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College of Agriculture
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Biobased Institute
Biobased Products Institute - Montana State University
Development of Biomass for Fuels and Ethanol for Lubricants |
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Project Description: |
| Cellulosic biomass, such as wheat straw and hay, has been evaluated for potential ethanol production. Sugar conversion from biomass using enzymatic hydrolysis and preliminary ethanol fermentation has been evaluated in a previous Biobased Products Institute funded project. Further research is needed to screen and genetically engineer microorganisms for higher ethanol yield from biomass. |
Progress to Date: |
I. A double-cropping system was developed to plant winter triticale in the fall and harvest the crop for hay or silage in mid June. After harvesting the winter triticale, sweet sorghum or sweet stem pearl millet is immediately planted into the same field and harvested in late September. This system produced 47 – 56% more total biomass than planting winter triticale alone for grain and straw (single cropping).
II. Potentials of wheat straw, triticale hay/straw, barley hay/straw, sweet sorghum hay, and sweet stem pearl millet hay were compared for development of energy efficient and effective bioconversion techniques.
III. Potentials of wheat straw, triticale hay/straw, barley hay/straw, sweet sorghum hay, and sweet stem pearl millet hay were compared for development of energy efficient and effective bioconversion techniques. The multi-product crops evaluated in this study can be used both for biofuel feedstock and livestock feed. Winter triticale, sweet sorghum, and sweet stem pearl millet hays have a very good relative feed value (>91%). |
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