Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

September 21-22, 2009, Washington State University-Tri Cities & Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington Members present: Carmela Bailey (USDA advisor), William Batchelor (MS), Dorin Boldor (LA), Julie Carrier (AR; past chair), Chengci Chen (MT), Jonathan Chen (TX), Shulin Chen (WA), Eugene Columbus (MS), Oladiran Fasina (AL), William Gibbons (SD), Milford Hanna (NE), Prabhjot Kaur (IL), Samir Khanal (HI), Esha Khullar (IL), Thomas Klindt (TN; administrative advisor), Carl Lira (MI), K. Muthukumarappan (SD), Mike Penner (OR), Kent Rausch (IL), Roger Ruan (MN), Vijay Singh (IL), Xiuzhi Sun (KS), Bernard Tao (IN), Mike Tumbleson (IL), Bernardo Vidal (IL), Terry Walker (SC), Donghai Wang (KS), Zhiyou Wen (VA), Dennis Wiesenborn (ND; chair), Mark Wilkins (OK; secretary), and Fei Yu (MS) 9/21/09 8:01 Meeting starts. Dennis Wiesenborn gave introductory remarks, introduced committee officers, and recognized Julie Carrier for efforts in getting the 5 year outline for S 1041 approved. Wiesenborn acknowledged Thomas Klindt and Carmela Bailey, the committees sponsors. Wiesenborn acknowledged Deborah Anderson and Jonathan Male for their efforts in organizing the meeting. The committee reviewed the agenda, S 1041 objectives and mission. There are 4 objectives for S 1041, which are feedstock supply, biofuels processing, bioproducts, and education. Biofuels is split into biological conversion, thermochemical conversion, and biodiesel. S 1041 has an official website that can be found by entering S1041 Energy on Google. The website contains information on our objectives, list of members, minutes of meetings, and other information. Mission of multi-state committees is to stimulate collaboration between agricultural experiment stations. 8:12 Members introduced themselves. 8:32 Thomas Klindt addressed the committee. He reminded the committee that this is a research committee. Dont let the minutiae of procedures get in the way of getting new members into the committee. The Ag experiment station staff in your state can aid you. This is a unique group that can change the world. We are uniquely positioned to take us further down the road to the bioeconomy. Three hurdles to this process are creating the biomass, the conversion process, and the logistics of getting the biomass from the field to the processing plant. The last challenge is the most difficult. Many of us are agricultural engineers and are good at figuring out logistics. This is Klindts last meeting as he is retiring. The Southern directors will appoint a new advisor. Bernie Tao thanked Klindt for his help. 8:40 Carmela Bailey addressed the committee. Bailey explained what CSREES is. Carmela is one of three National Program Leaders responsible for bioenergy, and the two other NPLs are Bill Goldner with the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR), and Daniel Cassidy with Forest-Based Energy. CSREES will be changing its name to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. There is a new undersecretary named Rajik Shah. He has stated four main focus areas: Energy and climate, food safety/obesity/human health, human capacity (education and economic development), and traditional production agriculture. Nanotechnology, nanomaterials for catalysis, nanostructure for catalysis for bioenergy, nanostructure for catalysis for environmental purposes, and nanostructure of catalysts for green chemistry are research areas being promoted by Hongda Chen. Nanotechnology is a topic area for AFRI every other year. There was $190 million for AFRI in fiscal year 2009. One topic area is bioenergy and biobased products. 8 of 86 proposals were funded in FY 2009 for this topic area. FY 2009 also had funding for education projects, and 2 were funded. FY 2010 solicitation is under construction. Focus will be on biobased products, regional conversion processes, and feedstock production. Bill Goldner and Daniel Cassidy will be responsible for this program. The Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI) is USDAs largest biomass program. BRDI has moved back to USDAs Rural Development mission area, and CSREES is finishing out the awards for FY 2009. 822 preapps were submitted, 108 full apps were submitted, and 9 will be awarded by USDA. In FY 2010 BRDI will have $28 million from USDA and by FY 2012 BRDI will have $40 million. There are other programs in CSREES that have a bioenergy and biobased products components. 8:50 am Wiesenborn asked for any corrections to the minutes. Tao moved to approve the 2008 minutes. Hanna seconded. Motion approved. 8:51 am Jonathan Male addressed the committee with a welcome and overview of PNNL activities. PNNL is operated by Batelle for the Department of Energy (DOE). There are 4000 employees. There are 6 sites, with the main campus at Richland, Washington. There were $1.1 billion of sales in 2008, 61% of PNNL research was DOE, 22% National Security. 74 R&D 100 awards and 1660 patents have been awarded to PNNL. There will be workshops on biopower and bioproducts this Fall or early Winter. John Holladay addressed the committee about biomass research at PNNL. PNNLs focus is on next generation biofuels and chemicals, green gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. They are working on lower cost enzymes, improved productivity for fuels/chemicals, optimized biorefinery economics, and understanding and reducing water and environmental impacts. Energy and environmental impacts are tied together in PNNL research. Environment and energy research represent 25% of PNNL research. PNNL is a world leader in proteomics. Sustainability issues are a prime focus. Science is based on the market drivers of market economics, raw material resources, technology development, and sustainability. PNNL is working in fungi. PNNL has a joint building with WSU on biofuels called the biobased science and energy laboratory (BSEL). BSEL is working in thermochemical conversion. Catalyst development is a key focus. Wiesenborn asked about what the tour will include. Male said that the Environmental Mechanics and Science Laboratory (EMSL) and BSEL will be on the tour. EMSL has wonderful spectroscopic tools, 11 NMR magnets, a supercomputer, and a proteomics facility. BSEL is a $25 million lab that is partnered with WSU. They have a combinatorial lab for catalyst development, systems biology lab, and lab-scale to pilot-scale development. Sun asked if the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and PNNL work together. Holladay indicated that the labs are complimentary and he is working on several joint proposals with NREL. Sun asked what biomass feedstocks that PNNL focuses on. Holladay stated PNNL works with woody biomass, ag residues, energy crops and algae. Penner asked what the responsibilities of senior scientists are and how do we collaborate with PNNL. Holladay said that EMSL is a user facility and outside researchers can come and work at the facility. You need to write a proposal to use the facility. Scientists are on soft money and are responsible for funding themselves. NSF and USDA monies are difficult for PNNL to work under. PNNL generally work with DOE grants and some other federal agencies. 