DOCSLIB.ORG

ENSILING CORN STOVER with ENZYMES AS a FEEDSTOCK PRESERVATION METHOD for BIOCONVERSION a Dissertation in Agricultural and Biolog

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ENSILING CORN STOVER with ENZYMES AS a FEEDSTOCK PRESERVATION METHOD for BIOCONVERSION a Dissertation in Agricultural and Biolog The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School ENSILING CORN STOVER WITH ENZYMES AS A FEEDSTOCK PRESERVATION METHOD FOR BIOCONVERSION A Dissertation in Agricultural and Biological Engineering by Qin Chen 2009 Qin Chen Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May, 2009 The dissertation of Qin Chen was reviewed and approved* by the following: Tom L. Richard Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Ali Demirci Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Ming Tien Professor of Biochemistry James L. Rosenberger Professor of Statistics Corey W. Radtke Project Leader Biomass R&D Americas Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc. Special Member Roy E. Young Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School ABSTRACT Energy sustainability and environmental protection are two great challenges that face humanity. Biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass have been recognized as a potential solution for both of these interrelated issues. However, there is a serious bottleneck to economical and efficient ethanol production: the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass due to lignin. This bottleneck has to be solved before cellulosic biofuels can play a significant role in a renewable energy society. To produce biofuels sustainably from lignocellulosic biomass, it will be necessary to store preserve large amounts of feedstock from seasonally harvested fields. Wet storage, and specifically ensilage, could serve as a promising platform for biological pretreatment, since saccharification of the cell wall occurs naturally by organic acids and amended enzymes during the ensilage process. In this study, the impact of the interaction between corn stover harvest seasons and cell wall degrading enzymes was investigated. These investigations included both experimental studies and model simulations of the impacts of feedstock, storage conditions and enzymes, including cellulase and hemicellulase or laccase, on the characteristics of stover silage. The objectives were to obtain a low pH, minimize dry matter losses, and create beneficial biochemical changes in the stover that would facilitate downstream pretreatment and bioconversion. In temperate climates, the corn stover harvest can extend from early fall to early winter, during which time the chemical composition of stover varies significantly and influences the ensilage process. Identifying the optimum harvest iii period can help maximize utilization of stover as a feedstock for bioethanol. The first investigations explored the effects of harvest date and enzyme addition along with possible interactions on the characteristics of corn stover silage. Corn stover was harvested five times in 2005 and eight times in 2006 throughout early fall and early winter. Samples 500g were subsequently ensiled at 37ºC with and without the enzyme treatments at both field moisture and 60% moisture (w.b.). Dry matter loss, pH, water soluble carbohydrate and monosaccharides were analyzed on days 0, 1, 7, and 21. Samples were also subjected to reduced severity dilute acid pretreatment to quantify the conversion to simple sugars. Results demonstrated that harvest date had a significant impact on the quality of stover silage for bioconversion. The moisture content of corn stover, cob and corn were significantly influenced by harvest date, and at later harvest dates, moisture addition was critical for obtaining high quality silage. Results indicated that early fall was the best harvest time in terms of pH, dry matter, water soluble carbohydrate and monosaccharide as well as xylan conversion percentage. With respect to corn stover silage, the addition of enzymes significantly enhanced the positive effects. The presence of lignin in ligninocellulosic biomass constrains and challenges the improvement of bioconversion techniques. A second set of investigations were performed to explore the influence of the lignin-degrading enzyme, laccase, on enzymatic ensiled corn stover. Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) thermochemolysis and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) results documented molecular signals of lignin iv decomposition in laccase-treated stover. Cellulose conversion through enzymatic hydrolysis improved with an increase in the laccase loading rate. This enhanced cellulose digestibility is believed to result from better exposure of cellulose to cellulase through structural changes of lignin, which makes more cellulase available for cellulose hydrolysis. The findings suggest that ensilage might provide a platform for biological pretreatment platform, partially hydrolyzing cellulose and hemicellulose into soluble sugars during the enzymatic ensilage process, and thus facilitating laccase penetration into complex biomass to enhance lignin degradation. These results serve as a first step to understanding the addition of multiple enzyme combinations during ensilage to maximize the utilization of corn stover as a biofuel and biochemical feedstock. The final quality of enzymatically ensiled corn stover was significantly affected by its initial chemical composition, microbial population dynamics, enzyme activities, and thermal and physical conditions of silage fermentations. A comprehensive experimental study to better understand how the interactions of these factors govern silage quality requires a large number of trials and intensive analysis. A predictive enzymatic ensilage model, which was initially developed in a series of papers by Pitt and his colleagues in the late 1980s, was enhanced and then applied to simulate the dynamic behavior of pH, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), cellulose, and the effects of enzyme additives on the major biochemical and microbial changes during the ensilage process. Estimated final pH, WSC and cellulose concentrations are in agreement with enzymatic silage experimental v results. The simulation results also demonstrated that the cellulose loading rate had a significant positive effect on the change of WSC. Results showed enzyme additives in the silage process enhanced the stability of long term storage. The optimal experimental conditions to obtain a high quality enzymatic corn stover silage can be achieved by adjusting the cellulase loading rate and operation temperature. The enhanced model could serve as a guide in designing silage systems (with or without enzyme additives) for large amounts of plant-based biomass. In conclusion, this study demonstrated harvest seasons and cell wall degrading enzymes have strong effects on the characteristics of stover silage, and that ensilage technology was an effective preservation and pretreatment strategy for bioconversion of corn stover biomass. In order to further improve ensilage as a partial substitute for expensive and energy-intensive thermal and chemical pretreatment technologies, future work should focus on using biological strategies to deconstruct the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulosic biomass. If successful, such efforts could thereby improve bioconversion efficiency dramatically. Key words: corn stover, enzyme, laccase, ensilage, harvest date, lignin depolymerization, pretreatment, bioconversion, modeling. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES .....................................................................................................x LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...........................................................................................xiv 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................6 2.1 Corn Stover.....................................................................................................6 2.1.1 Structure feature of corn stover ............................................................8 2.1.1.1 Cellulose.....................................................................................10 2.1.1.2 Hemicellulose.............................................................................11 2.1.1.3 Lignin .........................................................................................12 2.2 Solid State Fermentation.................................................................................15 2.3 Silage ..............................................................................................................17 2.3.1 Corn stover silage.................................................................................18 2.3.2 Ensilage model .....................................................................................20 2.4 Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes .......................................................................24 2.4.1 Cellulase and hemicellulase .................................................................24 2.4.2 Lignin-degrading enzymes ...................................................................25 2.5 Pretreatment....................................................................................................29 2.5.1 Dilute acid pretreatment .......................................................................31
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Striga Hermonthica) GROWTH in ACID SOILS of KAKAMEGA AND
