BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals – Advanced BioFuels USA

The Future of Hydrogen — Seizing Today’s Opportunities

(International Energy Agency) “Hydrogen is today enjoying unprecedented momentum. The world should not miss this unique chance to make hydrogen an important part of our clean and secure energy future.” — Hydrogen and energy have a long shared history – powering the first internal combustion engines over 200 years ago to

August 23, 2019 Read Full Article

From Lignin to Value: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen’s Enzymes

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MetGen are pioneers in industrial enzymes for lignocellulosic biomass and are trying to empower industries to get the most out of biomass with their enzymatic technologies. Alex Michine, CEO of MetGen gave this enlightening overview of MetGen’s ‘how’, the Sweetwoods project and its integrated biorefinery flagship, enzymatic

August 22, 2019 Read Full Article

New Catalysts, Improved Genetic Tools Bring New Opportunities: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to ORNL’s Biomass to Bioproducts

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Organisms are interesting creatures and genetic tools and biochemical pathway knowledge is changing the way we look at them. Brian Davison, Chief Scientist for Biotechnology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, gave this knowledge-filled presentation on how to leverage organisms for biofuels and bioproducts, consolidated bioprocessing, barriers

August 22, 2019 Read Full Article

Gevo Discusses Plans for Hydrocarbon, RNG Production

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) … During an earnings call, Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber discussed the company’s future plans for aviation fuel production and announced plans to launch a renewable natural gas (RNG) division. Gruber opened the call by discussing progress the company has made with its commercial off-take agreements, referencing

August 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Cellulose Microbeads, Sequins and Eyeware, 3D Printed Sandals and Menswear, Biobased adhesives, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 21st

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, it’s all about cellulose and 3D printing and these Top 10 Innovations are so cutting edge you can literally dress yourself from head to toe in it. From cellulose sequins and cellulose eyeware to 3D printed cornstarch menswear and 3D printed sandals using coconut

August 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Three UK Companies Join Forces to Create Waste Plastic to Hydrogen Facilities

(Bioenergy Insight) Three companies have joined forces to create waste plastic to hydrogen facilities across the UK. Peel Environmental has signed a collaboration agreement with Waste2Tricity and PowerHouse Energy which will see 11 waste plastic to hydrogen facilities developed. The £130 million (€140 million) investment follows the announcement that the

August 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Bioenergy Startup Licenses ORNL Food-Waste-to-Fuel System

(Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Electro-Active Technologies, Inc., of Knoxville, Tenn., has exclusively licensed two biorefinery technologies invented and patented by the startup’s co-founders while working at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The technologies work as a system that converts organic waste into renewable hydrogen gas for use as

August 20, 2019 Read Full Article

The Digital Deluge: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj’s Digital Biology

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Digital biology is a phrase that seems as mystical as a unicorn, but Vineet Rajgarhia, Senior VP of Biochemicals at Praj Industries, shared this presentation at ABLC 2019 in Washington, D.C. on how the oil industry is using digital tools and how biofuels, biochemicals, and

August 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Addressing Two Objections to My Midwest Ethanol Plan

by Robert Rapier (Forbes) … My proposed solution is for the Midwestern states to band together to provide sufficient state incentives to develop a major Midwest corridor where E85 — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline — is the primary fuel of choice for consumers. There is enough

August 19, 2019 Read Full Article

The Golden Cow – Is India the Place to Be for Biofuels?

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … Is India the cash cow for biofuels? Or even the golden cow? If Aemetis’ recent 200% year over year increase in biodiesel sales is any indication…well, let’s just say we see the value. The market It is estimated that the ethanol market in India

August 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Replacing Crude Oil with Waste Plastics

(Neste) The aim is to proceed to an industrial scale trial during 2019. By 2030, Neste targets to process more than one million tons of plastic waste annually by 2030. Neste is already the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel from waste and residues and now it’s target is to

August 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Scars Are Beautiful: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Market Perspectives

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Scars are a sign you’ve been there and survived. You overcame. You learned something, maybe the hard way. And Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, a company that produces low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products, shows us just how beautiful scars can be. Check out his illuminating presentation where

August 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Gevo Enters into Purchase and Sale Agreement for Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Supply Air TOTAL International

(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that Air TOTAL International SA (“Air TOTAL”) and Gevo have entered into a partnership agreement to produce and supply sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) for use and distribution in France and other parts of Europe. With the finalization of this new supply contract, Gevo

August 15, 2019 Read Full Article

No Carbon Left Behind: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has produced 5.5 million gallons of ethanol since start up and has compelling project economics to back it up. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech gave this ‘Carbon Smart’ overview of how LanzaTech is recycling carbon from industrial off gas biomass and MSW syngas and

