生物谷報道：日前,，美國科學家成功利用牧草作為原料生產(chǎn)出生物乙醇,，而且生產(chǎn)成本低廉，出產(chǎn)的生物乙醇質(zhì)量也比較理想,。
這一研究由美國內(nèi)布拉斯加大學和美國農(nóng)業(yè)部研究中心的科學家歷時5年合作完成,，研究成果已發(fā)表在新一期的美國《國家科學院學報》上。
據(jù)參與這項研究的內(nèi)布拉斯加大學教授肯·沃格爾說,，科學家對內(nèi)布拉斯加州,、南達科他州和北達科他州一些農(nóng)場種植的牧草進行了試驗，結(jié)果顯示,，平均1公頃牧草大約能生產(chǎn)2800升生物乙醇,，而利用同等面積的玉米大約可提取3270升的生物乙醇。
沃格爾指出,，以單位面積而言，從牧草提取的生物乙醇量少于玉米,，但牧草成本比玉米低很多,，而且所生產(chǎn)的生物乙醇質(zhì)量也沒有太大差別，因此這項研究成果對今后開發(fā)和利用新型生物燃料具有重要意義,。（中國食品產(chǎn)業(yè)網(wǎng)）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Published online on January 7, 2008, 10.1073/pnas.0704767105
PNAS | January 15, 2008 | vol. 105 | no. 2 | 464-469
OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass
M. R. Schmer*, K. P. Vogel*,, R. B. Mitchell*, and R. K. Perrin
*U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service, University of Nebraska, 314 Biochemistry Hall, P.O. Box 830737, Lincoln, NE 68583-0737; and Agricultural Economics Department, University of Nebraska, 314A Filley Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0922
Edited by Pamela A. Matson, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and approved November 21, 2007 (received for review May 21, 2007)
Perennial herbaceous plants such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are being evaluated as cellulosic bioenergy crops. Two major concerns have been the net energy efficiency and economic feasibility of switchgrass and similar crops. All previous energy analyses have been based on data from research plots (<5 m2) and estimated inputs. We managed switchgrass as a biomass energy crop in field trials of 3–9 ha (1 ha = 10,000 m2) on marginal cropland on 10 farms across a wide precipitation and temperature gradient in the midcontinental U.S. to determine net energy and economic costs based on known farm inputs and harvested yields. In this report, we summarize the agricultural energy input costs, biomass yield, estimated ethanol output, greenhouse gas emissions, and net energy results. Annual biomass yields of established fields averaged 5.2 -11.1 Mg·ha–1 with a resulting average estimated net energy yield (NEY) of 60 GJ·ha–1·y–1. Switchgrass produced 540% more renewable than nonrenewable energy consumed. Switchgrass monocultures managed for high yield produced 93% more biomass yield and an equivalent estimated NEY than previous estimates from human-made prairies that received low agricultural inputs. Estimated average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cellulosic ethanol derived from switchgrass were 94% lower than estimated GHG from gasoline. This is a baseline study that represents the genetic material and agronomic technology available for switchgrass production in 2000 and 2001, when the fields were planted. Improved genetics and agronomics may further enhance energy sustainability and biofuel yield of switchgrass.
agriculture | bioenergy | biomass | biomass energy | greenhouse gas
