India, Canada to cooperate on biofuels

NEW DELHI, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- India says Saskatchewan University will help it in advanced research into second-generation technologies for biofuels.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute has roped in the Canadian university, the Agriculture Ministry said Thursday.

"Agri residues such as bagasse, wheat straw, sorghum and maize straws, leaf litter and various other plant biomass, which have not been adequately utilized for energy production, provide ample opportunities for use as biofuels," said S.A. Patil, director of the Indian institute. "Conversion of biomass to clean energy such as hydrogen, ethanol and biogas offer promising solutions.

"We have entered into an agreement with the Saskatchewan University in Canada for four specific projects on biofuels."

He said one project is for the conversion of biomass to ethanol using different technologies such as acid hydrolysis and supercritical carbon dioxide to produce fermentable sugars, which will be converted into ethanol via fermentation. Another project is production of biodiesel from jatropha and other oils using ultrasound technology.

Patil said the other two projects are for the conversion of waste biomass into biogas and fertilizers and for biomass conversion into hydrogen through supercritical water process.