August 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Robocar’s Biobased Seat Cushions, Miscanthus Bedding, Churro Waste Fat Based Diesel, Edible Spoons, Cellulose-Based Fabric, Sausage without the Sausage, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 15th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the end of summer approaches, county fairs are popping up around the U.S. and with it, churros and other waste. But innovators are turning churro waste fats into renewable diesel, using edible flavored spoons to avoid fair waste, rain ponchos made from sugarcane-based bioplastic, packaging

August 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Circular Economy Package, European Commission, July 2018

by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) The European Union (EU)’s landmark ‘Circular Economy Package’ came into force last year. By July 2020, the bloc’s 28 member states will have to incorporate the Package into national law. Some say that this legislation is the most ambitious set of measures ever agreed by the EU to

August 15, 2019 Read Full Article

Promising New Solar-Powered Path to Hydrogen Fuel Production

(Lehigh News) A team at Lehigh is the first to use a single enzyme biomineralization process to create a solar-driven water splitting catalyst that produces hydrogen with the potential to be manufactured sustainably, cheaply and abundantly. — Engineers at Lehigh University are the first to utilize a single enzyme biomineralization process

August 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Vegan Renewable Diesel, Futurol Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Axens’ Fuel Feedstocks

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Axens Solutions is covering the entire project development cycle and working on things like BioTfuel and Vegan which are renewable diesel and jet fuels, Futurol, a cellulosic ethanol using biomass enzymatic fermentation, Atol made from ethylene using ethanol dehydration, and other feedstocks for fuel. David

August 14, 2019 Read Full Article

FAME Is Fleeting: FAEE as a More Sustainable Option for Biodiesel in the US: Filling the Tank on the Road to the Future

by Ron Cascone and Steven Slome (Nexant/Biofuels Digest) The term “fatty acid methyl ester” or FAME has been synonymous with biodiesel for the better part of the last two decades that have seen its widespread promotion and use. This has been due to the historical low price of methanol, and the

August 14, 2019 Read Full Article

DOE Seeks Information on Opportunities to Leverage Bioethanol Production Facilities, Food Waste Streams, High-Impact Data, and Algal Biomass to Advance the Domestic Bioeconomy –DE-FOA-0002150: FY 2019 BETO-WIDE RFI DEADLINE: September 6, 2019

(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is requesting information on the following research opportunities to help inform its priorities and funding strategies: advanced processes and retrofits to co-produce cellulosic biofuels and other products at existing

August 13, 2019 Read Full Article

U.S. Ag Volatility Affects Novozymes: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Novozyme’s First Half of 2019

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Novozymes is a leader in biological solutions focusing on enzymes and microbes. The company just released their report on the first half of 2019 that showed while there was a second quarter improvement, overall the entire first half of 2019 was disappointing in performance, mostly due to

August 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Just Drop It in!: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Drop-in Hydrocarbons

by Jim Lane (Biofuhttp://radar.weather.gov/radar_lite.php?product=NCR&rid=LWX&loop=yesels Digest) Gevo produces and sells low-carbon, renewable, high-performance fuel products. From ethanol to isobutanol, jet fuel, isooctane, oxygenate blendstocks, and more, Gevo is on a mission to replace fossil based products and decarbonize products for large markets. Tim Cesarek, Executive VP and COO of Gevo gave this

August 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Ready to Meet Market Growth?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Gasification

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Missed The Digest’s webinar on Biomass Gasification? Wondering what it is or where it’s at? Biomass Gasification is a thermochemical process in which a renewable solid carbonaceous feedstock is reacted with air, oxygen, CO2 and/or steam to produce a gaseous product stream containing hydrogen and carbon

August 7, 2019 Read Full Article

Novo Holdings Invests $72 Million in Sustainable Products Leader LanzaTech

(Lanza Tech) Novo Holdings A/S (Novo Holdings) and LanzaTech, a pioneer in the production of next generation fuels and chemicals through the recycling of carbon pollution, announce today that they have formed a partnership to grow LanzaTech’s revolutionary sustainable fuels and chemicals platform. Novo Holdings is making a $72 million investment

August 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Gevo Receives ISCC Plus Certification

(Geva/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today (August 5, 2019) it has achieved its International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the ISCC PLUS scheme for Food, Feed, Industrial Applications, Energy, Biofuels outside Europe. In obtaining ISCC certification, Gevo continues to prove its dedication to meeting the highest industry

August 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Range of Possibilities: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies’ Bio-Isobutene

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Bioenergies produces isobutene from sugars with a commercial plant in preparation. Their technology can transform isobutene into isooctane, ETBE, C12/C16 hydrocarbons and more, which makes it relevant for a wide range of markets including specialty fuels, green chemistry, cosmetics, jet fuels, car fuels, and more.

