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DOE OSTI2021

Atomic Layer Deposition for Improved Biomass Conversion Catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysts are a key enabler of the transition towards a sustainable, bio-based economy for fuels and chemicals. However, the harsh conditions in many biomass conversion processes lead to nanoparticle sintering, support collapse, and metal leaching in conventional PGM catalysts. Next-generation catalysts must be developed to address these stability challenges. This presentation will discuss ongoing work between the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center at NREL and various industrial partners to develop scalable and cost-effective atomic layer deposition (ALD) coatings for improving the performance of biomass conversion catalysts. The substantial focus will be devoted to the benefits of TiO2 ALD coatings on supported Pd hydrogenation catalysts. Ten cycles of TiO2 ALD were found to dramatically improve the activity of a conventional Pd/Al2O3 catalyst towards aromatic hydrogenation, despite partial coverage of the Pd sites by the ALD layer. Subsequent advanced characterization and atomic-scale computational modeling revealed that the ALD coating weakened the adsorption strength of hydrogenation surface intermediates, leading to higher reaction rates. Reaction testing after exposure to sulfur impurities, high temperature oxidation, and hydrothermal treatment demonstrated the improved stability of the ALD-coated catalyst. Additionally, the ALD synthesis process was found to be scalable over two orders of magnitude with minimal deviation in synthesized catalyst properties. These results were contextualized with cost models of industrial ALD coating and aromatic hydrogenation processes to further refine the value proposition of ALD coatings. Given the demonstrated improvements in hydrogenation, TiO2 ALD coatings have also been applied to supported Pt catalysts for use in other biomass conversion reactions, such as hydrodeoxygenation for the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the oxidation of glucose to bio-derived gluconic acid.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Atomic Layer Deposition for Improved Biomass Conversion Catalysts

Heterogeneous catalysts are a key enabler of the transition towards a sustainable, bio-based economy for fuels and chemicals. However, the harsh conditions in many biomass conversion processes lead to nanoparticle sintering, support collapse, and metal leaching in conventional PGM catalysts. Next-generation catalysts must be developed to address these stability challenges. This presentation will discuss ongoing work between the Catalytic Carbon Transformation & Scale-Up Center at NREL and various industrial partners to develop scalable, cost-effective atomic layer deposition (ALD) coatings for improving the performance of biomass conversion catalysts. Substantial focus will be devoted to the benefits of TiO2 ALD coatings on supported Pd hydrogenation catalysts. Ten cycles of TiO2 ALD were found to dramatically improve the activity of a conventional Pd/Al2O3 catalyst towards aromatic hydrogenation, despite partial coverage of the Pd sites by the ALD layer. Subsequent advanced characterization and atomic-scale computational modeling revealed that the ALD coating influenced the adsorption strength of hydrogenation surface intermediates in unexpected ways, leading to higher reaction rates. Reaction testing after exposure to sulfur impurities, high temperature oxidation, and hydrothermal treatment demonstrated the improved stability of the ALD-coated catalyst. Additionally, the ALD synthesis process was found to be scalable over two orders of magnitude with minimal deviation in synthesized catalyst properties. These results were contextualized with cost models of industrial ALD coating and aromatic hydrogenation processes to further refine the value proposition of ALD coatings. Given the demonstrated improvements in hydrogenation, TiO2 ALD coatings have also been applied to supported Pt catalysts for use in other biomass conversion reactions, such as hydrodeoxygenation for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the oxidation of glucose for bio-derived gluconic acid. Recent findings from these experimental campaigns will also be shared. ALD technology holds great potential in the development of next-generation catalysts for biofuels and bioproducts and this work constitutes an important examination of the impact of ALD coatings in a variety of reaction environments.

