Process – Advanced BioFuels USA

When Negative Is Good – Carbon Negative: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo’s Biojet Fuel

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Noone wants to be negative…unless they are talking about carbon negative of course. The aviation industry has been all abuzz about lowering their carbon footprints for years, then carbon neutral, now carbon negative. According to Gevo’s Timothy Cesarek, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, the carbon footprint

December 14, 2019 Read Full Article

Construction of First D3MAX Plant Nears Completion

(Ethanol Producer Magazine) Construction of the first commercial-scale D3MAX plant at Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin, is nearly complete. “It has been a long haul since July of 2015 when we created D3MAX to commercialize the corn fiber-to-ethanol technology developed by BBI, to where we are today,” says Mark Yancey,

December 13, 2019 Read Full Article

The Brave and the Innovative: History Maker Ulla Kiiski

(Neste) You may not have heard the name Ulla Kiiski. But the Finnish scientist’s breakthroughs in inventing renewable, non-fossil diesel are poised to go down in history. “Resilience against difficult odds runs in my blood,” she tells journalist Ninni Sandelius as we kick off our series interviewing the innovative people leading

December 13, 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

Simplifying Biology for Biochemicals: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to DMC’s Metabolic Engineering Tech

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Digital biology, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are not all the same – just ask Matt Lipscomb, CEO and Founder of DMC who shared this presentation at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco. Check out this Slide-Guide to find out how DMC uses their novel

December 13, 2019 Read Full Article

Thermochemical Technology to Turn Trash to Treasure: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Enerkem’s Waste to Fuels

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Taking non-reyclable waste to sustainable chemicals and biofuels is Enerkem’s world. Current products from ‘trash’ include syngas, methanol and ethanol with alternative pathways currently under development. Andrea Redford, Chief Business Development Officer from Enerkem gave this illuminating presentation at the ABLC NEXT in San Francisco

December 11, 2019 Read Full Article

A Plastics Dichotomy – Durables versus Single Use

by Ronald Cascone (Nexant, Inc./Biofuels Digest) … Durable items are those that are in use for a long time, even years, mostly are rigid, have substantial weight per item, generally are not littered, are typically of more expensive performance polymers (polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonate, etc.) and have high potential for recycling,

December 11, 2019 Read Full Article

Department of Energy Launches Plastics Innovation Challenge

(U.S. Department of Energy) On November 21, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced the launch of the Plastics Innovation Challenge, a comprehensive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program to accelerate innovations in energy-efficient plastics recycling technologies. Plastics are used in thousands of products essential to modern life, but

December 11, 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

Cielo Gets Revised EPEA Permit for Aldersyde Waste to Renewable Fuels Refinery

by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest/Cielo Waste Solutions) In Canada, Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. received notice from Alberta Environment and Parks that the requested changes to their permit were approved. The approved changes relate to Cielo’s proprietary design process including the installation of electric heat on the exterior of the reactor,

December 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Enzymes Bring Biomass Value: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen’s Enzymes

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tailored hydrolysis enzymes have many benefits for biomass, especially since it’s a soup of the day and each unique substrate is a combination of feedstock. MetGen has this covered with their production strains and processes that streamline the chemo-enzymatic route to bioplastics and platform chemicals. Alex Michine,

December 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Trash to Cash – New Anellotech Technology Tackles Plastics Pollution by Recycling Plastic Waste Into Chemicals

by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In New York, breaking news arrived that Anellotech is significantly expanding its program with Plas-TCat, a new process technology aiming to convert a wide range of plastic waste directly into chemicals – which can then be used to make new, virgin plastics. 95% of plastic

December 9, 2019 Read Full Article

Shell to Provide Financial Support for Norwegian Biorefinery Project

(Bioenergy International) Biozin Holding AS has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Shell for financial support of their ongoing work to build a full-scale biocrude production facility in Åmli, Norway. The funding will support ongoing activities as part of the pre-engineering phase of the project. … Biozin

