Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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