August 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Licella Ignites Carbon Re-Use Week with Oji Deal to Make Fuels, Chemicals from End-of-Life Plastic

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Licella signed a memorandum of understanding with New Zealand’s pulp, paper and packaging business giant Oji Fibre Solutions to investigate plastic recycling technology for New Zealand. Specifically, the physical and chemical recycling of what they’re terming End-of-Life Plastic. That is to say, conventionally end of

August 6, 2019 Read Full Article

From Biomass to BioPlus: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to GranBio’s Nanocellulose

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) GranBio is focused on commercial deployment of technologies for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and nanocellulose. Kim Nelson, PhD, CTO Nanocellulose of GranBio gave this illuminating overview of GranBio’s two distinct nanocellulose processes, the BETO project for jet fuel and nanocellulose co-production, the Thomaston Biorefinery which

August 5, 2019 Read Full Article

“I Am Not Charcoal.” – Sincerely, Biochar: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biochar

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) On a recent Digest webinar, we heard all about biochar. The science. The markets. The technology. The results. The needs. And much more. If you missed The Digest’s webinar then check out the slides that cover all you need to know about biochar. Hugh McLaughlin, PhD,

August 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Euglena Sets Sights as an Olympic Hopeful for Algae-Based Aviation Jet Fuel

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Midorimushi – other than being a cool sounding Ninja name, it’s scientific name is Euglena. No, it’s not the latest superhero in a manga comic. It’s a kind of algae. In a magical sort of hybrid way, it has both plant and animal properties and has

August 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Cielo Announces MOU to Build a Renewable Diesel Refinery in Lethbridge, Alberta and Settlement of Debt

(Cielo/Bloomberg) (“Cielo” or the “Company”) announces that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Renewable U LethbridgeInc. (“Renewable U LA”) to build a renewable diesel refinery in the City of Lethbridge, Alberta. Renewable U LA and Cielo are now working towards entering into a joint venture agreement (“JV Agreement”)

August 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Batteries from Trees, 3D Printing Developments, Canola Straw Cling Wrap, Biochar, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 2nd

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you really produce anode materials from trees? Stora Enso says absolutely yes! And they are investing a nice chunk of change to build a pilot plant for lignin-based battery materials. Ok, sounds great, but come on, biodegradable cling wrap using cellulose nanofibers from canola straw

August 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Development of a Biorefinery Scheme to Produce Biofuels from Waste Cooking Oil

by Araceli Guadalupe Romero-Izquierdo, Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro, Claudia Gutiérrez-Antonio, Rogelio Cruz Baraja, Salvador Hernández (Computer Aided Chemical Engineering) … In this work, a biorefinery scheme using waste cooking oil (WCO) is presented, aiming to obtain biodiesel and biojet fuel simultaneously as main products. The modelling of the biorefinery scheme is performed in

August 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Solar Energy Becomes Biofuel without Solar Cells

(Uppsala University/Science Codex) Soon we will be able to replace fossil fuels with a carbon-neutral product created from solar energy, carbon dioxide and water. Researchers at Uppsala University have successfully produced microorganisms that can efficiently produce the alcohol butanol using carbon dioxide and solar energy, without needing to use solar cells.

August 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Neste Hosts Foundation Stone Ceremony for Singapore Expansion

(Neste) Following up from the EUR 1.4 billion investment to expand its renewable products production capacity in Singapore, Neste today held a foundation stone ceremony to officially mark the extension of the new production line. The construction started at the beginning of the year. “The Singapore expansion marks an important step

August 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Blazing Pathways through the Clean-Tech and Governmental Wilderness

by Douglas L. Faulkner (The Cleantech Conservative/Leatherstocking LLC/ Biofuels Digest) … (W)e first addressed bio-based plastic research needs; second, we reviewed government regulations preventing the growth of advanced biofuels, a controversial action; then we launched an effort for 2019 for an intensive look at forests of the future and their opportunities for woody

August 1, 2019 Read Full Article

How Nature Builds Hydrogen-Producing Enzymes

(Ruhr University Bochum) The heart of the biological catalyst is introduced in the last step. The process is complex. A team from the Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Oxford has found out how hydrogen-producing enzymes, the so-called hydrogenases, are activated during their biosynthesis. They showed how the cofactor – a

July 29, 2019 Read Full Article

InSciTe Welcomes New Project Proposals

(InSciTe) InSciTe is now open for new biobased and biomedical project proposals, for both new ideas as well as building on existing projects. Valorisation of the outcome of the project should be a key element of any proposal. Proposed projects should start no later than 1-1-2020 and run for a period of

July 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Here Comes the Sun – Sunliquid Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant, a Switzerland based specialty chemicals company, has four business areas: Care Chemicals, Natural Resources, Catalysis and Plastics & Coatings. While the first half of the year has been challenging, Clariant was able to increase sales by 4% and operating cash flow increased by 11%. Paolo

July 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Sayings and Images from 12 Years Traveling on the Bioeconomy Road

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today, the Digest turns 12. Since the Digest was launched in July 2007, we’ve had the privilege of telling the amazing success story of the bioeconomy— new applications, companies, and platform technologies have been pouring out of research labs and many of them are deploying rapidly at

July 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Rules and Regulations: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Regulatory Landscapes

