Renaissance of the Carbohydrate Economy

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday December 01, 2002 18:45 by Raymond McInerney raymond.mcinerney at ul dot ie CES Department, University of Limerick 087 7750260

A series of presentations from 15.00 h on December 6, in the University of Limerick (Foundation Building, FB 042), will indicate how the carbohydrate components in Biomass can provide liquid fuels and platform chemicals to replace those now provided by fossil fuels.

There will also be emphasis on uses as animal foods and organic fertilizers of organic materials which are currently being disposed of in landfill.

The speakers will be:

Austin Darragh who will introduce concepts of the Carbohydrate Economy;

Stephen Fitzpatrick of Biofine Technology, Boston, who will describe the exciting Chemical Engineering concepts and apparatus that enables him to produce diesel extenders and several vital platform chemicals at a cost of 20 cents per litre (from Biomass and from waste carbohydrate materials);

J.J. Leahy of UL who will discuss his work on Biodiesel;

J.C. Brown of Trinity College who will outline the exciting prospect of growing Miscanthus, a major cellulosic source, in Ireland;

Philip Moore, who will describe the technology which is enabling him to produce hygienic animal feed and organic fertilizers from organic wastes;
and

Basil Boyce who will describe the very successful recycling process that operates at UL.

Contact: Professor Michael H Hayes
michael.h.hayes@ul.ie (061 20 26 31; 087 233 6284).