9:41 Coffee break 10:01 Debbie Anderson addressed the committee. Anderson went through the badging process. 10:04 Station reports. 10:05 North Dakota. Dennis Wiesenborn. Wiesenborn is working on biodiesel, canola breeding for biodiesel, developing high-throughput methods for biodiesel testing, and biobased composites. Scott Pryor is looking at canola meal for industrial products and pectin from sugar beets. North Dakota State is getting a new professor from Mississippi State working on biomass production. 10:08 Virginia. Zhiyou Wen. 5 or 6 faculty are working on bioenergy development. Areas of research are logistics for biomass production, hydrogen production from sugars, directed evolution for cellulase performance, value-added products from algal processes, and genetic transformation for algae. 10:10 am Mississippi. Eugene Columbus. They have looked at direct comparison of switchgrass and miscanthus in terms of yield and using legumes with grasses for nitrogen. Mississippi State has licensed two varieties of switchgrass and giant miscanthus. They have explored thermochemical conversion using a downdraft gasifier (19% H2, 20% CO) using various feedstocks. They are doing hay cubing, pyrolysis, syngas to gasoline (96 octane), and hydrodeoxygenation. They also are working on lipids from sludge. 10:13 Oklahoma. Mark Wilkins. Oklahoma State has hired Mike Buser and Ajay Kumar to work on biomass logistics and gasification, respectively. Efforts in Clostridial gene expression during syngas fermentation, syngas fermenter design, hydrogenase activity, thermotolerant yeast, enzyme optimization, and effect of harvest time on ethanol production are some of the efforts that are ongoing at OSU. 10:16 Oregon. Mike Penner. Areas of research at Oregon State include lignin modifying enzymes, life cycle assessment, grass seed straws for bioproducts, inhibitors and their effect on yeast, analytical method development and polysaccharide degrading enzymes, milling, and on-farm gasification. 10:19 Washington. Shulin Chen. Areas of research at Washington State include lignin synthesis, feedstock production, pretreatment and ethanol at Tri-Cities, thermochemical conversion, sugar extraction from biooil, termite systems for lignocellulose conversion, autotrophic and heterotrophic algae production, and biopolymers. 10:21 Nebraska. Milford Hanna. Report was available at the meeting on specific projects. Grants are getting harder to get. Hanna commented on funding situation in Nebraska. Work continues of hazelnut oil. More effort is needed on oilseed production. 10:26 Montana Chengci Chen. Areas of research at Montana State include thermotolerant organisms from Yellowstone, algae production, plant genetic engineering for camelina oil profile, DOE regional biomass feedstock partnership, using CRP land for biomass, camelina production, and camelina oil for jet fuel. 10:29 Alabama. Oladiran Fasina. Research at Auburn is focused on woody biomass. A new lab for fractionation and gasification has been built. A mobile gasification unit was constructed. Several bioenergy courses are being offered. Also, researchers are looking at socioeconomic and ecological effects of bioenergy. 10:33. Tennessee. Thomas Klindt. A new grant was awarded for switchgrass logistics, storage, grinding, and using a cotton module builder for switchgrass. A company was created to build a plant with Dupont/Danisco to use biomass to make ethanol at a rate of 0.25 million gallons ethanol/yr. 3000 acres of switchgrass are growing for the plant. Other areas of research are pelletizing of switchgrass, carbon sequestration, and feedstock production systems. Private entities are approaching Tennessee to research various aspects of the system. Solar energy R&D also part of the research by the company created by the University. 10:37. Indiana. Bernie Tao. Areas of research at Purdue include gasification, lignocellulose ethanol, direct catalytic conversion of biomass to fuels, producing fuels in the plant, green aviation group for green fuels and chemicals for airplanes and airports, biodiesel from mixed fuels, fractionation of biodiesel, concrete sealants from biomass, computer process control for using biodiesel to improve NOx and noise, soybean products contest, and use of protein DNA conjugates. 10:41 Kansas. Susan Sun. 20 faculty in biomass. Kansas State has a new NSF EPSCoR project for climate change and bioenergy funded at $20 million for 5 years. Research includes densification of biomass, biobased adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, biodegradable plastics, functional and structural properties of biopolymers, nanocatalysis for biofuel production, algae biorefining, extrusion of biomass, and pyrolysis for biooils. Kansas State established a certificate for bioenergy and bioproducts. A multi-state program developing shared courses in biofuels and bioproducts was funded by USDA. Other universities participating are South Dakota State, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas. 10:50 Minnesota. Roger Ruan. 100 faculty are working on renewable energy at Minnesota. Areas of research are pyrolysis, gasification, algae processing, microwave assisted pyrolysis, developing a mobile pyrolysis system, algae production in wastewater, photobioreactors using solar energy, and conversion of algae with autocatalytic reforming. Collaborations with Tennessee and South Dakota State are ongoing. 10:54 Louisiana. Dorin Boldor. Louisiana State is researching biopolymers, bioenergy from sugar cane, butanol and ethanol, energy cane, woody biomass for chemicals and ethanol, gasification, hydrogen production from algae, oil extraction from oil crops, Chinese tallow, and economics of biomass transportation. 10:58. South Dakota. Bill Gibbons. 20 people are working in bioenergy and biobased products at South Dakota State. Areas of research include thermochemical conversion, production of prairie cordgrass, densification of grass, enzymatic and microbial conversion, gasification, biochar, membrane separations and cyanobacteria. 11:02 Texas. Jonathan Chen. The University of Texas developed a new Energy Institute. UT researches materials from biomass, biobased composites for auto industry, specialty fiber products, and cotton fiber bioconversion. 11:07. Illinois. Bernardo Vidal. The University of Illinois is mainly interested in corn bioprocessing, coproduct quality and recovery, membrane separation, media modification, enzymatic application to enhance dry grind processes, describe kinetic modeling of starch hydrolysis, impact of protease treatment to enhance corn milling and fermentation, and modified acid hydrolysis. 