Biofuels Journal - March/April 2008 - (Page 20)

Sustainable Feedstocks Safflower, Castor, Canola and HEAR for Biodiesel castor could yield from 55 to more than 200 gallons of biodiesel per acre. However, castor, like jatropha, contains toxins, Auld said. If selling meal after the oil is extracted, the meal from these feedstocks would be toxic to animals, and therefore could not be used without costly pretreatment. Breeding work is being done to reduce these toxins. While Castor also requires irrigation for good yields, breeders are working to improve the crop’s water utilization abilities. Canola/HEAR Carlos Demant, a visiting PhD. student from Brazil, in a field of castor at Texas Tech University, Lubbock. by Lynn Grooms Recognizing the importance of sustainability in the biofuels industry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, has been evaluating various biodiesel feedstocks that require minimal production inputs and yet can provide the optimal oil yields that biodiesel producers want. At the National Biodiesel Conference, Feb. 3-5, Orlando, FL, Dick Auld, Rockwell Professor, Plant & Soil Science, Texas Tech (806-742-5704), provided a research update on crops that may help meet these requirements: fall planted safflower; spring planted castor; and winter canola and high erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR). Safflower A drawback to safflower, however, is that it is susceptible to seed diseases, such as seed rot. Castor Many in the biodiesel industry have touted Jatropha as a potential feedstock. Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is a cousin of jatropha that produces very high oil yields and excellent fuel quality. And, with its 45 to 50% oil content, Texas Tech also has evaluated winter canola and HEAR (Brassica napus L.) The crops are advantageous in that they are high oil yielding winter crops. However, they are susceptible to insects as well as shattering. More breeding work to develop canola varieties with better fall emergence and reduced shattering is needed, Auld said. With oil content of 38 to 46%, winter canola and HEAR can yield from 45 to 155 gallons per acre. Moreover, they contain oleic oil levels of 58 to 85%. Lynn Grooms, Grooms Communications, Mt. Horeb, WI, is an independent agricultural journalist. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is well suited to the western United States because of its drought tolerance. And with an oil content of 38 to 42%, it could yield between 30 and 160 gallons of biodiesel per acre, Auld said. Combine harvesting of winter safflower at experimental plots at Texas Tech’s Lubbock campus. 20 BFJ | MAR/APR 08

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Biofuels Journal - March/April 2008 Contents Stover Ethanol Algae Research High Feedstock Prices Free Fatty Acids Biodiesel Process Fuel From Waste Oil Sustainable Feedstocks DDG Oil Extraction Processing Free Fatty Acids Pretreating Crude Oil Sorghum for Ethanol Barley Ethanol Woody Biomass Wheatstraw Ethanol Waste to Ethanol Switchgrass for Cellulosic Ethanol Sweet Energy Crop Jet Fuel from Algae Supplier Profile: Mason, Mason Mfg. Inc. Supplier Profile: Bensema, The Interstate Companies Managing Switchgrass Biomass Pretreatment Engineering Cellulosic Ethanol FEW 2008 Preview EPA Air Study Training Biofuels Workers Switchgrass Net Energy Monthly Ethanol Production State Report: South Dakota White Paper Studies Energy Act Ultrasonic Ethanol POET Increasing to E-20? Carbon Credits for Cellulosic Ethanol John Neufeld, White Energy John Wilkinson, Minister of Innovation, Ontario Blending Economics Credit Extension Waste to Fuel Enzyme Technologies Ethanol Dedicated Pipeline Husker Ag Inc. Higher Ethanol Yields Industry News Delta T Saving Energy, Water ACE Conference Preview Profile: Sowinski, GreenField Ethanol Profile: Maska, Western Wisconsin Energy, LLC Licensing Technology ICM DOE Grant Book Review Western WI Rail Expansion Ethanol World Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Under Consideration Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Construction Map Nova Biosource Fuels Freedom Fuels, LLC NBB Conference Wrap-up Biodiesel Powered Jaws Biodiesel News Biodiesel Space Age BP plc Chevron Corp. Exxon Royal Dutch Shell Florida Biodiesel Fleet Iowa Biodiesel Board Biodiesel Electricity Biodiesel World Profile: Arnold, Memphis Biofuels LLC Rahul Iyer, Primafuels, Inc. Europe’s Biodiesel Industry Slowdown Brownfield Biofuels Underground Storage Bioindustrial Innovation Biodiesel Buildup Jet Using Biodiesel Biodiesel Positive Energy Balance New Biodiesel Standards Benefuel Solid Catalyst Lipten Company Petroleum Equipment Institute Midland Manufacturing Railroad Industries Inc. Engineered Storage Products Company NARSTCO Inc. ConAgra Trade Group Lide Industries Bunting Magnetics Co. Aldon Company, Inc. Sludge Biodiesel Calendar Ad Index

Biofuels Journal - March/April 2008

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