Geography 205 -Mapping and Spatial Analysis

							                     Earth and Environment 304 - Biofuels

                                     Syllabus

Description: This class provides an in-depth presentation of a wide spectrum of
technical issues related to biofuels and their substitution for petrochemicals. This
class requires a great deal of reading, of which, some are highly technical. The
class also requires students to be active participants in moderating discussions
of weekly readings and to prepare and present a term power-point presentations.

Requirements: reading, class discussions, writing assignments, class
presentations.

Grading: 50%-writing assignments, 25% article presentation, 25%-term paper
presentation...

WebSite: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/tmillett/course/geog_304B
Other Readings: PDF's Provided on Class Website

Instructor: Dr. Thomas L. Millette, 413 Clapp, ext. 2813;
           Email: tmillett@mtholyoke.edu

Sept. 7       Introduction to Class...


Sept. 14      Biofuels... Vision and Technology
Readings:     Draft National Program Plan for Biomass Ethanol
              Plant/Crop-Based Renewable Resources 2020

Sept. 21      Biofuels... Chemical Issues
Readings:     Microbial Pretreatment of Biomass
              Biomass Ethanol: Technical Propgress, Opportunities and
              Commercial Challenges
              Continuous Countercurrent Extraction of Hemicellulose from
              Pretreated Wood Residues
              Ethanol Annual Report

Sept. 28      Biofuel Project... The Mississippi Ethanol LLC Plan
              Final Report from Mississippi Ethanol LLC to the NREL
              Class Paper Topic Statement Due...

Oct. 5        Biofuel Exotics...
              Summary of Chariton Valley Switchgrass Co-Fire Testing at the
              Ottumwa Generating Station in Chillicothe, Iowa
              Assessment of Bio-Oil as a Replacement for Heating Oil
              Opportunities in the Industrial Biobased Products Industry
          Future Prospects for Production of Methanol and Hydrogen from
          Biomass
          Poultry Litter and Forest Residue Testing and Availability
          Assessment
Oct. 12   Biofuels... and Environmental Degredation
          Energy and Environmental Aspects of using Corn Stover for Fuel
          Ethanol
          Methodology for estimating Removable Quantities of Agricultural
          Residues for Bioenergy and Bioproduct Use
          Evaluating Environmental Consequences of Producing Herbaceous
          Crops for Bioenergy
          Biomass, Bioenergy, and Carbon Management

Oct. 19   Class Paper and Powerpoint Presentation Proposals...
          Student Project Proposal Presentation

Oct. 26   Biomass and Electricity...
          Reading 14 - Moss
          The Status of Biomass Power Generation in California, July 31, 2003

          Reading 15 - Goodwin
          Production of Electricity from Biomass Crops - US Perspective

          Reading 16 - Floyd
          The Role of Bioethanol in Global Climate Change

Nov. 2    Biomass and Burning...
          Reading 17 - Bourdeau
          Impact of Biodiesel Fuels on Air Quality and Human Health

          Reading 18 - Owocki
          WOOD-CHIP FIRED FURNACES TESTING PROJECT AIR EMISSIONS
          TESTING AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS ANALYSIS

          Reading 19 - Moss
          Combustion Properties of Ligninesidue from Lignocellulose Fermentation

Nov. 9
          Ethanol Field Trip - Northampton Brewery
          First Draft of Paper Due....

Nov. 16   Biofuels... - Local and Logistic Issues...
          Reading 20 - Youngs
          PROCESSING COST ANALYSIS FOR BIOMASS FEEDSTOCKS

          Reading 21 - Deemer
          The Challenge of Expanding the Ethanol Distribution System
          Reading 22 - Elechko
          ETHANOL AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Nov. 30   Student Presentation Workshop
Dec. 7    Student Presentations...

Dec. 14   Student Presentations...
          Final Paper Due...