by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vertimass technology was originated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where scientists discovered novel catalysts that convert a wide range of alcohols into various hydrocarbon blend stocks which can be used in existing gasoline, diesel and jet
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMECarbon Capture, Solar Fuels, Fossil Bubble
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Spain, BIOCON-CO2, a new €7 million EU Horizon 2020-funded research project, has recently kicked-off with intentions of supporting EU leadership in carbon dioxide (CO2) re-use technologies. BIOCON-CO2 aims to re-use excess CO2 produced from the iron, steel,
August 01, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA OIG Audits EPA’s Implementation of Its Recommendations for Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Program
(Bergeson & Campbell) On July 20, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on its audit of EPA’s implementation of the OIG recommendations for the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards (PGCCA) Program. The PGCCA Program
July 31, 2018 Read Full Article
This Start-Up Turns Pollution from Factories into Fuel That Powers Cars — and One Day Planes
by Catherine Clifford (CNBC) A bacteria found in the gut of a rabbit can now help cars run in a more eco-friendly way. The bacteria, identified by biotech start-up LanzaTech, helps turn factory carbon emissions, a.k.a. pollution, into ethanol .... ... "While there are many sustainable
July 30, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 27th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
July 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Gevo & Butamax – Remind Me Why I Care
by Sam Nejame (Promotum/Biofuels Digest) ... Both Butamax and GEVO have suffered mightily over the last few years, but the people, who have hung in there and put their careers on the line to make it happen may indeed have finally
July 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Drop-in Renewable Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This presentation on drop-in renewable fuels, featuring Drop-in Fuels 2020 author and in-demand industry consultant Will Thurmond details the very latest in a wide array of approaches to making infrastructure-compatible, high-blend renewable fuels — from renewable
July 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Attis Industries Taps Timber Industry Leader for Procurement of Raw Materials
(Attis Industries) Agreement Creates Feedstock Advantage for First Commercial Facility -- Attis Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ATIS) (the “Company” or “Attis”), a diversified innovation and technology holding company, today announced the execution of a letter of intent with Jordan Forest Products, LLC (“Jordan”)
July 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Enerkem to Make Methanol Through Gasification in Netherlands
by Arlene Karidis (Waste 360) The company will divert what would have headed elsewhere for incineration, while creating an alternative to fossil fuel, mainly for manufacturing and transportation fuel blends. Now that Enerkem’s Edmonton, Alberta, waste-to-cellulosic ethanol plant is running at full scale, the
July 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Alliance Bioenergy Plus, Inc. Files Patents on Enhanced CTS Technology and Re-Structuring of Management
(Alliance Bioenergy Plus/AccessWire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB: ALLM), The Board of Directors of ALLM, recognizing the need to refocus the direction and operations of the company, is in the process of implementing a series of changes which will allow the
July 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the BIO World Congress: Dinneen Steps Down at RFA, Cooper Succeeds; EPA Hearings in DC; Organic Solar Cells; Lygos rockin’; Biomaterials Advance; Iffy News for Algae Tech.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... News spread like wildfire at the 2018 BIO World Congress in Philadelphia that Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen will transition into the role of RFA’s Senior Strategic Advisor, and Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper
July 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Surfactants, 100% Renewable and Biobased: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Croda’s Eco Range
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Croda’s new Eco Range of surfactants is 100% renewable and 100% biobased. Croda’s is the first plant of its type in North America to produce 100% renewable, 100% biobased surfactants. The versatile bio-ethylene oxide plant can accept
July 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the BIO World Congress: Iowa, Plastics, Benzene, Queensland, Skin Care, Jet Fuel in the Mix
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The rounds of applause at BIO have been loud and steady but the biggest ones were heard not for a presentation or a speaker — rather, BIO’s decision to stage the World Congress next year in
July 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Algae for the Advanced Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Cellana
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana uses the most productive plants on earth—marine microalgae—to photosynthetically produce its ReNew line of Omega-3 EPA and DHA oils, animal feed, and biofuel feedstocks. Cellana’s patented ALDUO system, a series of photobioreactors coupled with open
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 18th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In today’s Digest, wool without the sheep, fuels from water and C)2, bacteria-powered solar cells, spectral imagery in the sky, artificial intelligence in the crop field, sugar-based straws and more, ready for you now at The
July 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Driving Sustainability into the Mainstream: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Genomatica
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry, delivering new manufacturing processes that enable its partners to produce the world’s most widely-used chemicals from alternative feedstocks, with better economics and greater sustainability than petroleum-based processes. CEO
July 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 10 Transformations – Pivotal Pivots for Survival in the Bioeconomy
Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Some of these started with biofuels then went into chemicals, nutrition or protein and some are going back to their beginnings. What they all have in common, however, is they are transforming…as markets change, as
July 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Taming the Tasmanian Devil of Polymers: Lignin, the Orneriest, Roughest, Toughest, Most Un-cooperative and Abundant Natural Polymer Ever
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Lignin has developed into a sustainable and very satisfactory alternative to fossil fuels. But applications have been needed. Firstly, applications that work, then applications that pay, then applications at scale. Let’s see how that work has
July 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies and Audi Renew Their Partnership in Renewable Gasoline
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) and Audi announced today the signing of a new agreement focused on the implementation of residue usage, preparation of a path to commercialization and engine testing of new blends. Following the completion of a
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
UPM Joins Together for Sustainability (TfS) Initiative to Enhance Sustainability in Its Supply Chains
(UPM) UPM has joined Together for Sustainability (TfS), a chemical industry initiative that promotes and improves sustainability practises within its supply chains. By joining the initiative the member companies share a wide coverage of supplier data, such as audit reports and
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofutures: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Queensland Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Queensland’s vision is for a $1 billion sustainable and export-oriented industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector, attracting significant international investment and creating regional, high-value and knowledge-intensive jobs. The Biofutures Roadmap provides the leadership required to help Queensland leverage
July 12, 2018 Read Full Article
NREL: Novel Genetic Method Improves Efficiency of Enzyme
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Biomass Magazine) Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of Georgia developed a new genetic engineering technique to dramatically improve an enzyme’s ability to break down biomass. The new method, Evolution by
July 11, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 11th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
July 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Nanocellulose on the March: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to American Process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A few years back, Research & Markets startled the bio world when they projected that the “Nanocellulose Market by Type (Cellulose nanocrystals, Cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose nanocomposites, and others) would reach $250 Million by 2019, signifying annualized CAGR of 19%
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of July 5th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Biorefineries Will Have Only Minimal Effects on Wood Products and Feedstocks Markets
(International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis/Phys.Org) A new report from researchers from IIASA, Luleå University of Technology (LTU), and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden has shown that more biorefineries, which produce biobased fuels and chemicals, will have only a small effect
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Industrial Glucose: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Fluid Quip Process Technologies Clean Sugar Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For over 20 years, Fluid-Quip has been engineering and manufacturing separation equipment for corn wet milling and pulp and paper applications. Fluid-Quip Process Technologies has more recently leveraged wet milling knowledge to develop enhancements for dry-grind
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
The 10 Green Chemicals Driving a Disruptive New Biobased Industry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A Petro Brexit (a/k/a, British companies exiting petroleum for the sustainable bioeconomy) : New report highlights how to ensure Britain becomes a world leader in bio-based chemicals In the UK, a recent report identifies 10 specific bio-based chemicals, in
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Biomethane Refueling Station Opens near Bordeaux
(Bioenergy Insight) Air Liquide has recently inaugurated a biomethane production unit in Cestas, near Bordeaux, France. The new biomethane production unit uses organic matter from the agricultural sector to produce biogas, and purifies this biogas into biomethane. As well as the biomethane facility,
July 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Creative Debt and Equity: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Structures for Bioeconomy Project Finance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Bottom line, if you’re in the business of financing a renewable fuels project with a loan guarantee in the mix, you’re probably talking with some combination of New Energy Risk, Stern Brothers, Faegre Baker Daniels partner John
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
From LanzaTech to Sierra Energy and the Latest Research, Syngas Is on Fire
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Syngas, or synthesis gas, is on fire lately, with new technologies making the most of waste products like CO2 or low-grade biomass and converting them into useful hot stuff like syngas that can then be
July 09, 2018 Read Full Article
BETO Issues Workshop Summary Report On Performance-Advantaged Biobased Chemicals
by Lynn L. Bergeson (Bergeson & Campbell/Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Group) On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) issued a new report, Moving Beyond Drop-In Replacements: Performance-Advantaged Biobased Chemicals Workshop Summary Report, that summarizes
July 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Protein, Protein: The Bioeconomy’s Latest Technology Fad Is, Actually, a Pivot Back to an Ancient and Enduring Concern
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Protein has become the answer to almost every question. How will you achieve scale? Protein. How will you make money? Protein. What will save the world? Protein. What are you going to talk about in your
