by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a lot of flat, dry land in the U.S. but researchers at Arizona State University and others are looking at how that land could support biofuel production. How about evaporation-resistant reactors coupled with thermotolerant, high-productivity
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMECannabinoid, Meet Biochem – Lygos Acquires Librede to Scale up and Commercialize Cannabinoid Production
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In California comes the hot news that Lygos, who you may know for their sugar converting advanced biotech platform, has acquired Librede, Inc., an emerging synthetic biology company focused on cannabinoid products for the consumer
January 20, 2020 Read Full Article
Waste2Tricity Awarded Grant for Pioneering Waste Plastic to Hydrogen Technology
(Power House Energy Group) Waste2Tricity, the UK technology company developing pioneering hydrogen production from waste plastic, has been offered a conditional £1.25m grant for its planned Plastics to Hydrogen Facility at Protos, near Ellesmere Port. The grant award follows a successful
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s the Mystery Date? Green Hydrogen for Renewable Diesel’s Stealthy Project
by Jim Lane (Hydrogen Digest) From Planet Houston we’ve heard that ENGlobal inked a $20 million to supply process modules that will be used to construct a complete hydrogen production facility. The plant will be a major component of an otherwise
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
UPM Celebrates Five Years of Operations at Advanced Biofuels Facility in Finland
(Biofuels International) Finnish company UPM has marked the five-year anniversary of the start of operations of the first biorefinery in the world to produce wood-based advanced biofuels, the Lappeenranta Biorefinery. The facility uses wood-based residual raw material crude tall oil to
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
FastOx Commercialization: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sierra Energy’s Gasification Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The U.S. Army has a FHL installation and there is an FTL demo, but did you know Sierra Energy has an online gasification calculator tool that you can use too? Check out this Slide-Guide from
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
5 Early Applications for Green Hydrogen
by Jason Deign (GreenTech Media) Few energy-related topics are getting as much attention at the moment as green hydrogen. Europe's biggest natural-gas infrastructure firm recently launched a new hydrogen business. A hydrogen economy in the U.S. could generate an estimated $140 billion per year
January 09, 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
January 09, 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
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Licella and BioLogiQ Join Forces to Accelerate Commercialisation of Cat-HTR™ Technology in Australia
(Licella) Licella and BioLogiQ join forces to accelerate commercialisation of Cat-HTR™ technology in Australia, to chemically recycle post-consumption plastic that would otherwise not be recycled. -- Australia consumes 3.4 million tonnes of plastic each year, of which only 9% is recycled1.
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Dimethyl Ether – Zero Emissions, Carbon Neutrality?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Oberon Fuels’ Renewable DME
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Dimethyl Ether – We know DME well, but do you know all of its advantages or about fuel-grade DME in North America? Did you know about Oberon Fuels’ small-scale DME production process and the latest
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Australian Tyre Recycler Signs Deal for First US Plant
(Green Distillation Technologies) Australian tyre recycler Green Distillation Technologies, which has developed world-first technology that recycles end-of-life tyres into oil, carbon and steel, has signed a deal to build their first plant in the United States, The agreement provides funding of up
January 08, 2020 Read Full Article
10 Reasons Why Algae Are Interesting: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes for Carbon Capture Reuse and Sequestration
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algae is a wondrous thing…and here are 10 reasons why. But that’s not all! What about polyurethanes? Fully renewable polyurethanes from unsaturated lipids and protein-derived amine cross linkers? Check out this Slide-Guide from NREL’s Philip Pienkos
January 08, 2020 Read Full Article
Top Industrial Biotechnology Trends in the U.S. – The View from Europe
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) ... Housed in a region with significant historic chemical operations, including the home of where buna rubber was first commercialized, Eastern Germany is similar to parts of the industrial midwestern United States. The area
January 08, 2020 Read Full Article
The Work Ahead
by Vijay Swarup (LinkedIn/ExxonMobil) ... That further work means continued technology innovation. We have to keep finding and inventing solutions to the myriad of individual problems posed by the dual challenge. These different efforts – both within and outside of
January 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Corn and Ethanol Markets: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Farmer Efforts to Drive the Renewable Economy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The National Corn Growers Association is working hard to increase demand, improve productivity and environmental sustainability and more, but how are they doing this? How do their programs help drive the bioeconomy? What misinformation are
