Education – Advanced BioFuels USA

WPI Professor Expands Green Energy Research with $2M DOE Grant — Chemical Engineer Works to Turn Yard Waste and Food Waste into Biofuel

by Sharon Gaudin (Worcester Polytech Institute) Chemical engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are broadening attempts to convert waste into environmentally friendly biofuels, lowering reliance on fossil fuels, cutting the amount of municipal waste going into landfills, and reducing water pollution and unhealthy emissions from petroleum products and landfills. Michael Timko, associate

January 23, 2020 Read Full Article

B&C Launches TSCA Tutor™ Online, On-Demand Training Courses

(Bergeson & Campbell) Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) is pleased to announce the release of the complete suite of TSCA Tutor™ regulatory training courses online and on-demand at www.TSCAtutor.com. Professionals seeking expert, efficient, essential training can preview and enroll in on-demand classes to complete at their own pace and timing. In

January 22, 2020 Read Full Article

From Plants to Energy: Sustainability RSO Makes Biodiesel out of Soybeans

by Jared Ebanks (Daily Illini) The turn of the new decade has caused many professionals and activists to recommit to solving climate change, including the Illinois Biodiesel Initiative, an RSO (registered student organization) that promotes sustainability on campus. IBI collects soybean oil from the Ikenberry Dining Hall and converts it to

January 22, 2020 Read Full Article

Novel Protein Positioning Technique Improves Functionality of Yeast Cells -Expected Improvements in Cell Surface Engineering across a Variety of Fields-

(Kobe University) A research team at Kobe University has developed a method of artificially controlling the anchorage position of target proteins in engineered baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The group, consisting of academic researcher INOKUMA Kentaro, Professor HASUNUMA Tomohisa (both of the Engineering Biology Research Center) and Professor KONDO Akihiko et

January 22, 2020 Read Full Article

Student Scientists Shine at National Biodiesel Conference

(National Biodiesel Board) Industry professional see the difference students are making in biodiesel — Student scientists showcased dynamic campus biodiesel programs and research during the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Tampa, Florida this week. From leading biodiesel production on campus to conducting research that could help shape the industry, student scientists are

January 22, 2020 Read Full Article

New Study Finds ‘Insignificant’ Link between US Biofuel Policy and Deforestation in Southeast Asia

(Biofuels International) A new study carried out by economic modelling experts from Purdue University in the US has found the impacts of US biofuel policy on deforestation in Malaysia and Indonesia to be insignificant. The study, titled ‘US Biofuel Production and Policy Implications for Land Use Changes in Malaysia and

January 21, 2020 Read Full Article

UNT Scientist Unlocking the Secrets of Plant Energy

(University of North Texas) Kent Chapman, a University of North Texas Regents Professor and director of the UNT BioDiscovery Institute, is questioning decades-old assumptions in plant biochemistry to find better ways of storing and using lipids, the energy molecules found in all plants. “Biofuels are the future and lipids are the key,” said Chapman.

January 20, 2020 Read Full Article

Crave Brothers: Dairy Farming Done Different

by Caroline Hedgcock (University of Wisconsin-Madison/Planet Forward StoryFest) Sustainable Dairy Farming in Wisconsin — The Crave Brothers Farmstead is an alternative to traditional dairy farming. This family owned and operated farm uses an anaerobic digester to turn manure into energy, nutrient filled water, and bedding for the cows. Their farm

January 17, 2020 Read Full Article

2020 Planet Forward Summit — April 2-3, 2020 — Washington, DC

At the 2020 Planet Forward Summit, learn how the best environmental change agents use storytelling to transform their audiences from passive listeners to engaged doers. The Summit takes place April 2-3, 2020 at the Jack Morton Auditorium where we gather students and academics, as well as corporate leaders, scientists, journalists and

January 17, 2020 Read Full Article

A Simplified Way to Turn Food Waste into Hydrogen Energy

(Purdue University) … Purdue scientists developed a method to improve the production of hydrogen from food waste using yeast. Until now, the production of hydrogen for use as clean fuel has largely been through bacterial degradation of food waste, which can lead to slow production rates and complex pre-processing of the

January 16, 2020 Read Full Article

Minnesota Youth Climate Justice Summit — February 26, 2020 — St. Paul, MN

The Youth Climate Justice Summit is a chance for youth to experience first-hand how to participate in government. Meet with MN Legislators that represent your district to talk with them about why we care about climate change and social justice. It is also a chance for you to meet youth

January 16, 2020 Read Full Article

Summer Institute for Climate Change Education — July 22-24, 2020 — St. Paul, MN

(Climate Generation) Join together with educators from across the country this July 22-24 for an impactful training on climate change education! Teachers from all backgrounds and subjects are invited to attend and learn new tools, skills, and resources to teach climate in science, social studies, ELA, environmental studies, geography, art,

