Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 7)

Crystals, will boost total funding for the research project to $1,083,220. “The research will support efficient conversion of sugarcane residues to ethanol, thereby reducing raw material costs, enhancing productivity and sustainability,” said Fredy Altpeter, an assistant professor in UF’s agronomy department and leader of the project. “It will also support the commercial production of biofuels at prices competitive with fossil fuels.” Faculty working with Altpeter on the project include Maria Gallo, a professor in the agronomy department; Wilfred Vermerris, an associate professor in the department, and James Preston, a professor in the microbiology and cell science department. Additional support for biofuels research comes from the U.S. Department of Energy, which awarded a $750,000 grant in August 2007 to IFAS for developing sweet sorghum as an ethanol feedstock. Wilfred Vermerris, leader of the research project, said sorghum — a plant species related to corn and sugarcane — is an attractive biomass crop because it grows well under a lot of different conditions and has the capacity to produce a lot of sugar. His genetic research is aimed at identifying and combining desirable plant traits so that sorghum can be used more efficiently for energy production. “Initially the laboratory will focus on ethanol conversion technologies, and it will be expanded to include equipment for production and testing of other biofuels such as biogas and biodiesel. It is expected that funds for its operation will be provided by the biofuel industry to investigate and develop technologies,” he said. n – chuck woods For more information, contact: fredy altpeter (352) 392-1823 alpeter@ufl.edu (561) 366-5100 gaston_cantens@floridacrystals.com tim eves (813) 349-4943 tim.eves@verenium.com lonnie ingram (352) 392-8176 ingram@ufl.edu kelly lindenboom (617) 674-5335 kelly.lindenboom@verenium.com pratap pullammanappallil (352) 392-1864 pcpratap@ufl.edu wilfred vermerris (352) 273-8162 wev@ufl.edu feature gaston cantens New Biofuels Pilot Plant As plans move forward for construction of the $20 million ethanol production facility in South Florida, a new biofuels pilot plant is expected to become operational at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Gainesville in April 2008. In 2007, the Board of Governors of the State Universities of Florida awarded $2 million to establish test facilities for research and development of biofuel conversion processes. Located in the agricultural and biological engineering department, the pilot plant will develop and improve biofuel conversion processes, including methods for turning cellulosic biomass into ethanol, said Pratap Pullammanappallil, an assistant professor in the department. He will operate the facility in cooperation with Ingram and John Owens, a research scientist in the microbiology and cell science department. “The laboratory will provide facilities to engineer bioprocesses for the conversion of various biomass feedstocks to biofuels such as ethanol, butanol, biogas, biodiesel and hydrogen,” Pullammanappallil said. Pratap Pullammanappallil inspects biomass hydrolysis equipment in the new biofuels pilot plant in the agricultural and biological engineering department in Gainesville. photo by thomas wright IMPACT | Spring 2008 7

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents A Big Boost for Biofuels Top Priority Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture Eliminating the Evil Weevil Invasive Pest Defeating Resistant Roaches Biodiesel Boon User-Friendly Updates for FAWN Flat-Out Great for the Grill! Laser Labeling Cashing in on Caviar Saving Water with Soil-Moisture Sensors Spotlight IFAS Development News

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

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