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How chemical products and novel substances are regulated in the U.S. has a huge impact on the bioeconomy and the companies that are producing bioproducts today. Bergeson & Campbell shares their thoughts on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and how it impacts you, how you

July 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Genera Repositions Itself, Gets $118M Investment – Movin’ on up to Get a Piece of the Pie

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … A $118 million pie in new investment money for this Tennessee-based biomass company. The financing was anchored by an equity investment from WindSail Capital Group, which partnered with investors Coppermine Capital and Stairway Capital in the Genera financing. The money will be used for

July 26, 2019 Read Full Article

ICC Brazil Teams with Lallemand on R&D and Supply of Inactive Yeast from Sugarcane Ethanol

by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil, ICC Brazil announced that it has entered into a long-term global partnership with Lallemand Animal Nutrition (LAN) for the research, development, and supply of inactive yeast products and derivatives derived from sugar cane ethanol. Over recent years, LAN has developed a unique expertise in the

July 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Gin from Peas, Infinite Hoodie, Plant Shoe, Light and Heat Stabilizers for Agricultural Plastics, Slimy Sea Lettuce for biofuels, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 24th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gin being made from pea fermentation instead of wheat fermentation, slimy sea lettuce as a feedstock for biofuels, Icelandair is one of the first airlines to start using biodegradable single-use items, adidas and stella mccartney created a biodegradable tennis dress and a fully recyclable hoodie from

July 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Airgas Opens Liquid Carbon Dioxide and Dry Ice Facility in Stockton, California

(Airgas) Airgas, an Air Liquide company and a leading U.S. supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, and related products, announces the grand opening of its new liquid carbon dioxide and dry ice facility in Stockton, California. The facility, which was engineered to have minimal environmental impact, is a zero runoff/discharge

July 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Renewable Hydrogen: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to SBI BioEnergy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today’s top story talks about the value of hydrogen so what better Multi-Slide Guide than SBI BioEnergy and their renewable fuel process including their new venture of what they call bio-hydrogen using a proprietary catalytic technology. Simply put, they turn bioethanol into green hydrogen via their

July 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Negatonnes: Beyond the ZEV, the Negative Emission Vehicle and Its Amazing Hydrogen Fuel and Electric Drive

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … There’s the technically tougher path, which is to split ethanol and make CO2 and hydrogen. The point source, high-grade CO2 has value. The bio-based hydrogen has even more value than the ethanol. Conceptually, the recipe is simple. Take ethanol, add water, apply energy, and split

July 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Biobased Briefing: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to BIO

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … If you want to get a quick overview of what BIO does, some fascinating statistics they have on the U.S. renewable chemicals market, both current and predicted, and more, check out today’s Multi-Slide Guide. Jim Greenwood,President and CEO of BIO, offers this illuminating overview of

July 22, 2019 Read Full Article

Designer Proteins: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Arzeda

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Proteins are molecular machines that carry out the vast majority of functions within living things and Arzeda’s unique combination of computational protein design and state-of-the-art high-throughput screening is a radical change over what’s possible with traditional protein engineering. Alexandre Zanghellini, CEO, Arzeda gave this illuminating overview

July 19, 2019 Read Full Article

E10 in China and Potential Market Devastation in Store for MTBE: Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back in the Fuel Pool

by Steven Slome, Ron Cascone, and Matthew Morton (Nexant Inc./Biofuels Digest) As of mid-2019, the Chinese government has only six months to make good on its 2017 pledge to roll out mandatory ten percent ethanol content in gasoline (E10) on a nationwide basis by 2020. While China’s unique economic and political

July 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Surf’s up with Bioboards, Panasonic’s Biobased Appliances, CO2 Textile Fibers, Nestlé’s Biodegradable Snack Bar Wrapper, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 17th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Keep cool this summer with CO2 based textile fibers, biobased appliances, and surf the ocean waves on a biobased surfboard. But that’s not all because bioeconomy innovations are ripping and roaring! Here are the Top 10 Innovations for the week of July 17th. In today’s Digest,

July 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Carbon-Negative Fuels Come Clearer, Closer with Oberon’s Leap to Demo Scale

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California comes news that Oberon Fuels has been officially awarded a grant for $2,876,139 from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for a first-of-its-kind, multi-phase project to produce the first renewable dimethyl ether (rDME), with what could arguably be the most carbon-negative transport fuel ever produced

July 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Relieving Two Headaches with One Process: Acetaminophen from Lignin

by Jill Sakai (Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) With a new method to synthesize a popular pain-relieving medication from plants rather than fossil fuels, researchers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center have found a way to relieve two headaches at once. A team led by John Ralph, a professor of biochemistry

July 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Supply Chain Management: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenol

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algenol knows a thing or two about supply chains. As a global biotechnology company that develops all natural products, as well as customized biology solutions, they use fundamental science and cutting edge technology to convert algae into high purity commercial products. Ed Legere, CEO of Algenol gave

July 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Paper Pen, Bioasphalt, Water Activated Bio Shampoo, Lignin Self-Healing Elastomer, Bio Crop Coating, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 10th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) While many are on vacation this time of year, the bioeconomy is not even close to taking a break. In fact, bioeconomy innovations, are like a beach goer in Florida this time of year – hot! Here are the top innovations for the week of July

July 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Heard on the Floor at the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … (T)he bioeconomy’s biggest and grandest show, the BIO World Congress, takes us on an accustomed journey through the present and future in a sector that has more twists and turns than the rides at Six Flags and the acceleration of a mission to Mars.