bioenergy↗

DOE OSTI2021

Atomic Layer Deposition for Improved Biomass Conversion Catalysts

atomic layer deposition↗

DOE OSTI2025

Hybrid HEFA-HDCJ Process for the Production of Jet Fuel Blendstocks

The hydrotreatment of bio-oil derived from the pyrolysis and biocrude from hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulosic materials to produce hydrocarbons faces significant technological challenges, mainly due to the high reactivity and poor thermal stability of bio-oil, resulting in the formation of large quantities of coke. This problem has been addressed by existing PNNL patents with a two-step hydrotreatment technology in which the bio-oil is first stabilized with a noble hydrogenation metal (often Pt or Ru). Then, in the second step, the bio-oil is deoxygenated with a Ni-Mo or Co-Mo sulfide catalyst. The main problem with this approach is that the Pt/Ru catalysts deactivate easily in the presence of S or other impurities, which are commonly present in pyrolysis oils. In this project, we explored technological solutions to mitigate coke formation, avoiding the use of Pt/Ru catalysts. Our strategy is based on three actions: (1) Bio-oil stabilization in the presence of alcohols. In this project, we studied the stabilization with butanol. (2) the use of a cosolvent to solubilize the bio-oil. Because coke formation reactions are second-order reactions a reduction in the concentration of reactive bio-oil molecules. In this case, we used yellow greases as a co-solvent. (3) Separation of bio-oil reactive fractions. In this project, we studied the removal of water-soluble fractions. Our batch co-hydrotreatment studies confirmed that the addition of butanol and methanol and the blend with lipids effectively contributed to mitigating coke formation (reducing coke yield to about 1 wt.% %). The removal of sugars did not have a noticeable effect on the overall coke yield, suggesting that coke precursors are present in all bio-oil fractions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Hydrothermally carbonized biomass formed via reactive twin-screw extrusion

A biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material being a product of processing a biomass feed material via a twin screw extruder having a length extending between an inlet and an outlet. Hot water from a water heater is injected into at least one inlet along the length of the twin screw extruder, the at least one inlet generally corresponding with a pressure boundary within the twin screw extruder. A pressure-sustaining valve is connected between the length of the twin screw extruder and the outlet, with the valve being adjusted to produce the biomass-derived thermosetting polymer material.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Hydrothermal mineral alterations in the Brady and Desert Peak geothermal fields

Results of the analysis of HyMap's spectra against know hydrothermally altered minerals in the Brady-Desert Peak Geothermal Areas. The analysis was performed using ENVI's Target Detection process against USGS library spectra for Chalcedony, Kaolinite, Gypsum, Hematite and Epsomite. Each compressed file includes three raster images created after fusing the target detection results for all minerals: _fusion_all - Contains the 8 layers resulting from target detection and fusion of the 5 minerals _fusion_all_normal - Contains each layer as above, after Winsorization (99% percentile on the positive side only due to skewness of results), and normalization of each layer to achieve a range between [0-1] _fusion_final - Contains a fused raster by sub-setting the normalized layers, with the results of MTMF, MTTCIMF, OSP and SAM. Both CEM and MF were discarded as being less accurate than MTMF, and TCIMF is less accurate than MTTCIMF, ACE results were discarded because they were notably different from the rest of the analyses. The base_names are: brady - Brady geothermal area only desert - Desert Peak geothermal area only hymap - Full image analysis comprising both the Brady and Desert Peak geothermal areas

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Controlling MoO 2 and MoO 3 phases in MoO x /CNTs nanocomposites and their application to anode materials for lithium-ion batteries and capacitors

Molybdenum oxides (MoO 2 and MoO 3 ) are attractive anode materials for Li- and Na- ion batteries. Although there have been extensive studies on them individually, systematic and comparative studies are still lacking. Here, we demonstrate a facile and straightforward synthesis method to control the phase and oxidation state in the MoO x /CNTs nanocomposites via hydrothermal reaction followed by heat-treatment. By changing the gas atmosphere during the annealing process, well-dispersed MoO 2 /CNTs and MoO 3 /CNTs nanocomposites are formed without altering their overall morphology. This strategy enables us to investigate the true structure-property correlation of MoO x /CNTs nanocomposites by comparing the structure and electrochemical properties of MoO 2 /CNTs and MoO 3 /CNTs. When tested as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, both HT-MoO 2&3 /CNTs electrodes show much-improved cycling stability and rate performance compared to the rod-shaped bulk MoO 3 electrode. In situ Mo K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been further employed to compare and elucidate Li + storage mechanisms of both electrodes. When employed to the negative electrode of a high-power lithium-ion capacitor (LIC), the LIC full-cell composed of HT-MoO 3 /CNTs negative and activated carbon positive electrodes demonstrates impressive energy and power densities (~ 90 Wh kg –1 with 2000 W kg –1 ) and excellent cycling stability (96.8 % capacity retention after 300 cycles), revealing the versatility of the MoO x /CNTs electrodes in energy applications.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Experimental determination of hydrogen isotopic equilibrium in the system H 2 O (l) -H 2(g) from 3 to 90 °C

Molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) is found in a variety of settings on and in the Earth from low-temperature sediments to hydrothermal vents, and is actively being considered as an energy resource for the transition to a green energy future. The hydrogen isotopic composition of H 2 , given as D/H ratios or δD, varies in nature by hundreds of per mil from ∼−800 ‰ in hydrothermal and sedimentary systems to ∼+450 ‰ in the stratosphere. This range reflects a variety of processes, including kinetic isotope effects associated with formation and destruction and equilibration with water, the latter proceeding at fast (order year) timescales at low temperatures (<100 °C). At isotopic equilibrium, the D/H fractionation factor between liquid water and hydrogen ( D α H2O(l)-H2(g) ) is a function of temperature and can thus be used as a geothermometer for H 2 formation or re-equilibration temperatures. Multiple studies have produced theoretical calculations for hydrogen isotopic equilibrium between H 2 and water vapor. However, only three published experimental calibrations used in geochemistry exist for the H 2 O-H 2 system: two between 51 and 742 °C for H 2 O (g) -H 2(g) (Suess, 1949, Cerrai et al., 1954), and one in the H 2 O (l) -H 2(g) system for temperatures <100 °C (Rolston et al., 1976). Despite these calibrations existing, there is uncertainty on their accuracy at low temperatures (<100 °C; e.g., Horibe and Craig, 1995).

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

Techno-economic uncertainty analysis of wet waste-to-biocrude via hydrothermal liquefaction

Not Available

Li, Shuyun↗

DOE OSTI2024

Hydrothermal conditioning of oleaginous yeast cells to enable recovery of lipids as potential drop-in fuel precursors

Abstract Background Lipids produced using oleaginous yeast cells are an emerging feedstock to manufacture commercially valuable oleochemicals ranging from pharmaceuticals to lipid-derived biofuels. Production of biofuels using oleaginous yeast is a multistep procedure that requires yeast cultivation and harvesting, lipid recovery, and conversion of the lipids to biofuels. The quantitative recovery of the total intracellular lipid from the yeast cells is a critical step during the development of a bioprocess. Their rigid cell walls often make them resistant to lysis. The existing methods include mechanical, chemical, biological and thermochemical lysis of yeast cell walls followed by solvent extraction. In this study, an aqueous thermal pretreatment was explored as a method for lysing the cell wall of the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides for lipid recovery. Results Hydrothermal pretreatment for 60 min at 121 °C with a dry cell weight of 7% (w/v) in the yeast slurry led to a recovery of 84.6 ± 3.2% (w/w) of the total lipids when extracted with organic solvents. The conventional sonication and acid-assisted thermal cell lysis led to a lipid recovery yield of 99.8 ± 0.03% (w/w) and 109.5 ± 1.9% (w/w), respectively. The fatty acid profiles of the hydrothermally pretreated cells and freeze-dried control were similar, suggesting that the thermal lysis of the cells did not degrade the lipids. Conclusion This work demonstrates that hydrothermal pretreatment of yeast cell slurry at 121 °C for 60 min is a robust and sustainable method for cell conditioning to extract intracellular microbial lipids for biofuel production and provides a baseline for further scale-up and process integration. Graphical abstract

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Opportunities and challenges for flow-through hydrothermal pretreatment in advanced biorefineries

Hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) using only water offers great potential to reduce the overall cost of the bioconversion process. However, traditional HTP performed in a batch has limitations in removing lignin and often needs to be performed under severe conditions to achieve reasonable pretreatment effects. Additionally, lignin left in the pretreated residue at these conditions is also highly condensed, thus possessing an even more adverse impact on the hydrolysis process, which requires high enzyme loadings. To address these technical challenges, HTP performed in a flow-through configuration was developed to simultaneously achieve near-complete hemicellulose recovery, high lignin removal and high sugar release. Despite facing challenges such as potentially large water usage, flow-through HTP still represents one of the most cost-effective and eco-friendly pretreatment methods. This review mainly covers the latest cutting-edge innovations of flow-through HTP along with structural and compositional changes of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin before and after pretreatment.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Develop an efficient and cost-effective novel anaerobic digestion system producing high purity of methane from diverse waste biomass

This project focuses on developing an advanced, intensified anaerobic digestion system aimed at transforming the treatment and conversion of organic wastes into valuable products, specifically renewable natural gas. The motivation for this research stems from the limitations of conventional anaerobic digestion technologies, which often face challenges such as long retention times, high operational costs, and incomplete organic material degradation. The new technology called Intensified Versatile Anaerobic Digestion (IVAD), is developed to address these challenges by incorporating innovative reactors and processes that enhance the overall efficiency and output of anaerobic digestion. The significance of this project lies in its potential to revolutionize waste management practices and waste biomass utilization. The IVAD system integrates a hyperthermophilic anaerobic acidification reactor, a hydrothermal treatment (HTT) unit, and both thermophilic and mesophilic methanogenic reactors. This combination enables a higher rate of organic breakdown and energy recovery, resulting in faster processing times, reduced reactor sizes, and lower operational costs compared to traditional systems. Key data include an increase in methane productivity to 1.18 m 3 /m 3 /day, a significant improvement compared to the baseline technology’s 0.64 m 3 /m 3 /day. Additionally, the IVAD system achieves a 45% reduction in levelized cost of energy (LCOE), down to $\$$10.04/MMBTU, and an energy return on investment (EROI) of 3.19, representing an 87% increase over baseline levels. Technical and economic analyses highlight that the IVAD system significantly reduces hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT). The HRT for the HTT reactor can be reduced from 1 hour to 0.5 hours, while decoupling SRT from HRT in the anaerobic acidification reactor (AAR) allows for further reductions. These design optimizations lead to smaller reactor volumes, cutting down equipment and construction costs. Despite these advancements, energy consumption remains comparable to conventional methods due to a novel heat recovery strategy, enhancing overall process productivity. The system also achieves in-situ CO 2 removal and ammonia stripping features, resulting in biogas with a methane purity level of 75%, and produces high-quality nitrogen fertilizer as an additional by-product. Public benefits of the IVAD system are substantial, contributing to sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. By providing a scalable solution that can be adopted by dairy farms and similar agricultural operations, the IVAD system helps reduce waste, produce renewable natural gas (RNG) suitable for transportation fuel, and generate fertilizer, supporting a circular economy. This project plays a role in achieving broader environmental objectives by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy independence. Additionally, it offers a pathway for farmers to lower operational costs while adopting practices that are both environmentally sustainable and economically advantageous.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Data for Optimization of Pre-Commercial Enzymes Dosage for a Potential Lignocellulosic Biorefinery

Lignocellulolytic enzymes remain one of the primary cost constraints in second-generation (2G) ethanol biorefineries. Achieving efficient hydrolysis of structural carbohydrates with minimal enzyme dosage, maintaining slurry fermentability for industrially relevant ethanol titers, and maximizing ethanol yield per ton of biomass are among the major challenges in 2G processes. In this study, we optimized the dosages of pre-commercial cellulase (NS22257) and hemicellulase (NS22244) on pilot-scale, hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic substrates. Enzyme dosages were evaluated at three levels: 20 mg of cellulase with 7.25 mg of hemicellulase (ED-1), 40 mg with 14.5 mg (ED-2), and 60 mg with 21.75 mg (ED-3). As expected, the highest sugar yields were obtained with ED-3; however, for sweet sorghum, oilcane, and miscanthus, sugar yields from ED-2 and ED-3 were not significantly different (p < 0.05). For example, sweet sorghum produced 123.78 ± 1.54 g L−1 and 125.76 ± 0.46 g L−1 of total sugars (glucose and xylose) with ED-2 and ED-3, respectively. Although energycane exhibited a statistically significant difference between ED-2 and ED-3, the incremental gain with ED-3 was modest, increasing sugar release by only 9.02 g L−1 relative to ED-2. Importantly, ED-1 resulted in sugar yields of 88.88 ± 3.64 to 106.86 ± 1.21 g L−1, sufficient to achieve ethanol titers ≥40 g L−1, the threshold required for industrial relevance. A semi-integrated bioprocess validated this outcome, producing 42.09 ± 2.38 g L−1 ethanol and an estimated yield of 213.38 L of ethanol per dry ton of pretreated biomass, requiring only 20.83 L of cellulase and 6.25 L of hemicellulase per ton. Remarkably, these enzyme dosages were approximately tenfold lower than those reported in prior studies.

