The overall goals were to investigate the potential of duckweed as a biomass source for conversion to biofuels, as well as its utility for water purification and animal feed source. Duckweed is a tiny floating aquatic plant native to Oklahoma, which grows rapidly to cover ponds, doubling its biomass every 2-7 days while removing excess nutrients from water and CO2 from air. Small (60-200 L) artificial pond cultures of duckweed were used to produce biomass under different growth conditions for analysis and comparison with natural farm pond samples. Oxygen bomb calorimetry revealed that the energy content of dried duckweed samples compared favorably to switchgrass, a major biomass crop in OK, and increases in %C correlated well with increased energy content. Growth conditions are being tested to try to induce additional starch accumulation, further increasing the %C and energy content.

Investigation of the potential for biofuels and other uses for duckweed in Oklahoma

245th National Meeting (2013)

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