Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel
.. all well good; but i've read (somewhere) that Butanol is greatly superior to ethanol as a fuel in IC engines; that it is more eco-friendly; that it can be produced from biomass, but the process is somewhat more difficult than ethanol production .. anyone into this area of investigation? --- MH [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Jason and Katie wrote: having read this article, i seem to be missing some of the math... this miscanthus is a rhizome, correct? and like other rhizomes (i.e. strawberries) there is a good sized chunk of sugars and other carbon based items stored in the root/stem system, also correct? so that would imply that it STORES carbon and does not reintroduce all of it when burned, because it stays in the field as the jump start for the next growing season. am i correct in this extrapolation? It sounds that way to me and the math I wondered about is tonnage or tons compared to tonnes. The 25 ton/acre or 60 tonnes/hectare from Giant Miscanthus compared to corn grain and corn stover yields sounds pretty good if I look only at the high end of the 10-30 tons per acre dry weight each year. This makes me wonder about the dry ton yield per acre for cellulosic ethanol compared to switchgrass or corn or sugar cane. Biofuels and Agriculture A Factsheet for Farmers 4 page, 584k PDF ftp://bioenergy.ornl.gov/pub/pdfs/farmerfactsheet.pdf - A bushel of corn (56 lb or 25 kg) yields about 2.5 US gallons (9.5 liters) of ethanol - A ton (2000 lb or 980 kg) of corn stover will yield about 80-90 US gallons (300-340 liters) of ethanol, - A ton of switchgrass will yield in the range 75-100 US gallons (285-380 liters) Biofuels from Switchgrass: Greener Energy Pastures http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/switgrs.html Bransby's 6-year average, 11.5 tons a year, translates into about 1,150 gallons of ethanol per acre. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ __ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel
having read this article, i seem to be missing some of the math... this miscanthus is a rhizome, correct? and like other rhizomes (i.e. strawberries) there is a good sized chunk of sugars and other carbon based items stored in the root/stem system, also correct? so that would imply that it STORES carbon and does not reintroduce all of it when burned, because it stays in the field as the jump start for the next growing season. am i correct in this extrapolation? --- [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus] ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel
Jason and Katie wrote: having read this article, i seem to be missing some of the math... this miscanthus is a rhizome, correct? and like other rhizomes (i.e. strawberries) there is a good sized chunk of sugars and other carbon based items stored in the root/stem system, also correct? so that would imply that it STORES carbon and does not reintroduce all of it when burned, because it stays in the field as the jump start for the next growing season. am i correct in this extrapolation? It sounds that way to me and the math I wondered about is tonnage or tons compared to tonnes. The 25 ton/acre or 60 tonnes/hectare from Giant Miscanthus compared to corn grain and corn stover yields sounds pretty good if I look only at the high end of the 10-30 tons per acre dry weight each year. This makes me wonder about the dry ton yield per acre for cellulosic ethanol compared to switchgrass or corn or sugar cane. Biofuels and Agriculture A Factsheet for Farmers 4 page, 584k PDF ftp://bioenergy.ornl.gov/pub/pdfs/farmerfactsheet.pdf - A bushel of corn (56 lb or 25 kg) yields about 2.5 US gallons (9.5 liters) of ethanol - A ton (2000 lb or 980 kg) of corn stover will yield about 80-90 US gallons (300-340 liters) of ethanol, - A ton of switchgrass will yield in the range 75-100 US gallons (285-380 liters) Biofuels from Switchgrass: Greener Energy Pastures http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/misc/switgrs.html Bransby's 6-year average, 11.5 tons a year, translates into about 1,150 gallons of ethanol per acre. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel
I wonder about the invasiveness of miscanthus. Other varieties of Miscanthus have been grown successfully in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. However, the giant Miscanthus being grown by the Illinois researchers has the greatest potential as a fuel source because of its high yields and because it is sterile and cannot become a weed, Heaton said. Miscanthus sacchariflorus and some of the other fertile Miscanthus species can be quite invasive, she said. At a research station near Hornum, Denmark, giant Miscanthus has been grown for 22 years in Europes longest-running experimental field. The crop has never been invasive and rhizome spread has been no more than 1.5 meters (4.92 feet), said Uffe Jorgensen, senior scientist for the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Hybrid Grass Shows Strong Biomass Potential October 12, 2005 http://renewableenergyaccess.com Doctoral student Emily Heaton stands next to a plot of Giant Miscanthus, a hybrid grass that she and her research fellows have shown could become a valuable fuel source. Photo: Kwame Ross Champaign, Illinois [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Ethanol and biodiesel are the biofuel favorites in the US right now but new research is suggesting some new contenders may be on the way. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), a hybrid grass that can grow 13 feet high, may become a valuable renewable energy as a source of solid fuel, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) say. In addition to being a clean, efficient and renewable fuel source, Miscanthus is easy to grow. Upon reaching maturity, Miscanthus has few needs as it outgrows weeds, requires little water and minimal fertilizer and thrives in untilled fields, Heaton said, where various wildlife species make their homes in the plant's leafy canopy and surrounding undisturbed soil. Stephen P. Long, professor of crop sciences and of plant biology at UIUC recently gave that message to the BA Festival of Science in Ireland, sponsored by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Here in the states, two of Long's doctoral students, Emily A. Heaton and Frank G. Dohleman, delivered their Miscanthus findings at the 49th annual Agronomy Day, held on the UIUC campus and attended by more than 1,100 visitors from across the Midwest. Forty percent of U.S. energy is used as electricity, Heaton said. The easiest way to get electricity is using a solid fuel such as coal. They have found that dry, leafless Miscanthus stems can be used as a solid fuel. The cool-weather-friendly perennial grass grows from an underground stem-like organ called a rhizome. A crop native to Asia and a relative of sugarcane, Miscanthus drops its leaves in the winter, leaving behind tall bamboo-like stems that can be harvested in spring and burned for fuel. Using a computer simulation, Heaton predicted that if just 10 percent of Illinois land mass was devoted to Miscanthus, it could provide 50 percent of Illinois' electricity needs. Using Miscanthus for energy would not necessarily reduce energy costs in the short term, Heaton said, but there would be significant savings in carbon dioxide production. Rhizomatous grasses such as Miscanthus are very clean fuels, said Dohleman, who is studying for his doctorate in plant biology. Nutrients such as nitrogen are transferred to the rhizome to be saved until the next growing season, he said. Burning Miscanthus produces only as much carbon dioxide as it removes from the air as it grows, said Heaton, who is seeking her doctorate in crop sciences. That balance means there is no net effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which is not the case with fossil fuels, she said. Miscanthus also is a very efficient fuel, because the energy ratio of input to output is less than 0.2, Heaton said. In contrast, the ratios exceed 0.8 for ethanol and biodiesel from canola, which are other plant-derived energy sources. In addition to being a clean, efficient and renewable fuel source, Miscanthus is easy to grow. Upon reaching maturity, Miscanthus has few needs as it outgrows weeds, requires little water and minimal fertilizer and thrives in untilled fields, Heaton said, where various wildlife species make their homes in the plant's leafy canopy and surrounding undisturbed soil. Long said Illinois researchers have found that Miscanthus grown in the state has greater crop yields than in Europe, where it has been used commercially for years. Last year, Illinois researchers obtained 60 tons per hectare (2.47 acre), Long said at the BA Festival of Science. It is my hope that Illinois will take the lead in renewable energy and that the state will benefit from that lead. Full-grown plants produce 10-30 tons per acre dry weight each year. Miscanthus yields in lowland areas around the Alps, where the climate is similar to the Midwest, are at least 25 tons per acre dry weight, wrote
Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel and food