July 10, 2019 Read Full Article

USDA to Amend Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement

(Bergeson & Campbell) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Procurement and Property Management published a final rule on July 5, 2019, that will amend the Guidelines for Designating Biobased Products for Federal Procurement (Guidelines) to add 30 sections designating the product categories within which biobased products would be afforded procurement preference

July 9, 2019 Read Full Article

WEBINAR: New TSCA at 3: Key Implementation Issues — July 25, 2019

This one-hour webinar will build upon the Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.-sponsored “TSCA: Three Years Later” one-day conference, co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health on June 24, 2019. The webinar will drill down on key implementation challenges facing industry

July 9, 2019 Read Full Article

The Energy Transition and Oil Companies’ Hard Choices

by Rob West and Bassam Fattouh (The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) In this Energy Insight, we explore the challenges of the energy transition for international oil companies (IOCs). We argue that energy demand forecasts are inconsistent with meeting Paris Agreement targets using currently available and economic technologies and that, barring

July 9, 2019 Read Full Article

All About Algae: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to ABO

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae Biomass Organization advocates for algae-advancing policy and funding, serves as a hub for innovation and networking, and drives demand for “made with algae” products and services. Mark Allen, Chairperson of ABO, offers this enlightening overview of the Algae Interagency Working Group, current state of the algae

July 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Vertimass Completes First Technology License To Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc.

(Vertimass/Oil&Gas 360) Vertimass’ ethanol to renewable chemicals and jet fuel offers ethanol producers new product capabilities — Vertimass completed its first technology license agreement with Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida, to produce renewable jet fuel along with Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX). Vertimass’ technology allows sustainable production of

July 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Wärtsilä Forms Biogas Solutions Unit to Speed up Adoption of Clean Fuels

(Wärtsilä) The technology group Wärtsilä further strengthens its commitment to environmental sustainability with the formation of Wärtsilä Biogas Solutions. Wärtsilä Puregas Solutions, specialists in biogas upgrading technology, is now merged with Wärtsilä’s biogas liquefaction team, a unit with expert capabilities in liquefying upgraded biogas for end-customer use. Wärtsilä Biogas

July 5, 2019 Read Full Article

ABLC Wolves Devour 6 Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to The Wolfpack

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … (W)e have the satisfying slides that will satiate your hunger for thoughts from renowned due diligence experts on the latest and hottest technologies. You won’t want to miss these slides, esp. if you missed ABLC’s Wolfpack this April. Paul Bryan from Sandia National Labs, James Iademarco from Strategic

July 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Raised & Rooted Alt Protein, African Iron Superfood, Biological Biocide, Digital Agronomic Tools, CO2 Munching Microbe, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 4th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the U.S., it’s Independence Day and many folks are celebrating across the country, but it doesn’t mean the bioeconomy is taking a break. In fact, bioeconomy innovations, much like hamburgers and hot dogs across America, are getting hot, hot, hot! Here are the top innovations

July 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Making Every Carbon Count: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj had a humble beginning as a supplier of ethanol plants, and today is a global company with a bouquet of sustainable solutions for bioenergy, high purity water, critical process equipment, breweries and industrial wastewater treatment. Dr. Pramod Kumbhar, Chief Technology Officer at Praj Industries offers

July 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Oh My! Dan’s Back: AgCertain Industries Acquires KemX Global

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some time, many have been uncertain as to what direction former REG CEO Dan Oh would take in developing a new entry into the fast-growing bioeconomy, but now we can be certain, or rather, AgCertain. News has filtered out of Iowa that Oh’s new company,

July 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Avantium Awarded Funding for VEHICLE

(Avantium) Avantium N.V. announces that it has been awarded €1.3 million for its Dawn and Mekong Technologies from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. The total subsidy granted to the Industry Consortium “VEHICLE” consisting of 8 European companies, is EUR €5.9 million. The

July 1, 2019 Read Full Article

How Low Can You Go with Carbon?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis is an international renewable fuels and biochemicals company using patented industrial biotechnology for the construction and operation of advanced biorefineries. They own and operate a 60+ million gallon ethanol plant in California, a 50 million gallon capacity Biodiesel and Glycerin refinery in India, they are building

July 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Enerkem Co-Founder Vincent Chornet Dies at 45