11:10 Arkansas. Julie Carrier. The University of Arkansas is working on sustainability of bioenergy and bioproducts, life cycle analysis, growing woody biomass and herbaceous crops, biobutanol, and hemicellulose depolymerization kinetics. 11:13 Hawaii. Samir Khanal. The University of Hawaii is looking at tropical feedstocks, bana grass, guinea grass, eucalyptus, bagasse to ethanol, yields of crops at different elevations and soil types, conversion of tropical crops, on-farm processing, the interaction of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, syngas fermentation and effect on mass transfer, nanomaterial to selectively absorb acetic acid, jatropha for biodiesel, value added fish meal from seed cake from jatropha, and genetic engineering of algae. 11:19 Michigan. Carl Lira. Michigan State is researching pyrolysis, cellulosic feedstock pretreatment, microscale pyrolysis, pulping pretreatments and extractions, tethering enzymes for redox reactions, fungal fermentations, catalytic upgrading of organic acids, conversion of glycerol to cyclic ethers, properties of biochemicals and biofuels, fuel properties for engines, and new ways to predict properties of biofuels. 11:23 South Carolina. Terry Walker. Clemson is researching fungal and algal oil production, extraction of oil from algae and fungi, biological hydrogen production, ethanol production, production of pilot scale facility for ethanol production, and algal ponds. 11:26. Wiesenborn addressed the committee and asked the committee to invite other researchers into the committee. Wiesenborn introduced the breakout sessions. Sun asked the committee to think about whether the universities should offer a bioenergy or bioproducts degree. Purdue is offering a separate biological engineering degree. 11:37 Breakout sessions start. Chairs are to give a 5 minute report to the committee. 14:05 Committee reconvenes. 14:06 Chengci Chen gave a report for feedstock production breakout group. The Air Force is trying to replace 50% of jet fuel with renewables by 2015. Feedstocks vary by region making it difficult to cooperate. 5 people met in the group. One area that was identified for collaboration was densification of biomass, particularly looking at minimizing energy usage. They want to look at feedstock type and location. Oladiran Fasina was identified as co-chair for the group. The group did not report a list of attendees to the chair. 14:11 Mark Wilkins gave the report for the biological conversion to biofuels group. The group included 9 members and Scott Baker from PNNL. The group discussed various conversion technologies as well as potential funding sources for research. They also discussed mechanisms of obtaining funding for S 1041 through Sun Grant, USDA, and NSF. Some researchers indicated interest in discussing collaborations with one another at a later time. Bill Gibbons is the co-chair. Those attending this sub-group were Wilkins, Gibbons, Singh, Wang, Khanal, Wen, Khullar, and Kaur. 14:20 Roger Ruan gave the report for the thermochemical conversion group. The researchers had a lot in common. They are very interested in collaboration. They spent time getting to know each other. They decided to do some things like exchanging samples, non-proprietary data, and catalysts. They also proposed to invite each other to give seminars at each others institutions. They proposed new sections in meetings that they attend where they can publicize their group. They also talked about doing some joint papers. Over 10 people participated. Donghai Wang is the co-chair. Those attending this sub-group were not reported to the secretary. 14:24 Milford Hanna gave the report for the biodiesel group and Dennis Wiesenborn is co-chair. They talked about possible funding and research opportunities. Biodiesels future is dependent on feedstock cost reduction and process cost reduction. Then they talked about that if you dont think biodiesel is good, what other opportunities are there. There are opportunities for methyl esters. They may talk about that tomorrow. If you believe biodiesel is possible, what are the other issues. Cold flow was identified. Also, processing of the biodiesel to make it look the same regardless of feedstock is important through fractionation. 8 people participated. Bernie Tao then said that there are some niche applications of using fractionated biodiesel. Hanna would welcome committee members comments on biodiesels feasibility. Wiesenborn stated that several have interest in algal biodiesel. Hanna said that algae should be the focus area that the committee should focus on. Hanna expressed interest in talking about other uses of methyl esters tomorrow. Tao suggested that they combine with the bioproducts group tomorrow. Those attending this subgroup were: Hanna, Wiesenborn, Tao, Lira, Walker, Vidal, Boldor, and a PNNL researcher. 14:35 Julie Carrier gave the report on bioproducts. 8 people met together. They talked about obvious research ideas. They talked about giving a mini-symposium on our research. PNNL researchers would be interested in that. Then the proceedings would be published via the web or through a government agency. They also talked about the web-based graduate certificate organized by Kansas State. They also talked about producing a book on fundamentals for biomass products. Jonathan Chen is the co-chair. Some members suggested a book targeted to middle school and high school students. Susan Sun suggested that S 1041 have a multi-society symposium. Tao asked Carmela Bailey about whether we could get some money for a conference grant. Bailey indicated that there was this type of grant from USDA. Klindt thought that Sun Grant might want to fund that. Shulin Chen brought the point that the symposium needs to be unique. He suggested that maybe having a discussion of the issues involved in bioenergy and bioproducts. Tao thought that we could talk with local researchers and more interaction would have resulted. Those attending this sub-group were: Sun, Chen, Penner, Rausch, Tao, Klindt, Carrier, and three PNNL researchers. 14:50 The committee saw a slide show on hay bales and unique ways to decorate with them. 14:52 The committee adjourned for the tour. 9/22/09 8:02 Debbie Anderson gave several announcements to the committee. 8:03 Dennis Wiesenborn reviewed the agenda. 8:07 Dennis Wiesenborn opened nominations for secretary. Kent Rausch nominated Samir Khanal for secretary. Muthukumarappan moved to close nominations. Tao seconded. Motion passed. Khanal was accepted as secretary for 2010. 