Oil from Plants
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The Department of Energy's Biofuels Feedstock Development Program supported
Dr. Calvin's work through 1987. Work in the later years focused on the
mechanism and regulation of triterpene biosynthesis. The long-term goal was
genetic manipulation to increase hydrocarbon yields. I don't know if the
Berkeley program continued along those lines after DOE support ended.
The final report for the DOE work was published as "Hydrocarbons and Energy
from Plants: Final Report 1984-1987. Melvin Calvin et al. August, 1988.
ORNL/Sub/84-90435/1. 145pp. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee 37831. I checked the Oak Ridge distribution files. We have two
copies left, which I'll be glad to send to the first two requesters. After
that the report can be obtained from the National Technical Information
Service. U.S. Department of Commerce. 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield,
Virginia 22161. There is no electronic version.
About 1990 the Department of Energy reorganized its renewable energy
programs into end use (transportation, power, industry, buildings) sectors.
Biomass didn't fall neatly into the new organization chart. Parts of the
former Biomass Energy Systems Division are primarily in the Office of
Utility Technologies (Biomass Power Program
http://www.eren.doe.gov/biopower/program.html and the Office of
Transportation Technologies (Office of Fuels Development
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/bfdp/). Programs in the Office of Fuels
Development include the Regional Biomass Energy Program and the Biofuels
Feedstock Development Program http://www.esd.ornl.gov/bfdp/bfdpmain.htmlhttp://www.oit.doe.gov/ supports some feedstock-related research through
the Forest Products component of its Industries of the Future program, and
some research on chemicals from biomass. Janet
Dear List
I came across an article from 1982, on Prof. Melvin Calvin at Berkeley, and
his research work into plants such as euphorbias yeilding hydrocarbons.
Has this work stopped? Anyone know the latest on this topic? Dr Beverley
Berger was also mentioned as head of the DOE biomass energy technology
division. Is this division still in existence?
Ian Bywater
Scott Convertech Ltd
P O Box 13-776
Christchurch
New Zealand
Ph: +64 33 77 93 92
Fx: +64 33 79 33 03
Janet H. Cushman
Biofuels Feedstock Development Program
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422
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