Converting Agricultural Waste Into Biofuel

Filed in archive Energy, Environment and Ecology , Food and Agriculture on July 30, 2006

Scientists from the Iowa State University are working on a project which will convert farm waste --cow manure and corn stalks-- into bio-oil, which, according to the researchers, may be used for boiler fuel or even transportation fuel. Preliminary tests indicate that for every kilogram of a dried mixture of manure and corn stalks (20% moisture content), about 200 to 500 grams of bio-oil can be produced.

Sadaka said the energy content of dry manure is 12 to 18 gigajoules per ton. Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency says one gigajoule of electricity will keep a 60-watt bulb continuously burning for six months. Sadaka figures if half the animal manure in the country were processed into bio-oil, that would produce the equivalent of 45 million tons of oil.

The project is being supported by a $190,000-grant from the Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium. The researcher will also explore the potential of using poultry and pig manure.

Read more from the Iowa State University News Service.