July 06, 2018 Read Full Article
5 Minutes With… Dhivya Puri, Senior Technical Lead at Fiberight.
by Dave Songer (Bio-Based World News) “The milestones and professional growth I've achieved in this role are above and beyond what I could have accomplished in academia within the same time frame.” Fiberight is a UK- and US-based small and medium-sized enterprise
July 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Synthetic Methylotrophy: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Engineering Platform Organisms for Methane & Methanol Conversion to Fuels & Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Harnessing Methane & Methanol as Feedstocks, that’s the subject of this overview of the uses of methanol when used by engineered platform organisms for fuel and chemical production. The background is the abundant CH4supply of recoverable
July 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Greenbelt Resources Signs Letter of Intent With Purnol for Bioethanol Distribution
(Greenbelt Resources) Purnol to distribute bioethanol produced by Greenbelt’s California BioEthanol Project -- Greenbelt Resources Corporation(OTC:GRCO) (Greenbelt), the developer of a sustainable ECOsystem model that transforms waste into revenue generating bioproducts including bioethanol, today announced that it has signed a Letter of
June 29, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of June 28th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
June 29, 2018 Read Full Article
“To-mah-toe, To-may-toe…”: Consequences of Valorizing Biobased Carbon over Biobased Matter
by Michael A. Fatigati (Biofuels Digest) ... We now find it necessary to throttle back our drawdown of the fossil carbon account to preserve our climate and through reasoned and sensible policies and regulation moving us towards use of non-fossil or “living”
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
The Yosemite Sam of the Microbial World, Hot Rodded Lichen, BYO Nitrogen, The Microbial Marx Brother, Sexy Hexy and More: The DOE Delves into New Orgamsism for Fuels & Chems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The meanest, nastiest, ornierest, heat-seeking organism ever found that munches biomass and other microbes that got a booster via the DOE’s $40M grants for advanced microbes R&D. And aromatics without the mess, a sky-vacumming organism and
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
EU Biofuels Effort Kicks off in Örnsköldsvik
(SEKAB/MyNewsDesk) Representatives from eleven European companies and universities gathered yesterday in the Swedish town of Örnsköldsvik, to kick-start the EU-funded project Rewofuel. The long-term aim is to lay the groundwork for many new biorefineries across Europe, using wood residues from the
June 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Closing the Applications Gap: Checkerspot Closes $5M Seed Financing in Pursuit of High-Performance Biomaterials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (C)onsider this venture about Making the Right Stuff — that is, how you translate an entire generation of innovation in digital biology, biobased chemical engineering and advanced fabrication into actual stuff. Or, how you
June 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuel’s Role in the Circular Economy: Key Lessons and Actions for the Industry
By Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) When it comes to reducing, reusing and recycling our goods most people associate consuming less of what we already have with a ‘circular economy’. What is rarely, if ever discussed at conferences concerning changing
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
WSU Professor Lands $500,000 Grant to Pursue Lignin to Biofuel Conversion
by Maegan Murray (Washington State University Tri-Cities) WSU Tri-Cities associate professor Xiao Zhang is targeting the use of lignin — a common material that makes the cell walls of plants rigid — to create affordable biofuels and bioproducts. Interested in the project,
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Gevo and Avfuel Enter into Renewable Jet Fuel Supply Agreement
(GEVO/Globe Newswire) First Long-Term Commercial Contract for Renewable Jet Fuel -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) announced today (June 21, 2018) that it has entered into a long-term agreement to supply its renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to Avfuel Corporation, effective July 1, 2018 (the
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
High-Performance: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The company is now safely emerged from its celebrated IPO, and is embarked on the development of the first commercial plant project with its JV partner BASF — so, its been a big period and even
June 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Succinic’s Next Season: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to BioAmber
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioAmber’s Mission? To be a fast growing producer of chemical intermediates that uses sugars instead of fossil fuels and sells competitively priced, sustainable chemicals with strong profit margins and the cleanest environmental footprint in the industry. In
June 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Inventure Renewables' Mixed Super Critical Fluid Technology Successfully Adopted At Wilmar Plant In China
(Inventure Renewables/Cision/PR Newswire) Patented Technology Converts By-Product from Soft Oil Seed Refining Into FAME for Oleochemical and Biodiesel Production. -- Inventure Renewables has announced the successful implementation and nearly year-long operation of its Mixed Super Critical Fluid technology at a Wilmar