January 16, 2020 Read Full Article

Voting Opens for Best Places to Work in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2020

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Out of thousands of eligible organizations, who will make the Best Places to Work – who will get your vote? Expanded voting options via Twitter – special Photo voting In Florida, The Digest announced the official opening of voting for the Best Places to Work in

January 16, 2020 Read Full Article

Microorganisms Fed with Toxic Gas to Produce Biofuel

(University of Borås/Phys.Org) Today, various processes are used to convert organic waste into biogas. By combining two different processes, it is possible to obtain even more of valuable substances such as hydrogen and methane. The key is to make the most of the microorganisms that do the work. Forest waste containing

January 14, 2020 Read Full Article

How to Make It Easier to Turn Plant Waste into Biofuels

by Todd Bates (Rutgers University/Phys.Org) Researchers have developed a new process that could make it much cheaper to produce biofuels such as ethanol from plant waste and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Their approach, featuring an ammonia-salt based solvent that rapidly turns plant fibers into sugars needed to make ethanol, works

January 14, 2020 Read Full Article

Biodiesel for Buses Cuts Carbon Footprint

by Scott Hernandez-Jason (University of California Santa Cruz) By switching to renewable diesel fuel, UC Santa Cruz has significantly reduced the amount of carbon emitted from its student shuttles and other fleet vehicles. Campus vehicles used about 72,000 gallons of diesel in 2019, fleet manager Theo Diamantopoulos said. He estimated the

January 14, 2020 Read Full Article

A Vision for Biodiesel

by Donnell Rehagen (National Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) … NBB undertook a formal strategic planning process in the second half of 2019 to ask the tough questions, define the challenges and opportunities, and to lay out a roadmap to achieving those objectives over the next three to five years. So, our

January 13, 2020 Read Full Article

The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Techno-Economic Analysis

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is Part 1 of a 4 part seriesthat focuses on Techno-Economic Analysis from Lee Enterprises. This Slide Guide covers what exactly techno-economic modeling and analysis even is, how it works, cost estimation methods and accuracy, platforms, and more. READ MORE

January 13, 2020 Read Full Article

Next Generation Biofuels for Sustainable Transportation

(The Engineer/Specialized Imaging) Specialised Imaging reports that the Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer at RWTH Aachen University (Germany) has invested in a Kirana Ultra High-Speed camera to undertake fluid-mechanical fundamental research underpinning development of bio-hybrid fuels for the next generation of sustainable transportation. Groundbreaking research at the University of Aachen Fuel Science

January 10, 2020 Read Full Article

IBBK proBIOGAS International – Biogas Engineering and Operating Training with Plant Visits — April 21-29, 2020 — Stuttgart, Germany

7-day In-depth Course, SHMT, Stuttgart, Germany Calling all biogas plant operators and AD enthusiasts… If you want to really understand… How exactly biogas is produced from organic waste and biomass What to do when you run into troubles with your day-to-day operation What the most modern biogas technologies are If you

January 10, 2020 Read Full Article

University Campus in California Switches to Renewable Diesel, Reducing Carbon Footprint

(Biofuels International) By converting its fleet to renewable diesel fuel, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) has significantly reduced its carbon footprint. Campus vehicles, which include student shuttles and other fleet vehicles, used around 72,000 gallons of diesel in 2019, according to fleet manager Theo Diamantopoulos. He

January 9, 2020 Read Full Article

Decoupled Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting System for Centralized Hydrogen Production

by Avigail Landman, Rawan Halabi, Paula Dias, Hen Dotan, Alex Mehlmann, Gennady E. Shter, Manar Halabi, Omayer Naseraldeen, Adélio Mendes, Gideon S. Grader and Avner Rothschild (Joule) H 2 collection from distributed cells presents a critical challenge for PEC water splitting; Decoupled water splitting in separate O 2 and H

January 9, 2020 Read Full Article

OPINION: Fostering Innovation with Biofuels — Biofuels Curriculum

by Emily Skor (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) …At Growth Energy, we share that commitment to community and are excited to invest our philanthropic time and money into the next generation through biofuels education and advocacy training in the classroom. Through our partnership with National FFA and the National Association of

January 9, 2020 Read Full Article

From a By-Product of the Biodiesel Industry to Sustainable Production of a Valuable Chemical

(Tokyo Institute of Technology/Phys.Org) … However, biodiesel synthesis produces excessive amounts of glycerol (C3H8O3); it is estimated than the biodiesel industry in Europe alone produces a surplus of 1.4 million tons of glycerol, which cannot be sold to other industries. If glycerol could be used as a raw material to obtain more

January 9, 2020 Read Full Article

New Round of Grant Funds Available Through Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project DEADLINE: March 13, 2020

