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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #71956
Title: ALFALFA FIBER AS A BIOFUEL OR FEEDSTOCK FOR ETHANOL

Author
item Koegel, Richard
item STRAUB, RICHARD - UNIV OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Submitted to: Liquid Fuel Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Herbage of green plants, such as alfalfa, can be divided into a juice fraction and a fibrous fraction by a process called wet fractionation. Since a number of high-value products can be made from the juice fraction, these can "subsidize" the fibrous fraction, allowing it to be marketed for approximately $40 per ton of dry matter. During the summer of 1995 the herbage dry matter divided into approximately 30% juice and 70% fiber. The fiber contained approximately 72% cellulose, hemicellulose, and solubles; 8% lignin, 11% protein and 9% ash. Annual production of fibrous dry matter was 9.45 t/ha. Based on assumed efficiencies, this would be equivalent to approximately 4200 liters/ha of ethanol or 15 MWh/ha of electrical energy.