June 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $40 Million for Bio-Based Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) 31 Projects Will Help Advance Fundamental Science for Bioenergy -- Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $40 million in funding for 31 projects to advance research in the development of microbes as practical platforms for the
June 20, 2018 Read Full Article
EPA Decision on Isobutanol Blasts Gevo Stock into Stratosphere Monday
by Ben Miller (Denver Business Journal) Gevo applauded an EPA decision on isobutanol, a fuel that's made from renewable resources like corn. Gevo shares soared 262 percent in Monday trading. READ MORE EPA decision on isobutanol buoys Gevo stock Monday (9News.com) Gevo shares
June 19, 2018 Read Full Article
New Algae Biofuel Production Method Could Someday Compete with Petroleum
by Philip T. Pienkos (R&D Magazine) ... This time, the leading force was not the DOE (U.S. Department of Energy), but the investment community acting in the belief that the power of modern biotechnology could be brought to bear against the
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Maine Developments – Bio News Mounts from the Pine Tree State
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... First, let’s start with the latest from the Maine Technology Institute, which just announced a request for information regarding emerging forest industry technologies, with the goal of accelerating matchmaking to connect the most viable,
June 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Making Chemicals From Ethanol
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) ... “We’re hoping to provide alternatives to the sale of ethanol into the fuels market,” said Ron Cascone, principal with Nexant, Inc. “The theme of what I’m doing here is to show that there are options for converting ethanol
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Engineered Proteins Could Improve Biomanufacturing Production of Medicines, Fuels
(Purdue University Research Foundation News) Purdue University researchers have developed a series of engineered proteins that could improve biomanufacturing processes for the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals and commodity chemicals. The buildup of toxic materials during the production process can damage cell health and
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Corbion is a global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients. In 2017, the company generated annual sales of € 891.7
June 15, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of June 13th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Joint Venture Company Formed for Execution of NRL’s Bio Refinery Project
(Numaligarh Refinery Limited) Numaligarh Refinery Limited has taken a giant step forward by establishing a joint venture, Assam Bio-Refinery Pvt. Limited (ABRPL) with equity participation of M/s Chempolis Oy of Finland and M/s Fortum 3 B.V. of Netherland to build and operate the
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Archer Daniels Midland
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Archer Daniels Midland Company is one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with approximately 31,000 employees serving customers in more than 170 countries. The company sports a global value chain that includes
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
BASF Invests in LanzaTech, ArcelorMittal’s Underway on Advanced Fuels, Syngenta Breaks 3B Gallon Mark, Leaf Gets an Accelerator: Partnership Frenzy in the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... But it shows also what smaller companies can do when they partner effectively – whether that means industrial giants like ArcelorMittal or BASF, technology accelerator schemes like Unreasonable Impact, or with the US ethanol industry. And
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Request for Information: Forest Industry Technologies DEADLINE: July 20, 2018
(Biobased Maine/Maine Technology Institute) The Maine Technology Institute is collecting publicly available information on technologies that could be deployed within Maine’s forest industry. The purpose of this RFI is to encourage technology companies to submit preliminary information on their technology and
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Senate Ag Committee Restores 2018 Farm Bill Energy Title Funding
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 13, the Senate ag committee approved the its version of the 2018 Farm Bill with bipartisan support. The legislation includes an amendment offered by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., that restores mandatory funding to Farm
June 14, 2018 Read Full Article
WaterKnight, Green Lizard, Solugen, Fero Labs Win at AkzoNobel’s Imagine Chemistry start-up event
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals named 10 start-ups and chemical researchers as winners of the 2018 edition of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals’ Imagine Chemistry challenge. To meet its sustainability and growth ambitions, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals continues to forge
June 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Strategic Intent: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to BASF
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the strategic plans, progress and future milestones of BASF, a major stakeholder in the Advanced Bioeconomy? In this slide deck, BASF gets into technologies, results, horizons, timelines, direct investments, partnerships and alliances with companies both heralded and
June 11, 2018 Read Full Article
World’s First Commercial Waste Gas to Ethanol Plant Now in Operation
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In Illinois, carbon recycling company, LanzaTech, and its joint venture partner, Shougang Group, a leading Chinese iron and steel producer, announced the successful start-up of the world’s first commercial facility converting industrial emissions to sustainable ethanol.
