Biosystems Analysis and Assessment

The transition to a sustainable raw material base will be one of the most important challenges facing society in the 21st century.  As part of this endeavor, substantial increases in the use of biomass-derived feedstock in the chemical industry are expected over the next 50 years. This research involves assessment of the technological, economic, and environmental impacts of producing power, fuels and chemicals from biomass.

Current Research Projects:

Biocomplexity in the Bioeconomy

Integrated Feedstock Supply Systems for Corn Stover Biomass

Nutrient Recovery and Recycling in Biorefining

Industrial Use of Sweet Sorghum

These research projects are being led by Robert Anex of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University in collaboration with faculty from the Office of Biorenewables Programs and its affiliated centers, and an international consortium of government and industry researchers.

Graduate research associates are drawn from the interdisciplinary Biorenewable Resources and Technology Graduate Program at Iowa State as well as other graduate programs across campus (e.g., Agricultural and Biosystems, Chemical, and Mechanical Engineering).  Recent graduates have gone to work at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), ICM and John Deere.

Anex-Raman Research Group

 

Employment Opportunities in the Bioeconomy

The link below will take you to the webpage of a workshop held June, 2003 on:

Assessing the Sustainability of Biobased Products

Resources for Teachers:

Inquiry-Based Learning Module on Bioplastics

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0407854 and Grant No. 0424700

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation


This project has been endorsed by the Industrial Transformation (IT) Project of the International Human Dimensions of Global Change Program as an IT Research Project

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