PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 21, 2025) — Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D., a Texas A&M University System Regents Professor and head of the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Prairie View A&M University, has been awarded a $42,000 grant from Oklahoma State University through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
Jesse Nwankwo, a graduate student at PVAMU, will assist Amarasekara with the research.
Ananda Amarasekara, Ph.D.
The goal of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of functionalized organosulfonic acids as catalysts in breaking down cellulosic biomass for biofuel production. By using these innovative catalysts, the study aims to improve the efficiency and yield of biofuel production.
This research also supports efforts to develop sustainable biofuel technologies, addressing global energy challenges while promoting environmental responsibility.
Authorized by Congress in 2004, the Sun Grant Program is a national network of land-grant universities that works with national laboratories and government agencies to build a biobased economy. Sun Grant institutions are tasked with advancing biobased industries to benefit America’s independent farmers, rural communities and the public. This project aligns with that mission by exploring biofuel solutions that promote energy security and economic growth.
By Joe McGinty