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, Enerkem announced the death of co-founder and long-time CEO Vincent Chornet following a prolonged illness. He was 45. The company noted, “faithful to himself, he fought this terrible disease with the passion and determination that we know him for. He has been active even

June 28, 2019 Read Full Article

Magnificent Methanogens: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Trelys

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Trelys’ technology is based on the bioconversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide using methanogenic archaea. While Trelys is currently focusing on feed amino acids, this technology provides an avenue to a wide variety of products and we got a sneak peek into some of those. David

June 28, 2019 Read Full Article

Letter from Route 12 and the Pacific Northwest: From Waste Streams, a Bioeconomy Rising

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, there’s a new mill near the city of Dayton that is the first to use waste straw to make pulp for paper products, and biopolymers; and, a new project near Granger turning dairy waste into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas; also, a proposed

June 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Fighting Forest Fires with Biofuels: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Red Rock Biofuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Red Rock Biofuels produces drop-in, renewable, low-carbon jet and diesel fuels. RRB makes the long-commercialized Fischer-Tropsch process economic at the biomass scale. By using forest and sawmill residues, Red Rock reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires by removing waste biomass from overgrown forests. Terry Kulesa, CEO

June 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Partnership for Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

(NTBInfo/Avinor) Avinor has entered into an agreement with Quantafuel to buy sustainable aviation fuel based on Norwegian biomass. The fuel will be produced in a pilot plant partly funded by ENOVA*. “Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. The establishment of a pilot plant is an important

June 25, 2019 Read Full Article

Renewable Polymer Plant: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Avantium, a renewable chemicals company, develops and commercializes biobased plastics, chemicals, and fuels. The company offers polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a biobased and recyclable polymer that is used in various applications, such as packaging of soft drinks, water, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices, and food and non-food products.

June 25, 2019 Read Full Article

Hemp Product of the Year, BASF’s Sun Protection, Saving Kiwi with Algae, Biodegradable Polyester Fashion, Renewable Surfactants, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of June 19th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As summer gets hotter, bioeconomy inventions and changes are getting hotter too. Here are the top innovations for the week of June 19th – from hemp face cream and hemp protein powder to saving the kiwifruit industry from a devastating bacteria outbreak with algae. In today’s

June 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Convergence, the Enabler: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Hot Tech in Bioenergy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Spruce Capital Partners understands that when technologies converge, magic can happen. Combining robotics and AI with biology is creating huge strides in the bioeconomy that were never thought possible. Converging genomics with crops and food production could solve many issues worldwide. Even better, it’s already happening.

June 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Amazing Algaculture: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MicroBio Engineering

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MicroBio Engineering works on facility designs, algae equipment, R&D, engineering consulting, techno-economic analyses, LCAs and wastewater treatment. Their focus on algaculture, specifically microalgae cultivation, is what the focus of this presentation is on. John Benemann, CEO and Tryg Lundquist, CTO, both of MicroBio Engineering, gave this

June 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Bioprocessing in Iowa: Reflecting on Our Journey

by Debi Durham (Iowa Economic Development Authority/Biofuels Digest) … For decades, we’ve applied our work ethic and expertise in laboratories, innovation centers and refineries throughout the state. As a result, we’ve become a leader in bioprocessing, in addition to our agrarian achievements. … There’s a lot happening on the biosciences front in

June 18, 2019 Read Full Article

The Biofuels Market 2019: World Report & Database Listing 619 Companies Engaged in the Supply, Distribution or B2B Consumption of Biofuels

(Globe Newswire/ResearchAndMarkets) The “Biofuels Market World Report & Database” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering. The Biofuels Market World Report & Database provides data on the net market for the Products and Services covered in each of 205 countries. The Products and Services covered (Biofuels) are classified by the Major Products and each Product

June 17, 2019 Read Full Article

4 Key Bioenergy Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to SoCalGas

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) he Southern California Gas Company is the primary provider of natural gas to the region of Southern California and has a vision to become the cleanest natural gas utility in North America. As California works to achieve its climate change goals, SoCalGas is working on low

June 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Potential to Decarbonize Long Distance Transport: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Drop-in Biofuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 39, with the help of the National Renewable Energy Lab and University of British Columbia, has been working facilitating the commercialization of conventional and advanced liquid biofuels from biomass drop-in biofuels for quite some time. They are looking at various technologies for drop-in

June 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Stone-Based Toilet Paper, Greener Goblets of Liquor, Algae Footwear, Biobased Paint, Fungus Headphones, Barley, Rice, Tapioca Straws, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of June 13th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As June brings lots of celebrations and company announcements, the pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of June 13th – from things you never thought would exist like “RockRoll” toilet paper, to things

June 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Study Identifies Most Promising Feedstocks for Pyrolysis-Based Biorefinery

(CORDIS/Phy.Org) A study into the composition and processability of different biomass feedstocks has found sunflower seed husks and poplar wood slabs to be the most suitable for producing bio-based products via fast pyrolysis conversion. The study was conducted by Capax Biobased Development and BTG Biomass Technology Group as part of the

