Alternative Feedstocks Program Technical and Economic Assessment: Thermal/Chemical and Bioprocessing Components

Microbiological Production of Surfactant From Agricultural Residuals for IOR Application

“…However, utilization of corn and molasses are dominant in the United States. 21,22 In addition to corn and molasses, potato processing residuals represents a significant source of carbohydrates. If theoretical yield were realized, use of potato processing wastes to biologically produce glycerol could completely saturate the current and projected markets.…”

The Vision for Renewable Resources

“…Such a complex molecular matrix results in several problems in terms of processing efficiency. New approaches to thermochemieal (8) or enzymatic "extraction" (9) are required to allow expanded use of the large amount of lignocellulosic material produced on an annual basis. Crop seeds contain carbohydrate, protein, oils, and hundreds of secondary chemicals (Figure 4) that require novel separations, especially those applicable to dilute aqueous streams.…”

Future renewable resource needs: will genomics help?

“…Research is underway to develop enzymatic biocatalysts and/or thermochemical processes to utilize lignocellulosic biomass, with improved conversion into energy, or into molecular building blocks such as levulinic acid. 13 In addition, speci®c alteration of the composition of maize kernels would provide advantages for certain processing systems (Fig 6). Starch itself varies considerably in composition and polymeric structure, due to differing activities of the biosynthetic enzymes, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase, and starch branching enzyme.…”