ARS | Publication request: A New Source of Biodiesel: Field Pennycress

Submitted to: International News on Fats, Oils and Related Materials
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 23, 2009
Publication Date: September 7, 2009
Citation: Moser, B.R. 2009. A New Source of Biodiesel: Field Pennycress. International News on Fats, Oils and Related Materials. 25(6):19-21.

Technical Abstract: As a result of the current debate about fuel versus food issues, alternative non-food feedstocks for biodiesel production are an important area of current research. Traditionally considered to be an agricultural weed by farmers, field pennycress has many positive agronomic characteristics that make it attractive as a potential feedstock for biodiesel, such as growth in the off-season from commercial crops, tolerance of agriculturally undesirable lands, requires minimal agricultural inputs (fertilizer, pesticides, water), is not part of the food chain, is compatible with existing farm equipment, and has seeds with a high oil content (36 wt %). The biodiesel that is prepared from the oil that is obtained from field pennycress seeds has excellent low temperature properties and cetane number as well as acceptable oxidative stability and viscosity when compared to the American biodiesel standard (ASTM D6751). As a result, field pennycress has excellent potential as a feedstock for biodiesel production.