8:09 Tumbleson addressed the committee. He suggested that the ARS Lab in Wyndmoor, PA be the site in 2010. We discussed moving the dates to August 2-3. The group was asked if they could attend those dates. The August dates were preferred over a September meeting. Wilkins moved that USDA-ARSs Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, PA be the site for the 2010 meeting. Singh seconded. The committee approved the motion. Sites for 2011 were proposed. Hawaii and Port Hueneme (Los Angeles) were proposed. Wilkins moved that the 2011 Meeting be in Manoa, Hawaii. Tao seconded. The motion passed. WRRC (ARS), Sandia National Lab, Washington, DC and Port Hueneme were proposed for future meetings. S 1041 runs until 2013. Klindt suggested that our next development committee (SDC) be started in 2012 and run through 2014. A committee to propose an SDC needs to be formed at the 2011 meeting. At the 2012 meeting, a proposal for a new committee will need to be started. Wiesenborn moved on to discussing our education objective. Sun discussed the multi-state graduate certificate that was approved through the USDA Higher Education Challenge grant. Tao asked if other states would like to participate in a bioproducts design contest. Gibbons stated that Oak Ridge had a similar contest. Wilkins noted that ABET is focusing on social and economic impacts in engineering curricula. Tao has a design contest already running in Indiana. The soybean and corn groups in Indiana are funding the contest for $250,000. Sun supported Taos contest, but she would like to discuss how curricula for bioenergy and biobased products should be structured among various universities that would be developed by the committee. Hanna would like to compile what classes members are offering in bioenergy and biobased products. Gibbons also suggested that it would be helpful if we knew if courses were offered on the Internet. A list of courses offered at the four universities in the multi-state certificate project is being compiled. Wiesenborn proposed that Samir Khanal chair a committee on education objectives. Hanna suggested we also compile the minors and options offered at our universities. Please submit your station reports to Wiesenborn so that he can compile the committee report. This should include a list of peer-reviewed publications and short summaries of important results under each objective. This needs to be submitted to Wiesenborn by September 30. Keep the summaries to less than 300 words per project listed by objective. Wiesenborn reviewed what is on the S 1041 website. Wiesenborn acknowledged Muthukumarappan for managing the listserv. Lira suggested that we put some keywords on the website, visit the page, and then visit Google. Google tracks this activity. It would also be helpful to link between faculty websites and the S 1041 website. Mark Worden was managing the website, but we dont know who is managing it now. The breakout sessions were asked to develop 1 goal for 2010 and report a list of participants to Wilkins. Members were asked to consider if there was a professional meeting that members could meet at to further discuss goals. 9:09 Committee dispersed to breakout sessions. 10:48 Committee reconvenes. Breakout session chairs reported on their meetings. Jonathan Chen reported for bioproducts. Their #1 goal was to have a symposium in conjunction with the annual meeting. A second goal was having cooperation with PNNL personnel and developing new proposals. They also discussed writing a book. A concern was the timeline for doing the book. Another concern would be the format of the book and who is the audience. The group also mentioned other colleagues that might be able to participate in the meeting in the future. The listserv is a major avenue for communication that needs to be updated regularly. Those who attended this group were: Yu, Wen, Lira, Vidal, Rausch, and Kaur. Samir Khanal reported for the education session. There were 7 participants. They agreed that there should not be an undergraduate program specific to bioenergy. Having a few courses as electives is better, and this is done at many universities. They also talked about having undergrads be a part of our meeting presenting a poster or a design project. Some universities will fund this. Iowa State has an interdisciplinary program in bioresource technology that offers a major and minor. There is not a handbook for biofuels and biobased products properties. This would be helpful to researchers and industry. Developing a textbook is not easy, but it could be done by the committee. Bailey said that Robert Brown published a book on biofuel processes. Boldor thought it was too general and did not have enough technical detail. Tao thought that having several people get together to write the book would ensure the depth of material would be there. Khanal thinks we need a book that has more fundamentals, especially about plant structure. Boldor thought it would easier to do a handbook focusing on processes from the farm to the final product. Tao said that 4 universities agreed to try to do a contest. Those who attended this session were: Wilkins, Tao, C. Chen, Fasina, Khullar, Boldor, and Khanal. Tumbleson reported on the symposium group. They want to have focused presentations. There will be a proceedings handed out at the meeting with a 3 or 4 page summary of each talk. There will at least 6 papers. 3 from S 1041 and 3 from ERRL. One grad student presentation could be a part of the symposium. The focus will be conversion as a general topic on Tuesday morning, August 3, 2010. Monday morning, the ERRL will make a presentation on their lab. After the meeting, Wilkins will make the proceedings available on the web. This needs to be an annual symposium. The vice-chair of the committee should compile the proceedings each year. Those who attended this group were Wilkins, Tumbleson, Klindt, Bailey, Gibbons, and Penner. Klindt gave some final comments. He enjoyed working with the group. He emailed the executive director of the southern directors for this group to ask for a new advisor. Remember this is a research committee. Remember in 3 or 4 years that the committee need to justify what you have done. That needs to be a part of what we are doing. This is key in the review of the next committee. Bailey gave some final comments. She is going to follow up on the memorandum of understanding with the US Navy and what activities are on their list. She is also going to check on conference dollars from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). She doesnt know if she has any money to fund a competition. She thinks the group could go through the education solicitations. Measurable goals are commendable. We need written reports for the next meeting from each station. CSREES is developing a new website on energy and S1041s website will be linked on the site. The committee applauded the work of our hosts, especially Deb Anderson. Anderson then gave some comments about the tour to WSU-Prosser. Tao moved to adjourn, Penner seconded. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned at 11:20. Respectfully submitted. Mark R. Wilkins, Secretary, S 1041 Multi-state research committee

