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Fuel Yield Potential of Field Grown Agave americana L. Based on Water Soluble Carbohydrates, Acid Extractable Carbohydrates, and Enzymatic Digestibility Compared to Other Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks

Jones, Alexander M.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4056-7592
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501173804378294

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Environmental Studies (Voinovich).
Agave americana L. is a highly productive, drought-tolerant species being investigated as a potential feedstock for biofuel production. Agave spp. and other species with Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) produce yields that are comparable to other crops, even with limited water inputs, but little is known about the relationship between water use efficiency (WUE) in CAM species and bioethanol yield. The objective of this study is to evaluate the bioethanol yield potential of A. americana by 1) examining the relationship between WUE and carbohydrates, 2) comparing energy content of plant tissue to that of other candidate feedstocks, and 3) quantifying enzymatic digestion efficiency compared to other biomass substrates. This study found that 1) WUE does not influence carbohydrate composition per unit mass in A. americana; 2) A. americana had the lowest energy content of untreated biomass indicating the biomass is less recalcitrant; and 3) A. americana biomass was most easily hydrolyzed enzymatically with greater sugar products per unit mass than other advanced biomass feedstocks. These results indicate that A. americana can produce substantial yields of soluble carbohydrates with minimal water inputs and the remaining biomass can be easily deconstructed by cellulolytic enzymes for subsequent biochemical fermentation.
Sarah Davis, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Michael Held, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Ahmed Faik, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
96 p.
Agriculture; Agronomy; Alternative Energy; Biochemistry; Botany; Climate Change; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Physiology; Plant Biology; Water Resource Management
Lignocellulosic, advanced biofuel; Agave americana; Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, CAM; Water Use Efficiency, WUE; bioethanol yield; low solids enzymatic saccharification; gross heat of combustion; higher heating value, HHV; Miscanthus; Sorghum; Panicum

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jones, A. M. (2017). Fuel Yield Potential of Field Grown Agave americana L. Based on Water Soluble Carbohydrates, Acid Extractable Carbohydrates, and Enzymatic Digestibility Compared to Other Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501173804378294

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jones, Alexander. Fuel Yield Potential of Field Grown Agave americana L. Based on Water Soluble Carbohydrates, Acid Extractable Carbohydrates, and Enzymatic Digestibility Compared to Other Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks . 2017. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501173804378294.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jones, Alexander. "Fuel Yield Potential of Field Grown Agave americana L. Based on Water Soluble Carbohydrates, Acid Extractable Carbohydrates, and Enzymatic Digestibility Compared to Other Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks ." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1501173804378294

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1501173804378294
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.