“Farm to Fuel” Grants Program Winners
Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Project Title: Conversion of Crop Oils to Biofuels
Proposer: Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Contact Person: Dr. Lixiong Li, (850) 914-3188
Project Location: Panama City, Florida
Grant Funds Awarded: $182,832
Cost Share: $875,000
Project Description:
This is a research and development grant to enable Applied Research Associates to demonstrate a new approach to converting crop oils into biodiesel, called catalytic hydrothermolysis (CH). The one year project would use locally grown soybean, peanut and cotton seed crops with a process that would significantly increase efficiencies and biodiesel output. The applicant already has research and development capabilities at its Panama City facilities which will speed up progress and cut costs for the proposed demonstration project. The novel conversion process has the potential to increase biodiesel production from soybeans by 900 percent. It would also significantly increase output of biodiesel from peanut and cotton seed crops.