(North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center) Over $1,400,000 to be awarded for transportation-related emission reductions — The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at North Carolina State University announces the following request for proposals (RFP) through the 2020 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) project. The 2020 initiative will offer $1.4

January 9, 2020 Read Full Article

A Greener, Simpler Way to Create Syngas

by Matthew Chin (University of California, Los Angeles) UCLA, Rice and UC Santa Barbara researchers develop new method to produce vital industrial gas — Researchers from UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, Rice University and UC Santa Barbara have developed an easier and greener way to create syngas. A study detailing their work is published

January 8, 2020 Read Full Article

Richard L. Ottinger Internship Program (Paid) at Environmental and Energy Study Institute

(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) EESI relies on interns to provide substantive help to advance our environmental and energy policy agenda. In return, interns gain insight into the workings of Congress and the federal legislative process, knowledge of significant environmental and energy issues, and an understanding how a not-for-profit organization works. EESI’s relationships

January 8, 2020 Read Full Article

Pioneering a Path to Cleaner Fuels and Fewer Emissions

by Matthew Menzies (University of Alberta) Unconventional greenhouse gas reduction research brings biology and chemistry together in engineering — … UAlberta engineering PhD candidate Fatemeh Bakhtiari Ziabari is investigating ways to eliminate atmospheric methane on an industrial scale while producing sustainable biofuels and biopolymers. To do so, she’s using microscopic bacteria

January 6, 2020 Read Full Article

Hydrogen Research Fuels New Solar Ideas for Green Energy

(Curtin University) New research led by Curtin University explores the use of methanol as a storage for hydrogen fuel, providing a potential green option for the extraction and creation of this zero pollution energy source. — Lead researcher ARC DECRA Fellow Dr Guohua Jia, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life

January 6, 2020 Read Full Article

Carbon X Prize: Transforming CO₂ into Valuable Products

(Carbon X Prize) The $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE is a global competition to develop breakthrough technologies that will convert CO₂ emissions from power plants and industrial facilities into valuable products like building materials, alternative fuels and other items that we use every day. The NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE

January 6, 2020 Read Full Article

Stanford Global Energy Heroes Competition Application DEADLINE: January 31, 2020

(Stanford University) Stanford Global Energy Heroes is a competition to recognize young people around the world who are creating sustainable energy solutions to benefit their communities. Share your solution in a three-minute video to compete for one of three $20,000 cash prizes plus a trip to the 2020 Stanford Global Energy Forum. Open to anyone ages 18-30

January 6, 2020 Read Full Article

National Ethanol Conference Scholarship Available DEADLINE: January 10, 2020

(National Ethanol Conference) Two scholarships are available to college students interested in attending the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference, scheduled for Feb. 10-12 in Houston. The scholarships cover the cost of the conference (a $969 value) as well as airfare and lodging costs. Deadline is January 10. For the 11th

January 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Request for Proposals: 2020 U.S.-Ukraine Alternative Energy Research Competition DEADLINE February 28, 2020

(CRDF Global) CRDF Global and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MES) are currently accepting proposals from joint teams of U.S. and Ukrainian researchers for the 2020 U.S.-Ukraine Alternative Energy Research Competition. As the world’s population is projected to reach at least nine billion people by 2050 and

January 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Preventing FAME-Related Disruption

(Certas Energy) To help customers prepare for the potential impact of increased FAME content, Certas Energy has developed a free guide that covers the problems caused by FAME, best practice maintenance and storage guidance, and FAME-free alternatives to gas oil and road diesel. READ MORE Request Guide

January 3, 2020 Read Full Article

Biodiesel at Work at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

(Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities) Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities is non-profit that aims to increase the use of alternative fuels in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Education grant, this video was produced to educate the public and other fleets about biodiesel use. WATCH VIDEO

January 2, 2020 Read Full Article

Advanced Biofuel Center Releases Calendar of Biofuel Training Events for the Year 2020

(Advanced Biofuel Center/AltEnergyMag.com) The Advanced Biofuel Center is a bioenergy crop research and development company that has established the Biodiesel Business Academy to provide quality, impartial, informative and enjoyable advanced-level training with enhanced technology in the field of biodiesel production. The knowledge arm of Advanced Biofuel Center (ABC), Biodiesel Business

January 2, 2020 Read Full Article

Capturing CO2 from Trucks and Reducing Their Emissions by 90%

(EPFL) Researchers at EPFL have patented a new concept that could cut trucks’ CO2 emissions by almost 90%. It involves capturing CO2 within the exhaust system, converting it into a liquid and storing it on the vehicle. The liquid CO2 would then be delivered to a service station and where

December 28, 2019 Read Full Article

QUOTE OF THE WEEK — from “Santa Goes Green”