December 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Transport Biofuels from Biomass and Other Renewable Feedstocks; Focus on Sweden

by Mahmood Ebadian, Jim McMillan and Jack Saddler (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) … Task 39’s main focus remains on drop-in biofuels for heavy duty transport, i.e., transport sectors where substantial electrification isn’t foreseen in the near-to-mid-term. It is recognized that beyond on-going technical innovation, effective policies will have to

December 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Changing Process of Bio-diesel Production Would Help Reduce Emission of Dangerous Nanoparticles: TERI

(TERI) Airborne nanoparticles from diesel vehicles are even more harmful to human health than PM2.5 and PM10. TERI has suggested modifications to India’s bio-diesel policy to reduce nanoparticle emissions — Changing the process of producing bio-diesel could help reduce tailpipe emissions of nanoparticles, contributing to improving air quality, according to a

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

Fuel from MSW and Biomass: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Velocys’ Aviation Fuel

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For 17 years, Velocys has been working on XTL projects and their FT technology has operated on syngas derived from natural gas, landfill gas, coal and biomass. Philipp Stratmann, VP Biofuels at Velocys shared the latest from Velocys at the recent IATA Sustainable Aviation Fuel Symposium.

December 5, 2019 Read Full Article

True Zero Emission Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Nel Hydrogen

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nel ASA is a Norwegian company based in Oslo. Nel is a global company providing solutions for the production, storage and distribution of hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Nel is listed in the OBX Index of the Oslo Stock Exchange. The largest shareholder is Clearstream Banking

December 4, 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

Biofuels Could Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 96%

by Steve Hanley (Clean Technica) There is nothing inherently wrong with internal combustion engines. The problem is the fuels we use to run them emit billions of tons of greenhouse gases every year, gases which cause the Earth to get hotter. The byproducts from burning gasoline or diesel fuel account for

December 4, 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

VTT Solves Challenges of Making Emission-Free Mobile Hydrogen

(Hydrogen Digest) From Finland we have news that VTT has combined devices that produce hydrogen from water and electricity from hydrogen into a single movable system that produces hydrogen with an efficiency as high as 80–90%. The problem Weak efficiency has hindered the production of emission-free hydrogen and thus also the

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Fiberight Waste Facility Opens Doors after Delays, Serving Central Maine Region

by Meg Robbins (Morning Sentinel) After more than a year of delays, the Hampden-based trash-to-fuel plant is processing trash from 115 Maine communities, and hopes to see that number climb. — The long anticipated trash-to-fuel facility in Hampden met its contract with more than 100 municipalities at the beginning of November

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Wanted – Stronger Microbial Strains: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biological Sugar Upgrades

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Microbial strains convert lignocellulosic sugars to fuel precursors, but Jeff Linger from National Renewable Energy Laboratory gave this illuminating presentation at the DOE’s BETO 2019 Project Peer Review that details how they are looking to develop and optimize hybrid biological routes to be coupled with

December 3, 2019 Read Full Article

Pathway to Fuels: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Bio-Syngas and Fatty Alcohols

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did you know that Dow and LanzaTechpreviously validated syngas conversion to fatty alcohols via the +1 pathway (LeuABCD) in Clostridium? There is a project underway now to develop a new bio-syngas fermentation process using engineered bacteria for production of intermediate (C6-C14) fatty alcohols leveraging robust chemical

November 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Cemvita Factory Rockin’ It: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Cemvita’s CO2 Utilization

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earlier this week we talked about making protein and meat out of air, so taking CO2 and utilizing it seems right in line. C+C Music Factory’s song from the early 90’s “Everybody Dance Now” comes to mind with the exciting news that Cemvita Factory engineers microorganisms

November 29, 2019 Read Full Article

Verdict’s in for Vertimass: Yep, It’s Commercially Viable

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From California the jury’s come in for Vertimass. We received word of a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, which summarizes key attributes of Vertimass’ unique technology for the conversion of alcohols into hydrocarbons which are compatible

