Biofuels (eBook)

Dwight Tomes is a Research Fellow in the Trait Discovery & Technologies group at Pioneer, a DuPont Company in Johnston, IA. My primary responsibilities since 1982 have been in transformation technology development in multiple crop species and trait development in several agronomic trait areas of corn. Dwight is currently the Editor-in-Chief of In-Vitro Plant. Prakash Lakshmanan, PhD, leads Molecular Breeding Program in David North Plant Research Centre, BSES Limited, Australia. His research focuses on crop improvement with particular emphasis on regulation of plant growth and resource use efficiency. Since 1998 he is working on sugarcane, a major industrial and biofuel crop. David Songstad is originally from South Dakota and attended South Dakota State University for his BS (Microbiology) and MS (Botany) and received his Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee. He has worked for the University of Illinois, Plant Biotechnology Institute (Canada), Pioneer Hi-Bred and Monsanto where he developed enabling technologies for corn tissue culture and corn transformation. He is currently the Global New Products Lead for Monsanto.

In Vitro Cellular and DevelopmentalBiology - Plant 6
Contents 8
Chapter 1: Historical Perspective of Biofuels: Learning from the Past to Rediscover the Future 10
History of Bioethanol 10
History of Biodiesel 14
Conclusion 15
References 16
Chapter 2: The DOE BioEnergy Science Center-A U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergys Research Center 17
Background and History 18
BESC Partners 19
The BESC Research Strategy 20
Translation of BESC Science into Commercial Applications 24
Education and Outreach 25
References 26
Chapter 3: Drivers Leading to Higher Food Prices: Biofuels are not the Main Factor 27
Introduction 28
References 42
Chapter 4: The Economics of Current and Future Biofuels 45
Introduction 45
Development of Concept Design Methodologies and Models for Process Economics 47
Process Economics and Comparative Analysis 48
Corn ethanol 48
Process description 48
Process economics 49
Sugarcane ethanol 51
Process description 51
Process economics 53
Soybean biodiesel 54
Process description 55
Process economics 55
Cellulosic ethanol via biochemical conversion route 59
Process description 59
Process economics 61
Cellulosic ethanol via thermochemical conversion route (Phillips et al. 2007) 61
Process description 61
Process economics 64
Corn butanol 66
Process description 67
Process economics 69
Conclusions 74
References 75
Chapter 5: A multiple species approach to biomass production from native herbaceous perennial feedstocks 78
Introduction 78
The Tallgrass Prairie of North America: A Model Biomass Production System 81
Breeding North America Prairies Native Species: Little Bluestem and Prairie Cordgrass 84
Genetics of North America’s Prairies Perennial Grasses: A Work in Need of Progress 88
Potential Pathogens and Pests of Perennial Feedstocks 92
Summary 96
References 97
Chapter 6: Development and status of dedicated energy crops in the United States 104
Introduction 104
Policy and Economic Drivers 105
Industry Development and Projections 107
Biofuel Feedstocks 110
Leading Candidate Dedicated Energy Crops 111
Conclusions 114
References 114
Chapter 7: Genetic Improvement of C4 Grasses as Cellulosic Biofuel Feedstocks 120
Why Do We Need to Develop Cellulosic Biofuels? 120
Characteristics of Sustainable Cellulosic Biofuel Crops 121
Genetic Manipulation to Improve Biofuel Crops 123
Germplasm Collection 124
Germplasm Characterization 125
Identif.ication of Trait-Linked Markers 126
Marker-Assisted Selection 129
Transgenic Cellulosic Biofuel Crops 131
Conclusion 135
References 135
Chapter 8: Short-Rotation Woody Crops for Bioenergy and Biofuels Applications 146
Introduction 147
Current Limitations to the Use of Woody Feedstock for Biofuel Production 148
Genetics, Silviculture, and Biotechnology Enable Short-Rotation Trees 149
Increased Biomass Productivity through Genetic Improvement of Native Species 149
Increased Biomass Productivity through Genetic Improvement of Introduced Species 151
Altering Wood Quality to Improve Feedstock Conversion Eff.iciency 154
Regulatory Requirements and Associated Risk Assessment for Biotech Trees 156
Conclusion 159
References 160
Chapter 9: The Brazilian Experience of Sugarcane Ethanol Industry 164
Introduction 164
Ethanol as Car Fuel, a More Than 100-yr-Long History 165
ProAlcohol, the Program that Boosted Sugarcane Ethanol in Brazil 166
Contribution of Sugarcane for the Energy and the Environment in Brazil 169
Sugarcane Breeding in Brazil in the Last 40 yr 171
Sugarcane Biotechnology 174
Conclusions 176
References 177
Chapter 10: Biofuels: Opportunities and Challenges in India 180
Global Energy Overview 180
Indian Energy Challenges 182
Policy Initiatives 186
Fuel Ethanol Overview 188
Biodiesel Overview 188
Ethanol in India: Conflicting Interests 190
Sugar Policy 191
Cyclical Sugarcane and Sugar Production 192
Molasses and Alcohol Interdependence 194
Fuel Ethanol: A Turbulent Journey 195
New Biofuel Policy on the Way 199
Biodiesel India: Differing Policy Options 200
Biodiesel: A Journey Without Direction 202
Potential Availability of Land 203
Federal Initiative Progress 204
State Initiatives 205
Commercial Initiatives 205
Constraints 211
The Way Forward 213
References 214
Chapter 11: Biofuels in China: Opportunities and Challenges 217
Introduction 217
Energy Crops for Biofuels Production in China 219
Biofuels Industry in China 223
Perspectives for Biofuel Development in China 225
Conclusion 226
References 226
Chapter 12: Genetic Modification of Lignin Biosynthesis for Improved Biofuel Production 229
Introduction 229
Lignin Biosynthesis 231
Plant Transformation and Gene Regulation Methods for Lignin Modification 233
Lignin Modification in Monocots 234
Transgenic Alfalfa with Modified Lignin 236
Lignin Modification and Cellulosic Ethanol Production 236
Conclusions 237
References 238
Chapter 13: Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol: The Role of Plant-Expressed Enzymes 242
The Rise of Biofuels 242
Cellulosic Ethanol: Economic Aspects 244
Cellulosic Ethanol: Challenges 245
Expression of Enzymes in Crops 255
Conclusions 262
References 263
Chapter 14: Integrated Biorefineries with Engineered Microbes and High-value Co-products for Prof.itable Biofuels Production 270
Introduction 271
First-Generation Biofuel Production from Corn 272
Technologies and Limitations of Second-Generation Biofuels 274
Synergies of First- and Second-Generation Processes 277
Technology Improvements to Enhance Biofuel Production Economics 279
Conclusion 283
References 286
Chapter 15: Biodiesel Production, Properties, and Feedstocks 289
Introduction 290
Advantages and Disadvantages of Biodiesel 294
Influence of Free Fatty Acids on Biodiesel Production 295
Catalysts for Biodiesel Production 298
Alcohols Used in the Production of Biodiesel 299
Influence of Biodiesel Composition on Fuel Properties 304
Alternative Feedstocks for Biodiesel Production 316
Effects of Blending Biodiesel with Other Fuels 332
Other Uses of Biodiesel 334
Glycerol 335
Future Outlook for Biodiesel 336
Further Reading 337
References 338
Index 352