Notes from Scaleville: The Global Bioenergies, Gevo and Siluria Stories
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we’ve received news from three companies that have struck out in search of new markets for their fundamental processes, and new applications for biotechnology in some ancient and ossified markets such as jet fuel, C3 chemicals and gasoline.
The News from Global Bioenergies
In France, Global Bioenergies has started the start of the scale-up phase of a process converting renewable resources into acetone and isopropanol, two 3-carbon compounds that are extensively used in solvents, materials, and cosmetics. These compounds can subsequently be converted into propylene, a key molecule in the plastics industry. The process has been transferred to ARD, a company installed on the Pomacle-Bazancourt agro-industrial site and a specialist in scaling up fermentation processes, and the first pilot run has been successfully completed.
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The news from Gevo
In Colorado, GE Aviation has commenced jet engine combustor component testing with a jet fuel comprised 100% of Gevo’s renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel . The testing is being performed as part of the Federal Aviation Authority’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise Program.
Specifically, this testing is designed to enable the greater displacement of petroleum-based jet fuel by bio-based alternative products. Bio-based hydrocarbon fuels have similar performance characteristics to the petroleum-based fuels used today, albeit with reductions in particulate matter and other air quality related emissions. Some bio-based jet fuels, such as Gevo’s ATJ, have the potential to improve performance, such as providing greater energy density which translates into better mileage.
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The news from Siluria
In California, Siluria Technologies and Wood have released their new Modus process technology, a cost-efficient, one step process to upgrade low value refinery off gases, otherwise burned for heat, into high value fungible refinery products. READ MORE
Gevo issues corporate update, reduces staff (Ethanol Producer Magazine)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Hydrocarbon Cost Curve: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies (Biofuels Digest)
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