Making Cellulosic Ethanol Happen: Good and Not So Good Public Policy
by David Morris
January 2007
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This report provides an analysis of federal policies that are both good and bad related to creating a viable cellulosic ethanol industry based on two building blocks: 1) Commercial technologies that produce ethanol from cellulose and 2) A cultivation, transportation and storage infrastructure that delivers cellulose to biorefineries
Putting the Pieces Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol
by David Morris
September 2006
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A report examining federal policies supporting cellulosic ethanol production and advocating that the Federal government adopt strategies that support farmer-owned biorefineries.
Ownership Matters: Three Steps to Ensure a Biofuels Industry That Truly Benefits Rural America
by David Morris
April 2006
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A paper adapted from a speech given at the Minnesota Ag Expo 2006. The paper provides a snapshot of today's biofuels industry and a roadmap to ensure that local farmers see significant benefits from the expanding industry in the future.
Lubricants From Vegetable Oils
by Jessica Nelson
2001, 20 pages
$10.00 [order at the ILSR e-Store]
Vegetable oil-based lubricants are emerging as a high-performance environmentally friendly alternative to the more commonly purchased petroleum oil lubricants. Users choose vegetable oil-based lubricants because they perform as well or better than petroleum oils, are readily biodegradable and low in toxicity, and offer worker safety advantages.
Biochemicals for the Automotive Industry
by Michelle Carstensen and David Morris
1997, 20 pages
$12.00 [order at the ILSR e-Store]
In many industries, viable alternatives to petroleum-based products are available. This popular report explains how products made from plant matter are not only safer for workers and the environment, but can also prove economical, in part by eliminating regulation and disposal fees.
Biochemicals for the Printing Industry
by Michelle Carstensen and David Morris
1997, 20 pages
$12.00 [order at the ILSR e-Store]
Environmentally preferable printers are finding a new niche with consumers who want to support not only recycled paper, but also ag-based press washes, soy-based ink, and other plant matter products that substitute for toxic, petroleum-based materials. This report reviews some available plant matter products and explains how printers can save money.
Pollution Solutions
by David Pettijohn, P.E.; Jonathan Hamlow, and David Lorenz
1996 - View Online
$5.00
A series of 20 fact sheets covering pollution prevention opportunities utilizing biochemical substitutes for key industries in the Great Lakes region.
A New Industry Emerges: Making Construction Materials from Cellulosic Waste
by David Lorenz
1995, 14 pages
$10.00
This booklet describes the rapidly expanding business of producing panel and board products from agricultural and municipal wastes, highlighting several of the companies comprising the industry.
How Much Energy Does It Take to Make A Gallon of Ethanol? (monograph)
by David Morris and David Lorenz
Revised, 1995, 8 pages View Online
$10.00
One major issue arising from the use of corn-derived ethanol for fuel is whether growing and converting the crop into ethanol generates more energy than is used in the process. This report answers that question. Based on empirical data from farmers and ethanol facilities, the report examines several scenarios. It also analyzes the net energy aspects of converting cellulosic crops, such as wood, to ethanol.
Biological Energy: Opportunities and Obstacles (monograph)
by David Morris
1994, 13 pages
$10.00
Acknowledging the vast potential for converting plant matter into electricity, this monograph analyzes the technologies and cost-effectiveness of direct combustion and conversion of plant matter into gases and liquid fuels. It also discusses policies that can promote the use of biological fuels. An excellent outline for policy makers and those interested in alternative energy solutions.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ethanol and MTBE: A Comparison (monograph)
by Irshad Ahmed
1994, 10 pages
$5.00
Based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, this monograph compares greenhouse gas emissions from MTBE and ethanol.
How Much Energy Does It Take to Make a Gallon of Soydiesel? (monograph)
by Irshad Ahmed, John Decker, and
David Morris
1994, 15 pages
$10.00
The recent creation of soydiesel as an alternative to petroleum diesel has raised the question of its practicality as a viable fuel. This monograph documents the energy used to create soydiesel, and concludes that even under the worst-case scenario, more energy is contained in soydiesel than is used to grow and process soybeans for fuel.
Replacing Petrochemicals with Biochemicals: A Pollution Prevention Strategy for the Great Lakes Region
by Irshad Ahmed and David Morris
1994, 55 pages
$25.00
ISBN 0-917582-96-9
The vast majority of the pollution generated by Great Lakes industries comes from the production and use of chemicals. More than 90% of all organic or carbon-based chemicals are derived from petroleum or natural gas. This report examines current production of biochemicals (chemicals made from plant matter) and their potential to replace petrochemicals as a fundamental element of a durable and comprehensive pollution prevention strategy.
Rural Development, Biorefineries and the Carbohydrate Economy (monograph)
by David Morris and Irshad Ahmed
1993, 8 pages
$5.00
Using examples of cooperatively owned biorefineries that convert plant matter into food, industrial products, chemicals, and fuels, this paper analyzes the potential for sustainable rural development.
The Carbohydrate Economy: Making Chemicals and Industrial Materials from Plant Matter
by David Morris and Irshad Ahmed
1992, 66 pages
$25.00 [order at the ILSR e-Store]
ISBN 0-917582-25-X, LC 92-18177
One hundred and fifty years ago, all of our industrial materials were derived from plants. Today, plant matter accounts for less than 5% of non-food materials. The pendulum may be swinging back. New regulations raise the cost of using fossil fuels as industrial materials, while rapid advances in bioprocessing techniques lower the cost of using plant matter. This book describes the past, present, and future of a carbohydrate economy, and offers examples of pioneering products and businesses.
Alcohol Fuels from Whey: Novel Commercial Uses for a Waste Product
by Irshad Ahmed and David Morris
1991, 20 pages
$10.00
This study describes new methods with which cheese manufacturers can solve disposal problems of whey (a watery waste of the cheese-making process), manufacture ethanol or gasoline additives, and simultaneously realize substantial profits.
