Plant Biomass Conversion

by Hood, Elizabeth E.; Nelson, Peter; Powell, Randall

• ISBN13: 9780813816944
• ISBN10: 0813816947
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-03-22
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

As concerns regarding increasing energy prices, global warming and renewable resources continue to grow, so has scientific discovery into agricultural biomass conversion. Plant Biomass Conversion addresses both the development of plant biomass and conversion technology, in addition to issues surrounding biomass conversion, such as the affect on water resources and soil sustainability. This book also offers a brief overview of the current status of the industry and examples of production plants being used in current biomass conversion efforts.

Author Biography

Elizabeth Hood, Ph.D, is a Distinguished Professor of Agriculture at Arkansas State University.

Peter Nelson is a principal in BioDimensions, providing services for startup companies developing green technology.

Randy Powell, Ph.D, is the president of Powell Consulting, LLC, a construction consulting firm promoting biofuel and bioproducts.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Biofuels and BioâÇôbased products—a new era of products from renewable sources. (Beth and Pete). This is the introduction to the whole book focus. It should be focused on what is possible from biomaterials—chemicals and fuels. Diversity of crop and animal feedstocks are also important although this book will focus on plant feedstocks. Volumes of feedstocks necessary to meet the needs

Feedstocks—near and far term

Agricultural and forest residues—This will focus on the first wave of feedstocks for the renewable industry—rice straw, corn stover, wheat straw, cotton trash, etc., even forest slash and sawdust

Woody crops—Steve Strauss—this will focus on hybrid poplar as a feedstock for biomass

MSW—Bill Ort to suggest a potential author—for cities, this is an additional feedstock to crop feedstocks. This prevents build up of municipal solid waste. Need to show the volumes available

Miscanthus—Mendel (Neal?)—Advantages and disadvantages; will the USDA allow this nonâÇônative plant on a large scale?

Switchgrass—Ceres (Steve?)—Advantages and disadvantages; what are the issues to high production from this plant?

Other energy crops—Arundo, etc (Peggy OziasâÇôAkins)—what are the advantages and disadvantages of this crop?

Soil and water sustainability

Soil and water sustainability for biofuel production—Steve Green and Jennifer Bouldin—If we harvest the biomass that is usually left on the ground in noâÇôtill agriculture, what are the consequences to the soil.? How much water will this take?

Technology

Enzymes—Production systems (Beth and John Howard)

Transgenic Plants—seed and biomass

Fungal fermentation

Enzyme quality and specific activity

Enzyme cocktails—biochemistry

Pretreatment options—this is current technology that will be deployed for the early production plants. (Michael Ladisch, Andy Aden, Bruce Dale)

Steam

Acid

Ammonia

Advanced pretreatment options

Fermentation Organisms—for 5 and 6 carbon sugars

Pilot and Production plants

Summary and analysis of those funded by DOE—useful to know who has been funded and what type of technology is being deployed in these plants. Other, nonâÇôDOE funded facilities

NonâÇôUS facilities and technologies

Economics—Economics chapter: (Marie Walsh?)—What will drive this industry? Sustainability

Summary

Future directions—new technologies

Book summary

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.