Biofuel and Bioproducts – Valerie Thomas

Cost, Energy, and Environmental Impacts

People and Collaborations | Research | Publications | Acknowledgement

Algenol Seaside Process

People and Collaborations

Prof. Marilyn Brown, Public Policy
Dr. Ron Chance, Global Thermostat
Dr. Alice Favero, Public Policy
Dr. Ankush Karemore, Post-doctoral Researcher
Prof. Art Ragauskas, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Dr. Matthew Realff, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Dr. Valerie Thomas, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Public Policy
Lignin Group, Georgia Tech

Research and Outreach

Our current research focuses on:

Electricity from biomass
Energy and greenhouse gas impacts of biofuels and bioproducts
Production of bio-crude in an advanced photobioreactor-based biorefinery
Products from lignin

We have held regional workshops on biofuel development:

Sustainable Production of Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass in the Southeast, March 2020
Southeast Bioeconomy, September 2016
Georgia Farm to Fly, December 2015

We entered the MIT Climate Co-Lab Aviation Contest:

We won the judges choice award! September 2016

Publications

“Recent Advancements of Plant-based Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites and Their Applications,” Ragauskas, A. J., Li, M. Pu, Y., Thomas, V. M., Yoo, C. G., Ozcan S., Deng, Y., Nelson K. Composites Part B, accepted July 5, 2020.
“Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions for an Ethanol Production Process Based on Genetically Modified Cyanobacteria: CO2 Sourcing Options,” Arora P.; Chance R.; Fishbeck, T.; Hendrix H; Realff M; Thomas, V. M.; Yuan, Y. Biofuels, Bioproducts & Bioprocesses, published online July 21, 2020.
“Similarities in Recalcitrant Structures of Industrial Non-kraft and Kraft Lignin,” Tricker A.W.; Stellato M. J.; Kwok T. T.; Kruyer N. S.; Wang Z.; Nair S.; Thomas V. M.; Realff M. J.; Bommarius A. S.; Sievers S. ChemSusChem 13, published online June 15, 2020.
“Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Different CO2 Supply Options for an Algal Biorefinery,” Arora P.; Chance R.; Hendrix H; Realff M; Thomas, V. M.; Yuan, Y. J. CO2 Utilization 40: 101213-101223, 2020.
“Life cycle analysis of alternative fibers for paper.” Favero, A., Luettgen, C. O., Thomas, V. M. J. Advanced Manufacturing and Processing 1 (3):1-10, 2019.
“The Economic and Environmental Performance of Biomass as an Intermediate Resource for Power Production,” Brown, M. A., Favero A., Thomas V., Banboukian A. Utilities Policy 58: 52-62, 2019.
“Anthropogenic CO₂ as a Feedstock for the Production of Algal-based Biofuels,” Lively, R. P., Sharma, P., Luo, D., McCool, B. A., Beaudry-Losique, J., Thomas, V. M., Realff, M., Chance, R. R. Biofuels Bioproduct Biorefineries 9 (1): 72-81, 2015.
“Bioreactor-based Fuel Systems I: Optimal production capacity considering start-up dynamics,” Luo, D., Realff, M. J., Thomas, V. M. Computers and Chemical Engineering 71: 141-153, 2014.
“Biomass Feedstock Contracts: Role of Land Quality and Yield Variability in Near Term Feasibility,” Okwo, A., Thomas, V. M. Energy Economics 42 (March): 67-80, 2014.
“LCA of bagasse electricity cogeneration in the South African sugar industry,” Mashoko, L., Mbohwa, C., Thomas, V. M. Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 42-49, 2013.
“Lifecycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for an Ethanol Production Process Based on Blue-green Algae,” Luo, D., Z. Hu, D. G. Choi, V. M. Thomas, M. J. Realff, R. R. Chance. Environmental Science and Technology 44(22): 8670-8677, 2010.
“Statistical Evaluation of the Effect of Ethanol in US Corn Production: A Flexible Test for Independence on a Constrained Sum,” Abayomi, K., Luo, D. and Thomas, V. M. International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics 22 (S11): 105-126, 2011.
“Lifecycle Assessment of the South African Sugar Industry,” Mashoko, L., C. Mbohwa, V. M. Thomas, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 53(6): 793-807, 2010.
“Relation ofBiofuel to Bioelectricity and Agriculture: Food Security, FuelSecurity, and Reducing Greenhouse Emissions,” V. M. Thomas, D.Choi, D. Luo, A. Okwo, J. H. Wang, ChemicalEngineering Research and Design, 87, 1140-1146, 2009.
“Framework andGuidance for Estimating Greenhouse GasFootprints of Aviation Fuels,” D. T. Allen, C. Allport, K. Atkins,J.C. Cooper, R. M. Dilmore, L. C. Draucker, K. E. Eichmann, J. C. Gillen,W. Gillette, W. M. Griffin, W. E. Harrison, J. Hileman, J. R. Ingham,F. A. Kimler, A. Levy, C. F. Murphy, M. J. O’Donnell, D. Pamplin, G.Schivley, T. K. Skone, S. M. Strank, R. W. Stratton, P. H. Taylor, V.M. Thomas, M. Wang, T. Zidow. U. S. Air Force, AFRL-RZ-WP-TR-2009-2206,April 2009.

Acknowledgement

This research is supported by:

US Department of Energy
Renewable Bioproducts Institute
Anderson Fund of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering