molten 55.molt.1 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

A new approach for breaking down cellulose could improve prospects for energy-efficient biofuels, researchers report.http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/purposeforporpoise

Although making biofuels from the cellulose in cell walls of switchgrass or wood chips should require less energy than making corn-based ethanol, finding efficient ways to degrade cellulose has been difficult.

But molten salts can help break down the tough, energy-containing cellulose molecules without creating unwanted by-products, researchers said Monday at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Chicago.

The process “gives a much cleaner biomass than we’ve seen with these other processes,” said Jay Keasling of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. “It looks really promising.”

Keasling heads the Joint BioEnergy Institute, one of three biofuel research centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Existing techniques use strong acids or high temperatures to start degrading cellulose into simple sugars, but these methods also produce toxic chemical by-products. For reasons that aren’t well understood, those unwanted chemicals inhibit the microbes that ferment the sugars into fuels, thus reducing yields.

“It’s a good potential use because molten salts are such strong and unique solvents,” comments Bruce Hammock, an agricultural biotechnology researcher who has worked with molten salts at the University of California, Davis.

Also called ionic liquids, molten salts consist almost entirely of electrically charged atoms or molecules called ions. The electrostatic forces exerted by these charged particles make the liquids exceptionally good for dissolving a wide range of substances.

The liquid “completely disrupts the crystalline structure of the cellulose,” says Blake Simmons, a biochemical engineer at JBEI and leader of the group performing the research. The resulting amorphous structure “is much easier to break down into glucose,” a simple sugar.http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/purposeforporpoise

Chemists have studied ionic liquids as a “green” alternative to other industrial solvents for years, but Simmons says research on using ionic liquids to help break down plant matter for making fuels began only a few months ago.

morgan

May 16, Monday. I yesterday took a steamer with a small company, consisting among others of Postmaster-General Blair, Senators Doolittle and Grimes, Messrs. Rice and Griswold of the Naval Committee, Count Rosen of the Swedish Navy, Mr. Hale (the newly selected Consul-General to Egypt), G. W. Blunt and Assistant Secretary Fox, Commander Wise, Dr. Horwitz, and two or three others, and went down the Potomac to Belle Plain. The day was pleasant and the sail charming. We reached Belle Plain about two P.M. and left a little past five. Is a rough place with no dwelling, — an extemporized plank-way from the shore some twenty or thirty rods in the rear. Some forty or fifty steamers and barges, most of them crowded with persons, were there. Recruits going forward to reinforce Grant’s army, or the wounded and maimed returning from battle. http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/purposeforporpoise Rows of stretchers, on each of which was a maimed or wounded Union soldier, were wending towards the steamers which were to bear them to Washington, while from the newly arrived boats were emerging the fresh soldiers going forward to the field. Working our way along the new and rough-made road, through teams of mules and horses, we arrived at the base of a hill some two or three hundred feet in height, and went up a narrow broken footpath to the summit, on which were the headquarters of General Abercrombie and staff. The ascent was steep and laborious. We had expected to find the prisoners here, but were told they were beyond, about one and a half miles. The majority were disposed to proceed thither, and, though tired and reluctant, I acquiesced. The prisoners, said to be about 7000 in number, were encamped in a valley surrounded by steep hills, the circumference of the basin being some two or three miles. Returning, we passed through the centre of this valley or basin. The prisoners were rough, sturdy-looking men, good and effective soldiers, I should judge. Most of them were quiet and well-behaved, but some few of them were boisterous and inclined to be insolent. http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/purposeforporpoise

One of the prisoners, a young man of some twenty-five, joined me and inquired if I resided in the neighborhood. I told him at a little distance. He wished to exchange some money, Rebel for greenbacks. When I told him that his was worthless, he claimed it was better than greenbacks though not current here. I asked him if they had not enough of fighting, opposing the Union and lawful authority. He said no, there was much more fighting yet to be done. Claimed that Lee would be in Fredericksburg before the Union army could get to Richmond. Would not believe that J. E. B. Stuart was killed, news of which I received just as I came on board the boat this morning. He was earnest, though uninformed, and said he was from western North Carolina. Returning, we reached Washington at 9 P.M.

To-day I have been busy in preparing two or three letters and matters for Congress.

Governor Morgan called on me relative to abuses in cotton speculations, and malconduct of Treasury agents and others. Some of the malpractices which are demoralizing the army and the officials and disgusting the whole people in the lower Mississippi are becoming known, and will, I trust, lead to legislative correction. As Morgan introduced the subject and thought proper to consult me, I freely gave him facts and my views, which conflict with Chase and the Treasury management. A bill which Morgan showed me is crudely drawn but introduces, or makes, an entire change. It is not, in some of its features, what I should have proposed, but it will improve on the present system.