Converting agricultural commodities into energy can help the environment, reduce the country's reliance on foreign oil and open new markets for farmers where all themes of displays by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences at the Clean Air Expo 2006.

Displays highlighted research and educational programs underway in the college aimed at developing and promoting sources of energy derived from agricultural and related products. Among research and technologies to be featured:

Converting lignocellulosic (woody) biomass into renewable chemicals and fuels.

"New advances in enzymes and related technologies allow us to break down the fibers in grasses, crop residues and trees, producing sugars that can be fermented into fuel," says Tom Richard, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

"An alternative strategy is gasification," he says. "Under high-temperature, low-oxygen conditions, gasification can convert biomass to syngas -- a combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide -- which can be upgraded to hydrogen, methanol and other chemicals and fuels, or can be burned directly for electricity and heat."

Energy from small-diameter forest trees.

"Pennsylvania's forests are rich in potential bioenergy from small-diameter trees that are overcrowded, under-utilized and inhibit the opportunity for professional forest management," says Chuck Ray, assistant professor of wood products operations in the college's School of Forest Resources. "Research data indicate that as much as 500 million tons of wood are held in these small diameter stems across 16 million acres of forestland.

"State Bureau of Forestry mapping reveals that about half of this acreage could be available for harvest; that is, it is not restricted by environmental, regulatory or ownership restrictions from harvest," he explains. "Based on this available volume of wood, an annual sustainable harvest of six million dry tons of wood per year could be converted into various bioenergy sources."

Biofuel applications and potential yields of grain and oilseed crops.

"One of Pennsylvania's most important crops is corn," says Greg Roth, professor of agronomy. "Based on an average yield of 122 bushels per acre, this crop could produce 329 gallons of ethanol per acre and over 2,000 pounds of distiller's grains. Corn can also be used as a home heating fuel with the use of a corn or pellet stove. In this application, corn could produce the equivalent energy of 310 gallons of home heating oil or two tons of hard coal per acre.

"Another grain crop for potential use as an energy source is barley," he says. "One specific type of barley we've been evaluating is called hulless barley. Hulless barley could produce 173 gallons of ethanol, plus nearly 1,800 pounds of distiller's grains and one and a quarter tons of straw per acre. We're also looking at oilseed crops, such as soybeans and canola or rapeseed, for biofuel production."

Biodiesel and biohydraulic fluids.

The College of Agricultural Sciences has converted all of its farm equipment and vehicles to soy-based biodiesel and hydraulic fluid. "The B-20 (20 percent soy) fuel mixture we are burning in our equipment results in an 18 percent reduction in particulate emissions and a 13 percent reduction in carbon monoxide compared to regular diesel," says Glen Cauffman, the college's manager of farm operations. He says soy-based hydraulic fluid offers enhanced lubricating properties, is biodegradable and is easier to dispose of in the event of a spill or leak.

Other exhibits sponsored by the college will focus on anaerobic manure digestion to produce biogas and electricity; wind and solar power; energy efficiency in the home; and green-roof and living-wall technologies.

The College of Agricultural Sciences displays were among about 100 exhibits presented by business, industry, governmental and educational organizations.

For more information, visit the Clean Air Expo 2006 webpage.

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