April 9–June 15 Urtė Stulpinaitė, PhD student of the Agrobiology Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture, LAMMC did an internship in the United States of America at the Chemical Engineering and Materials Laboratory of the New Mexico State University. Methods for the determination of the separation of essential oils and other secondary metabolites from hemp stems, leaves and flower materials using supercritical carbon dioxide, steam distillation and solvent extraction and biochar production from hemp biomass were mastered. The PhD student participated in the weekly meetings of the research group and presented her doctoral studies to the group.
April 11–13, the internship of Urtė Stulpinaitė included attending the NoCo Hemp Conference/Expo in Estes Park, Colorado to learn about the latest research on hemp and its waste, hemp products, and other potential uses for hemp.
The PhD student also participated in three New Mexico State University hemp/biochar/soil health events: Carbon management project team meeting at Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, Biochar Field Day at the University fields, and Annual Field Day at the Leyendecker Plant Science Center.
The knowledge gained during the internship will help to continue research with hemp and its residues, a joint publication is currently being prepared, and the possibilities of further cooperation are being discussed.
