Mississippi State University (MSU) research scientist El Barbary Hassan is converting agricultural waste into renewable biofuels to reduce carbon emissions and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Supported by a $610,000 National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant, Hassan’s research focuses on turning discarded biomass into high-energy liquid fuels, a solution that could keep waste out of landfills and help the United States reach its goal of replacing 30% of petroleum use with sustainable alternatives by 2050.
“Increasing our use of biomass-based fuels not only reduces waste but also significantly cuts emissions,” said Hassan. His team is developing chemical compounds from the sugars in biomass that mirror the energy properties of gasoline, offering a renewable, practical alternative for blending with diesel.
With biomass projected to supply up to 40% of global energy consumption in the coming decades, this work promises environmental and economic benefits. Farmers and foresters could generate revenue from agricultural byproducts, while new jobs emerge in biofuel processing and refining.
Dr. Rubin Shmulsky, head of MSU’s Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, said, “This project exemplifies how our faculty are advancing renewable energy technologies while addressing real-world problems for people and the planet.”
Learn more about this transformative research at MSU College of Forest Resources.
By: Meg Henderson