The participants of this project have made substantial progress in the past year towards achieving the project objectives, commensurate with the recent, excellent funding for research in biofuels. For a fuller understanding of the considerable scope of these accomplishments, please refer to the annual CRIS reports from each of the member stations. One limitation to date, however, is that linkages have been slow to develop between participating stations. Participants recognize that such linkages will significantly increase the impact of this group; thus, S1041 is implementing a subcommittee structure to facilitate collaboration. The future productivity of this structure depends upon the continued leadership of the S1041 officers, especially the subcommittee chairs. A key goal identified for the coming year is a symposium in conjunction with the 2010 annual meeting. This effort is led by Mike Tumbleson (chair) and Mark Wilkins (co-chair). The following vignettes are provided as examples of the accomplishments of S1041 participants for 2008-2009 under the four project objectives, and are mainly based on reports volunteered by a number of participants. A. Reduce costs of harvesting, handling and transporting biomass to increase the competitiveness of biomass as a feedstock for biofuels, biomaterials and biochemicals Participants from AL, AR, GA, KY, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NY, OK, SD, TN, TX, and elsewhere will develop linkages to investigate densification for feedstock supply, particularly pellets, cubes, grinding, etc., and to identify the corresponding required biomass specifications, energy, and costs. The required degrees of densification needed will be taken into consideration, according to the particular application (transport (& distance)/ storage/ end use/ etc.), as well as the type of feedstock (wood, grasses, crop residues). The final results should provide a framework for the selection of the degree of densification, list alternatives to achieve each degree and the known issues associated with each, and identify potential solutions for each issue. This effort is led by Al Womac (chair) and Chengci Chen (co-chair). The minimum pressure required to densify agricultural and forest biomass is being investigated at AL and elsewhere, due to the high cost of pelleting. Pelleting is very expensive, mostly because the pressure applied is not efficiently utilized. For poultry litter, moisture content and pressure applied during compaction significantly affected the energy required for compaction and the strength of the densified material after 2 mo storage. The density of the compacted material was only affected by pressure applied during compaction after 2 mo storage. The specific energy required to produce the densified material varied from 0.25 to 2 kJ/kg (significantly less than the energy required to produce pellets). The ultimate goal is to develop a system for on-farm compaction of biomass. The performance of an integrated biomass pretreatment (AFEX) and densification (billet compaction) process is under development at SD, using corn stover, switchgrass and prairie cordgrass as model feedstocks. Preliminary results show that pretreated billets hold together well without use of added binders. Innovative methods for biomass physical property measurement are under development at MS, ND and elsewhere. For example, 3D laser scanner images were analyzed using image processing software. Cotton gin trash briquettes, switchgrass pellets, switchgrass cubes, hardwood pellets, and softwood chips were the test materials. Physical property determination using 3D scanning and image analysis determination methodology appears to be an accurate, non-invasive, and highly repeatable (coefficient of variation <0.3%) alternative. A digital torque wrench (DTW) in combination with a common bypass lopper was utilized to determine the cutting energy of wet corn stalks and compared to a universal testing machine (UTM). DTW peak torque and UTM standard net cutting energy (r > 0.95), and DTW specific torque and UTM specific energy (r > 0.98) were strongly correlated. The DTW cutting energy measurement method is fast, simple, less expensive than a UTM, portable, and suitable for onsite field measurements. B1. Improve biofuel production via biological conversion processes. Participants from HI, IL, KS, OK, SD, VA and elsewhere will develop linkages for the investigation of biological conversion processes. This effort is led by Mark Wilkins (chair) and Bill Gibbons (co-chair). Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 was used at OK in an SSF process using switchgrass pretreated at 200°C for 10 min with pressurized liquid hot water. SSF was done in a 2 L bioreactor with pH controlled at 5.0 or 5.5. The reactor controlled at pH 5.0 resulted in a maximum theoretical ethanol yield of 84% with the reactor controlled at pH 5.5 reached a yield of 78%. Fermentation continued for a longer period of time at pH 5.5, but ethanol production rate was faster at pH 5.0. Research investigating Clostridium strain P11 potential to produce ethanol from syngas continued at OK. It was discovered that the defined media that has been used for years to grow P11 can be replaced, completed with a media containing 0.5 g/L cotton seed extract (CSE). The CSE media resulted in faster ethanol production than did the defined media. It was also discovered that reducing calcium pantothenate and vitamin B12 concentrations can enhance ethanol production. Also, a 59 day batch fermentation was completed in a 75L bioreactor. The ethanol concentration reached over 25 g/L, and isopropanol was also produced. Also, P11 ethanol production was greatly enhanced by the addition of 10 mM methyl viologen to media while 10 mM neutral red had only a minimal effect on ethanol production and 10 mM benzyl viologen killed P11. Acid-functionalized nanoparticles were synthesized at KS for pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to increase conversion at mild conditions. Functionalized metal nanoparticles have acidic properties to catalyze hydrolysis, are able to penetrate into the lignocellulosic structure, and are easily separable from products using a strong magnetic field. Cobalt spinel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized using a microemulsion method and then covered with a layer of silica to protect them from oxidation. TEM images and FTIR methods were used to characterize the properties of acid-functionalized nanoparticles in terms of nanoparticle size, presence of sulfonic acid functional groups, and pH as an indicator of acid sites present. Wheat straw and wood fiber samples were treated with the acid supported nanoparticles at 80°C for 24 h to hydrolyze its cellulose fraction to sugars, with results that compared favorably to hydrothermolysis. The acid functionalized nanoparticles may have broken down the non soluble polysaccharides to oligomeric components. Work at IL aims to improve the corn-ethanol production process by improving process efficiency, developing methods of analysis for process improvement, understanding enzyme and starch degradation kinetics, and development of improved coproduct value. Concentration of thin stillage requires evaporation of large amounts of water and maintenance of evaporators. Ultrafiltration of thin stillage was evaluated as an alternative to evaporators in the ethanol industry. Total solids contents recovered through membrane separation processes were similar to those from commercial evaporators. Effects of operating variables such as transmembrane pressure and temperature on permeate flux rate and resistances were determined and optimum conditions for maximum flux rates were evaluated. Modeling results were in agreement with experimental results (R2>0.98). A laboratory procedure was developed at IL for screening corn hybrids for ethanol production. Effects of mill type, dry solids, Tf, glucoamylase dose, and yeast addition were evaluated and found to be significant (P < 0.05). Using the procedure developed, ethanol yields for five diverse hybrids (dent, waxy, white, high oil, and high amylose) were measured. The procedure is suitable for routine testing of ethanol yield potential and as a reference method for verifying more rapid measurement techniques, and will benefit corn seed companies, corn producers and ethanol processors. Task 1: Develop pretreatment methods for biological conversion processes Work has been started on investigating the effect of pretreatment of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) Due to equipment limitations, this work reports solely on pretreatments carried out at a maximum temperature of 130 °C. Using the compositional data previously reported in scientific literature, bark pretreated a 130 °C enabled the recovery of 37% of the bark xylose. Similarly, using reported wood compositional for de-barked wood, 54% of the xylose was obtained. B2. Improve biofuel production via thermochemical conversion processes. Participants will develop linkages through exchange of samples, catalysts and non-proprietary data for the investigation of biological conversion processes. The group will also exchange seminars at participants institutions and develop relevant sessions at professional meetings. This effort is led by Roger Ruan (chair) and Donghai Wang (co-chair). The composition of bio-oil and its potential as a microbial growth medium are being assessed collaboratively by MN and SD. Bio-oil was fractionated into aqueous and non-aqueous phases, with the aqueous phase subsequently fractionated with ether and the non-aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane. Bio-oils from southern forestry and agricultural feedstocks were characterized by AL and MS. Bio-oil was produced at AL from poultry litter, peanut, pine wood and switchgrass via pyrolysis in a bench scale auger reactor at four different temperatures (450 to 600 C). Maximal bio-oil yield for pine wood was obtained at 600 C; whereas, the maximal yield for switchgrass, peanut hulls and poultry litter was at 450 C. Bio-oil yield varied from 18 wt% to 37 wt% and switchgrass gave the highest bio-oil yield of all feedstocks. Bio-oil from poultry litter showed the highest heating value despite the fact that poultry litter has the lowest feedstock heating value. The performance of a lab-scale gasifier was simulated at NE, using Aspen Plus software to predict flow rate and composition of product from given biomass composition and gasifier operating conditions. Mass balance, energy balance and minimization of Gibbs free energy during the gasification were applied to determine the product gas composition. Carbon conversion efficiency and tar content were provided to the model as inputs as these could not be predicted by the model based on minimization of Gibbs free energy. Validation of the model was performed on a lab-scale fluidized bed gasifier using corn stover and distillers grains as the feed materials. The temperature of the gasifier bed was most influential on the product gas composition. The cold gas efficiencies for gas production were 57 and 52%, and selling prices of gas were $11.49 and $13.08/GJ, respectively, for corn stover and DDGS. When used together with a model for CHP generation, the models showed the electrical and net efficiencies were as high as 37 and 88%, respectively for corn stover and 34 and 78%, respectively for DDGS. The selling price of electricity was estimated to be $0.1351 and $0.1287/kWh for corn stover and DDGS, respectively.

