Poplar is the Future of Biofuel Production
September 16, 2015http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/09/04/poplar-trees-are-best-bet-for-biofuel-in-uw-led-research-project/
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Groves of poplar trees could one day fuel our vehicles and be the source of chemicals that we use in our daily lives.
A five-year study is laying the foundation for an industry that converts sustainably produced poplar feedstock into fuels and chemicals. The research, led by the University of Washington, will seed the world's first wood-based cellulosic ethanol production facility.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project identified hybrid poplars as a beneficial feedstock because of the tree's fast growth, year-round availability and wood that is readily broken down to fermentable sugars. None of the trees is genetically engineered, but were bred to thrive in different environments and to grow fast.
The UW team also has refined the process of converting the poplar trees to fuel. Process improvements developed in the laboratory will also be tested at a demonstration biorefinery of ZeaChem, a Colorado-based biofuels company and one of the industry partners in this study. The company is planning to build a commercial production facility in Oregon by 2016 that will produce fuel-grade ethanol and bio chemicals.
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