Energycane↗

DOE OSTI2023

Modeling aqueous association constants and mineral solubilities at subcritical and supercritical temperatures

The need for sustainable power generation has increased interest in the use of hydrothermal fluids for industrial applications. New high-enthalpy geothermal systems and biowaste-to-fuel processes are two relevant examples that employ supercritical fluids which require an in-depth understanding of complex chemical reactions occurring near the supercritical temperature of water (374 °C). As these processes operate in thermodynamic regimes that are not currently covered by a standard molar Gibbs energy of formation model, only empirical fits for single reaction systems are available which limit the use of multi-component phase equilibria calculations that are standard practice for less extreme environments. Here, in this paper, we advance a standard molar Gibbs energy of formation model able to operate in these otherwise inaccessible thermodynamic states to include species needed for key mineral solubility systems and ion association reactions. This work extends a model based on molecular statistical thermodynamics (MST) into four new systems (Na 3 PO 4 -H 2 O, LiOH-H 2 O, KOH-H 2 O, and BaSO 4 -H 2 O) by extending the model to cover 10 new species. For each of these systems, model predictions were consistently within the experimental uncertainties for the new systems covered. A breakdown of MST contributions to the model revealed that electrostatic and hard sphere contributions were key to reproducing density dependencies of standard molar Gibbs energy of formation values around the critical point of water.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2023

Near-Critical CO 2 -Assisted Liquefaction-Extraction of Biomass and Wastes to Fuels and Value-Added Products

With the growing need for sustainable carbon-neutral liquid fuels, low-grade feedstocks, such as lignocellulosic biomass, and municipal solid wastes offer sufficient potential via thermochemical conversion. But the existing thermochemical means are limited in feed flexibility and scalability and require significant processing (energy and costs) of the intermediates. Bio-oil/biocrude intermediate from fast pyrolysis and hydrothermal techniques is impeded by issues of stability and oxygen content, along with hydrotreating viability. To address these issues, we investigated a novel pathway of near-critical CO 2 -assisted integrated liquefaction-extraction (NILE) technology in conceptual aspects for conversion of various biomass and municipal solid wastes into high-quality biocrude with high compatibility for co-hydrotreating with traditional fossil crude for liquid fuel needs in power and transportation sectors. Using supercritical CO 2 for dewatering wet feedstocks, for liquefaction, and extraction for lighter biocrude has produced biocrude with lower oxygen content by 50%, lowered metal content by 90%, stable viscosity, low acidity, and good aging stability compared to that produced from hydrothermal liquefaction along with higher hydrotreating and co-hydrotreating compatibility. Hydrotreating of the biocrude extract from supercritical CO 2 extraction also was feasible with no detected coke deposition, an oxygen content of 1%, and catalyst deactivation. Here, the validation and capabilities of the NILE concept urge for its further development to obtain sustainable liquid fuels with lower greenhouse gas emissions and costs.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Steptoe Valley NV Data Compilation: Understanding a Stratigraphic Hydrothermal Resource through Geophysical Imaging

