The overall goals were to investigate duckweed (Lemna species) as a biomass source for conversion to liquid biofuels, as well as its suitability for animal feed.  Duckweed, a tiny floating aquatic plant native to Oklahoma, grows rapidly to cover ponds, doubling its biomass every 2-7 days while removing excess nutrients from water and CO2 from air.  Initially, 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 (15-16 kJ/g) compared favorably to switchgrass, an established biomass crop, and increases in %C correlated well with increased energy content.  Long-term outdoor growth conditions and other techniques are being tested to induce additional increases in %C and decreases in ash content.  Duckweed is used as a high-quality livestock feed in many countries.  Analysis of protein content and other nutritional qualities of the duckweed biomass produced in OK are under investigation.  Research support: NASA-EPSCoR RID#NNX07AL49A-2012-23, NASA Oklahoma Space Grant, OK-LSAMP and SEOSU Organized Research funds.

Investigation of duckweed in Oklahoma as a possible biofuel feedstock and livestock feed

247th National Meeting (2014)

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