Charles Cai and a newly installed 20-gallon CELF reactor that will be used in the scale-up project . ( Stan Lim / UCR )

“ Spending a little more for a more carbon-rich feedstock like poplar still yields more economic benefits than a cheaper feedstock like corn stover , because you can make more fuel and chemicals from it ,” Cai said .

The paper also illustrates how lignin utilization can positively contribute to overall biorefinery economics while keeping the carbon footprint as low as possible . In older biorefinery models , where biomass is cooked in water and acid , the lignin is mostly unusable for more than its heating value .

“ The older models would elect to burn the lignin to supplement heat and energy for these biorefineries because they could mostly only leverage the sugars in the biomass - a costly proposition that leaves a lot of value off the table ,” said Cai .

In addition to better lignin utilization , the CELF biorefinery model also proposes to produce renewable chemicals . These chemicals could be used as building blocks for bioplastics and food and drink flavoring compounds . These chemicals take up some of the carbon in the plant biomass that would not get released back into the atmosphere as CO2 .

“ Adding THF helps reduce the energy cost of pretreatment and helps isolate lignin , so you wouldn ’ t have to burn it anymore . On top of that , we can make renewable chemicals that help us achieve a near-zero global warming potential ,” Cai said . “ I think this moves the needle from Gen 2 biofuels to Gen 2 +.”

In light of the team ’ s recent successes , the Department of Energy ’ s Bioenergy Technology Office has awarded the researchers a $ 2 million grant to build a small-scale CELF pilot plant at UCR . Cai hopes that demonstrating the pilot plant will lead to larger-scale investment in the technology , as harnessing energy from fossil fuels adds to global warming and hurts the planet .

“ I began this work more than a decade ago because I wanted to make an impact . I wanted to find a viable alternative to fossil fuels and my colleagues and I have done that ,” Cai said . “ Using CELF , we have shown it is possible to create cost-effective fuels from biomass and lignin and help curb our contribution of carbon emissions into the atmosphere .”

Jules Bernstein is a senior public information officer for the University of California , Riverside . l FON

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