Louisiana Biofuels and Bioprocessing Summit Building A Business Case for Louisiana: What Does Louisiana Offer? September 11-12, 2012 Benjamin L. Legendre, Ph.D. Professor & Department Head Audubon Sugar Institute L.S.U. Agricultural Center Baton Rouge, LA Sugarcane Bagasse Energy Cane Sweet Sorghum Miscanthus Switchgrass
Overview- Bioenergy Crop Production Louisiana enjoys a strong, diverse agricultural base. Its sub-tropical climate supports production of an exciting array of row crop and forest species, many of which have potential as raw materials for cellulose-based fuel and chemical enterprises.
Overview- Bioenergy Crop Production (Continued) The state is well-positioned to produce novel energy crops, such as high-fiber sugarcane (energy cane), sweet sorghum, Miscanthus and switchgrass. Such crop-production ability, coupled with existing industrial capacity for fuel and chemical processing, position Louisiana to be a strong player in the biofuel and bioprocessing arenas.
Bioenergy Crop Production in Louisiana 11 operating sugar factories 1 not operating syrup factory 420,000 acres of sugarcane 85-100,000 acres fallow 12,400,000 tons sugarcane processed 1,400,000 tons raw sugar produced Approximate value - $1.1 billion at first processing level 3,900,000 tons bagasse (50% moisture) of which 85% is used as boiler fuel Approximately 15% bagasse available for other bioenergy uses Approximately 250 acres high fiber energy cane
Possible Candidates Wood-Based Materials Sugarcane Energy Cane Sweet Sorghum Miscanthus Switchgrass Soybean Grain Sorghum (seeking advanced biofuels status) Agricultural Waste Streams (Cotton Gin Waste, Rice Hulls, Bagasse)
The Perfect Energy Crop for Louisiana Ideal Biofuel Attributes 1 A renewable feedstock that produces a biofuel which provides high gas mileage and favorable GHG emissions without displacing existing crops The answer may be a market compatible hydrocarbon made from lignocellulose 1 Slide courtesy of H.P.Viator, Iberia Research Station
Complementary Crops Sweet Sorghum July - September Energy Cane October - January Bagasse, syrup, woodchips, molasses, etc. February - June
Sweet Sorghum 1 C4 plant that requires less fertilizer than SC and corn Tolerates a fairly broad ph range Produce a crop with less water than most other staple row crops Can be grown on a wide range of soil textures Can be grown on marginal lands Performs best on fertile soil like other crops 1 Information courtesy of H.P. Viator, Iberia Research Station
Sweet Sorghum (Continued) 1 Yields of 35 tons per acre(fresh weight) at Sugar Res. Stn. Brix (percent soluble solids) of 17 In the literature there is a maximum reported yield of 50 tons per acre (fresh weight) & 13 metric tons of fermentable sugar per hectare In Louisiana, the maximum yield reported this year is 8.5 metric tons of fermentable sugar per hectare 1 Information courtesy of H.P. Viator, Iberia Research Station
Energy Cane C4 plant generally more vigorous than commercial sugarcane varieties grown for sugar and sweet sorghum Energy Cane is largely derived from clones of Saccharum spontaneum Energy cane is effectively sugarcane selected for higher fiber than sugar Like sweet sorghum energy cane can tolerate a fairly broad ph range Can be grown on a wide range of soil textures
Energy Cane (Continued) Broader range of adaptability than sugarcane Can be grown on marginal lands Performs best on fertile soil like other crops Yields of 40-45 tons per acre or more (fresh weight) can be expected in plant cane through 3 rd or 4 th ratoon crops In the literature there is a maximum reported yield for the energy cane variety, L 79-1002, of 75 tons per acre (fresh weight) with a fiber content of 21-25%