    EFFECTS OF LIME AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON MAIZE YIELD AND STRIGA (Striga hermonthica) GROWTH IN ACID SOILS OF KAKAMEGA AND SIAYA COUNTIES, KENYA DAVID MBAKAYA A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN SOIL SCIENCE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF ELDORET, KENYA 2015 ii DECLARATION Declaration by the Candidate This thesis is my original work and has not been submitted for any academic award in any institution; and shall not be reproduced in part or full, or in any format without prior written permission from the author and/or University of Eldoret. Mbakaya David Signature ……………..… Date………….…. AGR/D.PHIL/05/09 Declaration by Supervisors This thesis has been submitted with our approval as University supervisors. Prof. John Robert Okalebo Signature ……………..… Date………….. University of Eldoret, Kenya Dr. Cornelius Serrem Signature ……………..… Date………….… University of Eldoret, Kenya Dr. George Ayaga Signature ……………..… Date………….…. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization iii DEDICATION This Thesis is dedicated to Linet Nanjala Kisiangani, Rose Mukasia Mungahu and my children Diana Nasimiyu, Faith Nekesa, Defin Nelima, Glory Neema, Asaph Sipha and Abigail Afua for their encouragement, patience and understanding. The thesis is further dedicated to my surviving brother; Namukholi Mbakaya and sisters Ruth Werengekha and Perita Khasoa for their encouragement. It is also dedicated to my dear late father and mother Kepha Muse and Dina Namasindakusi respectively, brothers Luther Khaemba, Hebron Mbakaya and Francis Waswa, sister Sarah Nakhanu and maternal uncle Sikuku Wanakhoba, who passed on before enjoying the fruits of my achievement. To God is all the glory forever.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents Foreword . 2 Introduction. 3 Industrial Uses of Refined Corn Products . 7 Industrial Markets for Starch and Corn-derived Chemicals . 11 The Enzyme Advantage . 15 Plastics from Corn—The Vision Becomes Reality . 19 Renewable Resources Bring Sustainability to DuPont’s Newest Polymer Platform . 22 Corn Industry Statistics Shipments of Products of the Corn Refining Industry - 2000 . 3 Member Company Products . 5 Corn for Grain: Yield and Production . 14 Corn: Food and Industrial Uses . 16 U.S. Per Capita Sweetener Consumption . 18 World Corn Production, Consumption and Stocks . 21 Corn: Supply and Disappearance . 23 Exports of Products from Corn . 24 2001 Corn Annual Foreword The 2001 Corn Annual focuses on industrial uses and markets for refined corn products. Of the tradi- tional products of the industry—corn starch, sweeteners, oil and feedstuffs—starch has been the leader in industrial applications. In several industrial sectors, the use of starch is well established, but development of new uses and the extension of existing applications continue. Applications for sweeteners are rooted in food manufacturing, but advances in processing technology have opened several opportunities. By exploring the uses of starch in the established sectors of paper, adhesives and textiles, we hope to convey a better understanding of how starch can advance the production process. The review is also intended to provide an appreciation for product characteristics attributable to starch. An examination of the current and potential industrial markets for corn starch and corn-derived Charles F. Conner chemicals shows promising growth for the corn wet milling industry. This market analysis is President intended to provide insight to the dynamic of the relationship between supplier and consumer Corn Refiners as well as identify the factors that will influence growth.
    [Show full text]
  • Download and Print the Local Producers Guide (PDF)
    Southwest Minnesota Local Food Guide WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD HEALTH IN THE ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA FOODSHED. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book was compiled to encourage and enable health-wise and ecologically-smart purchasing decisions in our local SW Minnesota food system. We want people to eat well. It was compiled to honor, encourage, and make visible those brave and committed souls who work hands-on with the natural systems to make available to our whole community the health-enhancing food that can be grown right in our own richly-blessed biome. We are lucky to have you here. We also honor those whose work is already in progress to make it convenient for our communities and our children to choose the foods that will help make them healthy and happy. Special thanks to those who have formed up Farmers’ Markets in their towns, and thanks to the city governments and regular customers who support them. And huge Thanks to those School Food Service Directors who stand at the ready to buy and serve locally sourced food to our children when- ever they can. You are improving the future of our food culture with every nutrient-dense food-choice you present. Special thanks to Land Stewardship Project for leading the way over the years, showing us steps toward collaboration as a tool in establishing better local food systems. Thanks to Dakota Rural Action for leading by example, developing an area producers directory, getting that catalog on the internet for ease of ordering, and by willingly sharing their information and experience.
