Biotech Updates

Weed in Soybean Fields May Be a Potential Biodiesel Resource

January 12, 2007

Research article: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061101.htm?pf=1

Related articles:
http://www.biofuelsjournal.com/articles/Winter_Weed_Pennycress_Could_Find_Use_as_Biodiesel_Feedstock_____11_07_2006-38858.html
http://www.biofuelreview.com/content/view/598/2/
http://power.wisconsin.gov/newsletter/index.html#9


Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is an annual winter weed in soybean fields that farmers in the Midwestern United States find little use of. However, this plant may soon be of value, due to research efforts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR). The research team, headed by Terry Isbell, reports the following characteristics of pennycress seeds which make it a potential source for biodiesel: (a) an oil content of 36% to 40%, and (b) a long chain fatty acid profile comparable to well known biodiesel sources like soybean or sunflower oils. By treating pennycress as another crop rather than a weed, the researchers noted that farmers would be able to produce fuel in the winter from pennycress and food in the summer from soybeans.

Isbell and his team are doing pilot scale conversion of pennycress oil to biodiesel and will subsequently analyze the characteristics of the fuel product.