Biomass byproducts generated in the process of developing winter barley as an ethanol feedstock can be used to manufacture biomass-derived fuels and coproducts, Biomass Magazine reported. Researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service's Eastern Regional Research Center in Pennsylvania found the resulting barley straw, hulls and the coproduct distillers dried grains with solubles can be used to make bio-oil and biochar. The bio-oil can be used as boiler fuel and could someday be used to make transportation fuels such as green gasoline and diesel. Biochar can be used to improve soil fertility and to sequester carbon in the soil. The country's first winter-barley ethanol plant -- Appomattox Bio Energy -- is being developed by Osage Bio Energy in Virginia and will sell DDGS as an animal feed ingredient, as well as having a market for any nonfeed grade DDGS.

(Biomass Magazine, November 24, 2009)

(http://www.biomassmagazine.com/…)