Producing Ethanol From Duckweed
7 Comments
Posted by Michelle Kautz – April 9th, 2009
Duckweed, a small aquatic plant, can help clean up energy waste and be converted into ethanol the same way as corn ethanol.
Researchers from North Carolina State University noted that gowing duckweed on hog wastewater can produce five to six times more ethanol than that of corn. They also say that producing ethanol into duckweed could be faster and cheaper than corn produced ethanol.
“We can kill two birds — biofuel production and wastewater treatment — with one stone: duckweed,” said Professor Jay Cheng.
Duckweed captures the nutrients in the wastewater for growth and preventing their release into the environment. In other words, Cheng says, “Duckweed could be an environmentally friendly, economically viable feedstock for ethanol.”
7 Comments »
Ethanol News Distilled | Facts About Ethanol
[...] Producing Ethanol From Duckweed Posted by Michelle Kautz April 9th, 2009 Domestic Fuel [...]
Rogue Bookwurm
Wait is this cellulosic ethanol or not? I mean if it is not this could freakin’ huge for ethanol production, you could grow this stuff in a pond in your backyard and then just ferment it and distill it and BAM you gots your own fuel source. I mean, sure it says cellulosic in the tag but the article states “can help clean up energy waste and be converted into ethanol the same way as corn ethanol. “. so even though it is unlikely i shall still hope.
Cindy Zimmerman
Rogue,
Good question. If cellulosic ethanol is “a type of biofuel produced from lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of plants” (wikipedia) I would say that it could qualify, since according to the press release from NCSU – Duckweed presents an attractive, non-food alternative that has the potential to produce significantly more ethanol feedstock per acre than corn. The whole article – which is linked in the story – provides more info.
A great source of information!
I am learning alot on the industry on this site!
Duck Weed
No, it isn’t cellulosic, that tag is not that relevant.
From what I’ve read, it’s the starch, which some duckweeds can make a lot of. Amylose (an enzyme which we also have in our saliva) is used to convert the starch to sugar. Then you can ferment and distill it. Actually I don’t know all that much, but my guess is that it isn’t too different from making vodka from potatoes for example.
Duck Weed
Oops. I meant amalase, not amylose.
Duck Weed
Amylase. that’s the right name. sorry.
Comments RSS feed — TrackBack URI
Leave a Comment