Feedstock Species Research Articles

From conventional to renewable natural gas: can we expect GHG savings in the near term?

Displacement of fossil fuels by forest bioenergy can contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, GHG savings are not realised until the avoided fossil emissions offset the loss of atmospheric carbon (C) that would have been sequestered if the biomass was not used for bioenergy (i.e. time to C sequestration parity). We estimated the potential for mitigating GHG emissions and the timing of these atmospheric benefits when substituting conventional natural gas (NG) with renewable natural gas (RNG) produced from different forestry feedstocks within three Canadian provinces, and assessed the uncertainty among these estimates. We calculated the GHG balance of RNG using the alternative fate of biomass and the use of NG as base-case scenarios. Immediate to long-term time to C sequestration parity was typically in the order of residues burned < mill residues < harvest residues decaying on site < salvaged trees. The potential GHG savings from using harvest and mill residues to produce RNG within the three provinces ranged from 52.4 to 77.8 Mt CO2eq a−1. Sensitivity analyses suggest that time to C sequestration parity in the best-case scenarios relative to the baseline can be reduced up to 17 years by using harvest residues that decay rapidly (based on feedstock species, size and geographic region), and reduced up to 8 years by improving the efficiency of the thermochemical conversion process. These two considerations are key for ensuring significant GHG reductions from RNG use within a timescale that helps Canada meet its GHG mitigation targets.

The storage stability of biocrude obtained by the hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a promising technology that can produce biocrude oil from wet biomass. The biocrudes, while generally acknowledged to be more stable than pyrolysis oils, are still thought to degrade relatively quickly, which limits their applicability. In this investigation, the storage stability of biocrude produced from hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae was systematically studied over 60 days, and the effect of the storage material, feedstock species, liquefaction temperature and storage temperature were assessed. Biocrudes obtained at 300 °C and 350 °C from the microalgae Spirulina and Chlorella vulgaris were stored at three temperatures: cold (4 °C), ambient (20 °C) and elevated temperatures (35 °C), over the two-month period. The dynamic viscosity, higher heating value, thermogravimetric analysis and elemental and chemical composition were assessed. The viscosity of the biocrudes only increased considerably at 35 °C. The reaction temperature and biomass type were also strong determining factors of the impact on biocrude stability. Biocrudes produced from C. vulgaris were more stable than the Spirulina, and the crudes formed at 350 °C were considerably less reactive than those produced at 300 °C. This demonstrates that biocrudes can be stored without substantial degradation, allowing a more flexible approach to upgrading to value products.

Bamboo as an Alternative Bioenergy Crop and Powerful Ally for Land Restoration in Indonesia

The energy demand in Indonesia has increased significantly with its population growth, urbanization, and economic development. The growing concern of meeting energy demand while reducing dependency on fossil fuels has resulted in an increasing demand for renewable energy. As a country with a rich biomass base, bioenergy is now an important component of Indonesia’s energy agenda. However, a crucial problem in bioenergy production is the selection of species that can provide a sustainable supply of feedstock without having an impact on food security and the environment. In this context, we discuss the characteristics and benefits of using bamboo, a perennial grass, as a potential species for bioenergy feedstock in Indonesia. We describe the fuel characteristics of bamboo along with the possibility to align its cultivation, production, and usage with environmental and developmental agendas which makes it a suitable bioenergy crop in the country. In addition, its ability to grow on degraded lands, fast growth, long root system, and easy maintenance prove it as a powerful ally for the restoration of degraded land. We recommend in-depth research on the social, ecological, and economic feasibility of using this species for bioenergy production.

Effect of Geographical Location on the Variation in Products Formed from the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Ulva intestinalis

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of macroalgae offers a promising route to advanced biofuel production, although the distinct biochemical compositions of different macroalgae species can lead to widely different product yields and compositions. On the basis of this, there is an implicit assumption that there exists a universal optimal feedstock species for a bioenergy-based biorefinery, which could be exploited across a wide region. However, no studies to date have examined the effect of this large geographical variation on a single macroalgae species for biofuel production. In this study, 24 samples of Ulva intestinalis were collected along 1200 km of Swedish coastline and assessed as a feedstock for HTL. Significant variation in composition was observed between samples from Baltic and Atlantic regions, but substantial variation also existed between sites within close proximity. This was reflected in the HTL biocrude oil yields, which varied between 9 and 20% (14–28% dry and ash-free basis) across the sam...