January 07, 2020 Read Full Article
Cracking the Code of Bacteria: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MicroByre’s Engineered Bacteria
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Working with only E.coli is like feeding dogs grass to make milk,” said Dr. Sarah Richardson during this presentation given at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco. With a background in genomes, she shared insight into
January 07, 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
January 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Microbes to Materials: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Lygos’ Sugar Conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) By taking a low pH yeast platform and adding in some BioFab and software, machine learning and artificial intelligence, you get new materials development, said Eric Steen from Lygos during his presentation at ABLC NEXT
January 03, 2020 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 10 Top Advanced Bioeconomy Markets & Predictions for 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2020? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2019 gives
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuel Technology: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Mercurius Biorefining
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reaching high is something Mercurius is familiar with, esp. with their REACH technology. Standing for renewable, acid-hydrolysis, condensation, hydrotreating, their REACH technology works at low temperature, low pressure and enzyme free. According to Knud Balslev at
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Valuable and Viable: Changes to the 45Q Tax Credit Increase the Monetary Value of Carbon Dioxide for Ethanol Producers.
by Andrew Duguid (Battelle/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Changes to Section 45Q of the U.S. tax code have made it easier for ethanol producers to take advantage of tax credits for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions. However, producers must act fast
December 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Carbon Recycling: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech’s CarbonSmart
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech is turning our global carbon crisis into a feedstock opportunity with the potential to displace 30% of crude oil use today and reduce global CO2 emissions by 10%. By recycling carbon from industrial off-gases; syngas
December 31, 2019 Read Full Article
50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy for 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the 2020 “50 Hottest Companies in the Advanced Bioeconomy” was published today, as voted by invited international Selectors and subscribers of The Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily. The full list can be found
December 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Custom Chem: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Kiverdi’s CO2 and Syngas Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Kiverdi is taking carbon-rich waste and converting it to sustainable chemicals with their carbon engineering. With CO2 and syngas fed into their reactor, they are creating targeted chemicals like hydrocarbon monomers, esters, terpenes and more. Jason Husk
December 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Biobased Barbies, Pineapple Waste Paper, 3D Printed Fruit, Super Bowl’s Fiber Food Packaging, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 25th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s Christmas morning for many and biobased Barbies are on the horizon with Mattel’s promise to use only recycled, recyclable, or renewable plastics in all products by 2030, starting with the Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack made from sugarcane
December 26, 2019 Read Full Article
From Ideation to Commercial Realization: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Genomatica’s Chemicals and Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With over 1,500 patents, Genomatica is getting a move on the innovation engine with their 1,4-Butanediol, Brontide – a naturally sourced butylene glycol, a 100% biobased nylon-6, and their path to be the leading BG supplier
December 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Finnair Participates in a Feasibility Study on Power-to-X Pilot to Advance the Development of Carbon Neutral Synthetic Fuels
(Finnair) Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT in Finland and a group of companies, including Finnair, have started a feasibility study for a synthetic fuels pilot production plant. The intended industrial scale pilot facility is based on power-to-x technology, and the target
December 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Hydrogen Tech’s Diversified Future: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Hydrogenics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Hydrogenics is a unit of Cummins Inc. active in designing, manufacturing, building and installing industrial and commercial Hydrogen generation, Hydrogen fuel cells and MW-scale energy storage solutions. Based in Mississauga, Canada with manufacturing facilities located in Germany,
December 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Carbohydrate Industry Outlook: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Carbs and Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ah sugar, sugar, you are my candy girl. Fluid Quip Technologies is talking about industrial sugar of course, and its many challenges and opportunities. Check out this slide guide from Neal Jakel, Partner/Strategy and Technology
