Research team says duckweed cleans wastewater, yields six times more starch for ethanol than corn

In North Carolina, a research team at North Carolina State University is reporting that it has realized up to six times the average corn starch yield by growing duckweed, a microscopic aquatic plant, on hog farm wastewate. The researchers concluded that the process cleans up waste water and produces a high-yield biofuel, and the duckweed starch can be converted to ethanol at existing corn ethanol processors.

The researchers said that their process will work on any type of nutrient-rich wastewater, including municipal wastewater. The researchers are developing a pilot-scale demonstration of their system for growing, harvesting and drying duckweed.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Solray, Christchurch form New Zealand algae partnership to produce fuel from wastewater

In New Zealand, The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said that a partnership between NIWA, Christchurch City Council, and Solray Energy will demonstrate the commercial feasibility ...

Minnesota’s Corn Plus ethanol, city of Winnebago discuss teaming to use 350K gallons of treated wastewater at ethanol plant

In Minnesota, the city of Winnebago and the Corn Plus ethanol plant have commenced discussions aimed at diverting the town's 350,000 daily gallons of treated wastewater to the Corn Plus plant for use ...

Infrared device can increase yield from corn ethanol by up to eight percent by spotting high-yield corn

A infrared device used at Hawkeye Renewables and 20 other ethanol plants measures ethanol yield from corn and provides a yield report to local farmers on and plants.  The device compares the spectr...

Algae-to-energy and wastewater remediation plan wins Clean Energy Prize in Michigan contest

[caption id="attachment_11529" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Algae production facility (PetroAlgae plant in Fellsmere, Florida)"][/caption] In Michigan, a University of Michigan design te...

Algae to biocrude, using wastewater, demonstration project opens in New Zealand

In New Zealand, Minister of Energy Hon Gerry Brownlee opened a wastewater algae to bio-crude oil demonstration project. The project combines NIWA's scientific expertise on advanced wastewater treatmen...

Cereal Process Technologies increases co-product value in ethanol production through fractionation

Cereal Process Technologies completed performance tests of the nation’s largest fractionation plant at Renew Energy’s 130-million-gallon ethanol plant at Jefferson, Wisconsin.  Renew Energy’s f...