The Effect of Increased Glycerol Availability on Triacylglycerol Production in Chlorella vulgaris

Biofuels are a potentially viable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels because they produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels.1 Due to its high productivity of biomass that can be generated in a given area, algae has the potential to be significantly more productive than traditional bioenergy feedstocks.2 The green alga, Chlorella vulgaris, is an attractive algal feedstock species due to its ability to produce biofuels and its easy cultivation and fast growth.3 The working hypothesis behind this study was that by increasing glycerol availability as cell density was simultaneously increasing, lipid production within the cells would be maximized by upregulating the cell's membrane-bound glycerol transporters. Lipids (specifically, triacylglycerols or TAGS) can be used as an effective feedstock for biodiesel.4 C. vulgaris was inoculated and dosed with varying amounts of glycerol (which serves as the backbone of TAGs), gradually increasing the overall concentration throughout the period of growth by dosing every 24 h for the first 72 h of growth. Preliminary experiments were performed in which a 6.8% (w/v) glycerol dosed group, a 7.5% (w/v) glycerol dosed group, and a control group were assayed for turbidity (cell density), dry mass, chlorophyll a concentration, and overall percentage of lipid production. These preliminary data show that there was an overall decrease in cell density for the glycerol-dosed cultures in comparison to the control group, however the glycerol dosed cells do not appear to be severely inhibited. Additionally, a small increase in lipid production was observed during stationary phase. Further experimentation will be performed in order to determine if higher concentrations of glycerol result in an increase of TAG production. A procedure will also be performed in order to assay for glycerol transporter expression. Support or Funding Information This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. OIA-1458952. Glycerol Dosing Lipid Percentages Glycerol Dosing Cell Density This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Effects of microstructure design and feedstock species in the bond coat on thermal stability of thermal barrier coatings

The effects of the microstructure design and feedstock species in a bond coat on the thermal stability of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were investigated through thermal shock (TS) tests. Three kinds of feedstock (AMDRY 9951 : cobalt (Co)-based feedstock, AMDRY 997 : nickel (Ni)-based feedstock, and AMDRY 9624 : Ni-based feedstock) were employed for the single layer bond coat and the first layer in the double layer bond coat, which were prepared by high velocity oxy-fuel process. The second layer in the bond coat and the top coat was formed by air plasma spray process using Ni-based metallic powder (AMDRY 962) and 8YSZ (METCO 204 C-NS), respectively. The TS tests were performed till more than 50% of the region spalled in the TBC. The TBC system with the Co-based bond coat showed a better thermal durability than those with the Ni-based bond coats. The TBC systems with the double layer in the bond coat showed a better lifetime performance than those with the single layer, independent of the feedstock species.

Biochar Soil Additions Affect Herbicide Fate: Importance of Application Timing and Feedstock Species.

Biochar (BC), solid biomass subjected to pyrolysis, can alter the fate of pesticides in soil. We investigated the effect of soil amendment with several biochars on the efficacy of two herbicides, clomazone (CMZ) and bispyribac sodium (BYP). To this aim, we evaluated CMZ and BYP sorption, persistence, and leaching in biochar-amended soil. Sorption of CMZ and BYP was greater in soil amended with BC produced at high temperature (700 °C). Significant sorption of the neutral CMZ herbicide also occurred in amended soil with BC prepared at low temperature (350 and 500 °C). For both herbicides, desorption possessed higher hysteretic behavior in soil amended with BC made at 700 °C (pyrolysis temperature). Dissipation of CMZ was enhanced after addition of BCs to soil, but no correlation between persistence and sorption was observed. Persistence of BYP was up to 3 times greater when BC made at 700 °C was added to soil. All BCs suppressed the leaching of CMZ and BYP as compared to the unamended soil. Amendment with 700 °C BC inhibited the action of CMZ against weeds, but 350 and 500 °C BCs had no such effect when added to soil. BYP activity was similar to that exhibited by unamended soil after the addition of 700 °C BC. From these results, biochar amendments can be a successful strategy to reduce the environmental impact of CMZ and BYP in soil. However, the phytotoxicity of soil-applied herbicides will depend on BC sorption characteristics and the pesticide's chemical properties, as well as the pesticide application timing (e.g., pre- or postemergence). According to our results, proper biochar screening with intended pesticides in light of the application mode (pre- or postemergence) is required prior to use to ensure adequate efficacy.