November 27, 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

LanzaTech Moves Forward on Sustainable Aviation Scale Up in the USA and Japan

(LanzaTech) Carbon recycling pioneer, LanzaTech, continues to make strides in scaling up its alcohol to jet (ATJ) platform. Commercialization of the ATJ process has been years in the making, starting with the partnership between LanzaTech and the U.S Energy Department’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL developed a unique catalytic process to

November 26, 2019 Read Full Article

Oh So Sweet! Amyris’s Look at Farnesene Production from Sugars: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MegaBio and Farnesene

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amyris is working on a MegaBio goal. Mega because it’s a big goal – develop a fully integrated and scalable process to produce farnesene from cellulosic sugars at $2 per liter in the U.S. Quinn Mitrovich from Amyris gave this illuminating presentation at the DOE’s BETO 2019

November 25, 2019 Read Full Article

Better Biofuels with Biomass: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Axens and the BioTfueL Project

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioTfueL, originally launched by Total, is a project to produce biofuels via thermochemical conversion and includes several partners that work together on this. Axens Solutions recently spoke at ABLC NEXT about the project, how biomass feedstock is torrefied and then converted into syngas in a

November 19, 2019 Read Full Article

The Role of Chemical Recycling in a Circular Economy and Effective Waste Management

by Zoltan Kish (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) … At the same time, we have a tremendous business opportunity to convert waste into usable sustainable products. According to a market study report prepared by Market Insights Reports, the smart waste management market was valued at $1.41 billion (USD) in 2018 and is expected to reach

November 19, 2019 Read Full Article

Like Fine Wine, Smellin’ Fine: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Anellotech’s Aromatics

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fine wine takes time but it’s so worth it when you gather that first aroma of a freshly opened bottle…and Anellotech shows us that the wait is worth it when it comes to technology too. Their thermal catalytic biomass conversion, or Bio-TCat Process, is making

November 18, 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

17 Trillion Pounds of Plastic – How Much Is Biodegradable?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenesis’ Algae Polymers

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Science by Nature and Nature by Science is what it’s all about for Algenesis. Their goal is for 100% renewable, biodegradable, recyclable polyurethane that can be used for everything from flip flops to surfboards. Michael Burkart from UC San Diego and Algenesis Materials shared this illuminating

November 15, 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

World’s Largest “Green” Hydrogen Pilot Facility Commences Operation

by Mary Page Bailey (Chemical Engineering) What is currently the world’s largest pilot plant for the CO2-neutral production of hydrogen has successfully commenced operation at the Linz site of voestalpine AG (Linz, Austria; www.voestalpine.com), simultaneously setting an international milestone in the advancement of new energy supply options. As part of the EU-funded

November 13, 2019 Read Full Article

GA-EMS to Develop On-Demand Hydrogen Generation Tech for US Army

(Army Technology) General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has received a two-year contract from the US Army to develop a prototype high-pressure hydrogen generation system. The hydrogen generation system will be used by the army for refuelling hydrogen vehicles in the battlefield. The contract work involves design, fabrication, and demonstration of a

November 13, 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

Man with the Plan – Millions Projected for New Projects: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis’ Multi-Million $ Dairy Biogas and Wood Waste Plants

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis is known for their advanced renewable fuels by many,like their California ethanol plant and India biodiesel plant, but what you may now know is that they are building a $56 million dairy biogas digesters, pipeline and cleanup system and a $200 million cellulosic ethanol plant

November 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Neste and Remondis Link up to Develop Chemical Recycling of Plastic Waste

by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) … Finnish renewable diesel and chemical provider Neste and German recycling provider Remondis have signed an agreement to collaborate in the development of chemical recycling of plastic waste. The companies will focus on developing and accelerating chemical recycling with a target to reach an annual capacity

November 12, 2019 Read Full Article

Keep Calm and Make Oil?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Infra’s GTL Tech

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Infra Technology has developed and patented a Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) technology (INFRA.xtl), based on the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process, for the production of light synthetic oil and clean liquid synthetic transportation fuels from natural and associated gas, as well as from biomass and other fossil fuels (XTL).

