The production of duckweed as a source of biofuels

Abstract

Duckweed is a promising feedstock for the production of biofuels. Advantageous characteristics include rapid, clonal growth as small free-floating plants on nutrient-rich water; global adaptability across a broad range of climates; naturally high protein content; and inducible high starch content with low or no lignin, which enables other value-added products. The objective of this article is to review the published research on duckweed cultivation in nutrient-rich wastewaters, starch enrichment in duckweed plants and conversion of high-starch duckweed to biofuels. Duckweed yields of 39.1–105.9 t ha^-1 year^-1 have been achieved using wastewater as the nutrient source, which are much higher than the yields of most other potential energy crops. Duckweed starch contents of 31.0–45.8% dry weight have been achieved after it has been subjected to nutrient starvation for 5–10 days, and up to 94.7% of the starch could be converted to ethanol using the existing technologies for corn starch conversion. Future research objectives include selecting high-performance duckweed strains, improving starch enrichment and conversion, and developing technologies for large-scale operations.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.