Helo WOODARD The maxium photosynthetic is also possible protein is also production per hector is possible which can be easily extracted using alkali treatment or Excellent mushroom can be obtained from this plants. followed by small scale biogasification or thermal gasification or ethanol production. Here in Brazil several grass are made survival posssible even in dry climate.South africa and India where population are mor can make use of this plant to make fuel and food . In our university, the experimental results obtained recently show a very high prodction of biomass is obtained usig Elefant grass by using treated municipal sewage and hence very good project to make not only fuel but also protein feed from biomass. Thus small biomass refinery can be made possible using this elephant grass as this plant produce the maxium protein from plant source. Thank wood , as this plant can reduce well carbon diocxide and hence reduce the climate change . sd Pannirselvam On 9/7/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Presumably they could be used for celulose to alcohol processes.I wonder about the invasiveness of miscanthus. Thanks to Lawrence F. London on the permaculture list.Doug WoodardSt. Catharines, Ontario, Canada-- Forwarded message -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4220790.stmLast Updated: Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 00:49 GMT 01:49 UKTall grasses set to power EuropeBy Jonathan AmosBBC News science reporter, Dublin Miscanthus, University of IllinoisMiscanthus: High output for small inputThe fields of Europe could soon take on a shimmering silver colour asfarmers grow giant grasses to try to mitigate the effects of global warming. The latest studies suggest one form of elephant grass would make aproductive energy crop to be burnt in power stations to generateelectricity.Scientists told a Dublin conference the 4m-high Miscanthus needs little fertiliser to produce very high yields.A breeding programme would improve its economics still further, they said.There's no reason why in 10 years' time this shouldn't be widelyexploited, commented Professor Mike Jones, an Irish expert on plants and climate.If we grew Miscanthus on 10% of suitable land in [the 15-member]Europe, then we could generate 9% of the gross electricity production,he told the British Association's Festival of Science. Hectares and barrelsBurning biomass is broadly neutral in terms of its emissions of carbondioxide, the major gas thought responsible for warming the planet.As the plant grows it is drawing carbon dioxide out of the air, explained Professor Steve Long, from the University of Illinois. Whenyou burn it, you put that carbon dioxide back, so the net effect onatmospheric CO2 is zero.Whereas, if you take coal out of the ground and burn it, you are adding a net gain of carbon to the atmosphere.Professor Long has been cultivating a hybrid of two Miscanthus specieson plots in his home state. The project has managed to achieve yields of60 tonnes of dry material per hectare. This is a considerable improvement on the trials that have beenconducted in Europe, where a typical yield is some 12 tonnes per hectare.But even this lower production provides an energy content equivalent to about 36 barrels of crude oil. And with a barrel currently priced around$60, such a yield would have a potential value of about $2,160 per hectare.Growing interestBiomass crops have always been viewed as something that can only make a tiny contribution to mitigating rising carbon dioxide, said Professor Long.The point we want to make is that it could actually make a majorcontribution and it doesn't require big technological breakthroughs to do that.Farmers are increasingly being drawn to the idea. One of its attractionsis that harvesting takes place at times of the year when machinery innot being used on food crops.Added Professor Jones: This is definitely being taken seriously in the UK, where the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is nowfunding a major breeding programme.One farmers' cooperative also plans to cultivate 10,000 hectares forburning over the next three years. LINKS TO MORE SCIENCE/NATURE STORIESSEE ALSO:Climate food crisis 'to deepen'05 Sep 05 |Science/NatureAsian peat fires add to warming03 Sep 05 |Science/NatureUK 'lagging on biomass potential' 11 May 04 |Science/NatureRELATED INTERNET LINKS:BA Festival of ScienceBA Festival of Science WebcastsTrinity College DublinScience for a Successful IrelandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites ___permaculture mailing list[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz
Re: [Biofuel] Grass for fuel