    [Show full text]
  • Biosecurity Preparedness Needed for FMD by Dr
    Preparation key to Mundt’s Excellence in Agriculture award By Donna Sullivan, Editor I moved here to Kansas crease the availability of In a time when meet- I got connected with the broadband internet. “If ings have been canceled Pratt County Farm Bureau the sky was the limit and or presented virtually due and the collegiate chap- I had all the resources, I to the COVID-19 pandem- ter,” she said. Her commu- would deploy broadband ic, the 102nd American nity involvement includes to every home in Ameri- Farm Bureau Federation helping with 4-H, FFA, the ca,” she said. “Issues like convention held January collegiate Farm Bureau that drive me more than 10-13 was no exception. chapter at Pratt County recognition. When I think Farmers, ranchers and in- Community College and of the opportunities we dustry professionals still serving on the Chamber of miss on our farm and what met to discuss issues im- Commerce Board. rural America could gain portant to agriculture, it “One of the benefits of if they had that connection was just from computers the competition, whether – people deserve that the in their homes and offices you win or not, is it re- same as water and elec- rather than the San Diego ally does make you think tricity, to level the playing Convention Center as orig- about, how am I making field for rural communi- inally planned. a contribution?” she re- ties.” Contests were held via lated. “What is the true A lifetime of hard work Zoom as well, one of which impact I am trying to make and a whole lot of prepa- was the Excellence in here? How can I tell my ration put Mundt in the Agriculture competition, story and how can I be position to compete for which recognizes young more effective?” and win the Excellence Farm Bureau members While awards are nice, in Agriculture Award, who are active in their it’s the actual impact of but she deeply respects communities and avid sup- her work that Mundt most the work being done by porters of agriculture, but values.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Corn Stover Collection for Biofuels Production Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment O
    Evaluating the Environmental Impact of Corn Stover Collection for Biofuels Production Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University. By Asmita Khanal, B.E. Environmental Science Graduate Program The Ohio State University 2018 Master’s Examination Committee: Dr. Ajay Shah, Advisor Dr. Harold Keener Dr. Frederick Michel Dr. Shauna Brummet Copyright by Asmita Khanal 2018 Abstract Corn stover is the most readily available lignocellulosic feedstock for cellulosic biofuel production in the Midwestern U.S. Biofuels produced from corn stover could offset the environmental impact of fossil fuel combustion. Corn stover harvest for biofuels production removes potentially recyclable nutrients and carbon, increases the vulnerability of the soil to soil erosion, and produces emissions during harvest and collection due to operation and manufacture of the machinery, thus challenging the sustainability of the process. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the environmental impact of corn stover removal for biofuel production by first determining physical and compositional attributes of the corn stover in terms of dry matter, structural carbohydrates, lignin and nutrients, and then quantifying the environmental impact of corn stover collection for biofuel production. In 2016 and 2017, stover fractions below and above ear-level, and cobs contributed 42-56%, 31-38% and 13-18% to the total non-grain aboveground dry matter, respectively. Based on this dry matter contribution of the different fractions, three different corn stover removal scenarios were established: 1) removal of cobs, 2) removal of stover above ear level excluding cobs, and 3) removal of stover above half way between ground and ear level excluding cobs, to analyze the environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gases emissions in comparison to the base case scenario, i.e., no stover removal.
    [Show full text]
  • Designing and Engineering a New Biocomposite Material from Distillers' Grains and Bioplastics
    Designing and Engineering a New Biocomposite Material from Distillers’ Grains and Bioplastics by Nima Zarrinbakhsh A Thesis Presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Nima Zarrinbakhsh, May, 2014 ABSTRACT DESIGNING AND ENGINEERING A NEW BIOCOMPOSITE MATERIAL FROM DISTILLERS’ GRAINS AND BIOPLASTICS Nima Zarrinbakhsh Co-Advisors: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. Manjusri Misra Dr. Amar K. Mohanty In recent years, the expansion of the corn ethanol industry has generated surplus amounts of solid coproducts mainly in the form of dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS). In order to help economic viability and sustainability of the industry, research is being conducted to find new, more profitable applications for this coproduct besides its traditional usage as animal feed. In the present project, the capabilities of DDGS are evaluated for using as a filler and/or reinforcement in producing green biocomposites with a number of bioplastics. The bioplastics used here are partially originated from renewable resources with end-life biodegradability in compost conditions. The focus of this research is to design and engineer material formulations with balanced performance. Extrusion and injection molding techniques have been employed to produce the biocomposites and the performance of the produced materials was evaluated through several mechanical, thermomechanical and physical properties. The discussions are augmented with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results are conclusive in that DDGS is a better filler for polymeric biocomposites when it undergoes a water treatment before processing with polymer melts.
