Ethanol may become fiber source -Research ongoing in South Dakota/Iowa partnership

There are, if you look in some stores, quilts and blankets that are made from synthetic fibers derived from corn.

Knight Ridder News Billings Gazette

Now, South Dakota State University is looking to expand on that notion in hopes of boosting the state’s economy.

In a joint research project, Brookings-based SDSU and Iowa State University will soon be studying whether it’s possible to convert an ethanol byproduct into degradable plastics, synthetic fibers and films.

The work is being funded by a $1 million federal grant the two schools are sharing.

Currently, there’s a private plant in Hastings, Neb., operated by the National Corn Growers and Cargill that converts corn into polymers, a type of plastic. The grant money given to the universities will look at whether dried distillers grain can also be converted into a form of plastic.

Dried distillers grain remains after corn is converted into ethanol. Right now, it’s primarily used as livestock feed.

James Julson, an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at SDSU, is excited about what the project may yield.

“There are potentially high-value oils and proteins which are not converted to ethanol by yeast,” Julson said.

Here’s how the research project will work: First, the high-value oils and proteins will be extracted from the dried distillers grain. Then, scientists will use a process called thermal gasification on the remaining dried distillers grain to produce “syngas.” Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Microorganisms in syngas feed on the carbon monoxide to produce biopolymer polyhydroxyalkonates, or PHAs.

“PHAs… have potential applications in the manufacture of degradable plastics, synthetic fibers and films,” Julson said.

“What we’re trying to do is create some high-value revenue streams from ethanol production and boost South Dakota’s economy,” he said.

That sounds great to Jarvis Haugeberg, general manager of Dakotaland Feeds in Huron. Dakotaland is associated with Heartland Grain Fuels of Aberdeen. A majority of both businesses are owned by Aberdeen-based South Dakota Wheat Growers.

Dakotaland converts dried distillers grain into livestock feed.

Haugeberg said there are no pending plans to try and convert Dakotaland’s dried distillers grain into plastic. But ethanol producers are always open to new opportunities.

Right now, he said, there’s not enough livestock feed made with dried distillers grain to meet demand. But because ethanol production is increasing rapidly, that will soon change. Other ways to use dried distillers grain will be needed, he said.

Lisa Richardson, executive director of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, echoed Haugeberg’s comments. “It’s a great opportunity for South Dakota,” she said.

Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/11/12/build/business/44-ethanol.inc