“On this Christmas Eve we’ll give it our all, and juice up the sleigh with pure ethanol.” A line from “Santa Goes Green,” a children’s play by Mac Huff and John Jacobson. READ MORE

December 28, 2019 Read Full Article

School Board Apologizes over Pro-environment Christmas Pageant in Oil Town

by Rob Drinkwater (Sudbury.com/Canadian Press) Last Thursday, children at Oxbow Prairie Horizons School put on a play called ‘Santa Goes Green,’ where elves, reindeer and Mrs. Claus work to convince Santa about the importance of the environment — A school board in southeastern Saskatchewan, where many people work in the energy industry, is apologizing after

December 28, 2019 Read Full Article

Israeli Researchers Develop New Waste-to-Fuel Technology

(XinhuaNet) Israeli researchers have developed a new way to produce gas fuel from organic waste, using thermal treatment, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in southern Israel said Thursday. The method is based on the decomposition of waste in water at temperatures above 347 degrees Celsius and pressure 221 atmospheres (supercritical water). The supercritical water

December 27, 2019 Read Full Article

Autothermal Pyrolysis: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Rethinking Thermochemical Processing

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iowa State University is working on fast pyrolysis, and Robert Brown, Director of the university’s Bioeconomy Institute looks at how their work is making us rethink thermochemical processing. By looking at autothermal pyrolysis, and more, Brown shared this presentation at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco. READ

December 27, 2019 Read Full Article

UNAIR Professor Uses Microalgae for Renewable Biodiesel Development

(Universitas Airlangga News/QS WOW News) …The government plans to allocate fossil fuel energy subsidies by reducing them and using renewable energy resources with a focus on biodiesel development. Regarding this issue, Prof. Dr. Purkan, S.Si., M.Si., Professor of Chemistry at Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) conducted

December 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientist Tests whether Algae Could Help Clean up Water Polluted by Midwest Farm Runoff

by Fred Knapp (KCUR) … (Paul) Black chairs UNL’s (University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus) Biochemistry Department and is a founding member of a company called Vestal W20, which is trying to use algae to remove excess nitrates out of water. “What’s happened over the hundred-plus years of putting nitrogen fertilizer on

December 20, 2019 Read Full Article

MAGIC System Allows Researchers to Modulate the Activity of Genes Acting in Concert

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/EurekAlert!) Genomic research has unlocked the capability to edit the genomes of living cells; yet so far, the effects of such changes must be examined in isolation. In contrast, the complex traits that are of interest in both fundamental and applied research, such as those related to

December 20, 2019 Read Full Article

FixOurFuel Publishes Aid for Holiday Conversations about Ethanol

(Urban Air Initiative) As the holidays approach, you’re bound to end up talking about where you work. And during what’s normally pleasant small talk, one mention of the word ethanol can trigger strong opinions and negativity whether from your distant cousin, a neighbor or the UPS driver. Although it’s encouraged to

December 20, 2019 Read Full Article

Biorefining Start-Up Wins Significant EU Funding to Scale-Up Business

(Bioenergy Insight) Biorefining start-up Chrysalix Technologies has won significant funding from the EU to scale-up its business. The company uses waste wood and agricultural by-products as well as sustainably-grown biomass to produce biofuels, biomaterials, greener chemicals and bioplastics. Its BioFlex process separates the various naturally-occurring components of wood – lignin,

December 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Wisconsin Clean Cities, Milwaukee, WI Seeking Internship Candidates DEADLINE: December 31, 2019

(Wisconsin Clean Cities) WCC is seeking paid internship candidates for the spring semester through the U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program. The intern will work 15-20 hours per week in our Milwaukee office. Interested candidates may contact WCC Executive Director Lorrie Lisek for details. Applications must be received by December

December 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Research Yields Potential Bioblendstock for Diesel Fuel

(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Phys.Org) The NREL scientists, along with colleagues at Yale University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are part of the Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative. Co-Optima’s research focuses on improving fuel economy and vehicle performance while also reducing emissions. “If

December 19, 2019 Read Full Article

POET Commits $2 Million for Precision Agriculture Initiative at SDSU

(POET) Today (December 17, 2019) POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin announced a $2 million gift for construction of the precision agriculture facility at South Dakota State University (SDSU). POET and SDSU have a strong history of collaboration on innovative research projects and training the next generation to use agriculture

December 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientists Convert Plastics into Useful Chemicals Using Sunlight

(Nanyang Technological University/Science Daily) … Chemists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have discovered a method that could turn plastic waste into valuable chemicals by using sunlight. In lab experiments, the research team mixed plastics with their catalyst in a solvent, which allows the solution to harness light energy

December 18, 2019 Read Full Article

ITOCHU Announces the Start of an Overseas Demonstration Project to Culture Euglena

