Submission Type
Poster
Start Date
4-22-2020
Abstract
The Earth has endured years of damage caused by an overuse of fossil fuels. Many are combating the damage with alternative energy. Biofuels represent an economical and often overlooked alternative to fossil fuels. Efforts have been geared toward the use of human food sources such as sugarcane (first generation biofuel). Although first generation biofuels aid in curbing greenhouse gas emissions, they lead to increasing food prices which negatively impacts developing countries. This research focuses on the production of second generation biofuels which relies on non-human food sources which exceed first generation biofuels in that they do not take away from a food source. This project specifically focuses on the use of rice husks as a biofuel feedstock. Second generation biofuels are also relatively inexpensive. The outermost layer that is separated from the rice grains during the milling process is usually thrown away as a waste product. Rice husks are ideal as a biofuel feedstock, because they cheap if not free, and they have the power to curb greenhouse gas emissions. For this project, an ionic liquid (1- Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) was used for the pretreatment of the rice husks to yield glucose. Glucose quantification methods applied include refractometry, and DNS analyses.
Recommended Citation
Kostrinsky, Sofia; Soriano, Arianna; Martin, Claire; Volger, Dineen; and Gikonyo, Barnabas, "107— Investigating the Promise of Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Rice Husks as Non-Human Feedstocks" (2020). GREAT Day Posters. 4.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2020/posters-2020/4
107— Investigating the Promise of Lignocellulosic Biofuels: Rice Husks as Non-Human Feedstocks
The Earth has endured years of damage caused by an overuse of fossil fuels. Many are combating the damage with alternative energy. Biofuels represent an economical and often overlooked alternative to fossil fuels. Efforts have been geared toward the use of human food sources such as sugarcane (first generation biofuel). Although first generation biofuels aid in curbing greenhouse gas emissions, they lead to increasing food prices which negatively impacts developing countries. This research focuses on the production of second generation biofuels which relies on non-human food sources which exceed first generation biofuels in that they do not take away from a food source. This project specifically focuses on the use of rice husks as a biofuel feedstock. Second generation biofuels are also relatively inexpensive. The outermost layer that is separated from the rice grains during the milling process is usually thrown away as a waste product. Rice husks are ideal as a biofuel feedstock, because they cheap if not free, and they have the power to curb greenhouse gas emissions. For this project, an ionic liquid (1- Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) was used for the pretreatment of the rice husks to yield glucose. Glucose quantification methods applied include refractometry, and DNS analyses.
Comments
Sponsored by Barnabas Gikonyo
The authors gracefully acknowledge financial support from the Office of Sponsored Research and material and logistical support from the Chemistry Department.