 6.7 to 7.5 g /100 g of dry DDGS as extraction time increased from 0.5 to 6 h. The amounts of plant sterols and policosanols extracted by the reflux method were not influenced by the times of extraction investigated. Total plant sterols (sum of sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol) averaged 67.2 mg /100 g of dry DDGS and total policosanols (sum of C26, C28, C30, C32) averaged 71.6 mg /100 g of dry DDGS (NE). OK SU and U of AR collaborated to determine if switchgrass contained policosanols. Policosanols, are a mixture of long-chained primary alcohols, which are composed mainly of docosanol (C22), tetracosanol (C24), hexacosanol (C26), octacosanol (C28), triacontanol (C30) and dotricontanol (C32). This study tracked policosanols and ±-tocopherol concentrations of Cave-in-Rock and Blackwell switchgrass cultivars during maturation from July to December in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Total policosanol concentration ranged between 89 mg/kg for July harvested Cave-in-Rock switchgrass from Arkansas and 182 mg/kg for August harvested Cave-in-Rock switchgrass for Oklahoma, and was constant throughout the season. Total switchgrass policosanol concentrations were lower than those typically reported for sorghum grains; however, switchgrass extracted policosanols contained different policosanol ratios, wherein C30 and C32 alcohol ranges were 36-41% and 43-50%, respectively. ±-Tocopherol (Vitamin E) extracted from both switchgrass cultivars varied between 320 and 400 mg/kg, but decreased after the October harvest after frost (AR, OK). Resins for composite use were produced from canola oil. It is stipulated that the characteristics which make canola oil a very good oil for nutrition and biodiesel use (high monounsaturates, low saturates), also make it well suited for use in resins. Initial work has focused on a conversion known as epoxidation; the epoxidized oil contained up to 6.5% oxirane content, and when blended at up to 40% with synthetic epoxy produced satisfactory fiberglass composites (ND). Objective D. Identify and develop needed educational resources, develop distance based delivery methods, and develop a trained work force for the biobased economy. IL gave a first offering of a short course on corn dry grind processing in May 2008, which was well received by participants from industry. New courses in biofuel production were offered on campus. In 2009, IL is planning to offer a short course on corn wet milling and hosting the Sixth International Starch Technology Conference. OK SU, U AR, U NE and KS S are involved with the Biobased Materials Sciences & Engineering Collaborative Initiative, which is led by the Great Plains Initiative, who is working to establish a graduate certificate program in the area of Biobased Materials Sciences and Engineering. This group has begun curriculum planning and identifying faculty to teach courses in the program.

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