Yield and Economics Carbon flux from atmospheric CO 2 for current biofuel crops [NOTE: Only carbon is counted as part of weight.] Maximum Photosynthetic Rate A n 50 t C ha -1 y -1 (1) [based on carbon, mw=12] Maize (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Soybean (8, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) Sugarcane (8, 13, 14, 15, 16) (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) Switchgrass t C ha -1 y -1 Yield t C ha -1 y -1 Yield t C ha -1 y -1 Yield t C ha -1 y -1 Yield Captured 14. 28.% 7.0 14.% 17. 34.% 12 24.% Harvested 4.4 8.8% 1.5 3.0% 12. 24.% 7.4 15.% Purified 3.0 6.0% 0.46 0.92% 5.5 11.% 3.4 6.8% Processed 1.7 3.4% 0.37 0.74% 2.8 5.6% 1.1 2.2% Final Energy Content 51.75 49.72 51.75 51.75-1 (GJ t C ) Overall Fuel Yield (GJ ha -1 y -1 ) 89.60 18.19 144.9 57.48 1 Following Collatz, GJ et al. Physiological and environmental regulation of stomatal conductance, photosynthesis and transpiration: A model that includes a laminar boundary layer, Agric. & Forest Meteorology 1991, 54, 107-136, using a daily average of 30 umol m -2 s -1 based on an average of 12 hours of sunlight per day over an entire year. Maximum theoretical photosynthetic carbon fixation rates vary depending on many environmental conditions- the given number serves as guidance in tracking the carbon utilization from CO2 capture through produced liquid fuel. For a similar approach involving algal biomass, see Sukenik et al., Optimizing algal biomass production in an outdoor pond: A simulation model, J. App. Phycology 1991, 3, 191-201. 2 Per acre grain yields are derived from USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2009. 3 Loomis, R.S.; Lafitte, H.R. The carbon economy of a maize crop exposed to elevated CO 2 concentrations and water stress, as determined from elemental analyses. Field Crops Res. 1987, 17, 63-74. 4 Latshaw, W.L.; Miller, E.C. Elemental composition of the corn plant, J. Agric. Res. 1924, 27, 845-861. 5 Bunge Milling Typical Composition of Yellow Dent Corn, downloaded on 1/5/10 from http://www.bungenorthamerica.com/news/pubs/03_bunge_milling_process_diagram.pdf 6 Bothast, R.J.; Schlicher, M.A. Biotechnololgical processes for conversion of corn into ethanol, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2005, 67, 19-25. 7 Huber, G.W.; Iborra, S.; Corma, A. Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: Chemistry, catalysts, and engineering, Chem. Rev. 2006, 106, 4044-4098. 8 Osborn, T.W. Elemental composition of soybean meal and interlaboratory performance, J. Agric. Food Chem. 1977, 25, 229-232. 9 Domalski, E.S.; Jobe, T.L.; Milne, T.A. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Thermodynamic Data for Biomass Conversion and Waste Incineration 1986 10 Renewable Biofuels Inc., Soy Methyl Ester B100 product specification data sheet, downloaded on 1/5/10 from:http://www.rbfuels.com/assets/files/rbf_soy_methyl_ester_b100_data_sheet.pdf 11 Hill, J.; Nelson, E.; Tilman, D.; Polasky, S.; Tiffany, D. Environmental, economic,and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels, PNAS 2006, 103, 11206-11210. 12 El-Darier, S.; Hemada, M.; Sadek, L. Dry matter distribution and growth analysis in soybeans under natural agricultural conditions, Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 2002, 5, 545-549. 13 Beeharry, R.P. Carbon balance of sugarcane bioenergy systems, Biomass Bioenergy 2001, 20, 361-370. 14 Da Rosa, A. Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes. 2009, Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA. 15 Goldemberg, J.; Coelho, S.T.; Nastari, P.M.; Lucon, O. Ethanol learning curve the Brazilian experience, Biomass Bioenergy 2004, 26, 301-304 16 Walford, S.N. Composition of cane juice, Proc. S. Afr. Sug. Technol. Ass.1996, 70, 265-266. 17 Collins, H. Biomass Production and N Removal by Switchgrass under Irrigation Switchgrass Production Workshop, 2010. 18 Garland, C.D. Growing and Harvesting Switchgrass for Ethanol Production in Tennessee factsheet (SP701-A), downloaded from: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/sp701- A.pdf 19 Ogden, C.A.; Ileleji, K.E.; Johnson, K.D.; Wang, Q. In-field direct combustion fuel property changes of switchgrass harvested from summer to fall, Fuel Process. Technol. 2010, 91, 266-271. 20 Dien, B.S.; Jung, H-J. G.; Vogel, K.P.; Casler, M.D.; Lamb, J. F. S.; Iten, L.; Mitchell, R.B.; Sarath, G. Chemical composition and response to dilute-acid pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of alfalfa, reed canarygrass, and switchgrass, Biomass Bioenergy 2006, 30, 880-891. 21 Schmer, M.R.; Vogel, K.P.; Mitchell, R.B.; Perrin, R.K. Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass, PNAS 2008, 105, 464-469.
