Ensyn Receives Key Regulatory Approval for its Renewable Diesel

(Ensyn/Advanced Biofuels Association) Dr. Robert Graham, CEO and Chairman of Ensyn Corporation (Ensyn), is pleased to announce that Ensyn has been granted a key regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its renewable diesel product, RFDiesel. This approval, pursuant to Title 40 CFR Part 79 of the Clean Air Act, is required for the sale of RFDiesel into U.S. commerce.

RFDiesel, a drop-in diesel transportation fuel, is created by processing Ensyn’s renewable crude (RFO), a liquid cellulosic feedstock, with customary petroleum feedstocks in conventional petroleum refineries (RFO Coprocessing). Ensyn is developing and commercializing RFO Coprocessing in a strategic alliance with Honeywell UOP, a global leader in technology solutions for the refining industry.

Veronica May, vice president and general manager of UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business said, “We are very pleased that this important milestone has been achieved. RFO Coprocessing is a cost-effective solution with multiple advantages for refiners wishing to integrate cellulosic feedstocks into their operations. We look forward to commercializing this important product.”

Ensyn is advancing its RFO Coprocessing business with UOP and an array of first-class, global industry leaders. The Part 79 registration process involved a number of these industry leaders. The liquid RFO feedstock was produced at one of Ensyn’s commercial facilities and shipped to Brazil. Using Petrobras proprietary FCC coprocessing technology, 400 gallons of coprocessed diesel were produced in a technical collaboration between Petrobras and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The diesel was shipped to a major international oil company in the U.S. for initial evaluation and preparation for the Part 79 test. The final RFDiesel product was then shipped to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas where independent Part 79 testing was conducted.

“This is another important step for the development of our renewable fuels business,” stated Dr. Graham. “Registration under Part 79 will allow us to proceed with the commercial introduction of RFO feedstocks to refiners. In parallel with this process we are expanding RFO production capacity in order to meet expected demand.”

RFO Coprocessing is an innovative and game-changing approach for the production of renewable gasoline and diesel. Conventional biofuel solutions are based on producing blend fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel that are blended with finished fuels post-refining. In contrast, Ensyn’s coprocessing solution provides refiners with a renewable feedstock and the result is ASTM specification transportation fuel, rather than a blend. In addition, the RFO Coprocessing solution is based on conversion of non-food, cellulosic feedstocks to fuels, avoiding competition with food markets.

Ensyn and UOP have a broad technology alliance that covers the production of RFO as well as the commercialization of RFO Coprocessing. Ensyn and UOP have established a joint venture known as Envergent Technologies LLC that supplies Ensyn’s biomass conversion technology (RTP), with performance guarantees, to RFO projects that Ensyn and its partners are developing worldwide. In addition, Ensyn and UOP are collaborating on the commercialization of RFO Coprocessing. Under this collaboration, UOP is interfacing with refiners and facilitating a seamless integration of RFO into their refineries.

Ensyn is a leader in the production of cellulosic liquid biofuels produced from wood residues and other non-food biomass. Ensyn has more than 25 years of commercial operations and has produced more than 40 million gallons of liquid fuels and chemicals from wood residues. Ensyn’s key liquid product, known as RFO”, is a heating fuel and can be used as renewable crude in refineries for the production of ASTM spec gasoline and diesel. Ensyn owns and operates a commercial RFO production facility in Ontario, Canada that supplies RFO for sale to heating customers in the US and Canada. Additional RFO production capacity is under development in Aracruz, Brazil and at other locations in Canada and the US. Ensyn is executing its business plan in conjunction with key strategic relationships, including UOP, Fibria Celulose SA and Chevron Technology Ventures.

UOP LLC is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries. READ MORE