Screening of marine microalgae isolated from the hypersaline Bardawil lagoon for biodiesel feedstock

Recently, microalgae have been attracting a wide attention as a source of high-lipid feedstock to produce biodiesel. A total of twenty one halophilic microalgae were isolated from the hypersaline Bardawil lagoon North Sinai, Egypt. Nine of them were further characterized with respect to biomass and fatty acid productivities. Biomass productivity as cellular dry weight (CDW), fatty acid content and, consequently, fatty acid productivity of the chlorophyte Tetraselmis elliptica was the highest among alltested strains (0.122 g CDW L−1 d−1, 77.36 mg g−1 CDW and 14.1 mg L−1 d−1, respectively). Lipid fractionation showed that total lipids represented 12.96 mg g−1 CDW and neutral lipids represented 37% of the total lipids with corresponding iodine value of 70.3 g I2/100 g oil. In all fractions, C16:0 and C18:1n-9 were predominant, being as high as 31 and 20% of total fatty acids in neutral lipids, 26 and 24% of total fatty acids in polar lipids and 28 and 26% of total fatty acids in phospholipids, respectively. This study demonstrates that the halophilic microalga T. elliptica isolated from hypersaline water is a promising species for biodiesel feedstock.

Analysis of salt-induced physiological and proline changes in 46 switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) lines indicates multiple response modes

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is targeted as a biofuel feedstock species that may be grown on marginal lands including those with saline soils. Our study investigated salt stress responses in 46 switchgrass lines from the lowland and upland ecotypes by assessing physiological phenotypes and proline concentrations. Lowland switchgrass lines demonstrated less severe responses to salt stress than most upland switchgrass lines, but a number of upland lines performed as well as lowland individuals. Photosynthetic rate (Pn), the most important physiological trait measured, was reduced by salt treatment in all lines. Tolerant lines showed ∼50% reduction in Pn under salt stress, and sensitive lines exhibited ∼90% reduction in Pn after salt stress. Proline analysis showed the largest amount of variation under salt stress with some lines exhibiting minor increases in proline, but some salt-sensitive lines demonstrated more than 5000-fold increase in proline concentration in response to salt treatment. Clustering of salt-stress phenotypic responses revealed five groups of switchgrass. Lowland lines were present in two of the phenotypic clusters, but upland lines were found in all five of the phenotypic clusters. These results suggest that there are multiple modes of salt response in switchgrass including two distinct modes of salt tolerance.

Molecular Mechanisms for Vascular Development and Secondary Cell Wall Formation.

Vascular tissues are important for transporting water and nutrients throughout the plant and as physical support of upright growth. The primary constituents of vascular tissues, xylem, and phloem, are derived from the meristematic vascular procambium and cambium. Xylem cells develop secondary cell walls (SCWs) that form the largest part of plant lignocellulosic biomass that serve as a renewable feedstock for biofuel production. For the last decade, research on vascular development and SCW biosynthesis has seen rapid progress due to the importance of these processes to plant biology and to the biofuel industry. Plant hormones, transcriptional regulators and peptide signaling regulate procambium/cambium proliferation, vascular patterning, and xylem differentiation. Transcriptional regulatory pathways play a pivot role in SCW biosynthesis. Although most of these discoveries are derived from research in Arabidopsis, many genes have shown conserved functions in biofuel feedstock species. Here, we review the recent advances in our understanding of vascular development and SCW formation and discuss potential biotechnological uses.

