Donald L Rockwood
University of Florida, USA
Title: Energy and medically related products obtainable from Eucalyptus trees
Biography
Biography: Donald L Rockwood
Abstract
Sustainably grown eucalypts have numerous potential applications. Native to Australia but established as exotic short-rotation plantations in tropical, subtropical, and even temperate regions of Africa, South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America for a variety of timber products, eucalypts are the world’s most valuable and widely planted hardwoods (18 million ha in 90 countries). India and Brazil have over 8.0 and 3.0 million ha of plantations, respectively. Using experience in Florida USA and similar locations, we describe eucalypts potential for maximizing productivity as short rotation woody crops, document their current energy applications, and assess their potential as short-term and likely long-term energy and related products as well as medically related products. Many conversion technologies are well understood, and several are being developed. Many products currently derived from petrochemicals can be produced from Eucalyptus biomass. Eucalyptus bio products, which may be classified as naturally occurring, generated by biochemical processes, or as the result of thermochemical processes, have a broad and exciting range of applications. Increased biomass productivity and quality, prospects for carbon trading, distributed energy systems and hydrogen, multiple products from bio refining, and government incentives should foster the use of fast growing eucalyptus.