C. Identify, develop and evaluate sustainable processes to convert biomass resources into biochemicals, biocatalysts and biomaterials

Participants from AR, IL, IN, KS, MI, MS, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, and elsewhere will develop linkages for the investigation of bioproducts. A key goal for this group is participation in a symposium in conjunction with the next annual meeting, as mentioned above. This effort is led by Julie Carrier (chair) and Jonathan Chen (co-chair).

Soybean meals were converted at KS into soy surface active polymers (SSAP) that have potential uses for adhesives (packaging and labeling) and coatings (surfactants, additives, and co-polymers for coating materials, such as stain, paints, ink, etc). SSAP shows promise for packaging and labeling applications. SSAP is compatible with soy oil based resins, such as alkyds. One potential application of alkyds is as the carrier of pigments for stain coatings. However, the pigments are often precipitated and stirring is needed during application. Another important issue is the incompatibility of alkyds with water-based coating resins, which limits the use of soy alkyd in stain applications. The SSAP overcomes these limitations and is perfectly dispersible in alkyd resins. The SSAP contains many functional surface groups that would be compatible with water based resins. Therefore, SSAP-based products will help expand soy meal to new markets.

An elutriation apparatus was developed at IL to process DDGS to fiber at high rates. Fiber was then evaluated for corn fiber gum (CFG) production, which has uses as an emulsifier and thickener in foods. Total CFG yields from fiber varied from 35.8% to 44.2%. CFG will raise the value of DDGS, which will in turn improve the long-term sustainability of the corn kernel ethanol industry.

Corn starch-low density polyethylene (LDPE) blends were processed into thin films at NE by either single-step twin-screw extrusion or by a two-step process involving compounding (pelleting) of the ingredients before film formation. SEM micrographs of the uncompounded film blends were characterized by the presence of cracks and a distinct interface between starch and LDPE. Compounding, on the other hand, improved the continuity between the starch and LDPE phases by lowering the viscosity of the thermoplastic starch (TPS) melt and by improving the dispersion of LDPE on the film surface. As a result, the stress transfer between the starch and LDPE phases was improved. Addition of glycerol decreased the tensile strengths and moduli but did not necessarily improve the tensile strains. The FTIR spectra indicated only weaker interactions between the two immiscible polymers in the compounded blends. The DSC scans revealed phase separation in the TPS. The water vapor barrier properties of the composites were improved by 7.3-25.4% after compounding. Task 1: Discover and characterize biochemicals, biocatalysts, and biomaterials in biomass. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) bark was extracted with 65 °C water and yielded 1.7 mg/g of shikimic acid, while sweetgum de-barked wood yielded 0.2 mg/g of shikimic acid. Shikimic acid is a precursor for the drug Tamiflu®. The Cave-in-Rock and Blackwell switchgrass(Panicum virgatum L.) varieties were shown to contain policosanols. Policosanols are composed mainly of docosanol (C22), tetracosanol (C24), hexacosanol (C26), octacosanol (C28), triacontanol (C30) and dotriacontanol (C32). 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 these values remained relatively constant throughout the season. ±-Tocopherol extracted from both switchgrass cultivars varied between 320 and 400 mg/kg, but decreased in the October harvest after frost. Switchgrass was determined to contain quercitrin (quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside) and rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside). Extraction of switchgrass with 90 °C water gave rutin and quercitrin yields of 185 mg/kg and 193 mg/kg, respectively. Task 2: Develop separation processes for biochemicals, biocatalysts, and biomaterials. The flavonoids, rutin and quercitrin, were separated from switchgrass crude water extract by centrifugal partition chromatography, using a solvent system comprised of ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (2:1:2, v/v/v). Task 3: Develop applications for biochemicals and biocatalysts with biological activity. Preparations of 9 ¼M, of rutin and quercitrin inhibited the oxidation of Low Density Lipoprotein, indicating that these compounds have antioxidant activity.

D. Identify and develop needed educational resources, develop distance based delivery methods, and develop a trained work force for the biobased economy

Participants from AL, AR, LA, HI, IL, IN, KS, KY, MT, ND, OK, SD and elsewhere will develop linkages for education in biofuels and bioproducts. This effort is led by Sue Nokes (chair) and Samir Khanal (co-chair).

KS, AR, OK, and SD were recently awarded a USDA Higher Education Challenge grant to develop a graduate certificate program in Biobased products and Bioenergy. The recipients of this grant partly credit S1041 for this successful partnership.

A short course on fundamentals of corn wet milling was held at IL, with 18 attendees from wet milling and allied industries. Task 2: Distribute new knowledge to train the work force and general public in biobased products and processing. Application, # 2009-00926, Biobased Products and Bioenergy Multi-University Graduate Program, from Kansas State University submitted to the USDA Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2009 was selected for funding. AR is responsible for designing the conversion overview course.

E-glass composites which incorporated up to 40% epoxidized canola oil (ECO) were developed at ND. Although the resulting composite specimens had lower flexure strength and glass transition temperature than the zero-ECO control, the flexure modulus and toughness were similar to the control. Thus, composites prepared using ECO-blends should perform well in applications requiring flexibility and toughness.

Peer-reviewed Journal Publications for Oct. 2008-Sept 2009, including accepted and in press publications, as submitted by these participating stations: AL, IL, KS, MS, ND, NE, OK, SD

Acioli-Moura R, and Sun X. S. 2008. Thermal degradation and physical aging of poly(lactic acid) and its blends with starch. Polymer Engineering and Science. DOI 10.1002.pen.21019: 829-836.

Adhikari S, Fernando S, and Haryanto A. 2008. Hydrogen production from glycerin by steam reforming over nickel catalysts. Renewable Energy. 33: 10971100.

Adhikari S, Fernando S, To F, Bricka R, Steele P, and Haryanto A. 2008. Conversion of glycerol to hydrogen via a steam reforming process over nickel catalysts. Energy & Fuels. 22(2): 1220-1226.