December 23, 2019 Read Full Article
In the Hydrogen Roadmap Europe, a Path for EU Energy Transition
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Europe we’d like to shine a light today on “Hydrogen Roadmap Europe: A sustainable pathway for the European Energy Transition“ concludes that hydrogen is an essential element in the energy transition and can account for 24%
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
LEGO Bioplastic Bricks, Castor Bean Coats, World’s First Hydrogen Powered Ferry and Carrier Ship, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 20th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some, it’s holiday shopping season and now LEGO’s first bioplastic block set is an option! The kit—appropriately designed to make a treehouse—uses sugarcane-based polyethylene. Another great gift Top 10 Innovation from this week is French
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
The Bioeconomy Christmas: Uncle Sam puts $12B+ for Biomass-Based Diesel, Action on Biointermediates, Cellulosics, and Small Refinery Waivers into the Stocking This Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, Congressional leaders announced a five-year extension of the biomass-based diesel tax credit as part of a year-end tax extenders package. As Christmas gifts go, the importance and value of this to the biomass-based diesel
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Heliogen Achieves Breakthrough Temperatures From Concentrated Sunlight for Industrial Processes, With Momentum Toward Commercial Hydrogen Fuel Creation
(Heliogen/Business Wire) Heliogen, the clean energy company that is transforming sunlight to create and replace fuels, today announced its launch and that it has – for the first time commercially – concentrated solar energy to exceed temperatures greater than 1,000 degrees
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Air Liquide, DLVA and ENGIE Are Entering into an Ambitious Partnership to Produce Green Hydrogen on an Industrial Scale
(Air Liquide) Air Liquide, the Durance, Luberon, Verdon urban area (DLVA) and ENGIE are signing a cooperation agreement to develop the “HyGreen Provence” project which aims at producing, storing and distributing green hydrogen. Initiated in 2017, “HyGreen Provence” will make it
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
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Lessons Learning on the Road to Commercialization: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Ensyn’s Demo to Commercial Path
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We all know going from demo to commercial isn’t easy. Ensyn, a company that produces biocrude from forest and agricultural residues using its proprietary thermal technology and focuses on low carbon fuels and chemicals, knows all
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
One-Step Process: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to ETB’s Butadiene from Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ETB Catalytic Technologies developed a unique technology of producing butadiene from ethanol production. But the big question is how do they commercialize the technology? Just ask Vladimir Trembovolsky, CEO of ETB Catalytic Technologies who shared this presentation
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
December 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Neutrons Optimize High Efficiency Catalyst for Greener Approach to Biofuel Synthesis
(U.S. Department of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Science Daily) Researchers used neutron scattering in the development of a catalyst that converts biomass into liquid fuel with remarkably high efficiency and provides new possibilities for manufacturing renewable energy-related materials. Researchers led by the
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Conversion Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to BETO’s Carbon-Based Fuels and Co-Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Why is working with biomass so challenging? Jonathan Male, Director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) set out to answer that question at ABLC NEXT in San Francisco. Check out his illuminating
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
We Three Kings of the Bioeconomy Are: Novozymes & Green Plains, Arzeda & BP, and Inscripta & What Appears to Be the Entire Investing Universe Announce Massive Deals to Anchor a Big Bioeconomy Christmas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Novozymes & Green Plains, Arzeda & BP, and Inscripta & a bunch of investors new and returning — three transformative market shifts this week of epic proportion. Grabbing the dollar headlines has to be Inscripta’s eye-watering $125
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Green Dreams: Agilyx and GE Enter Agreement to Advance the Circular Economy for Plastics
(Agilyx/PR Newswire) Bringing artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive modeling to chemical recycling; Aiming to improve recycling of post-use plastics to >95% -- Imagine a world where plastic materials would never go to waste. Agilyx Corporation ("Agilyx"), the leader in chemical recycling of
December 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Starting with the End in Mind: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Codexis’s Enzymes and Scalable Proteins
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Codexis has reimagined the degree, and speed, of transformation of protein performance possible through protein engineering – Better libraries, better (bigger) data and a highly integrated workflow that leads to rapid, and very large, performance improvements.