(ITOCHU Corporation) ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Yoshihisa Suzuki, President and COO; hereinafter “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has decided to conduct an overseas demonstration project (hereinafter the “Demonstration Project”) in collaboration with euglena Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Mitsuru Izumo, President: hereinafter “euglena Co.”) to culture euglena

December 17, 2019 Read Full Article

RUDN University Chemist Found a Catalyst to Improve Biofuel Production

(RUDN University/Phys.Org) Chemists from RUDN University, Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), and the University of Cordoba (Spain) have developed a new method for the synthesis of biofuels from renewable vegetable raw materials. They proposed to use bimetallic catalysts for the production of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) biofuel. The chemists managed to increase the yield

December 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Caribou Biofuels, Research Foundation for SUNY Sign Agreement

(Caribou Biofuels/Biomass Magazine) Caribou Biofuels Inc., a company that develops hardware and systems to cost-effectively process biomass, has entered into an agreement with the Research Foundation for SUNY, on behalf of SUNY Cobleskill, to develop and commercialize a rotary gasifier that turns combustible waste into biofuel and a soil supplement. The

December 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Rare Algae Enzyme to Convert Cooking Oil into Ready-to-Use Biofuel

(Aarhus University/EurekAlert!) Researchers have found an unusual, light-dependent enzyme in microalgae. A new project at the Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, will use the enzyme in a system to produce drop-in fuels from waste oils and fats. A grant of DKK 3 million (EUR 0.4 mill.) from the Novo Nordisk

December 13, 2019 Read Full Article

The Only Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Energy Management Program in the Nation

(Bismark State College) As the biomass industry grows and adapts to new technologies and innovations, qualified supervisors and managers will play an important role in ensuring the profitable operation of facilities well into the future. A Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management degree, available through Bismarck State College, will

December 12, 2019 Read Full Article

On the Road to Success from Research to Product: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Cyclotron Road

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cyclotron Road is a partnership between the non-profit Activate.org and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to empower scientists to advance their technologies from concept to first product through a fellowship program. It’s a home for hard tech innovators. Companies like Opus 12, MicroByre, Visolis, CinderBio, and others had

December 10, 2019 Read Full Article

Learn Algae Production Skills with These Online Courses from the Algae Technology Educational Consortium

(Algae Biomass Organization) Algae production technologies are gearing up to provide biomass that can be used in markets that are projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars. To help meet that opportunity ABO ‘s sister organization, The Algae Foundation, is coordinating a number of projects that are educating and training the

December 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Consolidated Production of Coniferol and Other High-Value Aromatic Alcohols Directly from Lignocellulosic Biomass

by Robson Tramontina, James L. Galman, Fabio Parmeggiani, Sasha R. Derrington, Timothy D. H. Bugg, Nicholas J. Turner, Fabio M. Squin and Neil Dixon (Green Chemistry) Sustainable production of fine chemicals and biofuels from renewable biomass offers a potential alternative to the continued use of finite geological oil reserves. However,

December 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Biofuels Production and Consumption in Denmark: Status, Advances and Challenges

by Sune Tjalfe Thomsen and Henning Jørgensen (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) 1. Status of transportation biofuel industry in Denmark In Denmark, a considerable part of the total energy demand is derived from renewable sources. In 2017, 26% of Denmark’s primary energy production of 658 PJ was from renewable energies (54%

December 6, 2019 Read Full Article

An Electron Highway Headed for Methanol

by Jim Shelton (Yale News) … The discovery, published online Nov. 27 in the journal Nature, finds a novel solution for two chemical tasks: producing methanol — a volatile, liquid fuel that is prized by industry — and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Hailiang Wang, an assistant professor of chemistry

December 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Wisconsin Clean Cities Is Seeking Internship Candidates

(Wisconsin Clean Cities) Wisconsin Clean Cities is seeking internship candidates for the spring semester through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program. The paid intern will work 15-20 hours per week in our Milwaukee office. We are seeking a qualified candidate who is a junior, senior

December 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Engineered Strains for Fermentation: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to n-Butanol from Biomass and CO2

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $2.25/gal or less than $3/gge (gallon gasoline equivalent) sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? That is one of the goals of a project that is working on developing engineered clostridial strains and a fermentation process that can directly utilize cellulose and fix CO2 for n-butanol production from

December 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Mankato Area Public Schools Tour Guardian Energy

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-two high school students from Mankato toured Guardian Energy today to gain a better understanding of renewable fuel production. During the tour, the students learned about several components of ethanol production including incoming grain grading, grain handling, fermentation, grain storage, dried distiller grain production and storage, ethanol storage

December 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Canby High School Tours ADM Carbohydrate Solutions

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Nineteen students from Canby High School toured the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company’s Carbohydrate Solutions plant in Marshall yesterday to learn about locally-produced renewable energy. During the tour, the students, from grades 9 to 12, were briefed on the various components of ethanol production during the tour. ADM

