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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. The system boundary of the research included the harvest, collection and stacking of corn stover bales at the field edge, and the emissions produced by corn stover decomposition and fertilizer volatilization in the field. The nitrogen and phosphorus content in stover above ear, stover below ear and cobs were uniform across all fractions and were in the range 0.44-2.03% and 0.02- 0.15%, respectively. Potassium concentration was significantly higher (1.49-2.41%) in the stover ii fraction below ear compared to the other two fractions (0.15-1.15%). Using the nutrient concentrations thus obtained, fertilizer requirements for the different corn stover removal scenarios were determined. Experimental data as well as secondary data from the literature were used for the estimation of greenhouse gases for the different corn stover removal scenarios. Net greenhouse gas emissions for Scenarios 1, 2 and 3 increased by 76-258, 218-546 and 277-675 kg-CO2e/ha, respectively, compared to the base case scenario (492-2,355 kg-CO2e/ha). The outcome of this study shows that harvesting corn stover above ear, including cobs, will allow biomass removal with higher sugar concentrations while retaining ~50% of the dry matter and nutrients in the field for maintaining soil organic matter and soil erosion prevention. In addition, the greenhouse gas emissions for the different corn stover removal scenarios are similar to each other, which does not provide clear indication on the sustainable amount of corn stover to be removed from the field based on their greenhouse gas emissions footprint. iii Acknowledgements I am extremely grateful to Dr. Ajay Shah, my advisor, for providing me with this opportunity to pursue my Master’s degree and providing me with the necessary support and guidance throughout my program. Dr. Shah not only advised me throughout my program but has also motivated me to be involved in different academic activities as a result of which I am not only acquainted with a Master’s degree but a diverse graduate school experience. Without his encouragement to try different types of research, my experience would not have been as exciting as it has been. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Harold Keener, Dr. Shauna Brummet and Dr. Frederick Michel for their guidance and feedback. I would also like to express my sincere thank you to my fellow graduate students and staff members in Dr. Shah’s research group for their continued support throughout my Master’s program in academic as well as personal matters. As I transition into my PhD program in the same group, I could not be more excited for more interesting research projects in such a supportive and fun loving research group. I would also like to thank other staffs, friends and colleagues in the department for such a wonderful experience and look forward to my PhD. I am extremely grateful to my family members for their continued love and support, and motivation to pursue my goals. With the accomplishment of this degree, I hope to have made them proud. iv Vita 2016……………………………………B.E. Mechanical Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Institute of Engineering 2016 to present ……………………........Environmental Science Graduate Program, Home Department: Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University Publications Khanal, A., Manandhar, A., & Shah, A. Evaluating distributions of dry matter, structural carbohydrates, lignin and nutrients in corn residue for cellulosic biofuel production- In preparation. Khanal, A., Mousavi-Avval, S.H., Khanal, S., & Shah, A. Life Cycle greenhouse gas emissions from corn residue collection for cellulosic biofuel production- In preparation. Field of Study Major Field: Environmental Science Graduate Program v Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... iv Vita ..................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Objectives................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Thesis Organization ............................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Evaluating Distributions of Dry Matter, Structural Carbohydrates, Lignin and Nutrients in Corn Residue for Cellulosic Biofuel Production ............................... 7 2.1 Abstract ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 8 2.3 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3.1 Corn plants collection and sampling ....................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Experimental design ................................................................................................. 12 2.3.3 Measurements ........................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Results and discussion .......................................................................................................... 15 2.4.1 Physical parameters ................................................................................................... 15 2.4.2 Structural carbohydrates and lignin....................................................................... 19 2.4.3 Nutrients .................................................................................................................... 24 2.4.4 Carbon ....................................................................................................................... 28 2.5 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................ 28 vi Chapter 3: Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Corn Residue Removal for Cellulosic Biofuel Production ................................................................................. 29 3.1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 30 3.3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 33 3.3.1 Goal and scope .........................................................................................................
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