Cattail rhizome-derived alcohol interim report

Technical Report · Sat May 30 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6352654

Gabrielson, J E

During the first six months of this project over 600 pounds of rhizomes, weighted wet and dirty were harvested and air dried. Average yields, on low land, were 1.9 tons/acre. Yields from areas in ponds may have been higher but it is difficult to estimate the areas. Sixteen fermentations were made. The results show that the rhizomes do not ferment well unless they are finely ground, and saccharified with acid, malt or enzymes. Grinding and screening so the feed passes a 40 mesh screen and then saccharifying with two enzymes produced the best results. Over 50% of the solids were converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide, 25% yield of alcohol based on dry weight of solids. Based on the maximum land harvest rate and the best alcohol yield production of 285 gallons of alcohol/acre of cattails are projected. This is a very good potential use of what is today marginal land.

• Research Organization: Gabrielson (James E.), Plymouth, MN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-81AF92016
• OSTI ID: 6352654
• Report Number(s): DOE/AF/92016-T1; ON: DE81028307
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
CATTAILS
FERMENTATION
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
ROOTS
ACID HYDROLYSIS
AVAILABILITY
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRINDING
HARVESTING
PRODUCTIVITY
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMINUTION
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
LYSIS
MACHINING
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
VARIATIONS
YIELDS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
090222 - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)