title: Utilization of grasses for potential biofuel production and phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.
abstract: This research focuses on investigating the use of common biofuel grasses to assess their potential as agents of long-term remediation of contaminated soils using lead as a model heavy metal ion. We present evidence demonstrating that switch grass and Timothy grass may be potentially useful for long-term phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils and describe novel techniques to track and remove contaminants from inception to useful product. Enzymatic digestion and thermochemical approaches are being used to convert this lignocellulosic feedstock into useful product (sugars, ethanol, biocrude oil+biochar). Preliminary studies on enzymatic hydrolysis and fast pyrolysis of the Switchgrass materials that were grown in heavy metal contaminated soil and non-contaminated soils show that the presence of lead in the Switchgrass material feedstock does not adversely affect the outcomes of the conversion processes. These results indicate that the modest levels of contaminant uptake allow these grass species to serve as phytoremediation agents as well as feedstocks for biofuel production in areas degraded by industrial pollution.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences , Villanova University , Villanova , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Balsamo
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Justinus A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Satrio
authors.forename: M Nydia
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Felix
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fetterman
authors.forename: Rodd
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagel
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: enzymatic hydrolysis; lead; phytoremediation; pyrolization; switch grass; timothy grass