Adhikari S, Fernando S, To F, Bricka R, Steele P and Haryanto, A. 2008. Conversion of glycerol to hydrogen via a steam reforming process over nickel catalysts, Energy & Fuels, 22: 1220-1226.

Adhikari S, Fernando S, and Haryanto A. 2008. Hydrogen production from glycerin by steam reforming over nickel catalysts. Renewable Energy. 33: 1097-1100.

Arora A, Dien B.S, Belyea R.L, Wang P, Singh V, Tumbleson M.E, and Rausch K.D. 2009. Thin stillage fractionation using ultrafiltration: resistance in series model. Bioprocessing Biosysystems Engineering. 32:225-233.

Beaver E. K, Klabunde B, Wang X, and Sun S. 2009. Lactic acid-magnesium oxide nanocomposites: how nanoparticle size and shape affect initial polymerization and the resulting properties of the prepolymer. New Journal of Chemistry. 33:1951-1959.

Bernhart M. and Fasina O. O. 2009. Physical properties and pyrolysis behavior of fractionated poultry litter. Transactions of ASABE. 52: 531-538.

Bernhart M. and Fasina O. O. 2009. Moisture effect on the storage, handling and flow properties of poultry litter. Waste Management. 29: 1392-1398.

Bhadra R, Muthukumarappan K. and Rosentrater K.A. 2009. Understanding and modeling flowability in DDGS. Cereal Chemistry. 86(2): 170-180.

Bhadra R, Rosentrater K.A., and Muthukumarappan K. 2009. Surface characteristics and flowability in distillers dried grain with solubles. Cereal Chemistry. 86(4): 410-420.

Chakraborty P, Gibbons W.R, and Muthukumarappan K. 2009. Conversion of volatile fatty acids into polyhydroxyalkanoate by Ralstonia eutropha. Journal of Applied Microbiology (In press).

Espinoza-Perez J.D, Wiesenborn D.P, Haagenson D, Ulven C.A. and Pryor S. 2009. Production and characterization of epoxidized canola oil. Transactions of ASABE. 52(4):1289-1297.

Fasina O.O. 2008. Physical properties of peanut hull pellets. Bioresource Technology. 99: 1259-1266.

Gibbons W.R. and Hughes S.R. 2009. Integrated biorefineries with engineered microbes and high-value co-products for profitable biofuels production. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology  Plant. 45:218-228.

Hughes S.R, Gibbons W.R, and Kohl S. 2009. Chapter 4: Advanced biorefineries for production of fuel ethanol. In: Biomass to Biofuels, A. Vertes, N. Qureshi, H. Yukawa, and H. Blaschek (eds). John Wiley and Sons, England (In press).

Cannayen I, Pordesimo L.O, Batchelor W. D, Columbus E.P, and Methuku S. 2008. Shape identification and size distribution of particles from basic shape parameters using ImageJ. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 63:168-182.

Karunanithy C. and Muthukumarappan K. 2009. Influence of extruder temperature and screw speed on sugar recovery from corn stover through enzymatic hydrolysis while varying enzymes and their ratio. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8757-y.

Kumar A, Eskridge K, Jones D.D, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Steam-air fluidized bed gasification of distillers grains: effects of steam to biomass ratio, equivalence ratio and gasification temperature. Bioresource Technology. 100(6):2062-2068.

Kumar A, Wang L, Yuris D, Jones D.D, and Hanna M.A. 2008. Thermogravimetric characterization of corn stover as gasification and pyrolysis feedstock. Biomass and Bioenergy. 32:460-467.

Kun F, Wang B, Sheng K, and Sun X.S. 2009. Properties and morphology of poly(lactic acid) / soy protein isolate blends. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 114(2): 754-759.

Kundiyana D, Wilkins M.R, Huhnke R.L, and Banat I.M. 2009. Effect of furfural addition on xylose utilization by Kluyveromyces marxianus IBMm4 under anaerobic and microaerobic conditions. Biological Eng. (in press).

Lee S.Y, Eskridge K.M, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Effects of extrusion variables on organoclay intercalation and properties of tapioca starch-poly(lactic acid) nanocomposite foams. International Polymer Processing. 24:59-66

Leguizamón C, Weller C.L, Schlegel V.L, and Carr T.P. 2009. Plant sterol and policosanol characterization of hexane extracts from grain sorghum, corn and their DDGS. Journal of American Oil Chemists Society. 6(7):707-716.

Lemuz C.R, Dien B.S, Singh V, McKinney J, Tumbleson M.E, and Rausch, K.D. 2009. Development of an ethanol yield procedure for dry grind corn processing. Cereal Chemistry. 86:355-360.

Li X, Li Y, Zhong Z, Wang D, Ratto J.A, Sheng K, and Sun X.S. 2009. Mechanical and water soaking properties of medium density fiberboard with wood fiber and soybean protein adhesive. Bioresources and Technology. 100(2009): 3556-3562.

Mo X, Hiromasa Y, Al-Rawi A, Warner M, Iwamoto T, Rahman T, Sun X.S, and Tomich J.M. 2008. Design of bio-based 11- residue adhesive peptides with different properties: Induced secondary structure in the absence of water. Biophysical Journal. 94: 1807-1817.

Pushpadass H.A, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Age-induced changes in the microstructure and selected properties of extruded starch films plasticized with glycerol and stearic acid. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research (In Press).

Pushpadass H.A, Kumar A, Dumais J, Wehling R.L, Jackson D.S, and Hanna M.A. 2008. Macromolecular changes in extruded starch films plasticized with water, glycerol and stearic acid. Starch/Stärke. 61:256-266.

Pushpadass H.A, Marx D.B, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Effects of extrusion temperature and plasticizers on the physical and functional properties of starch films. Starch/Stärke. 60(10):527-538.

Pushpadass H.A, Marx D.B, Wehling R.L, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Extrusion and characterization of starch films. Cereal Chemistry. 86(1): 44-51.

Pushpadass H.A, Weber R.W, and Hanna M.A. 2008. Expansion, morphological, and mechanical properties of starch-polystyrene foams containing various additives. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 47(14): 4736-4742.

Ravindranath S.V, Uppugundla N, Lay J, Clausen E, Wilkins M, Ingraham R, West C, Wu Y, and Carrier D.J. 2009. Policosanol, ±-tocopherol and moisture content as a function of timing of harvest of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry. 57:3500-3505.

