Scientists at Washington State University have discovered a new way to turn leftover corn stalks and other agricultural waste into low-cost sugar.
This breakthrough, published in the journal Bioresource Technology, could make it much cheaper to produce biofuels and other valuable products from plant materials.
The process focuses on corn stover—the parts of the corn plant left over after harvesting, such as stalks, husks, and leaves.
Typically, this waste is either burned or left to decompose, but researchers found a method to transform it into sugar, a key ingredient for making biofuels.
The technique uses ammonium sulfite-based alkali salts to break down the tough plant fibers, making it easier to extract sugar from the waste.
Bin Yang, a professor at WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the lead researcher on the project, explained that the main challenge with turning biomass into biofuel has always been the high cost of processing.
Biomass, which includes corn stover and other plant waste, is abundant and cheap, but it’s difficult to break down because of its tough structure. The team wanted to find a way to make the process more affordable and efficient.
To do this, Yang and his colleagues from the University of Connecticut, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the USDA Forest Products Lab, and Washington University in St. Louis experimented with a new pretreatment process.
They soaked the corn stover in a solution of potassium hydroxide and ammonium sulfite at mild temperatures.
This softened the fibers, allowing enzymes to break down the cellulose into sugar more easily. The process doesn’t require harsh chemicals or complicated recovery steps, making it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
The team calculated that this new method could produce sugar at just 28 cents per pound, a price competitive with low-cost imported sugar.
This opens up new possibilities for biofuel production since cheap sugar is crucial for making biofuels affordable. The researchers also found that the process creates useful byproducts, including fertilizer that can be returned to the soil, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
Yang is optimistic that this breakthrough could make biofuel production much more sustainable and accessible. “This patent-pending process produces high-quality fermentable sugar for the biorefinery, as well as fertilizer that can replenish soil nutrients for farmers,” he said. “There’s no waste stream.”
This innovative method could pave the way for more sustainable energy solutions, turning agricultural leftovers into valuable products while reducing environmental impact.
Source: Washington State University.