Features of Typical Feedstocks 1 Properties Sugar cane Energy cane Sweet sorghum Crop cycle (months) 10-12 10-15 3.5 Number of cycle/ year 1 1 2 Yield (t/acre/y) 20-40 40-60 25-35 Brix (% juice) 18-22 10-12 12-18 Fiber (% cane) 10-14 15-25 10-13 Fertilizer requirement (N:P:K) 100:60:80 300:150:150? 80:50:50 1 Slide, with modifications, courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Yield of Fermentable Sugars per Ton of Cane 1 Crop Simple sugars Lbs/ton (JUICE) Complex sugars Lbs/ton (BIOMASS) Energy cane 156 362 Sweet sorghum 272 186 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Yield of Fermentable Sugar Acre 1 Crop Wet tons/acre Simple sugars, tons/acre Complex sugars, tons/acre Energy cane 40 3.12 7.24 Sweet sorghum 24.3 3.30 2.26 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Cost of Production of Fermentable Simple Sugars 1 Cost of Producing crop (delivered to mill) Energy cane Sweet sorghum $/lb sugar $/lb sugar 0.088 0.092 Milling cost 0.012 0.013 Bioconversion costs 0 0 Total 0.10 0.105 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Cost of Production of Fermentable Complex Sugars 1 Cost of Producing crop (delivered to mill) Energy cane $/lb sugar Sweet sorghum $/lb sugar 0.088 0.092 Milling cost 0.012 0.013 Bioconversion costs 0.08* 0.07* Total 0.18 0.175 * Estimates, variables not well defined 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Production Costs of Fermentable Sugars 1 Crop tons/acre Simple sugars Production cost* Complex Sugars Production cost Total Cost (lbs/acre) ($/acre) (lbs/acre) ($/acre) ($/acre) Sweet sorghum 24.3 6600 693 4520 814 1507 Energy cane 40 6240 624 14480 2534 3158 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute
Potential Return in Dollars per Acre 12 Production cost Sale Value Return ($/acre) Sweet sorghum $/acre $/acre Simple sugars 693 1320 627 Complex sugars 814 904 90.4 (Total = 717) Energy cane Simple sugars 624 1248 624 Complex sugars 2534 2896 362 (Total = 986) 1 Slide courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute 2 Assumes price of fermentable sugars at $0.20/lb
Economically Viable Biofuel Industry at a State or Regional Level 1 Issues concerning feedstock development, technical and economic feasibility, political factors, capital investment and infrastructure, as well as other factors and challenges exist at each phase. 1 Slide, with modifications, courtesy of Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter
Summary & Conclusions The two energy row crops commanding the most attention are sweet sorghum and energy cane but are they the perfect energy crop for Louisiana and the Southeastern United States???????? Simple sugars give more bang for the buck than do complex sugars The yield of simple sugars from sweet sorghum and energy cane are approximately the same Prices paid for fermentable sugars below $0.20/lb are not attractive to producers Production costs for complex sugars must drop, or the prices paid for fermentable sugars must rise to make conversion attractive
Questions? Cartoon courtesy of Don Day, Audubon Sugar Institute