December 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Water-Based Tech Converts Biomass into Food Ingredients – Renmatix and Cargill Sign Joint Development Agreement
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Functional food ingredients from unused plant materials is just what Renmatix and Cargill are aiming to explore with their new joint development agreement, but what makes this breaking news even more fascinating is that Renmatix
December 16, 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
December 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Global Biogas Industry Leaders Call on Governments around the World to Unlock the Full Potential of Biogas in Addressing the Climate Emergency
(World Biogas Association) -If all barriers were removed, the biogas industry could abate up to 4bn tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, representing at least 12% of today’s global emissions, by 2030. -Today only 2% of the feedstock available globally to
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
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
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
9 Hot New CO2 Applications
by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics/Biofuels Digest) ... Food and beverage applications often account for 70% of all tonnage consumed in the merchant sector. There are also demands of a captive and sequestration nature, which in my view, are generally categorized
December 10, 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
December 09, 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
December 09, 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
December 09, 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
December 09, 2019 Read Full Article
RNG Industry Launches SMART Initiative
(Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas/Biomass Magazine) The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) announced the Sustainable Methane Abatement and Recycling Timeline (SMART) Initiative at the RNG 2019 conference this week in Dana Point, California, casting the vision for RNG stakeholders
December 09, 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
December 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Everfuel, Shell to Collaborate on a Large-Scale Hydrogen Plant in Denmark
(Bioenergy International) In Denmark, hydrogen infrastructure developer Everfuel Denmark A/S and A/S Dansk Shell – the Shell Refinery in Fredericia, and partners have entered into strategic cooperation on the future supply of the transport sector with green energy in the
December 06, 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
December 06, 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
December 06, 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
December 06, 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
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Emissions from Production of Plastics Deserves Same Scrutiny as End-of-Life Debate, Says Expert.
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... Biome Bioplastics CEO Paul Mines said that the discussion around plastics isn’t solely about its end of life but its start of life. He also said that the production of oil-based plastics was hugely carbon
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
INSIGHT: Rise of HVO to Be the Downfall of Traditional Biodiesel in Europe
by Samantha Wright (Independent Commodity Intelligence Service) As hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) use grows in Europe, with more expansions anticipated in the next few years, questions are arising as to its impact on the traditional biodiesel market and the wider oleochemicals
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Evonik to Expand Sodium Methylate Capacity in Rosario, Argentina
(Evonik) -Output of sodium methylate production plant in Rosario will be increased by 50 percent in two stages; -Expansion is response to increasing market demand for biodiesel; -Investment strengthens market leadership position for alkoxides; -Evonik plans to increase its capacity
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Hydrogen thru Existing Infrastructure: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to the Conversion to Hydrogen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Technical Association of the European Natural Gas Industry looked recently at the use of hydrogen using existing natural gas infrastructure and existing gas appliances. READ MORE
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Compostable Coffee Capsules, Banana Waste Bioplastic, Cocoa Husk Chocolate Wrappers, Cactus Leather, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 4th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season is in full gear for some and this means coming up with gifts for family and friends. For The Digest readers this week, there is no dearth of biobased alternatives to consider like
December 04, 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
December 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Nothing Is Made out of Thin Air…until Now. Air Protein Introduces World’s First Air-Based Food
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Air Protein created the first air-based meat created from elements found in the air we breathe. The new air-based meat substance can be used to make burgers, chicken, turkey or virtually any meat product you
November 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Company Signs Deal with CPR for Scrap Ties
(Medicine Hat News) The company that plans to include Medicine Hat in a network of biodiesel refineries in Alberta has signed a long-term agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway to use at least 2.5 million scrap rail ties as feedstock. Cielo Waste Solutions
November 29, 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
November 29, 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
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
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
New PHA Pathway, Stroodles Noodle Straws, Bamboo Poutine, Seaweed Bioplastic, Rice Husk Travel Mugs and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 28th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S. today and many are gathering around the table, chatting about the latest news, like the new Air Protein – air-based food – and whether it will be served alongside…or
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Exclusive Expert Insights from Day One and Day Two of SynBio Markets 2019.
