title: Ethanol and High-Value Terpene Co-Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass of Cymbopogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon martinii.
abstract: Cymbopogon flexuosus, lemongrass, and C. martinii, palmarosa, are perennial grasses grown to produce essential oils for the fragrance industry. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate biomass and oil yields as a function of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization, and (2) to characterize their utility for lignocellulosic ethanol compared to Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Mean biomass yields were 12.83 Mg lemongrass ha-1 and 15.11 Mg palmarosa ha-1 during the second harvest year resulting in theoretical biofuel yields of 2541 and 2569 L ethanol ha-1 respectively compared to reported 1749-3691 L ethanol ha-1 for switchgrass. Pretreated lemongrass yielded 198 mL ethanol (g biomass)-1 and pretreated palmarosa yielded 170 mL ethanol (g biomass)-1. Additionally, lemongrass yielded 85.7 kg essential oil ha-1 and palmarosa yielded 67.0 kg ha-1 with an estimated value of USD $857 and $1005 ha-1. These data suggest that dual-use crops such as lemongrass and palmarosa may increase the economic viability of lignocellulosic biofuels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, United States of America.
authors.forename: Blake L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.affiliation: Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Station, Oregon State University, 48037 Co 788 Rd, Adams, OR, 97810, United States of America.
authors.forename: Valtcho D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Zheljazkov
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, United States of America; BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, NPURU, University, MS, 38677, United States of America.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.affiliation: BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America.
authors.forename: Choo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, United States of America; BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America.
authors.forename: David G J
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: BioEnergy Science Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mielenz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, 50 Pictou Road, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Astatkie
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, United States of America.
authors.forename: C Neal
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001546:Bentonite; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D018533:Biomass; D002473:Cell Wall; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D000431:Ethanol / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005285:Fermentation; D005308:Fertilizers; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D009566:Nitrates; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013455:Sulfur; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005308:Fertilizers; D009566:Nitrates; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D013729:Terpenes; C036909:lignocellulose; D001546:Bentonite; D000431:Ethanol; D013455:Sulfur; D008031:Lignin; C006568:ammonium nitrate