Greenbelt Resources successfully produces ethanol from duckweed

In California, Greenbelt Resources Corporation has utilized its Commercial Scale Feedstock Testing Facility (CSTF) to conduct feedstock feasibility testing as a service to third party customers. While the CSTF backend capabilities are currently being expanded with funding received as part of a recent agreement to produce bioethanol for the hemp and CBD extraction process, last fall, under a separate research contract, Greenbelt performed a series of innovative frontend tests designed to explore using duckweed as a feedstock. On Thursday, Greenbelt announced its efforts to produce and process duckweed into bioethanol (and other byproducts) have been successful.

The possible ability to convert duckweed into various viable bioproducts, in particular bioethanol, has been the subject of scientific writings and discussions for decades due to the potential for the plant to be made up of protein, fiber and over 40% starch. The duckweed recently processed in the CSTF was cultivated and harvested by Greenbelt on a controlled site nearby. Since the work was performed as part of a third-party contract, Greenbelt has not released detailed performance or yield data. The accompanying photos depict Greenbelt’s first liter of bioethanol from duckweed and its cultivation area, respectively.

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