    [Show full text]
  • An Estimation of Available Cellulosic Biomass in Ten Counties in Northeastern Arkansas from 1999-2011 Thomas Jenkins University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ScholarWorks@UARK University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Biological and Agricultural Engineering Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses 5-2013 An Estimation of Available Cellulosic Biomass in Ten Counties in Northeastern Arkansas from 1999-2011 Thomas Jenkins University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/baeguht Recommended Citation Jenkins, Thomas, "An Estimation of Available Cellulosic Biomass in Ten Counties in Northeastern Arkansas from 1999-2011" (2013). Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses. 1. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/baeguht/1 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological and Agricultural Engineering at ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Estimation of Available Cellulosic Biomass in Ten Counties in Northeastern Arkansas from 1999-2011 An Undergraduate Honors College Thesis in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department College of Engineering University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR by Thomas Jenkins Faculty Mentor: Dr. Danielle Carrier April 26, 2013 1 2 Abstract The purpose of this research is to explore the possibility of siting a biorefinery that produces cellulosic ethanol in the Delta region of Arkansas, which is the main agricultural area of the state. Four major crops that the state of Arkansas produces on a yearly basis that could potentially be used for cellulosic ethanol production are: corn, rice, sorghum, and soybeans.
    [Show full text]
  • Innovative Methods for Corn Stover Collecting, Handling, Storing and Transporting
    April 2004 • NREL/SR-510-33893 Innovative Methods for Corn Stover Collecting, Handling, Storing and Transporting March 2003 J.E. Atchison Atchison Consultants, Inc. J. R. Hettenhaus Chief Executive Assistance, Inc. Charlotte, North Carolina National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 April 2004 • NREL/SR-510-33893 Innovative Methods for Corn Stover Collecting, Handling, Storing and Transporting March 2003 J.E. Atchison Atchison Consultants, Inc. J. R. Hettenhaus Chief Executive Assistance, Inc. Charlotte, North Carolina NREL Technical Monitor: S.R. Thomas Prepared under Subcontract No. ACO-1-31042-01 National Renewable Energy Laboratory 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393 303-275-3000 • www.nrel.gov Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle Contract No. DE-AC36-99-GO10337 This publication was reproduced from the best available copy Submitted by the subcontractor and received no editorial review at NREL NOTICE This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating a Value for Corn Stover File A1-70 Corn Stover Is an Abundant Source of Winter Feed for Beef Cows in Iowa
    Ag Decision Maker Estimating a Value for Corn Stover File A1-70 Corn stover is an abundant source of winter feed for beef cows in Iowa. When supplemented with protein, vitamins and minerals, stover can supply the nutritional needs of cows that are in moderately good body condition during fall and early winter. Corn stover is also in demand for livestock bedding and as feedstock for the production of ethanol. An obvious advantage of utilizing corn stover is its wide availability and low cost. This has created a small but important market for stover, both as a harvested product and as a standing crop in the field. As with any market, though, a price must be determined. Three general approaches can be used: • What is the value to the purchaser, based on feedstuffs replaced by corn stover? • What is the cost to the seller of harvesting the stover and replacing lost crop nutrients? • What is stover selling for on the market? Price for Harvested Corn Stover Based on Feed Value Comparing the two rations for each cow weight, Corn stover is often sold after it has been harvested, each ton of corn stalks added to the ration usually as large round bales, large square bales, substitutes for about 1.16 tons of legume-grass or small square bales. The following procedure hay. Plus, an additional 0.22 tons of DDGS are estimates the value of baled stover to the buyer added. Thus, the value of a ton of stover can be based on the cost of the feedstuffs it replaces for equated to the value of 1.16 tons of mixed hay, wintering beef cows.