November 11, 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

A Trailblazer for Green Hydrogen: Expo 2020 Visitors Will Be Able to See the Middle East’s Frst Solar Hydrogen Plant.

by Christopher Findlay (Siemens) … Seeking to place its energy system and its national economy on a more sustainable footing, the government of Dubai and its state utility DEWA have decided to push ahead with the integration of H2 technology and accelerate the use of renewables in the region. To

November 7, 2019 Read Full Article

S. Korea Builds Hydrogen Plant

(South Korea Bizwire) South Korea has built a hydrogen plant in the country’s western region, the oceans ministry said Tuesday, in a move that could further boost its efforts to support the promotion of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Korea Western Power Co.’s plant in Taean, some 150 kilometers southwest

November 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Enapter Showcases Green Hydrogen and the Future of Energy Storage with a Demonstration at Nongnooch Tropical Garden in Chonburi

(Enapter) Nongnooch Tropical Botanical Garden, a scientific research center and attraction in Chonburi Province, Thailand, today announced it is displaying hydrogen as an energy storage solution in collaboration with the hydrogen electrolyser manufacturer Enapter. The 600-acre garden aims to demonstrate an entire energy system that is independent from the local grid

November 6, 2019 Read Full Article

St1 and beyond: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Hydrogen for Renewable Diesel and Other Bio-Based Applications

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we reported that St1 has awarded ÅF Pöyry with engineering assignment for a new renewable fuel production unit investment project. The new plant will be built in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is the largest single investment in St1’s history. The investment is estimated to approximately 1.5

November 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Are Ancient Bugs the Key to Storing Wind and Solar?

by Stephen Lacey (GreenTechMedia) In this special podcast episode: We tour NREL’s new bioreactor that creates renewable methane from microorganisms, hydrogen and CO2. NREL and SoCalGas are finally running their novel power-to-gas system. — As grids get saturated with wind and solar electricity, there’s increasing pressure to find new ways to

November 6, 2019 Read Full Article

Galicia-Based Project Has Produced Enough Biogas to Travel 135,000 km

(NGV Journal/EnergyLab) With the assistance of the Minister of Economy, Business and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia, Francisco Conde López, the presentation of the results of the Renewable Gas Mixed Research Unit, developed by Naturgy and the EnergyLab Technology Center, was held at Edar (WWTP) de Bens facilities. This

November 5, 2019 Read Full Article

The Long Haul to Getting Aviation Biofuel off the Ground

by Angeli Mehta (Ethical Corporation) With the IPCC warning against growing crops for fuel, Angeli Mehta reports on how LanzaTech, SkyNRG and Velocys are trying to get the next generation of aviation biofuels to scale The first flight using a blend of kerosene and biofuel took place back in 2008. Eleven

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

This Company Turns Emissions into Fuel

Article by Millie Dent; Video by Bryce Urbany & Deborah Brunswick (CNN) The world’s industrial sector — places like steel mills, refineries, and chemical plans — contributes over 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Where most people see this only as pollution, Chicago-based LanzaTech considers it opportunity. The biotech startup

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Renewable Natural Gas Start-up Company Completes Key Milestone Converting Alberta Forest Residues into Pipeline-Quality Gas

(Canadian Gas Association) An innovative clean energy start-up company, G4 Insights Inc., has successfully demonstrated in a field trial that forestry industry residues can be turned into renewable natural gas (RNG). Their RNG technology demonstration project has been supported by a federal-provincial-industry partnership with the common goal of clean energy

November 4, 2019 Read Full Article

Heard on the Floor at ABLC Next

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA releases Report on the Bioeconomy: The USDA released its Report on the Bioeconomy Imiplementation Framework. The Bioeconomy Initiative: Implementation Framework will serve as a guiding document for the BR&D Board member agencies to increase government accountability and efficiency, maximize interagency coordination on bioeconomy research and other

