Project Number: 5445-21660-002-09
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 01, 2012
End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Objective:
1. Determine the physical and thermal characteristics of biomass from perennial warm-season grasses and annual crop residues; 2. Develop new protocols for assessing the size and particle size distribution of process biomass; and 3. Apply the new protocols in assessing the effect of size reduction on the densification and storage of biomass.

Approach:
Herbaceous biomass of perennial warm-season grasses and annual crop residues will be harvested from ongoing ARS research at Mandan, ND and characterized for physical and thermal properties. Biomass will be analyzed for shear and tensile strength, thermal characteristics via thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, and storage hydration characteristics with a controlled environment chamber.