Doyle announces biofuels grant for Marquette

Milwaukee, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle has announced that Marquette University will receive a $39,000 grant for a project to increase methane production.

The grant will advance Marquette University's renewable energy research into the development of new preservation methods for microorganisms that will increase methane production when used with anaerobic digesters.

Dr. Daniel Zitomer, leader researcher and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Marquette, said in a release that the project will impact two challenges facing the environment - renewable energy and waste management. Raw materials for methane production include dairy manure and meat and poultry wastes.

“Since our work involves the conversion of industrial and agricultural waste to renewable energy, our findings will benefit the state,” Zitomer said.

The Marquette Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is invovled in anaerobic biotechnology for waste treatment and renewable energy production. The department organizes an annual international short course on anaerobic treatment of high-strength industrial waste, and it performs more than $1 million in research for government and industry.

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