Biofuel Equipment

IAPC Research Program Biofuels

Biofuels produced from renewable resources is an important way of enhancing rural economies, providing increased energy security by replacing foreign sources of oil, and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, which has been linked to global warming.

Biofuels research at the Industrial Agricultural Products Center focuses on production of alcohol fuels and hydrogen from lignocellulosic biomass. Current projects include: creating models and control algorithms for fermentations and enzymatic hydrolyses, designing lignocellulosic biomass pretreatments, developing catalysts for hydrogen production from sugars, and constructing novel bioreactors for enzyme production. The Center, in conjunction with the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, also has interest in research on biofuel implementation into the transportation fuel system and evaluation of their effectiveness for end users

The Center's biofuels research program has worked extensively with the biofuel industries commercial processors, trade associations, and government regulators to provide technical analysis and unbiased evaluations.

IAPC Biofuel Publications

The Center's biofuels research program has supported several graduate students and many journal publications. Here are some recent biofuel research publications from the Center’s Faculty Affiliates and Staff.

*IAPC staff in red

Frederick, N., M. Li, D.J. Carrier, M.D. Buser, M.R. Wilkins. 2016. Switchgrass storage effects on the recovery of carbohydrates after liquid hot water pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. AIMS Bioengineering 3:389-399

Hasanoğlu, A.. B. Meryemoğlu, S. Irmak, M. Kurtuluş, O. Erbatur. 2016. A new approach for high-yield hydrogen production: Atmospheric pressure vapour-phase catalytic reforming of biomass hydrolysate. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 41(30):12880-12887.

Tai, C. D.S. Voltan, D.R. Keshwani, G.E. Meyer, P.S. Kuhar. 2016. Fuzzy logic feedback control for fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 39(6):937-944.