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... Another era has started today with the launch of Bio Market Insight’s first SynBio Markets conference, which has kicked off with a bang. Set in the quirky ewerk location in Berlin, Germany, industry heavyweights have taken part in keynotes,
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Shell Starts Recycling Plastics in Louisiana
by Jordan Blum (Houston Chronicle) Royal Dutch Shell said Thursday it has started making petrochemical products from recycled plastic waste to eventually help combat the growing fears that the world is drowning in plastics. The Anglo-Dutch energy giant said it is partnering
November 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Algae – Aquaculture Alternative for Omega 3 Needs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion’s Creations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 4.5 billion years ago – that’s when the earth was created. But Corbion is busy creating some life changing things of their own with their food ingredients, biochemicals and innovative biotech platforms. During her presentation at ABLC
November 27, 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
November 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Shell Aviation to Support SkyNRG's Dutch SAF Production Facility Development and Secures Fuel Purchase Option
(GreenAir Online) Shell Aviation has expanded its interests in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development through an agreement to support SkyNRG’s DSL-01 SAF production plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, that is due to be commissioned in 2022. The facility is expected to
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
November 26, 2019 Read Full Article
The Magic behind the Molecules and Materials: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Checkerspot’s Synthetic Biology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “The measure of how disruptive Synthetic Biology is lies in the applications, the use cases and relevance to consumers,”according to Checkerspot which uses biology and chemistry to generate novel building blocks. Their ingredients include custom oils
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
November 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Functional Fungus, Amyris’s Secret New Nutritional Ingredient, Bioplastics for Auto Applications, First-ever Hydrogen Powered Train and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 22nd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Christmas decorations are showing up in all the stores already so The Digest figures it’s not too early to talk about the holidays…so forget about the coal powered Polar Express this winter, as the first-ever contract
November 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Neste Opens an Office in Melbourne, Australia
(Neste) Neste, the world’s leading provider of renewable diesel and the 3rd most sustainable company in the world*, strengthens its footprint in renewable feedstock sourcing. The company has opened an office in Melbourne to serve Neste’s waste and residue raw material
November 22, 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
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.
November 18, 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
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.
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Southern Hemisphere Spring Meetings in Brazil: Sugar, Ethanol, Biogas and Biodiesel—Whew!
by Cácia Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Brazilian Biofuels Market players have been busy in the past days, with various seminars and forums organized to discuss the economic and technological development of the sector. Brazil is well known for its clean
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
November 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Increased Global Biodiesel Production to Lengthen Glycerine Markets in 2020
by Lucas Hall (ICIS) An increase in global biodiesel production is likely to further lengthen the world's glycerine supply glut in 2020 as higher biodiesel mandates increase the supply of crude glycerine by-product. ... One factor market participants are watching is the growth
November 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Cellulose Car, Fermentation for Fragrances, World’s 1st Solar Hydrogen Electrolysis Facility, Green Tea Leather Alternative, Hydrogen from CO2 and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 7th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Nature is an amazing thing. But add human brains and technology and you can get some pretty amazing things too – like a renewable insulating foam wetsuit to make your ocean outings even more in tune
November 07, 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
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
ABLCNext Top 10 Takeaways – What Was the Industry Buzzing about in San Francisco?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Next last week, there was lots of buzz and tons of discussion about all sorts of things, but what were the key takeaways? Let's start with Sustainable Aviation Fuels, CRISPR, new food, the
November 05, 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,
November 04, 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
November 01, 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
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
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,
October 31, 2019 Read Full Article
Air Liquide Committed to Producing Renewable Hydrogen for the West Coast Mobility Market with New Liquid Hydrogen Plant
(Air Liquide) Air Liquide’s biogas technology enables our recent $150M investment to produce and supply renewable liquid hydrogen to the western U.S. mobility markets. Today (October 8, 2019), Air Liquide joins the nation in celebrating National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day,
October 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Butanol International Patent Application Published
(SilicoLife) SilicoLife’s international patent application for biological production of n-butanol has been published. -- SilicoLife announced that the company’s international (PCT) patent application for “Method for n-butanol production using heterologous expression of anaerobic pathways” was published on October 3, 2019, under publication
October 28, 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
October 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Green Shoots: After a Sluggish Decade, Is the Bioenergy Tide Turning?
