Institute of Food Research looks at rapeseed straw as biofuel feedstock

In the UK, researchers at the Institute of Food Research are looking at how to turn straw from oilseed rape into biofuel. Preliminary findings are pointing at ways the process could be made more efficient, as well as how the straw itself could be improved.

Straw from crops such as wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape is seen as a potential source of biomass for second-generation biofuel production. Currently the UK produces around 12 million tons of straw. Although much is used for animal bedding, mushroom compost and energy generation, there still exists a vast surplus.