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                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Commodity Utilization Research: New Orleans, LA
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Collaborating scientist H. N. Cheng and support staff Catrina Ford are inspecting data from rheology testing to see if cottonseed protein glue formulations have the appropriate flow characteristics.
 Scientist Zhongqi He is analyzing Raman spectral data of cotton fiber and seed samples. Advanced spectroscopic analysis provides chemical information of cotton components which is needed for valorization of cotton biomass products and byproducts.
 Collaborating scientist Mike Dowd and support staff Scott Pelitire are inspecting chromatograms from analysis of cotton seed extracts from different cotton varieties. New varieties not only have different oil composition, they also have properties that allow the rest of the seed to be used for human consumption.
 Sugarcane seedlings are grown in greenhouses to investigate the impact of biochar addition to the soil.
 Tulane university students Annie Tir and Margaret Hayes assist scientist Isabel Lima determining the appropriate amount of activated carbon needed to remove enzymes used in sugar processing before crystallization.
 Scientists Gillian Bruni and Evan Terrell are sampling juices at a Louisiana raw sugar factory so that they can isolate bacteria that grows in the juices and contribute to sugar loss at the factory.


Research Projects
                            More... Development of Novel Cottonseed Products and Processes Improved Conversion of Sugar Crops into Food, Biofuels, Biochemicals, and Bioproducts


The sugar and cottonseed industries are mature but there is always room for improvements.  Both industries could do with a little help.  The **Commodity Utilization Research Unit** develops technologies that enable growth and profitability in the commercial conversion of sugarcane, sweet sorghum, and energy beets.  We look at making better, cheaper, and cleaner sugar for food and drinks but also focus on making dirt-cheap sugar solutions for conversion into biofuels and bioproducts, as well as finding uses for sugar processing byproducts and quick methods for screening new cultivars.  The Unit also focuses on developing cotton varieties with unique oil composition and “green” oil processing techniques.  In addition, we develop high value applications for cottonseed protein (e.g., glues) and carbohydrate fractions (e.g., as fillers for composite materials), and identify new bioactive food ingredients in seeds from new cotton varieties.  In short, we develop tomorrow’s products today.


Southeast Area   Thomas.Klasson@usda.gov


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