Tennessee plant species screened for renewable energy sources
The USDA Northern Regional Research Center (NRRC) has previously studied chemical and botanical characteristics of about 1000 plant species in efforts to identify potential new plant sources for industrial raw materials. For this report, an additional 51 species were collected from Tennessee and studied. Above-ground plant samples were analyzed for yields of oils, polyphenols, hydrocarbons, protein, and ash. Oils were examined for the presence of seven classes of lipids and analyzed for yields of fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter. Hydrocarbons were examined for the presence of rubber, gutta, and waxes. Rubber and gutta were analyzed for average molecular weight (MW) and MW distribution. Chemical and botanical data are presented for eight of the 51 species. A checklist of the 43 other species is given; data on these are available from NRRC. Lapsana communis yielded the most oil (6.1%; dry, ash-free, plant sample basis). Ilex montana yielded the most polyphenol (21.5%) plus 4.5% oil. Agrimonia parviflora and Catalpa bignonioides gave substantial yields of polyphenol (20.0% and 17.9%, respectively), and Passiflora incarnata contained the most apparent protein (19.8%). Chrysopsis graminifolia, Solidago erecta, and Verbesina alternifolia were identified as rubber-producing species with 0.4-0.7% hydrocarbon.
- Research Organization:
- Dept. of Agriculture, Peoria, IL
- OSTI ID:
- 6465937
- Journal Information:
- Econ. Bot.; (United States), Vol. 41:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HYDROCARBONS
YIELDS
OILS
PLANTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
POLYPHENOLS
TENNESSEE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
BIOMASS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NATURAL RUBBER
PROTEINS
AROMATICS
DATA
ELASTOMERS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLYMERS
RUBBERS
USA
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)