Ecosystem model parameterization and adaptation for sustainable cellulosic biofuel landscape design

AbstractRenewable fuel standards in the US and elsewhere mandate the production of large quantities of cellulosic biofuels with low greenhouse gas (GHG) footprints, a requirement which will likely entail extensive cultivation of dedicated bioenergy feedstock crops on marginal agricultural lands. Performance data for such systems is sparse, and non‐linear interactions between the feedstock species, agronomic management intensity, and underlying soil and land characteristics complicate the development of sustainable landscape design strategies for low‐impact commercial‐scale feedstock production. Process‐based ecosystem models are valuable for extrapolating field trial results and making predictions of productivity and associated environmental impacts that integrate the effects of spatially variable environmental factors across diverse production landscapes. However, there are few examples of ecosystem model parameterization against field trials on both prime and marginal lands or of conducting landscape‐scale analyses at sufficient resolution to capture interactions between soil type, land use, and management intensity. In this work we used a data‐diverse, multi‐criteria approach to parameterize and validate the DayCent biogeochemistry model for upland and lowland switchgrass using data on yields, soil carbon changes, and soil nitrous oxide emissions from US field trials spanning a range of climates, soil types, and management conditions. We then conducted a high‐resolution case study analysis of a real‐world cellulosic biofuel landscape in Kansas in order to estimate feedstock production potential and associated direct biogenic GHG emissions footprint. Our results suggest that switchgrass yields and emissions balance can vary greatly across a landscape large enough to supply a biorefinery in response to variations in soil type and land‐use history, but that within a given land base both of these performance factors can be widely modulated by changing management intensity. This in turn implies a large sustainable cellulosic biofuel landscape design space within which a system can be optimized to meet economic or environmental objectives.

Variable effects of biochar and P solubilizing microbes on crop productivity in different soil conditions

ABSTRACTAn expanding body of literature informs that biochar improves soil quality and agricultural productivity. However, there are some reports of little, or even negative, effect of biochar on crop yield, depending on the type of biochar feedstock, pyrolysis process, soil nutrient status, and crop species. Biochar is known to adsorb ammonia and phosphates in soil and facilitate growth and activities of phosphorus (P) solubilizing microbes (PSM), which mobilize P for uptake by plant roots. Using slow-pyrolyzed wood biochar and PSM in different soil conditions in three countries, our experiements show that soil nutrient status is more determinant of beneficial agronomic effect of biochar than the feedstock species and the type of crop. Treatments with biochar and PSM entail significant yield increase in P-deficient soil, whereas in soils with high P content, biochar has no significant effect on crop yield, regardless of addition of PSM. Based on published empirical data as well as our own findings, we also present a mathematical model of plant uptake of bioavailable P at different soil P concentrations, which explains that biochar is ineffective to enhance PSM activity for P mobilization in phosphate-rich soil, but significantly improves crop productivity in P-deficient soil.

Effects of Produced Water on Soil Characteristics, Plant Biomass, and Secondary Metabolites

The Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana contains the United States' largest coal reserve. The area produces large amounts of natural gas through extraction from water-saturated coalbeds. Determining the impacts of coalbed natural gas-produced efflux water on crops is important when considering its potential use as supplemental irrigation water. We hypothesized that coalbed natural gas water, because of its high salinity and sodicity, would affect plant secondary metabolism (essential oils) and biomass accumulation. A 2-yr field study was conducted in Wyoming to investigate the effects of produced water on two traditional bioenergy feedstocks-corn ( L.) and switchgrass ( L.)-and four novel biofuel feedstock species-spearmint ( L.), Japanese cornmint ( L.), lemongrass [ (Nees ex Steud.) J.F. Watson]), and common wormwood ( L.). The four nontraditional feedstock species were chosen because they contain high-value plant chemicals that can offset production costs. Essential oil content was significantly affected by coalbed natural gas water in lemongrass and spearmint. Oil content differences between two spearmint harvests in the same year indicated that there were significant changes between the growth stage of the plant and essential oil content; the first harvest averaged 0.42 g of oil per 100 g biomass while the second harvest (harvested before flowering) yielded only 0.19 g oil per 100 g dry biomass. Results indicated that produced water can be used for short-period (2 yr) irrigation of crops. However, prolonged use of untreated produced water for irrigation would likely have deleterious long-term effects on the soil and plants unless the water was treated or diluted (mixed) with good-quality water.

