Biofuels and Translational Plant Physiology Pflanzenphysiologie Physiologia Plantarum Physiologie...

Biofuels and Translational Plant Physiology

Pflanzenphysiologie

Physiologia Plantarum

Physiologie des plantes

Translational research is pushing a fundamental change in the way science has operated for decades, breaking down the literal and figurative walls that separate basic scientists and applied researchers.

fysiologie op planten

fysiologie op planten

식물 생리학

φυσιολογία των φυτών

fisiologia das plantas

plant physiology

физиология заводов

Energy rich environment

21 mio gal/d 6 mio gal/d $400 bio/year

Rudolph Diesel (1898) Paris World expo

Peanut oil

An american biofuels and biomaterials pioneer

Plants can be a source of biodiesel

Image sources: Tilo Hauke, University of Minnesota, Iowa State University Extension.

Biodiesel produced from rapeseed, algae and soybeans are replacing petroleum-derived diesel.

soybeans 50gal/acre

2010 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion 1.2l TDI diesel 75 hp 80.7mpg

14K98MC7 MAN Diesel 87.220hp

Car model fuel type mpg

HONDA Insight Insight Gas Hybrid 83.10 CITROEN C2 1.4 HDi Diesel 68.90 CITROEN C1 1.4 HDi Diesel 68.90 RENAULT Clio 1.5 dCi 80 Diesel 67.30 CITROEN C2 1.4 HDi SensoDrive Diesel 67.30 CITROEN C3 1.4 HDi Diesel 67.30 RENAULT Clio 1.5 dCi 100 Diesel 65.80 RENAULT Clio 1.5 dCi 65 Diesel 65.80 CITROEN C2 1.4 HDi Diesel 65.70 TOYOTA Prius 1.5 VVT-i Hybrid Gas Hybrid 65.70

US car 22.6 mpg (2006) 21/27EU car 31 mpg EU diesel car 34 mpg

Oil palm 650 gal/acre

Canola 180gal/acre

Modern energy mix combining biodiesel and wind

Project Capacity (MW) StateRoscoe Wind Farm 781 TexasHorse Hollow Wind Energy Center 736 TexasAlta Wind Energy Center 720 CaliforniaTehachapi Pass Wind Farm 705 CaliforniaCapricorn Ridge Wind Farm 662 TexasSan Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm 619 CaliforniaFowler Ridge Wind Farm 600 IndianaSweetwater Wind Farm 585 TexasAltamont Pass Wind Farm 576 CaliforniaBuffalo Gap Wind Farm 524 TexasMeadow Lake Wind Farm 500 Indiana

Total electricity produced by wind in Indiana 1200 MW/year, enough for 6000 average households

How to make biodiesel?

The chemistry:

Vegetable oil + methylgroup + catalyst + energy = biodiesel

BaseMethanol

Vegetable oil

Plants can be a source of biofuels

Energy from

sunlight

Image source: Genome Management Information System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Sugars, starches and cellulose can be fermented into ethanol

sugar cane 450-890 gal/acre

sugar cane 450-890 gal/acre

soybean 50 gal/acre

algae 2000 gal/acre

sugar cane 450-890 gal/acre

Biofuel made in the Midwest

corn 250-370 gal/acre

corn 250-370 gal/acre

Jatropha

Jojoba

Castor bean

Sunflower

Duckweed

Miscanthus

Switchgras

Ethanol isolated from cell wall cellulose is an important energy

source

Cell walls from corn stalks and

other agricultural

residue

Ethanol

Image source: Genome Management Information System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Biofuel made from microalgae (2000 gal/acre)

Plants can replace petroleum for many products and purposes

Unfortunately, it takes millions and millions of years to convert dead organic material into petroleum...and we are running out of it.

Petroleum is NOT a renewable resource

Plants can replace petroleum for many products and purposes

Unfortunately, it takes millions and millions of years to convert dead organic material into petroleum.... And we are running out of it.

Petroleum is NOT a renewable resource

When I grow up I want to be

a fossil fuel

creativecartoons.org.

Regulation of sucrose and starch biosynthesis

Carbohydrates: where are they coming from, where are they going???

Iodine intercalates into the starch helix

Tri-iodide molecule

Starch helix

Translational Plant Physiology

Bioplastic products

Bioplastic products: bag that!!Polyethylene bags handed out to US customers/year:

100 billion12 mio. barrels oil/year 500 - 1000 years to decompose14 mio. trees/year 6 -12 month to decompose

4 weeks to decompose

46,000 plastic pieces/mile2 ocean surface