June 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Biomanufacturing 2.0 Cell-Free: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Invizyne Technologies

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Invizyne Technologies is making chemicals the cell-free way using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering. By inputting sugar and using engineered microbes, they can result in useful compounds and commodity chemicals, biofuels, fuel additives, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. James Bowie from UCLA/Invizyne Technologies offered this illuminating presentation on

June 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Researchers Create Microorganism for Algae Biomass to Produce Biofuel and Biochemical

(AZO CleanTech) … (T)he collaborative research team of POSTECH and Seoul National University created a new microorganism, which they christened as Vibrio sp. dhg. In their research, they effectively showed that Vibrio sp. dhg can be a capable microbial platform for the biorefinery of brown macro-algae which can substitute starch-crop biomass. Their

June 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Towards Sustainable Bioeconomy – Lessons Learned from Case Studies

by Marta Gomez San Juan, Anne Bogdanski and Olivier Dubois (Food and Agricultural Organization) … )T)his report offers lessons from 26 case studies of sustainable bioeconomy interventions from around the world and from a range of different sectors. The overall aim of the report is to use these case studies to expand the general understanding of

June 11, 2019 Read Full Article

Promising Start to 2019: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Stora Enso

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest’s “Stocks Worth Tracking” Multi-Slide Guide Series highlights hot companies that are making strides in the bioeconomy. Today’s “Stock Worth Tracking” is Stora Enso. Stora Enso celebrated some positive Q1 2019 financials including sales that went up, operational EBIT that went down, and overall profit

June 11, 2019 Read Full Article

Exploitation Alternatives of Olive Mill Wastewater: Production of Value-Added Compounds Useful for Industry and Agriculture

by Pablo M. Ahmed; Pablo M. Fernández; Lucía I. C. de Figueroa; Hipólito F. Pajot (Biofuel Research Journal) Countries producing olive oil generate a considerable amount of olive mill wastewater (OMWW), one of the most harmful agro-industrial effluents with a powerful polluting capacity. In fact, owing to its high pollution load, this

June 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Of Impossibles and Whoppers: Notes from the Planet Synthetica

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s been a stream of good news and bad news on the “made in a lab” front in recent weeks. First, the amazing news that Impossible Foods raised a $300 million in its Series E round was led by existing investors Temasek and Horizons Ventures. The fifth

June 4, 2019 Read Full Article

EU-India Conference on Advanced Biofuels

(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The 2nd EU-India Conference on Advanced Biofuels was organised by the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India under the framework of the India-EU CECP. The conference aimed at facilitating contacts between industry and technology developers from both

June 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Thermochemical Pulp Biorefinery Opens in Ontario

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) FPInnovations and Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced May 27 the commissioning of a new pilot biorefinery that converts wood biomass into lignin and sugars. On the same day, the Canadian government awarded C$2 million to the project. The TMP-Bio pilot plant, located in Thunder Bay, Ontario,

May 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Nouryon Announces 2019 Imagine Chemistry winners

(Nouryon) Surfactants derived from plants, eco-friendly membranes, and miniature sensors were among the eight winning ideas in the 2019 Imagine Chemistry collaborative innovation challenge, organized by Nouryon. More than 160 submissions from 30 countries were received, and the winners were chosen from 14 finalists at a three-day event at the

May 29, 2019 Read Full Article

BASF, The Estee Lauder Companies, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and Solidaridad partner for sustainable palm project partner for sustainable palm project

(BASF) Sustainability project in Lampung, Indonesia launched; Program to encompass 1,000 independent Indonesian smallholder farmers — BASF, The Estée Lauder Companies and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) are partnering with the civil society organization Solidaridad to promote sustainable palm oil and palm derivatives production in the district of Waykanan, Lampung, Indonesia.

May 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Rethinking Tomorrow and New Product Launches: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Novozymes

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest’s new “Stocks Worth Tracking” Multi-Slide Guide Series highlights hot companies that are making strides in the bioeconomy. Today’s “Stock Worth Tracking” is Novozymes. Novozymes has had 17 years of innovation driven growth with a focus on enyzmes and microbes. They have had over 100

May 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Food, Water, Energy: An Eternal Golden Braid of Value and Sustainability

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Jonathan Trent, late of the OMEGA algae projects, has authored a column on the topic of “putting existing technologies into ecosystems, to increase food productivity and profitability, while conserving water and energy and decreasing environmental impact.” He calls this UpCycle Systems, or UCS to those who

May 28, 2019 Read Full Article

MicroNiche Engineering: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Microvi

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Microvi has a vision of safe water, sustainable chemicals and a clean environment for all. How they do this is through their exclusive MicroNiche Engineering platform which combines material science and microbiology to provide novel, fit-for-process biocatalyst composites (MNE biocatalysts). Ameen Razavi,Director of Innovation Research, Microvi, gave

