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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203576
Title: Issues in the production and conversion of lignocellulosic biomass crops to ethanol

Author
item Jung, Hans Joachim
item Dien, Bruce
item Vogel, Kenneth

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Jung, H.G., Dien, B.S., Vogel, K.P. 2007. Issues in the production and conversion of lignocellulosic biomass crops to ethanol [abstract]. 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, March 25-29, 2007, Chicago, IL. p. 107.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of replacing 30% of 2004 gasoline demand with biofuels by 2030 will require 1 billion tons of biomass annually. Ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass (crop residues and perennial energy crops) will contribute the lion's share of biofuel production. Among challenges to overcome is environmentally sustainable production of sufficient biomass within relatively small geographic fuelsheds. Because lignocellulosic feedstocks must be low in cost to compete with petroleum, reducing biomass production costs is paramount, particularly for nitrogen fertilizer. Rotation of corn with the nitrogen-fixing legume alfalfa provides one alternative to deal with production cost. Biomass-to-ethanol conversion processes must be optimized to reduce pretreatment costs for lignin removal, more efficient cellulase enzyme production is needed, new enzymes to hydrolyze non-cellulosic polysaccharides must be found, and microorganisms that use non-glucose sugars with high efficiency will be required. Because lignocellulosic biomass is variable in composition among and within feedstocks, conversion processes must be flexible.