Sandia National Laboratories partnered with a multi-disciplinary group of subject matter experts to evaluate a stratigraphic geothermal resource in Steptoe Valley, Nevada using both established and novel geophysical imaging techniques. Provided here are a compilation of newly acquired data over the area and select modeling efforts. This encompasses a 3D geological model (inclusive of full Leapfrog files, Leapfrog viewer files, and XYZ data for faults and stratigraphy) with embedded geophysical modeling, controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric (MT) data packages, aqueous spring geochemistry data, seismic reflection interpretations, and a gravity data package. The stratigraphic reservoir in Steptoe Valley was previously discovered during oil and gas exploration. Subsequent studies, such as the Nevada Play Fairway Analysis, added data which further highlighted potential resource targets in the basin. Geophysical surveys, complimented with refined geologic mapping and geochemical sampling, were deployed to further characterize the resource. The resulting 3D geologic interpretation, conceptual model refinements, and reservoir simulations suggest that a power-capable reservoir is economically accessible in the Paleozoic carbonates of the deep/central basin. Additional geophysical characterization and exploration drilling efforts are recommended to calibrate interpretation and determine where/how to potentially develop the Steptoe resource. The geophysical tools, interpretations, lessons learned, and publicly available data generated by this study establish an exploration methodology to inform decisions for successful development of stratigraphic reservoirs.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Greenhouse Gas Impact of Algal Bio-Crude Production for a Range of CO2 Supply Scenarios

Refined bio-crude production from hydrothermal liquefaction of algae holds the potential to replace fossil-based conventional liquid fuels. The microalgae act as natural carbon sequestrators by consuming CO2. However, this absorbed CO2 is released to the atmosphere during the combustion of the bio-crude. Thus, the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of refined bio-crude are linked to the production and supply of the materials involved and the process energy demands. One prominent raw material is CO2, which is the main source of carbon for algae and the subsequent products. The emissions associated with the supply of CO2 can have a considerable impact on the sustainability of the algae-based refined bio-crude production process. Furthermore, the diurnal algae growth cycle complicates the CO2 supply scenarios. Traditionally, studies have relied on CO2 supplied from existing power plants. However, there is potential for building natural gas or biomass-based power plants with the primary aim of supplying CO2 to the biorefinery. Alternately, a direct air capture (DAC) process can extract CO2 directly from the air. The life-cycle GHG emissions associated with the production of refined bio-crude through hydrothermal liquefaction of algae are presented in this study. Different CO2 supply scenarios, including existing fossil fuel power plants and purpose-built CO2 sources, are compared. The integration of the CO2 sources with the algal biorefinery is also presented. The CO2 supply from biomass-based power plants has the highest potential for GHG reduction, with a GHG footprint of −57 g CO2 eq./MJ refined bio-crude. The CO2 supply from the DAC process has a GHG footprint of 49 CO2 eq./MJ refined bio-crude, which is very similar to the scenario that considers the supply of CO2 from an existing conventional natural gas-based plant and takes credit for the carbon utilization.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

Bioprocessing, Recovery, and Mass Balance of Vegetative Lipids from Metabolically Engineered “Oilcane” Demonstrates Its Potential as an Alternative Feedstock for Drop-In Fuel Production

Plant oils are increasingly in demand as renewable feedstocks for biodiesel and biochemicals. Currently, oilseeds are the primary source of plant oils. Although the vegetative tissues of plants express lipid metabolism pathways, they do not hyper- accumulate lipids. Elevated synthesis, storage, and accumulation of lipids in vegetative tissues have been achieved by metabolic engineering of sugarcane to produce “oilcane”. This study evaluates the potential of oilcane as a renewable feedstock for the co- production of lipids and fermentable sugars. Oilcane was grown under favorable climatic and field conditions in Florida (FLOC) as well as during an abbreviated growing season, outside its typical growing region, in Illinois (ILOC). The potential lipid yield of 0.35 tons/ha was projected from the hyperaccumulation of fatty acids in the stored vegetative biomass of FLOC, which is approaching the lipid yield of soybean (0.44 tons/ha). Processing of the vegetative tissues of oilcane recovered 0.20 tons/ha, which represents the recovery of 55% of the total lipids from FLOC. Chemical-free hydrothermal bioprocessing of ILOC and FLOC bagasse and leaves at 180 °C for 10 min prevented the degeneration of in situ plant lipids. Here, this allowed the recovery of lipids at the end of the bioprocess with a major fraction of lipids remaining in the biomass residues after pretreatment and saccharification. Improvements through refined biomass processing, crop management, and metabolic engineering are expected to boost lipid yields and make oilcane a prime feedstock for the production of biodiesel.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