Generation of Transcript Assemblies and Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms from Seven Lowland and Upland Cultivars of Switchgrass

Switchgrass is a North American perennial prairie species that has been used as a rangeland and forage crop and has recently been targeted as a potential biofuel feedstock species. Switchgrass, which occurs as tetraploid and octoploid forms, is classified into lowland or upland ecotypes that differ in growth phenotypes and adaptation to distinct habitats. Using RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) reads derived from crown, young shoot, and leaf tissues, we generated sequence data from seven switchgrass cultivars, three lowland and four upland, to enable comparative analyses between switchgrass cultivars and to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for use in breeding and genetic analysis. We also generated individual transcript assemblies for each of the cultivars. Transcript data indicate that subgenomes of octoploid switchgrass are not substantially different from subgenomes of tetraploids as expected for an autopolyploid origin of switchgrass octoploids. Using RNA‐seq reads aligned to the switchgrass Release 0 AP13 reference genome, we identified 1,305,976 high‐confidence SNPs. Of these SNPs, 438,464 were unique to lowland cultivars, but only 12,002 were found in all lowlands. Conversely, 723,678 SNPs were unique to upland cultivars, with only 34,665 observed in all uplands. Comparison of our high‐confidence transcriptome‐derived SNPs with SNPs previously identified in a genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) study of an association panel revealed limited overlap between the two methods, highlighting the utility of transcriptome‐based SNP discovery in augmenting genome diversity polymorphism datasets. The transcript and SNP data described here provide a useful resource for switchgrass gene annotation and marker‐based analyses of the switchgrass genome.

Novel opportunities for thermal spray by PS-PVD

Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is a novel coating process based on plasma spraying. In contrast to conventional methods, deposition takes place not only from liquid splats but also from nano-sized clusters and from the vapor phase. This offers new opportunities to obtain advanced microstructures and thus to comply with the growing demands on modern functional coatings. Thin and dense ceramic coatings as well as highly porous columnar structures can be achieved, offering novel opportunities for the application of thermal spray technology.This study describes process conditions, which are relevant for the formation of particular microstructures in the PS-PVD process. Following the structure of the process, the feedstock treatment close to the plasma source, plasma particle interaction in the open jet and the formation of coating microstructures on the substrate are covered. Calculated results on the plasma particle interaction under PS-PVD process conditions were found to be in good agreement with OES results and microstructural observations. They show that the feedstock treatment along the very first trajectory segment between injector and jet expansion plays a key role.Varying the plasma parameters, feedstock treatment can be controlled to a broad extent. Consequently, the manifold nature of the feedstock species arriving on the substrate enables to achieve various coating microstructures. As examples, application specific features of PS-PVD coatings are reported for strain-tolerant thermal barrier coatings as well as for gas-tight oxygen transport membranes with high mixed electronic‐ionic conductivity.

Genetic Linkage Mapping and Transmission Ratio Distortion in a Three-Generation Four-Founder Population ofPanicum virgatum(L.)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a warm season, C4, perennial grass, is one of the predominant grass species of the North American tall grass prairies. It is viewed as a high-potential bioenergy feedstock species because it can produce large amounts of lignocellulosic material with relatively few inputs. The objectives of this project were to develop an advanced switchgrass population and use it for the construction of genetic linkage maps and trait characterization. A three-generation, four-founder population was created and a total of 182 progeny of this advanced population were genotyped, including a mixture of self-pollinated and hybrid individuals. The female map integrated both subpopulations and covered 1629 cM of the switchgrass genome, with an average map length of 91 cM per linkage group. The male map of the hybrid progeny covered 1462 cM, with an average map length of 81 cM per linkage group. Average marker density of the female and male maps was 3.9 and 3.5 cM per marker interval, respectively. Based on the parental maps, the genome length of switchgrass was estimated to be 1776 cM and 1596 cM for the female map and male map, respectively. The proportion of the genome within 5 cM of a mapped locus was estimated to be 92% and 93% for the female map and male map, respectively. Thus, the linkage maps have covered most of the switchgrass genome. The assessment of marker transmission ratio distortion found that 26% of the genotyped markers were distorted from either 1:1 or 3:1 ratios expected for segregation of single dose markers in one or both parents, respectively. Several regions affected by transmission ratio distortion were found, with linkage groups Ib-m and VIIIa-f most affected.