December 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Owatonna High School Tours Al-Corn Clean Fuel

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Students from Owatonna High School toured Al-Corn Clean Fuel twice this month to get a better understanding of how clean renewable energy is produced. The first tour was on Nov 5 while the second tour was on Nov 19. During both tours, the students learned about the different components

December 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Minnesota New Country School Tours Guardian Energy

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Forty-one students from Minnesota New Country School in Henderson visited Guardian Energy on Friday, November 15th to learn about renewable fuel production. “It’s always a pleasure to host students who are eager to learn about the renewable fuels industry. Through these tours we have the opportunity to educate

December 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Sibley East High School Tours Heartland Corn Products

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Fourteen high school students from Sibley High School visited Heartland Corn Products in Winthrop yesterday to get a better understanding of clean renewable fuel production. The students, from grades 10 to 12, toured the various processes of ethanol production at Heartland Corn Products which produces 113 million gallons

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

New Study Looks to Biological Enzymes as Source of Hydrogen Fuel

by Lois Yoksoulian (University of Illinois News Bureau) Research from the University of Illinois and the University of California, Davis has chemists one step closer to recreating nature’s most efficient machinery for generating hydrogen gas. This new development may help clear the path for the hydrogen fuel industry to move into

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Voting Opens for the 50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2020

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Out of thousands of eligible organizations, who will make the Hot 50– who will get your vote? In Florida, The Digest announced the official opening of voting for the 50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy for 2020. Voting Rules Voting is open to all registered

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Climate Strike — December 6, 2019 — various locations

With the consequences of climate change becoming ever more clear and dire with each passing day, a new powerful wave of the climate movement has been swelling up over the last couple of years. Young people around the world have been rising up to defend our future, and have been

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Applications Being Accepted for ACS Summer School on Green Chemistry & Sustainable Energy DEADLINE: January 24, 2020

(ACS) July 7-14, 2020, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado Applications for 2020 are now open.APPLY NOW Apply by January 24, 2020 to be Considered for the Class of 2020. The application window will close at 11:59 p.m. (applicant’s local time) on Friday, January 24, 2020. Applicants will be notified

December 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Applications Being Accepted for Heh-Won Chang, PhD Fellowship in Green Chemistry DEADLINE: January 5, 2020

(ACS) The Heh-Won Chang, PhD Fellowship in Green Chemistry provides financial support to full-time graduate students conducting research in green chemistry. The funds may be used for any purpose, including conference travel, professional development, and living expenses, while the recipient is in graduate school. Heh-Won Chang, PhD Fellowship awardees receive

December 2, 2019 Read Full Article

Man-Made Bacteria that EATS Carbon Dioxide and turns it into eco-friendly biofuels could help tackle climate change, scientists claim

by Milly Vincent (Daily Mail) Escherichia coli bacteria have been engineered by scientists to consume CO2; Scientists removed some genes added one for an enzyme that converts CO2; The bacteria feed off carbon dioxide instead of sugar to produce biofuels — … Escherichia coli bacteria have been engineered by scientists at the Weizmann

November 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Iowa Smart Agriculture Forum Serves Up Solutions from the Land

(Solutions from the Land) Iowa agriculture, business, academic, government and conservation leaders met in Des Moines on Monday in a forum that began an exploration of the impacts that extreme weather events and changing climatic conditions are having on the state’s agriculture sector. More importantly, those participating in the event

November 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Biotech Breakthrough Turns Waste Biomass into High Value Chemicals

(University of Manchester) A move towards a more sustainable bio-based economy has been given a new boost by researchers who have been able to simplify a process to transform waste materials into high value chemicals. A collaboration between the UK and Brazil has shown that waste sugar cane and wheat

November 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Dutch Seaweed-Based Fuel Powers Car to 80 kph in Danish Trial

(Dutch News) Researchers in Denmark have achieved speeds of up to 80 kph using a car powered by Dutch biofuel made from seaweed. The seaweed fuel was produced by scientists at the TNO research centre in Petten and at Wageningen University and is part of an EU-funded project to develop

November 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Auburn University at Montgomery Professor Ben Okeke Named Fulbright Scholar

(Auburn University) Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Distinguished Research Professor of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology Ben Okeke has earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant to study sustainable strategies for the production of renewable biodiesel fuels. His research study offers benefits for biofuel, agricultural and other industries. The Fulbright grant provides support

November 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Pyrolysis Party and Who’s the Pilot Steering the Ship? BTG and GoodFuels to Invest in World’s 1st Marine Biofuel Refinery Based on Pyrolysis Oil