by Gerard J. Ostheimer, Ph.D. (below50) and Douglas L. Faulkner (“the Clean Tech Conservative” / Leatherstocking LLC) (Biofuels Digest) ... On the left there is a surging sense of climate action urgency. On the right is growing concern over energy security.
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
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
October 21, 2019 Read Full Article
50 Million Bucks Says Landfill Is a Viable Energy Source: Suncor Doubles Down on Enerkem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, news arrived late last week Enerkem closed a $50 million equity investment from Suncor. What does it mean? Today’s let’s explore that. As Canada’s leading integrated energy company, Suncor first participated in the ownership of Enerkem
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
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
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,
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,
October 18, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to the Agile BioFoundry and the Transformation of Markets through Genetic Innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agile BioFoundry brings together a specialist team of scientists, engineers, and technical staff from eight of the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories, with the aim that their collective skills, expertise, and experience lead
October 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Sabah’s Biomass Grossly Underutilised: Shafie
by Sherell Jeffrey (Daily Express) Sabah’s biomass is grossly underutilised and industry players don’t seem to be very enthusiastic despite the State having what it takes for them to take full advantage of the situation, from raw materials, infrastructure and
October 16, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Beyond Meat and Alternatives to Traditional Meat Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Beyond Burger recently arrived as the world’s first plant-based burger that looks, cooks, and satisfies like beef, without GMOs, soy, or gluten, and has become a global sensation. Overall the company aims to “create
October 16, 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,
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
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
October 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Chemical Catalysis Pioneer James Dumesic Wins International Energy Prize
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Prolific biofuels researcher James Dumesic has been named the winner of the 2019 Eni Energy Transition Award. The internationally renowned Eni Awards were established in 2007 to recognize excellence in energy and environmental research. The Energy Transition Award honors
October 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Undergraduates Participate in Bioenergy Research at GLBRC
(Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center) Each year, the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) hosts a group of undergraduate students to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, designed to immerse students in research. This summer, 11 undergraduate
October 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Catch & Kill: The Velocys, Oxy, Cemvita, Carbon Engineering, BHP, Ginkgo Chase to Catch Waste, Kill Emissions, Armed with New Organisms to Liberate Value
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Mississippi, Velocys’ Bayou Fuels project has signed with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures to capture carbon dioxide from Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi, and securely store it underground in a geologic
October 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Investing in Australian Biomanufacturing
(Office of the Department of Education; the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education; the Hon Karen Andrews MP Minister for Industry, Science and Technology; John Alexander OAM, MP, Member for Bennelong ) The Morrison Government is investing in the development of
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
High-Impact Bio-Based Initiative for a Circular Europe
(Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking/Politico) The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking delivers substantial socio-economic and environmental benefits to Europe, actively contributing to the European Green Deal -- Did you know that renewable biological resources such as waste, agricultural and forestry residues, and aquatic
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Technical, Economic and Environmental Assessment of Biorefineries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First comes the techno-economic assessment, then comes the deployment, as perhaps someone once said, or should have. For the road to bioeconomy passes through the graces of a successful evalutation of the inputs anf the
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
The 10 Most Overlooked Stories in the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is such Top Secret stuff that every announcement was, we surmise, buried in the hardest-to-find hole, on the loneliest street, of the most out-of-the-way town on Planet Neptune. Just shows what you might find down a
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
The Truth About Hydrogen
by Patrick Molloy and LeeAnn Baronett (Rocky Mountain Institute) ... There are four major sources for commercial production of hydrogen, three of which require fossil fuels: steam methane reformation (SMR), oxidation, and gasification. The fourth source is electrolysis, which separates water
October 08, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Transport Biofuels from Biomass and Other Renewable Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Several of the better known IEA Bioenergy rock stars — there are four and possibly five in this set, from the US and Canada, so we’ll put them sort of on a par with Neil
October 08, 2019 Read Full Article
The Present and Future for Pure-Plays: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Pacific Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pacific Ethanol is a leading producer and marketer of low-carbon renewable fuels and high-quality alcohol products, and in some ways more importantly, they are a beacon for us to understand the future of pure-play ethanol
October 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Face Fungus, Sustainable Camping Gear, Stationery Made from Stone, Renewable Naphtha, Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of October 4th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) October has arrived with fall fashion, and amongst our offerings this week, the latest in face fungus, sustainable camping gear and apparel. For those looking for a sustainable statement, why not stationery made from stone.
