1) Mississippi State University is researching pyrolysis of giant miscanthus to produce biofuels such as bio-oil, hydrocarbons, and ethanol. 2) Their auger reactor design can produce bio-oil at 67% yield from giant miscanthus and the design is being licensed to an industrial partner for commercialization. 3) Through hydrodeoxygenation and esterification, they can upgrade bio-oil into hydrocarbon mixtures and boiler fuel with properties similar to diesel, as well as produce anhydrosugars from the aqueous fraction that can be converted to ethanol.

1. The Potential for Production of Fuels from Giant Miscanthus via Pyrolysis Philip Steele Professor and SERC Bio-oil Thrust Leader Sustainable Energy Research Center Mississippi State University

9. Properties of HDO bio-oil vs diesel: Property HDO bio-oil Diesel Water content (wt%) 0 0 Acid value (mg KOH/g) <0.1 0 Viscosity (cSt @ 40C) 2.8 2.6 HHV (MJ/kg) 45.2 45.8 Carbon (%) 88.6 85.1 Hydrogen (%) 11.4 12.2 Oxygen (%) 0 0

10. GC simulated distillation showing fuel components of HDO bio-oil hydrocarbon mixture:

12. LBF combustion flame produced with a drop-in injector replacement module:

13. Physical and chemical properties of LBF bio-oil: Property Raw bio-oil LBF Water Content (%) 24.2 7 Acid value ( mg KOH/g) 89 46 Viscosity (cSt @ 40 o C) 14.53 5.6 HHV (MJ/kg) 17.5 31.9

14. Upgraded bio-oil : Anhydrosugars to ethanol or hydrogen

18. High percentage of anhydrosugars in bio-oil aqueous fraction (51%); GC/MS spectra: Anhydrosugars Final patent to be filed in October 2010

22. Philip Steele Professor and SERC Bio-oil Thrust Leader Sustainable Energy Research Center Mississippi State University The Potential for Production of Fuels from Giant Miscanthus via Pyrolysis