Shera J, and Sun X.S. 2009. Effect of peptide sequence on surface properties and self-assembly of an amphiphilic ph-responsive peptide. Biomacromolecules. 10(8): 2201-2206

Singh S.K, Kakani V.G, Brand D, Baldwin B, and Reddy K.R. 2008. Assessment of cold and heat-tolerance of winter-grown canola cultivars by pollen-based parameters. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science. 194: 225-236.

Srinivasan R, Yadav M.P, Belyea R.L, Rausch K.D, Pruiett L.E, Johnston D.B, Tumbleson M.E, and Singh V. 2008. Fiber separation from distillers dried grains with solubles using scaled up elutriation apparatus and use of fiber as a feedstock for corn fiber gum. Biol. Engr. 1:39-49.

Steele P.H, Mitchell B.K, Cooper J.E, and Arora S. Bundled slash: a potential new biomass resource for fuels and chemicals. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 148 (1):1-13. 2008.

Sun X.S, Wang D, Zhang L, Mo X, Zue L, and Boyle D. 2008 Morphology and phase separation of hydrophobic clusters of soy globular protein polymers. Macromolecular Bioscience. 8(4):295-303.

Suryawati L, Wilkins M.R, Bellmer D.D, Huhnke R.L, Maness N.O, and Banat I.M. 2009. Effect of hydrothermolysis process conditions on pretreated switchgrass composition and SSF ethanol yield using Kluyveromyces marxianus IBM4. Process Biochem. 44:540-545.

Suryawati L, Wilkins M.R, Bellmer D.D, Huhnke R.L, Maness N.O, and Banat I.M. 2008. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of Kanlow switchgrass pretreated by hydrothermolysis using Kluyveromyces marxianus IBM4. Biotechnology Bioengineering. 101:894-902. Uppugundla N, Engelberth A, Vandhana Ravindranath S, Lay J, Clausen E, Lay M, Gidden J and Carrier DJ. (2009). Switchgrass water extracts: Extraction, separation and biological activity of rutin and quercitrin. Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 57: (in press). Vandhana Ravindranath S, Uppugundla N, Lay J, Clausen E, Wilkins M, Ingraham R, West C, Wu Y and Carrier DJ. (2009). Policosanol, ±-tocopherol and moisture content as a function of timing of harvest of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry 57: 3500-3505.

Venkateshan K. and Sun X.S. 2009. Thermodynamic and microscopy studies of urea-soy protein composites, Polymer Preprints. 50(2): 71-72.

Vidal B.C. Jr, Rausch K.D, Tumbleson M.E, and Singh V. 2009a. Determining corn germ and pericarp residual starch by acid hydrolysis. Cereal Chemistry. 86:133-135.

Vidal B.C. Jr, Rausch K.D, Tumbleson M.E, and Singh V. 2009b. Protease treatment to improve ethanol fermentation in modified dry grind corn processes. Cereal Chemistry. 86:323-328.

Wang D, Sun X.S, Yang G, and Wang Y. 2009. Improved water resistance of soy protein isolate from neutral surface charge. Transactions of ASABE. 52(1):173-177.

Wang B, Sun, X.S, and Klabunde K. 2009. Poly(lactic acid)/multi-hydroxyl magnesium oxide nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. 3: 130-138.

Wang L, Weller C.L, Schlegel V.L, Carr TP, and Cuppett S.L. 2008. Supercritical CO2 extraction of lipids from grain sorghum dried distillers grains with solubles. Bioresoure Technology. 99(5):1373-1382.

Wang L, Hanna M.A, Weller C.L, and Jones D.D. 2009. Technical and economical analyses of combined heat and power generation from distillers grains and corn stover in ethanol plants. Energy Conservation and Management. 50:1704-1713.

Wang L, Kumar A, Weller C.L, Hanna M.A, and Jones D.D. 2009. Thermal degradation kinetics of distillers grains in nitrogen and air part a: recovery, utilization, and environmental effects. Energy Sources. 31(10):797-806.

Wang P, Johnston D.B, Rausch K.D, Schmidt S.J, Tumbleson M.E, and Singh, V. 2009. Effects of protease and urea on a granular starch hydrolyzing process for ethanol production. Cereal Chemistry. 86:319-322.

Wang Y, Tilley M, Bean S, Sun X.S, and Wang D. 2009. Comparison of methods for extracting sorghum proteins from distillers dried grains with solubles. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 57(18):8366-8372.

West T. P. 2009. Effect of yeast extract supplementation on curdlan production from condensed corn distillers solubles. Res. J. Microbiol. 4:202-207.

Widmer W, Narciso J, Grohmann K, and Wilkins M. 2009. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of orange processing waste to ethanol using Kluyveromyces marxianus. Biological Engineering (in press).

Wilhelmi A.J, Wiesenborn D,P, Gustafson C.R., and Pryor S.W. 2009. Models for fractionation of field peas to supplement corn ethanol, Applied Engineering in Agriculture (in press).

Wilkins M.R. 2009. Effect of orange peel oil on ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis. Biomass and Bioenergy. 33:538-541.

Wolf-Hall C.E, Gibbons W.R, and Bauer N.A. 2009. Development of a low-cost medium for production of nisin from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. W. J. Micr. Biotechnol (accepted 6/09). 10.1007/s11274-009-0102-7.

Xie G, and West T.P. 2009. Citric acid production by Aspergillus niger ATCC 9142 from a treated ethanol fermentation coproduct using solid-state fermentation. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 48:639-644.

Xu Y.X, Hanna M.A, and Josiah S.J. 2009. Evaluation of Nebraska hybrid hazelnuts: nut and kernel characteristics, proximate, oil and protein compositions . Industrial Crops and Products. Accepted.

Xu Y.X, and Hanna M.A. 2009. Synthesis and characterization of hazelnut oil-based biodiesel. Industrial Crops and Products. 29: 473-479.

Xu Y.X, Hanna M.A, and Isom L. 2008. Green chemicals from renewable agricultural biomass-a mini review. The Open Agriculture Journal. 2:54-61.

Yu F, Ruan R, and Steele P.H. 2008. Consecutive reaction model for the pyrolysis of corn cob. Transactions of ASABE. 51(3): 1023-1028. 2008.

Zhang L, and Sun X.S. 2008. Effects of sodium bisulfite on soybean glycinin. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 56(23):11192-11197.

Zhao H, Zhang J, Sun X.S, and Hua D.H. 2008. Syntheses and properties of cross-linked polymers from functionalized triglycerides. Journal Applied Polymer Science. 110: 647-656.