Hello Doug Presumably they could be used for celulose to alcohol processes. More like biomass energy I think, and Fischer-Tropsch fuel: http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/msg09335.html Re: [biofuel] VW presents new synthetic fuel strategy I wonder about the invasiveness of miscanthus. You might find something at these databases, though I think invasiveness is often a synonym for bad management: NewCrop SearchEngine at the Center for New Crops Plant Products at Purdue University -- Search for oil. Results: The following pages containing 'oil' were found -- hits 1-20 of 200. Results are hyperlinked to detailed factsheets. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/SearchEngine.html Plants For A Future -- Database Search -- See Search by Use - Select any of the following uses. Or select none and use the plant criteria below. Select Other Use - oil. Results: Other Use: Oil (460). Results are hyperlinked to detailed factsheets. http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/D_search.html Thanks to Lawrence F. London on the permaculture list. His website: http://www.ibiblio.org/london/ EcoLandTech Best Keith Doug Woodard St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada -- Forwarded message -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4220790.stm Last Updated: Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 00:49 GMT 01:49 UK Tall grasses set to power Europe By Jonathan Amos BBC News science reporter, Dublin Miscanthus, University of Illinois Miscanthus: High output for small input The fields of Europe could soon take on a shimmering silver colour as farmers grow giant grasses to try to mitigate the effects of global warming. The latest studies suggest one form of elephant grass would make a productive energy crop to be burnt in power stations to generate electricity. Scientists told a Dublin conference the 4m-high Miscanthus needs little fertiliser to produce very high yields. A breeding programme would improve its economics still further, they said. There's no reason why in 10 years' time this shouldn't be widely exploited, commented Professor Mike Jones, an Irish expert on plants and climate. If we grew Miscanthus on 10% of suitable land in [the 15-member] Europe, then we could generate 9% of the gross electricity production, he told the British Association's Festival of Science. Hectares and barrels Burning biomass is broadly neutral in terms of its emissions of carbon dioxide, the major gas thought responsible for warming the planet. As the plant grows it is drawing carbon dioxide out of the air, explained Professor Steve Long, from the University of Illinois. When you burn it, you put that carbon dioxide back, so the net effect on atmospheric CO2 is zero. Whereas, if you take coal out of the ground and burn it, you are adding a net gain of carbon to the atmosphere. Professor Long has been cultivating a hybrid of two Miscanthus species on plots in his home state. The project has managed to achieve yields of 60 tonnes of dry material per hectare. This is a considerable improvement on the trials that have been conducted in Europe, where a typical yield is some 12 tonnes per hectare. But even this lower production provides an energy content equivalent to about 36 barrels of crude oil. And with a barrel currently priced around $60, such a yield would have a potential value of about $2,160 per hectare. Growing interest Biomass crops have always been viewed as something that can only make a tiny contribution to mitigating rising carbon dioxide, said Professor Long. The point we want to make is that it could actually make a major contribution and it doesn't require big technological breakthroughs to do that. Farmers are increasingly being drawn to the idea. One of its attractions is that harvesting takes place at times of the year when machinery in not being used on food crops. Added Professor Jones: This is definitely being taken seriously in the UK, where the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is now funding a major breeding programme. One farmers' cooperative also plans to cultivate 10,000 hectares for burning over the next three years. LINKS TO MORE SCIENCE/NATURE STORIES SEE ALSO: Climate food crisis 'to deepen' 05 Sep 05 | Science/Nature Asian peat fires add to warming 03 Sep 05 | Science/Nature UK 'lagging on biomass potential' 11 May 04 | Science/Nature RELATED INTERNET LINKS: BA Festival of Science BA Festival of Science Webcasts Trinity College Dublin Science for a Successful Ireland The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [biofuel] Grass for fuel
