Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Creating an economically feasible advanced biofuel from sugarbeets has its challenges. If, during theproduction of advanced biofuels, other valuable products can be extracted and utilized, it creates a moreeconomically sustainable business model. It is the objective of Holland College's (HC) Bioscience Program towork closely with Atlantec BioEnergy Corporation (ABC) to develop an economically feasible method ofbetaine extraction from raw sugar beets during the production of advanced biofuels. In previous work done byHC's bioscience department, betaine, an amino acid with demonstrated health benefits, has been elucidatedwithin the pulp of a Prince Edward Island sugar beet. Support for this project allows for work to be done todetermine the optimal process for the maximum recovery of betaine from sugar beet, identify the growth stageof the sugar beet where betaine is at its highest concentration, and test the different stages of the sugar beetbiofuel process for concentrations of betaine. The ultimate goal is to determine the feasibility of betaineextraction from sugar beets during the production of advanced biofuels which could potentially create a newrevenue stream to ABC's main ethanol production by utilizing the waste products of this process.