Peanuts Studied As Biodiesel Fuel Source

Peanuts may be elbowing their way into the biodiesel fuel market. Agricultural Research Service scientists are currently testing a peanut called Georganic. It’s not suited to commercial edible standards for peanuts, but is high in oil and has low production input costs. Georganic, or similar varieties, will likely be the future of peanut biodiesel because they can be planted and grown with just one herbicide application for weed control. Additionally, these fuel peanuts are grown without fungicides, which are the greatest input cost in traditional peanut production.

To further reduce production costs and increase yield, the research team is also studying technology such as conservation tillage and the selection of varieties with high tolerance to multiple diseases.

Currently, 24 peanut varieties are being scrutinized in this biodiesel screening project. It has been found that high-oleic-acid peanuts – a quality desired for extended shelf life of food products – make the best biodiesel fuel.

Today, soybean oil is the primary oil used in the United States for biodiesel fuel production. Traditionally grown peanuts have the ability to produce more than twice as much biodiesel fuel per acre than soybeans.

For more information, ontact Wilson Faircloth, wilson.faircloth@ars.usda.gov.

Copyright American Society of Agricultural Engineers Oct 2007