I think that your friend is probably talking about Switchgrass. This is a native prairie grass (in the Midwestern US amp; parts of Canada) that can be used as an energy crop. It has many ecological advantages over crops like corn amp; soybeans. It requires little (or no) pesticide/herbicide use, and has an amazing 8 foot deep expansive root system that prevents erosion amp; topsoil loss. Here is a web site from the Iowa department of natural resources that describes it in more detail http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/energy/pubs/irerg/switchgrass.htm. It also gives some information about a power plant in Iowa where they are burning it at 10% along with coal. I also found this site http://www.reap-canada.com/Reports/bioenergy2000Aug2.html from Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (R.E.A.P.)in Canada that promotes the use of biofuel pellets for home heating and even gives a link for purchasing pellet stoves. I've never used Switchgrass or known anybody who used it, so I can't give you any firsthand information about this system. Beth --- #34;Blaird (RF Works)#34; lt;[EMAIL PROTECTED]gt; wrote: gt; Hello everyone and good AM. gt; gt; I have been told that #34;sweet grass#34; is used for gt; making pellets to burn in a stove. I have also been gt; told that a 1 acre field will supply enough heat for gt; one average size house. gt; Does anyone know of or has anyone heard of this?? gt; Where can one by the pelletizer? gt; What grass is used?? gt; gt; Any help will be appreciated gt; gt; Regards gt; Blaird Foxton gt; www.nvo.com/rfworks gt; gt; gt; gt; gt; --- gt; Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. gt; If you get a virus from me, please call gt; ASAP @ 780-464-7059 gt; Checked by AVG anti-virus system gt; (http://www.grisoft.com). gt; Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release gt; Date: 24/10/02 gt; gt; [Non-text portions of this message have been gt; removed] gt; gt; gt; __ Do you Yahoo!? Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Sell a Home with Ease! http://us.click.yahoo.com/SrPZMC/kTmEAA/jd3IAA/FGYolB/TM -~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Grass for fuel
Hello Beth Oh, switchgrass. Clever you, sweet grass had me puzzled. Blaird, there's been quite a lot of discussion of switchgrass here. Do an archive search for switchgrass: http://archive.nnytech.net/index.php?list=biofuel Info-Archive at NNYTech Best Keith I think that your friend is probably talking about Switchgrass. This is a native prairie grass (in the Midwestern US amp; parts of Canada) that can be used as an energy crop. It has many ecological advantages over crops like corn amp; soybeans. It requires little (or no) pesticide/herbicide use, and has an amazing 8 foot deep expansive root system that prevents erosion amp; topsoil loss. Here is a web site from the Iowa department of natural resources that describes it in more detail http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/energy/pubs/irerg/switchgrass.htm. It also gives some information about a power plant in Iowa where they are burning it at 10% along with coal. I also found this site http://www.reap-canada.com/Reports/bioenergy2000Aug2.html from Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (R.E.A.P.)in Canada that promotes the use of biofuel pellets for home heating and even gives a link for purchasing pellet stoves. I've never used Switchgrass or known anybody who used it, so I can't give you any firsthand information about this system. Beth --- #34;Blaird (RF Works)#34; lt;[EMAIL PROTECTED]gt; wrote: gt; Hello everyone and good AM. gt; gt; I have been told that #34;sweet grass#34; is used for gt; making pellets to burn in a stove. I have also been gt; told that a 1 acre field will supply enough heat for gt; one average size house. gt; Does anyone know of or has anyone heard of this?? gt; Where can one by the pelletizer? gt; What grass is used?? gt; gt; Any help will be appreciated gt; gt; Regards gt; Blaird Foxton gt; www.nvo.com/rfworks gt; gt; gt; gt; gt; --- gt; Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. gt; If you get a virus from me, please call gt; ASAP @ 780-464-7059 gt; Checked by AVG anti-virus system gt; (http://www.grisoft.com). gt; Version: 6.0.408 / Virus Database: 230 - Release gt; Date: 24/10/02 gt; Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Looking for a more powerful website? Try GeoCities for $8.95 per month. Register your domain name (http://your-name.com). More storage! No ads! http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info http://us.click.yahoo.com/auyVXB/KJoEAA/jd3IAA/FGYolB/TM -~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
