Investigating Fungal Degradation of Switchgrass In a Controlled Storage Environment

 

2015 USDA-NIFA Integrated Award

 

Principal Investigators and affiliations:
PI:  Dr. Mark Wilkins (Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI:  Dr. Danielle Julie Carrier (University of Arkansas)
Co-PI:  Dr. Michael Buser (Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI:  Dr. Stephen Marek (Oklahoma State University)
Funded: $110,000
Start Date: 3/01/2015

End Date: 08/31/2016

Expected Outcomes

This project seeks to develop conditions and protocols to successfully utilize P. ostreatus fungal pretreatment during storage of switchgrass in square bales.

 

The following are the expected outcomes:

1. Reduced pretreatment severity and energy use while achieving fermentable sugar yields similar to those achieved in previous studies using conventional thermochemical pretreatment methods
2. Reduced production of inhibitory compounds compared to previous studies using conventional thermochemical pretreatment methods
3. Development of operating parameters and techniques to apply fungal pretreatment during switchgrass storage in a biorefinery setting.