October 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Names Gevo as One of the “The Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World”
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that Biofuels Digest has named Gevo on its NEXT 50 list “the Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World.” The honor was specifically given for Gevo’s partnership with Renmatix and their work to
October 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Engineering Thermophiles to Produce Drop-in Fuels from Syngas: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Syngas Bioprocess
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Drop-in fuels from syngas are in. Syngas feedstocks are relatively inexpensive and diverse, thermophiles have several unique advantages, and end products have value as fuel and solvent applications among others. Sounds like win, win, win, right?
October 03, 2019 Read Full Article
“The Mindset Is There, We Need the Technologies and to Integrate Them: The Time Is Now”: Looking at Enerkem’s Evolution and the Rise of the Circular Economy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Enerkem has been famed as a plaform for producing ethanol from municipal solid waste. Yet, there’s methanol as a platform. There’s also the possibility of moving from syngas to ethylene. There’s methanol to olefins, which
October 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Honeywell Ecofining Technology Helps Diamond Green Diesel Become One of The World’s Largest Renewable Diesel Plants
(Honeywell UOP) Louisiana facility plans 2021 expansion to meet growing demand for renewable fuels -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced that Diamond Green Diesel will expand its annual production capacity of renewable diesel using Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining™ process technology to meet growing demand
October 02, 2019 Read Full Article
$73 Million, 35 Projects, Who Won, for What and Why: The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office 2019 Project Selections
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy has selected 35 projects totaling $73 million for bioenergy research and development support. Funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, these projects will help reduce
October 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Call for Partners: Use or Invest in (Biobased) Polymerization Shared Facility
by Jim Lane and Marcel van Berkel (Biofuels Digest/Polymerization Shared Facility) Green Chemistry Campus, REWIN and Wageningen University are planning the development of the first multipurpose Polymerization Shared Facility Pilot Plant in Bergen op Zoom. In this facility new and redesigned
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Houston-Based Company Planning $100 Million Plant in St. Martinville that Would Use Sugar Cane Waste to Make Ethanol
by Kristen Mosbrucker (The Advocate) Praj Industries, a publicly traded bioenergy engineering business with headquarters in India, is laying the foundation for a $100 million plant in Louisiana that would use sugar cane bagasse as a fuel and raw material for
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Magnificent Microbes: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Targeted Microbial Development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The industry is always on the look for microbial pathways that are capable of producing high carbon efficiency intermediates that are amenable to economic bioconversion, separation, and catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. At
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Convert CO2 into Raw Materials Using Nanoparticles
(Ruhr University Bochum (Google Translation)) Enzymes use cascade reactions to produce complex molecules from comparatively simple raw materials. The principle was copied by researchers. An international research team has converted carbon dioxide into raw materials using nanoparticles. The scientists at
September 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Bio-Sourced Materials: A New Milestone!
