Alternative fuel research

[89rabbit]

SDSU help lead the way to ethanol back in the 1970's now we are up front in developing hydrogen production.  Highlights from a Washington post story.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050100692.html

Midwest Research Projects Look to Hydrogen

The Associated Press
Sunday, May 1, 2005; 8:05 PM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Several research projects in South Dakota and neighboring states are looking to hydrogen as a fuel source that could reduce air pollution, global warming and dependence on foreign oil.

Hydrogen is seen as an ideal alternative to fossil fuels since it doesn't release carbon dioxide, a leading cause of global warming. But because there is no abundant natural source of pure hydrogen, it must come from other sources.  .  .  .

"We hope this region can be an absolute leader in the production of hydrogen," Rolf Nordstrom of the Minneapolis-based Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative said in a speech last month to an energy conference in Sioux Falls.

Midwest researchers are working on several ideas.

_ At South Dakota State University in Brookings, scientists want to build a manure digester that would turn the resulting gas into a renewable source of hydrogen.

Plans are on hold because of a shift in federal funding. But Kevin Kephart, director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, said researchers are ready to build once the money is there.  .  .  .


Go State!  ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Hydrogen research

More Bio fuel research, this time working with DDGs. Here is a link to the Register story.

http://www.brookingsregister.com/mai...03&page=23

Go State! ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Hydrogen research

More good news from the Bio fuel world. This could mean big $$$ for SDSU research.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0315/1001/NEWS

SDSU could benefit from grass-made ethanol

BEN SHOUSE
bshouse@argusleader.com

Article Published: 02/2/06, 2:55 am

The utterance of the word "ethanol" in Tuesday's State of the Union address pleased many South Dakota corn growers and others with ties to America's favorite renewable fuel. But for Kevin Kephart, the biggest rush came from a different word: switchgrass.

"We'll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switchgrass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years," Bush said.

That symbolizes new momentum for making ethanol from plants other than corn, including native prairie species such as switchgrass. It also means a high likelihood of increased funding for South Dakota State University, said Kephart, who is vice president of research there.

"It's the best speech I've ever heard by President Bush. Ask my wife, I was really pumped up," he said Wednesday. In the past, he has hesitated to set a date for grass-based ethanol to be viable, but the speech was a key boost.

"We can have these established within six years, I'm confident of it."

The school already is set to receive $8.3 million during the next five years for research on biofuels from new crops and agricultural waste. But the Energy Policy Act, passed last year, includes more money for such research, and Bush unveiled $59 million in new funding nationwide. . . .


Go State! ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

From the Argus:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...602130302/1052

Ethanol emphasis is heartening

Good news for ethanol supporters, and especially South Dakota State University, in the president's State of the Union address.

In essence - more money for research, especially for non-corn ethanol, such as switchgrass.

"We can have these established (viable) within six years. I'm confident of it," said Kevin Kephart, vice president of research at SDSU.

The school already is scheduled to get $8.3 million over the next five years for research into biofuels from new crops and agricultural waste. But in addition, last year's Energy Policy Act has more money for research, and in his speech President Bush promised another $59 million for research nationwide.

There are some difficulties with non-corn ethanol, and that's one reason for the research.

The good news, though, is more attention paid to ethanol, more research funding likely for South Dakota. . . .


Go State! ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

Here is yet another story about the work that SDSU is doing in the atlernative fuel research area. This time it is avaition fuel.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?B...=461&rfi=9

SDSU researchers test ethanol airport fuel


By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter

Making the transition to a more environmentally friendly fuel for airplanes isn't as simple as just marketing a different gas. South Dakota State University researchers Jim Behnkin and Dave Quale have been researching the use of an 85 percent ethanol-blended aviation fuel for the past 10 years. . . . (read more)


Go State! ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...0307/1001/NEWS

Biofuels blend promise and doubt
Some see limits, harm to habitat in hope of ethanol

By BEN SHOUSE
bshouse@argusleader.com
PUBLISHED: December 24, 2006

In one vision of the nation's energy future, anything with leaves and stems will become fuel.

Some South Dakota farmers will sell corn stalks and cobs for ethanol, not just kernels. West of the James River, others will switch to native grasses that provide both energy and pheasant habitat.

A new type of "biorefinery" will spring up to turn it all into fuel.

The grand result will be more jobs in the countryside, a brake on global warming and enhanced national security. . . . (read more)

Go State!

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

http://www.hpj.com/archives/2007/mar...0power%20lunch

Ethanol- The new power lunch?
Another dimension of the food vs. fuel debate

When most people talk about by-products from ethanol, they usually think of the portions that are removed as distillers grains and used for livestock feed. But there's a strong possibility that you may one day be eating an energy bar or some other food product with some of the same ingredients.

