In it’s development stages, this project will provide materials to guide discussions about advanced biofuels starting with diagrams of plant and algae structures, concentrating on how plants function as solar energy storage facilities.  Instruction will progress through discussion of cell wall structure and operation to technologies developed to break down biomass recalcitrance in order to release the stored energy to use it as fuels and power resources.  Issues related to sustainability are addressed at all levels.

We are partnering with the National Energy Education Program on this project.

This page will provide updates on our progress with this project.  Right now, we are at the outline stage, determining what key concepts are important to an understanding of advanced biofuels.  We call it our “Top 10 List.”  You see it is a work in progress.  We figure we’ll remember something that we have so far forgotten–there are only 9 items so far.

This is a collaborative process.  If you would like to volunteer, we are looking for those with expertise in working with standard curriculum requirments; in translating complex scientific concepts into language that 2nd graders, 6th graders, middle and high school students can understand.  We’d love to have ideas about educational games we could develop to help students (and their teachers and families) better understand the basics of advanced biofuels. AND, if you are a teacher who has already worked on such materials and would like to share them, please get in touch.  (info@advancedbiofuelsusa.org)

Top Ten Things to Put in Educational Materials about Advanced Biofuels

1.      Types of Fuels

a.       Gasoline

b.      Diesel

c.       Aviation Fuels

d.      Kerosene

e.       Propane

2.      Structure and function of plants

a.       How plants store energy from sun

                                                              i.      Brief overview of photosynthesis

1.      What is a chloroplast?

2.      What is chlorophyll’s role in photosynthesis?

3.      Light and Dark reactions (include algae—light, dark—Solazyme)

-          Storing energy in light reactions as ATP

-          Using ATP and CO2 to make sugars in dark reactions

b.      How macro structure enables them to live, grow, stand up tall

c.       Parts of a cell

                                                              i.      Cell wall (carbohydrates)

1.      Cellulose

2.      Hemicellulose

3.      Pectin

4.      Lignin (woody plants)

                                                            ii.      Interior of cell (proteins)

3.      Structure and function of Algae

4.      Ways to making the stored energy available for liquid transportation fuel use: 

a.      Starches/Glucose

                                                              i.      Yeast:  Fermentation

b.      Biomass Recalcitrance (Cell wall carbohydrates)

                                                              i.      Bases and Acids:

1.      Ammonia Explosion (Michigan State) Process to blast apart cell walls

2.      Acid

                                                            ii.      Bacteria (Qteros example)

1.      Describe bacterias, how they work

                                                          iii.      Enzymatic conversion of cell wall carbohydrates to sugars

1.      Review of organic chemistry

2.      Review of how enzymes work

                                                          iv.      Conversion of sugars into complex hydrocarbons, drop-in fuels

1.      Catalysis (review of how catalysts work) (Virent)

c.       Gasification (Themochemical)

                                                              i.      Pyrolysis

                                                            ii.      Fischer-Trophe

                                                          iii.      Transesterification

                                                          iv.      Biogass as co-product

5.      Carbon Cycle/Life Cycle Analysis/Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis

a.       Focus on how plants capture and store carbon from the atmosphere

b.      Review release and recapture of carbon

c.       Discuss carbon in soil

d.      Discuss carbon released from burning fossil fuels

6.      Potential Advanced Biofuels Feedstocks

a.      Plants

                                                              i.      List energy crops

1.      Switchgrass

2.      Energy cane

3.      Miscanthus

4.       

                                                            ii.      List ag residues

1.      Sugar beet pulp

2.      Corn stover

3.      Corn cobs

4.      Wheat straw

5.       

b.      Algae

c.       Food Processing Waste

d.      Municipal Solid Waste

                                                              i.      Sludge

                                                            ii.      Post-recycled Garbage (old tires)

e.       Other non-agriculture feedstock

7.      Sustainability

a.       Farming/Growing Practices

                                                              i.      The right plants for the right environment

1.      Water

2.      Sunlight

3.      Soil conditions/fertilizer

a.       Review how fertilizer is made; what it is used for

b.      Review agronomy practices

                                                                                                                                      i.      Low/no till

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Terracing

                                                                                                                                  iii.      Crop rotation

4.      Equipment

5.      Genetically Modified Crops

a.       Goals

                                                                                                                                      i.      Improved yields

1.      Greater yield per plant

2.      Greater yield per acre

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Resistant to herbicides

                                                                                                                                  iii.      Resistant to pests

b.      Technologies

                                                                                                                                      i.      Directed Evolution/Breeding

                                                                                                                                    ii.      Gene Manipulation

6.      Political Influences

7.      Land Ownership/Use

                                                            ii.       Adequate income to farmers/growers, others in cultivation/harvest chain

b.      Land Use Change

                                                              i.      Direct

                                                            ii.      Indirect

8.      Products Made from Advanced Biofuels

a.      “Drop-in” fuels (gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, propane, kerosene)

b.      Co-products

                                                              i.      Same as made from petroleum (chemicals, plastics, etc.)

                                                            ii.      Means of carbon sequestration from fossil fuel plants

                                                          iii.      Feed for animals

9.      Careers

a.      Research (crop development; conversion technology development)

b.      Farming/Agronomy

c.       Agriculture Equipment Design, Manufacture, Sales and Marketing

d.      Refinery Equipment Design, Manufacture, Sales and Marketing

e.       Refinery Construction and Operation

f.       Transportation

g.      Marketing

h.      Distribution