Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

The U.S. has faced an energy deficit for over 30 years, and today imports nearly 60 percent of its 150 billion gallons per year requirements. Ethanol is a logical alternative to gasoline, since its use has already been established around the world in gasoline blends of 10-100 percent. Ethanol is environmentally favorable because it is produced from renewable resources. Currently the U.S. produces 2.5 billion gallons of ethanol per year from grain derived starch. Cellulosic ethanol is an avenue by which production could be increased. Depending on the conversion technology, 10-25 million tons of dry biomass are required to produce one billion gallons of ethanol. The key to effectively and economically produce cellulosic ethanol is to couple the extraction of high value compounds to ethanol production. Mimosa, with its forage yields of 6-7.5 dry tons/acre/yr, is receiving attention as such dual purpose crop. Mimosa, or Albizia julibrissin, contains, on a dry basis, 0.83 percent hyperoside. Hyperoside has been documented as having anti-inflammatory and diurectic properties. More specifically, hyperoside was shown to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation, which is a hallmark event in atherosclerosis. Thus, mimosa might first be extracted for hyperoside, and then used as a feedstock for energy production. In this scenario, it is important that conditions are sought which maximize yield and concentration, while complementing subsequent biomass pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation. This paper presents results on hyperoside extraction from mimosa and on low density lipoprotein oxidation inhibition.