For almost two decades, researchers have experimented with the notion of including distillers grains from corn, wheat and barley in an assortment of food products--with varying levels of success. After all, this by-product is high in protein, with levels ranging between 35 to 45 percent, and a great source of fiber. And with the growing number of ethanol plants built in the U.S., the supply is abundant. Across the U.S., the production of distillers dried grains with solubles reached 14.5 million tons in 2006, according to the U.S. Grains Council and could reach as high as 40 million tons. . . .

Kitchen tests underway

At the South Dakota State University test kitchen, researchers are experimenting with various food products using DG substitution levels between 7 to 40 percent. Panels evaluating the products have given ratings of "acceptable" or better to foods like banana bread, carrot coconut bread, nut rolls, oatmeal muffins, beef stew and chocolate chip cookies.

Given the strong demand for products that are low in calories and high in protein, Rostentrater believes there can be significant opportunities for distiller's grains in food products. The key may be to develop a novel use, rather than trying to use distillers grains as a replacement for something like wheat or corn flour. However, he says additional research and testing will be required before such products will be commercially viable. . . . (read more)


Go State!

[NightHawk78]

Senate Subcommittee hearing at SDSU on 4/4

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.../NEWS/70321030

As ranking Republican on the energy subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. John Thune announced he will hold a hearing at South Dakota State University April 4 on the future of biofuels production, specifically the development of cellulosic ethanol. (read more)

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

http://www.kxmc.com/News/130795.asp

Grant to help SDSU improve prairie cordgrass as feedstock...

Jun 8 2007 7:51AM
Associated Press



SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) South Dakota State University will receive a 420-thousand dollar federal grant to improve prairie cordgrass as a feedstock for alternative fuel production.

The award one of eleven nationwide comes from the U-S Department of Energy and U-S Department of Agriculture.

It's part of the Bush administration's efforts to expand research and alternative fuel production beyond Corn ethanol and reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years. . . . (read more)


Go State!

[joeboo22]

Re: Alternative fuel research

I saw on the board today that Poet Research Center in Scotland had a meeting or has a meeting planned with SDSU (its been changed 2 or 3 times so I don't know if they have had it yet) I know in Scotland they were working with Cellulose ethanol from Corn Stover and fiber from DDG they estract from BFrac.... Right now are mechanical engineer is working out the bugs with enzimes and how to grind the stover so the enzime works the best... I know currently Poet is funding research through Iowa State and SDSU is also doing studies for them...

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories...iew/sid/23391/

Prairie Cordgrass for Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Researchers at South Dakota State University are mapping native prairie cordgrass for its use as biomass in making cellulosic ethanol. The two-year project will look at chemical composition of cordgrass to improve disease resistance & reduce the amount of lignin in the dry matter. The Northern Plains crop offers another resource for the bioenergy industry.

State University researchers have won a major federal grant to help them map the genes of prairie cordgrass, a native grass that could be used to make cellulosic ethanol.

Assistant professor Jose Gonzalez in SDSU's Department of Plant Science leads a team that has received $420,000 to study prairie cordgrass over a two-year period starting Aug. 1. The study is one of 11 projects funded nationwide to promote biofuels research.

The grant is from a joint program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Department of Energy.

Prairie cordgrass is one of the "big four" native grasses in South Dakota with potential as biomass feedstocks. The others include switchgrass, Indiangrass, and big bluestem.

"As a research team, SDSU plant breeders and biotechnologists, along with agronomists, are making strides to provide South Dakota's bioenergy industry with superior cellulosic and starch-based feedstocks that will keep South Dakota at the forefront of innovation and production," according to Gary Lemme, dean of SDSU's College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. "The bioenergy industry is important to the economic future of South Dakota." . . . (read more)


Go State!

[89rabbit]

Re: Alternative fuel research

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070625.htm

Ethanol Byproducts Pelletized

By Don Comis
June 25, 2007

One hundred percent of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a byproduct of ethanol production, can be pelletized without adding a binding agent or anything else, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators.

ARS agricultural engineeer Kurt Rosentrater has turned DDGS from corn-based ethanol production into high-quality pellets using processing equipment at a commercial feed mill. And the heating used in pelletizing did not harm the high-protein, low-starch nutrient content. Rosentrater is at the ARS North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Brookings, S.D. He does this research with colleagues at ARS and at nearby South Dakota State University.

Cattle feed is currently the primary outlet for distiller's grain. But other livestock such as swine and poultry can also eat it. To date, there are no commercial DDGS pellets available for livestock, which limits the byproduct’s use in rangeland settings. DDGS is the protein, fat, fiber, unconverted starch and ash left over after ethanol production.  .  .  .  (read more)




Go State!