Development of a Process for Bioethanol Production Using Eastern Redcedar

2009 DOT-RITA Seed Award

 

PI: Dr. Mark Wilkins (Oklahoma State University, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering)
Co-PI: Dr. Nurhan Dunford (Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI: Dr. Hasan Atiyeh (Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI: Dr. Salim Hiziroglu (Oklahoma State University)

Funded: $67,502

Start Date: 12/01/2009

End Date: 11/30/2012

 

Expected Outcomes

Eastern redcedar is quickly spreading over the Central Plains and destroying grasslands. Ethanol production from redcedar has the potential to utilize much of the redcedar cleared during grassland restoration. Redcedar ethanol production is expected to reduce costs of redcedar removal, thus increasing the availability of land for pasture and crop production, including bioenergy crops. As such, the objectives of this project are to:

 

1. Determine if steam explosion can be used to pretreat redcedar to produce ethanol.
2. Assess the quality of the oil recovered from steam explosion.