Biochars produced from individual grassland species differ in their effect on plant growth

Biochar, pyrolyzed biomass, has been shown to be a promising way to improve plant productivity and soil quality. Biochar characteristics and its effect on plant performance depend strongly on the type of feedstock from which it is made. However, whether biochars produced from individual grassland species differ in their characteristics and effects on plant growth when applied to soil is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine how soil application of pyrolyzed and non-pyrolyzed biomass originating from different grassland species influences plant performance.We measured the growth of the forb Jacobaea vulgaris in soil amended with pyrolyzed or non-pyrolyzed biomass of seven different plant species, and in control soil without amendments.The characteristics (nutrient content, C:N) and effects on plant growth of both pyrolyzed and non-pyrolyzed biomass differed significantly between species from which the biomass originated (‘feedstock species’). For most feedstock species there was no relationship between the effects that the pyrolyzed and the non-pyrolyzed biomass had on plant performance. Our results show that pyrolyzed grassland species differ in their characteristics and their effect on plant growth when amended to soil. This shows that it is important to test what the effect of pyrolysing a chosen feedstock is on a species before applying it on a larger scale and that potentially biochar with predefined effects could be designed for specific purposes.

Effect of crystal size of ZSM-5 on the aromatic yield and selectivity from catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass

To determine the effect of crystal sizes of ZSM-5 and feedstock species on aromatic yield and selectivity from catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass, catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of different feedstock species (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pine, corncob and straw) over ZSM-5 with varying crystal size (2μm, 200nm and 50nm) was conducted in a Pyroprobe pyrolyzer (5200, CDS Analytical). The experimental results show that ZSM-5 with crystal size of 200nm exhibited the maximum aromatic yield and minimum BTX selectivity. The results could be attributed to its highest micropore surface area, amount of weak acid and maximum Brønsted to Lewis acid sites ratio (B/L ratio). Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin play very different roles in catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass. Cellulose exhibited the maximum aromatic yield of 38.4% and minimum non-condensable gas yield of 18.4%. Lignin showed the highest coke yield of 68.6% and lowest aromatic yield of 10.2%. And hemicellulose displayed the lowest coke yield of 29.4% and highest yield of non-condensable gas of 39.1%.

An experimental study of charcoal degradation in a boreal forest

Degradation rates of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) under natural environmental conditions are largely unknown. Here we present results from a field experiment monitoring the change in mass, C- and N concentrations of a variety of charcoal types in a Norwegian boreal forest over a period of 20 months. The charcoal types represent different feedstock tree species, production temperature regimes, and placements in the forest, i.e. above ground, in the humus layer or in contact with the mineral subsoil. The types of charcoal had different initial C concentrations mainly depending on their production temperature. Nevertheless, all types of charcoal at all placements in the forest showed an initial drop in their C concentrations, which subsequently rose back to reach near initial values in part of the charcoal types. In part of the charcoal types, N concentrations decreased throughout the experiment, exhibiting considerable variation among feedstock species, production temperature regime, and placements in the forest. C/N ratios rose especially in charcoal made from wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and charcoal that had been stored in contact with the mineral subsoil showed the most rapid mass gain. Our results confirm the important influence of production temperature and feedstock type on the degradation of charcoal, but they also show that microbial activity and environmental conditions play significant roles in charcoal degradation and thus for the fate of pyrogenic carbon under natural conditions.

Perspectives of safflower oil as biodiesel source for South Eastern Europe (comparative study: Safflower, soybean and rapeseed)

Biodiesel is a non-polluting alternative fuel produced from renewable resources whose chemical and physical properties closely resemble those of the petroleum diesel fuel. Recently studies are being carried out for biodiesel production from less common or unconventional oilseeds. This paper highlights the perspectives of using safflower oil for the biodiesel industry to promote it as an alternative fuel. The safflower is widely grown in semi-arid and arid regions of the world. Advantages of cultivating safflower like drought resistance and salt tolerance were taken into account. The field experiments were placed in Romania, one of the South-Eastern Europe countries with a big agricultural potential.Some attributes of oils and the corresponding biodiesels from safflower, soybean and rapeseed have been investigated. The fatty acids profile of safflower analyzed via GC shows a high amount of linoleic acid of 69.65%. This results in better low temperature properties like pour point, cloud point and cold filter plugging point of the FAME. Oxidation stability parameter does not meet the limit imposed by EN14214 European Standard, usually being improved by additives. Based on the global results, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) was identified as a promising species for biodiesel feedstock which can be exploited with success on degraded lands of the world.