LU-CAEHS Research Seminar

“Fueling Sustainability: Biogas, Biofuels, and Collaborative Opportunities in Renewable Energy”

This presentation will examine the essential background and current state of renewable energies, emphasizing pathways toward a more sustainable energy future. The discussion will include an indepth review of our ongoing research at Lincoln University, which centers on biogas production from abundant waste resources in Missouri, such as agricultural residues and animal manure. We will explain the technical process and highlight the significant potential of transforming these local waste streams into a clean, renewable energy source.

Additionally, the seminar will introduce the emerging field of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and their role in reducing carbon emissions in air travel.

Lastly, a key focus will be the urgent need for collaboration to speed up the adoption of these technologies. We will explore opportunities for partnership among faculty from different disciplines, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and private companies to create high-impact, nationally recognized programs in biorenewable energy and biofuels.

Presented by Carola Sanchez, Assistant Professor of Biorenewable Energy and Technology.

Carola Sanchez earned her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Energy Management from the University of Florida in 2022. Her doctoral work focused on the cultivation and recovery of exopolysaccharides (EPS) for sustainable bioenergy and highvalue bioproducts. She also holds an M.S. in Energy Conversion and Management from the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg, Germany, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Ecuador. Her background includes diverse research experience in energy optimization, nitrogen fixation systems, and the design and implementation of renewable energy systems. Her current research emphasizes utilizing local Missouri waste resources, such as agricultural crop residues and animal manure, to produce biogas. This biogas will then be cleaned and converted into biomethane for use as an energy source in the greenhouse facilities at Lincoln University of Missouri farms. Additionally, digestate, a by-product of the anaerobic digestion process, has the potential to be applied as an organic fertilizer to boost vegetable production on farms.