November 1, 2019 Read Full Article

Vertimass Selected by U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office to Receive Up to $1.4 Million Award to Optimize Renewable Jet Fuel

(Vertimass/PR Newswire) Vertimass to optimize renewable jet fuel blendstocks to maximize energy content and reduce emissions — Vertimass LLC announced today that Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will receive a cost-shared award of up to $1.4 million to optimize jet fuel

October 31, 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

Biobased Polycarbonate Breakthrough, Seaweed Diapers, Bamboo Toothbrushes, One Cow’s Manure Can Power Toyota’s New Mirai Hydrogen Car and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 31st

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Halloween and things are getting pretty scary out there with stinky, petroleum based, disposable, plastic diapers and plastic toothbrushes being discarded all over the world but have no fear, for a new seaweed-based reusable diaper and Colgate’s new bamboo toothbrush is here to save the

October 31, 2019 Read Full Article

Just Announced at ABLCNEXT 2019: Energy Department Announces $14M Investment in Demonstration-Scale Integrated Biorefineries

(Department of Energy)Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Selection for EERE Project Development for Pilot and Demonstration Scale Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biopower — Today, the Energy Department announced a $14 million investment in demonstration-scale integrated biorefineries. This investment, a continuation of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 FOA selection, is being negotiated

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

The Race Is on to Repurpose Garbage

by Marc S. Reisch (Chemical & Engineering News) Despite a spotty track record, companies keep trying to convert trash into energy, fuels, and chemicals — … Local press reports noted weather-related construction delays, a challenge to the plant’s environmental permits, and difficult markets for recycled materials. Those delays point to

October 31, 2019 Read Full Article

GGC Succeeds in Producing JAMA-Certified B100 Biodiesel

(The Nation Thailand) A source from Global Green Chemical (GGC) reported on Thursday (October 24) that the company’s first methyl ester facility had been successful in manufacturing biodiesel using 100-per-cent pure palm oil or B100 with less than 0.4 per cent of monoglycerides, which is in line with the standards

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

Artificial Leaf, Renewable Fabric, Hydrogen Truck, Edible Tray, Plant Bags, Mushroom Textiles: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 24th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we lead with an artificial leaf, which kinda sorta goes with plant-based shopping bags — seems as if we’re going one way, then the other, as The Pretenders once sang. Also in the news this week are renewable fabric, a hydrogen-based truck as Renault

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

Toshiba and PLN Sign Memorandum of Understanding on the Promotion of Autonomous Hydrogen Energy Supply System “H2One™” in Indonesia

(Toshiba) Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (hereinafter, “Toshiba ESS”) today announced that the company has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with state-owned electric company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (hereinafter, “PLN”), on an accelerated adoption of the independent hydrogen-based energy supply system, H2One™, in the country. A signing ceremony was held

October 24, 2019 Read Full Article

Interaction Encouraged

by Lisa Gibson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Jaime Finguerut, director of the Sugarcane Technology Institute in Brazil, showed a presentation slide titled, “EMERGENCY!” as he explained to his audience at The Alcohol School Sept. 10 that the climate crisis is the largest global demand driver for ethanol. Finguerut presented at Lallemand

October 23, 2019 Read Full Article

Tyre Recycler Signs Deal to Turn Their Carbon into High Value Graphite

(Green Distillation Technologies) Tyre recycler Green Distillation Technologies, has signed a deal with New Zealand’s CarbonScape to enhance the value of the carbon produced by its process, turning it into high value graphite. GDT’s world-first tyre recycling process turns end-of-life car, truck and oversize tyres into high value oil, carbon and steel,

October 21, 2019 Read Full Article

Sustainable Technology Acquires DuPont’s G2 Ethanol Technology

(Sustainabile Technology Corp/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sustainable Technology Corp., a subsidiary of Petron Scientech Inc., has completed the acquisition from DuPont, the complete technology assets for the world-class, second-generation technology developed and demonstrated by DuPont, capable of commercially producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass. The acquired assets include all associated intellectual property and

