Alcohol co-production from tree crops

Conference · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6631223

Seibert, M; Folger, G; Milne, T

A concept for the sustainable production of alcohol from fermentable substrates produced on an annual basis by the reproductive organs (pods, fruits, nuts, berries, etc.) of tree crops is presented. The advantages of tree-crop systems include suitability for use on marginal land, potential productivity equivalent to row crops, minimal maintenance and energy-input requirements, environmental compatibility, and the possibility of co-product production. Honeylocust, mesquite, and persimmon are examined as potential US tree-crop species. Other species not previously considered, including osage orange and breadfruit, are suggested as tree-crop candidates for North America and the tropical developing world, respectively. Fermentation of tree-crop organs and the economics of tree-crop systems are also discussed. Currently the greatest area of uncertainty lies in actual pod or fruit yields one can expect from large tree farms under real life conditions. However, ballpark ethanol yield estimates of from 880 to 3470 l hectare/sup -1/ (94 to 400 gal acre/sup -1/) justify further consideration of tree crop systems.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 6631223
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-233-1631; CONF-820681-1; ON: DE82017803
• Resource Relation: Conference: Annual ASES meeting, Houston, TX, USA, 1 Jun 1982; Other Information: Mf only; illegibility does not permit PC reproduction
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
BERRIES
FERMENTATION
ETHANOL
PRODUCTION
FRUITS
SEEDS
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
LAND USE
TREES
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
FOOD
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
090222 - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)