Biomass-to-Fuel Pipeline for Sustainable Energy-Environment Nexus
Cheng – University of Idaho
Research Overview
The demand for sustainable energy is driving innovations in biorefining technologies to establish biomass-to-fuel pipelines. More than 690 million dry tons of biomass per year are available for fuel conversions, with an estimated value of $70 per dry ton. Integrating various feedstocks — agricultural residues, forest waste, municipal solid waste, algae, and energy crops — is crucial to the resource-energy-environmental nexus.
In Idaho, MSW, agricultural and forest residues are considered the major resources for energy conversions. Based on the chemical and physical properties of biomass and feedstock available in Idaho, this project aims to define a viable biomass valorization strategy that will facilitate implementation of renewable and biobased energy and thrust the regional circular economy.
Student Research Experience
Students will be introduced to the basic science of biorefining technologies, including lignocellulose chemistry, principles of biomass deconstruction, fundamentals of biomass and energy conversions, and innovations of advanced sustainable products.
Students will work in collaboration with INL’s Biomass Feedstock National User Facility (BFNUF) to perform biomass characterization — understanding chemical composition and physical properties such as structural carbohydrate, lignin, ash, and extractive determinations. Students will also gain experience performing different biomass pretreatment and conversion processes through hands-on experiments at CAES.