May 28, 2019 Read Full Article

EERE’s SBIR Selects Bioenergy Phase I Innovation Projects

(U.S. Department of Energy) American small businesses got nearly a $22 million boost from the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Small businesses are receiving Phase I Release 2 grants (from each EERE office) that demonstrate technical feasibility for innovations during

May 28, 2019 Read Full Article

BASF Develops Process for Climate-Friendly Methanol

(BASF) Successful team of experts applies for patent for complex process; With the help of BASF’s OASE® gas treatment technology, no carbon dioxide should be emitted during the entire production process The production processes of the most important basic chemicals are responsible for around 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the

May 28, 2019 Read Full Article

Project LIBERTY: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to POET

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET has been turning one big idea after another into biofuel and renewable alternative product solutions for thirty years. They have grown from a single, humble refinery in Scotland, South Dakota, to one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol and other biorefined products. Dave Bushong,

May 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Plant Robot, Wheat Bran and Food Waste Coffins, Lyocell Car Seats, 3D Biobased Dwelling, Milk Protein Films, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 23rd

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 23rd In today’s Digest, plant robot, wheat bran and food waste coffins, lyocell car seats, 3D biobased dwelling, milk protein films — these and

May 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Corn More than Just for Foodstuffs

by Mary Smallsreed (Tribune Chronicle) … After I read an article about GMOs by my favorite agricultural blogger — The Farm Babe, Michelle Miller — I did some Internet surfing to find everyday items that contain corn. Even when you leave most food products and corn-sweetened drinks off the list,

May 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Methanol Institute Releases New Report on Renewable Methanol

(Methanol Institute) Compared to conventional fuels, renewable methanol cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95%, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%, and completely eliminates sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions. The report, prepared for MI by ATA Insights, features case studies on renewable methanol production by Carbon Recycling International

May 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Pushing Plants Harder Reduces Costs More Than We Thought

Dennis Zeedyk (Glycerin Traders, LLC/Lee Enterprises Consulting) … Glycerin Traders LLC takes in waste raw glycerin from multiple biodiesel plants around the country. It acidulates the raw glycerin to remove the fats for sale to multiple industries. It also strips off methanol and some water that is then further distilled

May 23, 2019 Read Full Article

RoadToBio: Roadmap for the Chemical Industry in Europe towards a Bioeconomy

The RoadToBio project is funded by the EU under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. It aims to pave the way for the European chemical industry towards a higher bio-based portfolio and competitive success based on the benefits offered by the bioeconomy. The goal of RoadToBio is to create a roadmap for the chemical

May 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Innovative Foundation in Iowa

by Debi Durham (Iowa Economic Development Authority) … Iowa is home to three public universities – the University of Iowa, Iowa State University (ISU) and the University of Northern Iowa – that are world-renowned for dynamic research capabilities in plant, animal and human biosciences. This network leverages more than $1 billion

May 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Development of Novel Processes for the Aqueous Extraction of Natural Rubber from Taraxacum kok‐saghyz (TK)

by David A Ramirez‐Cadavid, Katrina Cornish, Upul Hathwaik, Robert Kozak, Colleen McMahan and Frederick C Michel Jr. (Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology) Taraxacum kok‐saghyz (TK) is a rubber‐producing plant being developed as a commercial alternative source of natural rubber (NR). The objective of this study was to investigate processes to extract

May 21, 2019 Read Full Article

LanzaTech Aims to Fuel Jets and Make Consumer Goods from Recycled Carbon Pollution

by Tom DiChristopher (CNBC) -LanzaTech sells technology that transforms carbon pollution into ethanol, a renewable fuel and feedstock for chemicals. -Founded in 2005, the start-up is now aiming to produce sustainable jet fuel and chemicals that can be used in consumer goods. -The company ranks No. 15 on CNBC’s 2019 Disruptor

May 17, 2019 Read Full Article

Ireland’s First Grass-Fed Biorefinery Hits the Road to Help Farmers Go Green

(European Science Communication Institute/Phys.org) A New Mobile Refinery Is Travelling Across The West Of Ireland To Turn Grass Into Sustainable Materials — Along the windy west coast of Ireland a biorefinery on wheels is turning grass into a series of different green products that could give farmers a more diversified source

May 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Genera Begins Farmer Recruitment

(Genera) Genera is launching a new business line that will manufacture disposable food service and packaging products from sustainable ag fibers in Vonore, made from locally grown biomass crops. Genera will be making a variety of ag-based paper products like plates, bowls, and take-out containers in Vonore, and we’ll also sell our processed

May 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Running on Refuse

by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Enerkem is producing methanol and ethanol at its Edmonton, Alberta, plant, diverting up to 24 percent of the city’s landfill waste. The company has partners for another project in the Netherlands. — A Canadian company is furthering ethanol’s environmental benefits, using municipal solid waste (MSW) as