Kudzu Harvesting for the Production of Ethanol, Redux
by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 07.22.08
Since the first time we reported on developments to use kudzu— the invasive Asian vine covering many areas of the southern United States—as a feedstock for the production of ethanol elicited such an enthusiastic response this short interview may be of interest.
Done by Chemically Green, it asks Doug Mizell, co-founder of Agro*Gas Industries about their efforts to refine "Kuzunol" and their planned use of waste products for the production of ethanol. Only because the firm is just starting out, not because of any inherent problem with their plans an described by Mizell, I’d take the whole thing as aspirational rather than instrumental—there’s no place you can go out and buy Kudzunol yet. That said, Mizell does answer some questions readers had asked in our original kudzu post, so it is certainly worth watching.
Keep in ming that the video quality isn’t quite up to professional standards—not sure whether it’s a focus issue or a compression issue—but there it is.
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I live up in north kansas and I just wish I knew where to get some of this Kudzu. Even if the winters kill it, I'm sure it would cover my fences every summer into fall.
To jones:
YOU DO NOT WANT KUDZU!!! If you have ever been to Georgia, it is all over everything. It is an exotic plant that has taken over an entire state. It is extremely hardy and cannot be killed! It will start in your backyard and end up all over your state too.
Beware the Kudzu!
I would like to thank treehugger for the comments on our latest post at chemciallygreen.com on the interview with Mr. Doug Mizell. I agree, not the greatest video quality, but we will improve next time.
Kudzu is currently being harvested and we have had
several emails from people offering kudzu to the operation.
Kudzu will be part of Agro*Gas Inudstries biomass plan, but other feed stocks will be used because of the short growing cycle for kudzu. Kudzunol has been produced and larger scale production is being completed this month.
A lot of other functions are being finalized and Doug Mizell and Tom Monohan look forward to breaking ground on the new pilot plant. I will have future posts updating the progress of this venture.
Michael at ATX will have to understand that kudzu is not in the present plans to be cultivated, but will be harvested in areas where it is grows out of control. Kudzu is the plant that ate the South and we don't have to plant anymore, that's for sure. Kuduz has a mind of its own while growing.
Again thanks for the post.
Go Green Kudzunol
Chemically Green
"Green Solutions For Today"