(Michelin) The BioButterfly project launched by Michelin in 2012 has just achieved another milestone: the construction of France's first industrial demonstrator capable of producing butadiene from ethanol. The goal is to replace the oil-based raw materials used in the company's
September 27, 2019 Read Full Article
The Competitive Edge: Sweet Gazoil Inc.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Sweet Gazoil (SGO) was founded with the goal of protecting the environment by providing cost-effective technologies to treat mixed waste plastics, heavy and used/waste oils, and other waste hydrocarbons. SGO has developed and patented an
September 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Increase Value, Reduce Costs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced Algal Systems. Maybe you’ve heard of it but did you know that technologies are being developed as part of a DOE program to enable production of sustainable algal feedstocks that perform reliably in conversion processes
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
The NEXT 50 Companies to Disrupt the World
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, The Digest recognized the NEXT 50, “the 50 Next Companies to Disrupt the World”, bioeconomy companies that are just now reaching commercial scale with an emerging technology, or earlier in their journey to commercial
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Biorefinery: ‘The Potential for Farmers to Diversify Their Business in the Future’
by Emma Gilsenan (AgriLand) Biorefinery – which converts biomass to energy and other beneficial by-products – could potentially add more value to an outside block of land, according to UCD lecturer, Bridget Lynch. Speaking to AgriLand at the National Ploughing Championships this week, James
September 23, 2019 Read Full Article
UC Engineering Excels with $11.8m MBIE Endeavour Funding
(University of Canterbury/Scoop) ... This research will develop a new process and materials to produce bio-hydrogen and capture carbon dioxide by using New Zealand wood biomass resources from log harvesting and wood processing. The bio-hydrogen produced could be used as
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Design and Deconstruction: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Recycling and Upcycling Plastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We all know plastics are an issue but could there be a solution with a circular carbon economy for plastics? That’s exactly what BETO is looking at with biobased designs for recyclability, reduced use, improved
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
USWTE Green Industrial Fund Launches Seeking Ozone Investors to Establish Waste to Energy Facilities in the Qualified Opportunity Zones Throughout the United States
(USWTE Green Industrial Fund/PR Newswire) USWTE Green Industrial Fund launches, seeking Ozone investors to establish Waste to Energy (WTE) projects with a view to having follow up funds to invest in WTE type industrial parks in the Qualified Opportunity Zones throughout the United
September 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Replacing the Barrel: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Conversion Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Developing efficient and economical biological and chemical technologies to convert biomass feedstocks into energy-dense liquid transportation fuels, such as renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as bioproducts, chemical intermediates, and biopower is the primary goal
September 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Forest Products Industry Barriers to Producing Biofuels
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) BDC is a 501c3 organization focused on education and brokering partnerships in order to accelerate the deployment of economic bioprocesses and assist the forest products industry to get the most value from the tree. BDC membership represents
September 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Successfully Secures Renewable Electricity for its Biofuel Production Processes
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Electricity from Wind Turbines will Power Gevo’s Agri-Energy Luverne Facility -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) a leading renewable fuels and chemicals manufacturer, announced today it secured the supply of 5.0 MW of fully renewable electricity for its Agri-Energy production
September 16, 2019 Read Full Article
VTT Says Materials and Chemicals the First Commodities to Be Commercialized by Carbon Reuse
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Finland, VTT published a new report called “The Carbon Reuse Economy – Transforming CO2 from a pollutant into a resource” and presents its view on how carbon can be turned from a pollutant into
September 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Sugarcane and Cotton Waste Turned into Fuels, Plastics, Feed
(Manufacturers Monthly) The potential to manufacture high-value products from sugarcane and cotton by-products is one step closer to realisation with an injection of funding from the Australian federal government into a project by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Professor Ian O’Hara, of
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Friday Fun with Fungus: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Fungal Biotech for Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Noone knows fungus like these guys. A PNNL team has been developing fungal genetic engineering tools for industrially relevant fungi (filamentous and yeasts) and applying them to development of biofuel and bioproduct bioprocesses in stirred tank
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Betting on Waste
(EurekAlert!/University of California - Santa Barbara) Most of the materials that maintain our modern lives -- fuels, pharmaceuticals and other commodity chemicals -- come from non-renewable sources. Over time the acquisition of these materials becomes more costly as their supplies diminish.