| TWIN FALLS -- It's true -- sugar prices have plunged almost
25 percent in the past year. But by this time next year, that drop could
be on the way to recovery through cheaper processing.
Amalgamated Research, Inc. (ARi) -- a company that contracts with
Amalgamated Sugar Co., LLC in Twin Falls -- has received a $1.9 million
grant from the Department of Energy over the next three years as part of a
program to stimulate the nation's biobased products industry.
A spin-off from this research will be the testing of ARi prototypes
maybe as early as next year's sugar campaign. The technology will make
separating the components derived from sugar beets less expensive, said
Richard Hess, who represents agricultural programs for the Idaho National
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory near Idaho Falls.
"The sugar boys could make processing more economical and
environmentally friendly," Hess said.
One primary savings will be the result of designing and manufacturing
processing units that are significantly smaller, and thereby more
efficient, than previous models. But the concept has other uses than just
improving sugar purification for Amalgamated.
The purpose of the technology, in general, is to separate the chemical
components of various bioproducts.
"Take straw, for example -- or cellulose," said ARi
scientist, Mike Kearney. "Part of the study will be to break down the
components of cellulose and then produce an energy source. We'll be taking
the straw, which is not of great value to the farmer right now, and turn
it into a fuel that is produced economically and is also a renewable
resource."
Until now, producing fuel, or ethanol, has not been economical, but
Hess said those involved in the project anticipate a 25-percent savings in
ethanol production, which is enough cost-trimming to finally make it
practical.
At this point in time, it is impossible to know just how many products
will result from the technology that includes chromatography -- a method
for separating components out of mixtures -- and membrane filtration --
another separation method in which the scientists will develop much more
refined membranes. But Kerney expects some of the spin-offs will be useful
to the dairy, paint and plastics industries, too.
ARi and INEEL are also working on devices for controlling the dynamics
of fluids. These devices are key to the size reduction of the separation
equipment, Kearney said.
ARi partnered with INEEL in order to take advantage of engineers at the
lab who are able to study ARi's designs on computers to determine
efficiency.
"They have very sophisticated modeling systems," Kearney
said. "Rather than building many test pieces, we can test on the
computer first, which amounts to huge cost savings."
The reason the DOE funded this particular proposal, Hess said, is that
Idaho is unique because it has a plant where this technology can be
applied -- Amalgamated in Twin Falls -- and the INEEL nearby with
engineers who have advanced computational skills to test new technology.
"Sitting right here in our backyard are some of the world's best
separation experts," Hess said. "And not only that, but we have
the facility and the infrastructure to develop full-scale prototypes right
here in Twin Falls, Idaho." |