On July 29, 2014, LCCMR members and staff visited our research facilities at UMore Park, Rosemount, MN. Center director Prof. Ruan briefed the group on the progress and accomplishments of the past the current LCCMR funded projects. The group later toured the facilities including an outdoor algae production facility and a mobile microwave assisted pyrolysis system, and interacted with Prof. Ruan’s team members.Several industrial partners from Minnesga and enVerde were present.

LCCMR has awarded three projects to the center: (1) ML 2007 5o – “Pyrolysis Pilot Project” was carried out to demonstrate microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP) technology for converting biomass feedstock to biofuels. A mobile MAP system was built for demonstration. (2) ML 2010 7a – “Algae for Fuels Pilot Project” was conducted to  demonstrate innovative microalgae production technology utilizing and treating sanitary wastewater to produce biofuels from algae. Two pilot facilities were built for demonstration. (3) ML 2014 8c – “Demonstrating innovative technologies to fully utilize wastewater resources” is designed to demonstrate commercialization feasibility of the technologies we developed to utilize and treat wastewater streams to produce biofuels. Major accomplishments/outcomes from these projects include:

1. Pilot/demo facilities: 2 MAP systems, 3 algae cultivation facilities. 
2. Number of demonstration: > 15
3. Patents/disclosures filed: 3
4. Other funding/grants: > 10 grants, totaling over $3 millions from government agencies and industry 
5. Collaborators/partners: MCES, 3M, UMore Park (Rosemount), Minnesga Inc., Rural Advantage, enVerde, LLC., SCP Control, etc. 
6. Papers: over >80;
7. public presentations: > 80.

Here are some of the pictures taken during the visit.

“American consumers are tough customers. Not only do we want our food healthy and safe but we want it to be minimally processed as well as long-lasting. It can be difficult to achieve the twin goals of food stability and freshness but faculty members in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering are engaged in several projects to make food safer and more nutritious.”  Read article (.pdf)

(8/25/2013)

On August 22, 2013, the UMN Center for Biorefining led a specialized tour of the Algae and Pyrolysis Facilities at UMN Rosemount Research and Outreach Center. This tour brought together a diverse group of participants, including Minnesota State LCCMR staff, renewable energy professionals, biofuel entrepreneurs, UMN faculty and students, and various bloggers. In addition to having multiple opportunities to converse with Center for Biorefining faculty members, researchers, and students, attendees were also able to learn about the UMN’s mobile microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP) system and view the 20,000 liter animal-wastewater-to-algae production facility in operation. Research posters, published papers and various fuel and polymer products dealing with related research were also presented to attendees.

The research activities and facilities were funded by grants and gifts from LCCMR, IREE, MCES, 3M, USDA, USDOD, DOE, DOT, Sun Grant, and private companies. The tour was supported by the UMN Rosemount Research and Outreach Center and staff.

Center for Biorefining is hosting the Renewable Energy Session of the “2012 Sino-US Symposium on Eco-agriculture and Biomass Energy Industry”. The participants are mainly from faculty members of 12 Chinese universities. They will spend several days in California where they will attend the Eco-agriculture session and visit several CA universities. The delegation will spend three days in the Twin Cities. The Renewable Energy Session will feature speakers from IREE, BBE, AE, and local company on topics ranging from overview of renewable energy R&D at UMN, production and logistics of cellulosic and algal biomass, biomass conversion, biofuel production, wastes management and utilization, and techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis of renewable energy. Download a copy of the symposium agenda (.pdf)