    [Show full text]
  • Corn Stover for Bioenergy Production: Cost Estimates and Farmer Supply Response Jena Thompson and Wallace E
    PURDUE EXTENSION RE-3-W Renewable nergy Fueling and Feeding America Through RenewableE Resources Corn Stover for Bioenergy Production: Cost Estimates and Farmer Supply Response Jena Thompson and Wallace E. Tyner Department of Agricultural Economics Purdue University Introduction In 2009, approximately 82% of U.S. energy consumption was from fossil fuels (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2010). Government policy has attempted to reduce this dependency on nonrenewable energy sources through subsidies and mandates of renewable energy sources. Recent attention has been focused on “second generation” biofuels, which are not generated from food sources. Sources of second generation biofuels include crop residues and crops that are grown solely for energy production, called “dedicated energy crops.” Examples of dedicated energy crops are Miscanthus and switchgrass. By requiring fewer reallocations of resources in comparison to biofuels created from food sources, second generation biofuels may have less impact on agricultural commodity markets. We focus on the use of corn stover, the non- grain portion of the corn crop, as a feedstock for bioenergy production. Corn stover could serve as a feedstock for biofuels, as a sub- stitute for coal in producing electric power, or both. In addition to meeting renewable energy goals, use of corn stover for energy production may provide a new source of income for corn growers. We estimate the costs of corn stover harvest and supply, and then use that information to estimate areas of Figure 1. Raking, Baling, and Staging Equipment Corn Stover for Bioenergy Production: Cost Estimates and Renewable nergy Farmer Supply Response • RE-3-W Fueling and Feeding America Through RenewableE Resources stover harvested and changes to farm profit at varying corn Harvest and Supply Cost Estimates stover prices.
    [Show full text]
  • Corn Stover As a Biofuel Feedstock in Iowa: an Analysis of Farmer Interest, Concerns and Price Weiting Lu Iowa State University
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2008 Corn stover as a biofuel feedstock in Iowa: an analysis of farmer interest, concerns and price Weiting Lu Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Environmental Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Lu, Weiting, "Corn stover as a biofuel feedstock in Iowa: an analysis of farmer interest, concerns and price" (2008). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 10948. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/10948 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Corn stover as a biofuel feedstock in Iowa: an analysis of farmer interest, concerns and price by Weiting Lu A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Major: Forestry (Forest Economics and Marketing) Program of Study Committee: Joe P. Colletti, Major Professor Robert Anex Richard Hall Paul Gallagher Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2008 Copyright © Weiting Lu, 2008. All rights reserved. ii TABLES OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT iv CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.1.1 Statement of Problem 1 1.1.2 Study Objectives 4 1.1.3 Thesis Organization 4 1.2 References
    [Show full text]
  • Cellulosic Ethanol from Corn Stover: Can We Get It Right?
    NOVEMBER 2015 R-15-08-A CELLULOSIC ETHANOL FROM CORN STOVER: CAN WE GET IT RIGHT? AUTHOR Loni Kemp EDITOR Sasha Stashwick Acknowledgments Nathanael Greene, Mary Heglar, Barbara Bramble, Jeremy Martin, and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. About NRDC The Natural Resources Defense Council is a international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at nrdc.org. NRDC Chief Communications Officer: Lisa Benenson NRDC Deputy Director of Communications: Lisa Goffredi NRDC Policy Publications Director: Alex Kennaugh Design and Production: www.suerossi.com © Natural Resources Defense Council 2015 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 PART 1: BEYOND CORN; CHALLENGES IN ENSURING SUSTAINABLE STOVER HARVEST FOR ETHANOL ..................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Lack of Policy Guidance ................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]