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … In the Netherlands, BTG and GoodFuels are preparing for major investment in a new biorefinery to support shipping’s low carbon fuels demands. Biomass technology group BTG will set up a new company that can convert crude pyrolysis oil into diesel fuel suitable for the shipping

November 18, 2019 Read Full Article

“The Thing to Remember Is that It’s Agriculture.” Manta’s New Way to Think about Algal Biofuel

by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Not only is the Manta Biofuel system a way to grow, harvest and process algae into oil that can be used for heating or powering heavy duty engines or ocean-going vessels, or as a feedstock for refineries; Dr. Ryan Powell sees the Manta Biofuel

November 16, 2019 Read Full Article

Hollywood Sends Materials to Anaerobic Digester, Poop to Paper, Hydrogen from Seawater, Kanye’s algae foam kicks, Hellman’s seaweedSsachets, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 15th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Even Hollywood is going green these days with the latest Bond movie sending 30 tons of food and biodegradable materials to anaerobic digester to generate electricity! And elephant poop is getting turned into upscale stationary paper. A revoluntionary catalyst is developed that is opening up hydrogen

November 15, 2019 Read Full Article

How to Make Better Biofuels? Convince Yeast It’s Not Starving

by Adam Hadhazy (Princeton University) Yeast already helps make bread and beer and cranks out the biofuel ethanol, but scientists believe it can be used to create an even more efficient fuel called isobutanol. Normally, yeast only creates a tiny amount of isobutanol. Now researchers at Princeton University have discovered a

November 15, 2019 Read Full Article

New Catalyst Efficiently Produces Hydrogen from Seawater

by Jeannie Kever (University of Houston) Holds Promise for Large-Scale Hydrogen Production, Desalination — Seawater is one of the most abundant resources on earth, offering promise both as a source of hydrogen – desirable as a source of clean energy – and of drinking water in arid climates. But even as

November 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Plans for £150m UK Bio-Resources-to-Fuel Facility Approved

(Bioenergy Insight) Plans to build the UK’s first commercial-scale Bio-Substitute Natural Gas (BioSNG) plant have been approved by the council. Cheshire West & Chester Council’s planning committee gave the green light to the £150 million (€174.2 million) project at Peel Environmental’s Protos site in Ellesmere Port, which will generate renewable

November 13, 2019 Read Full Article

UCSB Chemical Engineer Looks at Microbes Found in Herbivores’ Guts to Turn Plant Waste into Fuel

by Soe Han Tha (Santa Barbara News Press) Households and businesses typically regard as waste the parts of plants that cannot be consumed, whether that be stems, roots, inedible leaves. What if this waste could be used as fuel or other commodity chemicals? A research group led by UCSB professor of chemical

November 8, 2019 Read Full Article

Minnesota State Mankato Agroecology Class Tours Guardian Energy

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Thirteen students from Minnesota State University, Mankato toured Guardian Energy in Janesville yesterday afternoon to learn about locally produced biofuel production. “Tours such as these educate students on the various roles ethanol plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the economy and improving our nation’s energy security,” said Jeanne

November 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Fractionation Processes Can Improve Profitability of Ethanol Production

(EurekAlert!/University of Illinois) The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of bioethanol as renewable liquid fuel, with more than 200 commercial plants processing over 16 billion gallons per year. Plants typically use dry grind processing methods; however, implementing fractionation techniques that separate corn components prior to fermentation can improve profitability, a

November 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Secretary Perdue Announces OneUSDA Internship Program for Summer 2020 DEADLINE: November 15, 2019

(U.S. Department of Agriculture) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the “OneUSDA Internship” opportunity for Summer 2020. As part of the Federal Pathways Program, the OneUSDA Internship Program will provide students a way to explore serving their country through a career in government while gaining work experience in agriculture, natural

November 5, 2019 Read Full Article

Skype a Scientist Matches Scientists with Classrooms around the World!

(Skype a Scientist) We want to give students the opportunity to get to know a “real scientist”. This program allows us to reach students from all over the world without having to leave the lab! We have thousands of scientists ready to chat! Teachers can choose the type of scientist that will

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Flint Hills Resources Menlo Staff Teach Students about Ethanol Production

(Atlantic News Telegraph) On Oct. 15, staff from the Flint Hills Resources Menlo ethanol plant participated in “On the Trail of Iowa Corn,” a field trip and educational opportunity for area third graders to learn about farm and food topics. Nearly 100 students, teachers and parent chaperones from Adair-Casey, Nodaway

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Green School Students Britt Koens and Her Sister Marein Make Biofuel for Bali Buses

by Tom Forrest (ABC News) A bamboo school and turning fried chicken oil into fuel — this is what school life has been for two young sisters making biofuel for school buses and a unique motorcycle in Indonesia. — …Speaking to the ABC during a family holiday in Western Australia’s