October 21, 2019 Read Full Article

MetGen Wins Frost & Sullivan 2019 European Technology Innovation Award

(MetGen) Based on its recent analysis of the European industrial enzymes market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Finland-based MetGen with the 2019 European Technology Innovation Award for its enzyme technologies, METNIN™ and ENZINE®. METNIN™ enables complete valorization of lignin for use in various applications, allowing the products made of lignin to be

October 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Air Liquide Partners with ArcelorMittal in Pilot Project to Capture and Recycle Carbon

(Air Liquide) Air Liquide is partnering with ArcelorMittal in the first industrial scale demonstration plant to capture carbon gas from the steelmaking process and recycle it into chemicals, specifically advanced bioethanol*. In this project, Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide a technology solution that purifies the offgas coming from the

October 18, 2019 Read Full Article

The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Breakthroughs at the Bioenergy Research Centers

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Over 10 years (2007–2017), three Bioenergy Research Centers produced multiple breakthroughs in the form of deepened understanding of sustainable biomass production practices, targeted re-engineering of biomass feedstocks, development of new methods for deconstructing feedstocks, and engineering of microbes for more effective production of a diverse

October 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Paper Beer Bottles, 3D Printed Boats, Hydrogen-Powered Rescues; the New Mirai, Plastics from Potato, Hallowe’en Biobased Coffins, The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 18th

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week there’s Hallowe’en around the corner and we’ll point to the very latest in biobased DIY coffins, but leading this week is the unexpected ways to make the ordinary stuff we know — like, the paper beer bottle, a 3d printed boat, and pallets

October 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Biofuels That Could Be Made from Seawater

(University of Manchester/Phys.org) Researchers from the University of Manchester are using synthetic biology to explore a more efficient way to produce the next generation of biobased jet fuels—partly made from seawater. — The Manchester research group, led by Professor Nigel Scrutton, director of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) and supported

October 18, 2019 Read Full Article

Greenfield Global Takes Next Steps to Expand Production at Its Varennes Biorefinery Following Draft Regulation on the Minimum Renewable Fuel Volumes in Quebec

(Greenfield Global/Oil and Gas 360) Province’s largest ethanol producer says the policy could result in a major expansion of the output of its production in Quebec. — Greenfield Global Inc., Canada’s largest ethanol producer and a world leader in high-purity specialty alcohols, welcomed the Government of Quebec’s pre-publication of draft regulations on the minimum

October 15, 2019 Read Full Article

About Those Biobased Amines We Might One Day Dream up at Ptixar Amination

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) … Lately the amines, which in the simplest description are compounds with a bunch of nitrogen stuffed inside, have improved their reputation. For one, a number of Direct Air Capture technologies have been receiving big publicity as climate fighters for their CO2-scrubbing prowess. … “various

October 15, 2019 Read Full Article

IIT-M, ExxonMobil Research Join Hands for Biofuel Research

(CanIndia) The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM) on Monday said it has entered into an agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (EMRE) for research on energy and biofuels. In a statement issued here, IIT-M said it will be a five year joint research agreement focusing on biofuels, data analytics, gas

October 14, 2019 Read Full Article

The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guides to Biogas

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) An organization well worth knowing in the world of biogas, or renewable methane, is the indefatigable group organized as IEA Bioenergy Task 37, an international working group which covers the anaerobic digestion of biomass feedstocks including agricultural residues, energy crops, organic-rich waste waters, the organic fraction of

October 14, 2019 Read Full Article

The Potential of Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) Routes for Biofuels Production

(Netwerk Betreibstoffe/BEsustainable Magazine Autumn 2019) Hydrothermal Liquefaction is one of the most promising technologies for the conversion of sustainable biomass into renewable transport fuels. Five European research and innovation projects and the Norwegian National Centre Bio4Fuels are jointly organizing an expert workshop to discuss state-of-the-art, developments and applications of this technology.