Location: Bio-oils Research
Project Number: 5010-30600-005-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: May 9, 2025
End Date: May 9, 2030
Objective:
Objective 1: Develop analysis for new crop germplasm and agronomic traits of oilseed crops such as industrial hemp, Silphium, and Brassica sp.
Objective 2: Enable processes for the commercial production of oils, waxes, meal, gums, fiber, and protein from annual and perennial oilseed crops such as hemp, guayule, Silphium, and sorghum.
Sub-objective 2A: Improve the economic value of hemp, sorghum, and Silphium grains by developing new value-added uses from grain processing by-products.
Sub-objective 2B: Develop efficient methods for processing fibers from hemp and sorghum stalks for compounding for new polymers applications.
Objective 3: Enable commercial processes for converting the oils from non¬traditional oilseed crops into marketable value-added biobased products for lubricant, fuels, cosmetic, polymer, and industrial platform chemical fields.
Sub-objective 3A: Develop new hydroxy fatty acids/oils and co-products from chaulmoogra, sunflower, Silphium, and industrial hemp.
Sub-objective 3B: Develop new biobased lubricants, greases, fuels, and additives from CVC, chaulmoogra, Silphium, and sunflower oilseeds.
Sub-objective 3C: Develop biobased monomers to produce thermoplastics and elastomers from non-traditional oilseeds.
Sub-objective 3D: Develop new polymeric additives from non-traditional oilseed crops and fibers.
Approach:
As our demand for both food and industrial applications continues to grow, we must have the ability to efficiently produce crops for both needs. The development of new and under-utilized, sustainable crops will diversify farm cropping systems currently dominated by a few commodity crops like corn and soybeans. The cultivation of these new crops on marginal or fallow lands will provide additional farm income, introduce new sources of food and raw materials for industrial uses, and provide ecological benefits through farm diversification. Our research will support the development of new crops such as Silphium, a perennial grain crop; multi-use crops such as hemp and sorghum; and oilseed industrial crops such as Chinese violet cress by: 1) Developing methods for rapid and non-destructive analysis as well as create wet chemistry databases for new germplasm and breeding lines; 2) Developing integrated processes to obtain oil, protein, wax, and fiber from the grain, waste by-products, and biomass; and 3) Enabling new commercial processes for converting the oils from non-traditional and traditional oilseed crops into marketable value-added biobased products for lubricant, fuels, cosmetic, polymer, and industrial platform chemicals. This research provides solutions and economic impact for the U.S. consumer and farmer and will address priorities of key USDA stakeholders, including Illinois Hemp Growers Association, The Land Institute (perennial crops group), National Sorghum Producers, and Illinois Soybean Association. Overall, this research will lead to the development and expansion of new sustainable oilseed crops which will help diversify U.S. farmland and keep the United States a leader in the development of industrial bio-based chemicals and processes.