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Green Light for BEACON Project Boosts Wales’ Bio Economy

(Welsh Government) The Counsel General and Brexit Minister, Jeremy Miles, visited Aberystwyth University today to open the new Bio-refining Centre and Seed Biobank buildings at the University’s Innovation and Enterprise Campus. Mr Miles, who is responsible for EU funding in Wales, announced a £3.7 million EU investment to extend the

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Nature Conservancy Global Media Relations Intern Applications Due November 8, 2019

(Nature Conservancy) The Global Communications team operates at the heart of The Nature Conservancy’s mission—supporting and leveraging global conservation work by providing focused communications strategies, and engaging content that targets select audiences with the power to change the future for people and nature. The Global Media Relations Team, as part

November 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Feedstock Supply Chains & Clariant’s Experience in Romania

by Paolo Corvo (Clariant/Biofuels Digest) … The success of making use of that sustainable biomass resource and a rapid uptake of bioenergy technologies relies on many factors. One of it is the cost of feedstock, which is directly dependent on the development, establishment and execution of a reliable, stable, high-quality feedstock

November 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Maersk Join Forces with Industry Peers and Customers to Develop LEO

(Maersk) A.P. Moller – Maersk alongside with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, BMW Group, H&M Group, Levi Strauss & Co. and, Marks & Spencer to explore LEO – a blend of lignin and ethanol – that could be part of the future solution for sustainable shipping. — From the phone, tablet or computer you

October 31, 2019 Read Full Article

Lignin and Carbon Dioxide Turned into Ethanol

by Becky Webb (Chemistry World) Process generates bulk chemical from two renewable carbon sources — Scientists in China have developed a method to produce ethanol using the renewable resources lignin and carbon dioxide for the first time. The process uses a ruthenium–cobalt catalyst and involves three cascade reactions – breaking

October 31, 2019 Read Full Article

Take Your Career to the Next Level — Bismarck State College Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management

As the biomass industry grows and adapts to new technologies and innovations, qualified supervisors and managers will play an important role in ensuring the profitable operation of facilities well into the future. A Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management degree, available through Bismarck State College, will ensure that future

October 30, 2019 Read Full Article

Highwater Ethanol Hosts Red Rock Central Public School

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Eleven students from Red Rock Central Public School traveled across town yesterday to visit Highwater Ethanol and learn about renewable energy production. “This is the third straight year students from Red Rock Central Public School have toured our plant. Ethanol production plays a vital role in boosting the

October 25, 2019 Read Full Article

Scientists Develop Efficient Methods to Turn Woody Biomass into Fuels

by Brian Wallheimer (Purdue University) … Lignin, a complex compound in cell walls, blocks access to plant carbohydrates that could be cleaved into sugars and then fermented into biofuels. The compounds that hold plant cells together, as well as their tightly packed cell clusters, also block access to sugars for

October 25, 2019 Read Full Article

MN Commissioners Tour Guardian Energy

(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Seven Minnesota state agency commissioners toured Guardian Energy yesterday to learn about the plant’s state-of-the-art production capabilities and the role the ethanol industry plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously boosting the state’s economy. “We were pleased to welcome the commissioners and key personnel from their respective

October 24, 2019 Read Full Article

RFA Receives Grants for Ethanol Safety Education

(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association has recently been awarded grants to support its safety education program through on-site seminars and Internet webinars. Both grants were received via the association’s work with TRANSCAER, a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to

October 24, 2019 Read Full Article

‘Artificial Leaf’ Successfully Produces Clean Gas

(University of Cambridge) A widely-used gas that is currently produced from fossil fuels can instead be made by an ‘artificial leaf’ that uses only sunlight, carbon dioxide and water, and which could eventually be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to petrol. The carbon-neutral device sets a new

October 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative Taps School of Engineering Lab as First in Nation for Screening

by Shawn Robinson (University of Dayton News) The Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative has greenlighted the University of Dayton Heyne Energy and Appropriate Technology Lab and the University of Dayton Research Institute to be the first in the nation to prescreen alternative aviation fuels for viability to enter the American Society

October 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Scholarships Help Bring Students to National Ethanol Conference DEADLINE: January 10, 2020

by Ken Colombini (Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association is partnering with the Renewable Fuels Foundation to offer scholarships to students who are interested in attending the 25th annual National Ethanol Conference, scheduled for Feb. 10-12, 2020 in Houston. Two scholarships are available to students in higher education to attend

October 22, 2019 Read Full Article

Climate Change, Advanced Biofuels and Clean Diesel

(Diesel Technology Forum) When Rudolph Diesel patented his engine over a century ago, it was designed to operate on vegetable oils. Today, most diesel engines are still capable of operating on high quality fuels derived from vegetable oils. Whether it is biodiesel or renewable diesel fuel, the use of high