Agricultural Waste to Biofuel Research Published in India

26 November 2010 Two scientists from Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Sciences (SPKCEES) - affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University - have extracted fuel from agro-waste, according to The Hindu Times. C. Sathesh Prabhu, a post-doctoral researcher of the centre, who is working on advanced research on bio-ethanol production from lignocellulosic agro-waste along with A.G. Murugesan, Professor, SPKCEES, says production of ethanol as an alternative fuel through cost-effective methods has become imperative due to global oil shortage and demand. Currently ethanol accounts for about 86% of total bio-fuel production and demand for ethanol as bio-fuel has steadily increased during this decade. However, the production of ethanol from sugar or starch from sugarcane and cereals respectively, impacts negatively on the economics of the process, thus making ethanol more expensive when compared to fossil fuels. Currently, agricultural waste in India is generally burnt at the field itself. The scientists claims that using more of the agro-waste for bio-ethanol production will not only suffice the fuel requirement ,but will also boost the economy of the country, the researchers say. The production methods of ethanol from agricultural waste like corn cob, corn stalk and sorghum stover have been successfully standardised at the centre. Dr. Sathesh Prabhu has demonstrated simple pre-treatment methods to break down the complex agricultural wastes (carbohydrate sources) into a simple form, so as to enable the ethanologenic microorganisms to ferment them and produce ethanol. He states that about 250 - 270 litres of ethanol can be produced from one tonne of agricultural waste such as corn stover, rice straw and sorghum stover. Prabhu's study highlights dual benefits in terms of managing the agro-residues and producing green and clean energy, thus decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Dr. Sathesh Prabu has secured financial assistance from the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund for the research. He is continuing the work with financial assistance from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.