June 11, 2018 Read Full Article
Higher Yields, Faster Fermentation, Reduced Energy: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to DuPont Industrial Biosciences’ XCELIS Platform
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Building off the recent launch of its fuel ethanol platform DuPont XCELIS, DuPont Industrial Biosciences unveiled the first three products from the innovation hub – designed to increase yields, speed fermentation and reduce energy and chemical
June 08, 2018 Read Full Article
NREL Finds Easier Ways to Deconstruct Biomass
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) If there's an easier, more efficient method, science will find a way. That's certainly the case in producing cellulosic biofuels, which, at least for now, requires a two-step process to free the sugars trapped in
June 07, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of June 6th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
June 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Researchers Outline Plan for Subsidy-Free Biogas
(Bioenergy Insight) Scientists from Ghent University in Belgium have found that burning biogas is the least cost-effective way to use the product. Instead, they propose using biogas as the raw material for the production of chemicals. ... "Combustion has always been the easy
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
The Carbon Rescuers: 20 Top Waste Projects and Breakthroughs that Capture Used Carbon from the Waste Pile for New Uses
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In these top 20 projects, we usually say that we are using waste, but really we are converting something from a state of waste to a state of value — and that’s not just good for
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Renewable Solvents Derived from Lignin Lowers Waste in Biofuel Production
(U.S. Department of Energy/Phys.Org) A closed-loop biorefinery could dramatically lower the cost of biofuels and related products. In this approach, the refinery produces the solvents it needs, rather than "importing" them. Scientists at the Joint BioEnergy Institute are developing a closed-loop
June 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Canada ❤ Bioneers: BioIndustrial Innovation Canada & Ontario Bust Another Move in the Bioeconomy with Comet Biorefining Invest
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, Ontario is investing up to $8 million in Comet Biorefining’s $79.8 million bio-based ingredient project through its Jobs and Prosperity Fund – Food and Beverage Growth Fund. The investment will help to establish the world’s first
May 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol: The Renewable Naphtha
by Luca Zullo (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Greenyug) With existing capabilities, chemical coproducts represent a low-hanging fruit for the industry. Ethanol, in fact, is a better feedstock for some chemicals than oil-based sources. ... The chemical industry predates the oil industry, but it is the
May 30, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 30th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be
May 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Attis Industries Narrows Site Selection to Six States for Construction of Advanced New Biorefining Facilities
(Attis Industries) Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and Minnesota Present Most Competitive Options -- Attis Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATIS) (the “Company” or “Attis”), a diversified innovation and technology holding company, today announced its approval of its lead sites for acquisition and construction of
May 29, 2018 Read Full Article
BioDisruption: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For many people, a key question in the advanced bioeconomy is: “what is Amyris becoming, and when, and where and how?” Becoming a global leader in the health and beauty market, and self-funding operations in 2018 with
May 28, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Energy Programs Have Earned Bipartisan Support
by Brent Erickson (The Hill/Biotechnology Innovation Organization) Since 2002, the farm bill has contained an energy title, with cost-effective programs that support private investment in renewable energy, biobased manufacturing and energy efficiency. The programs are extremely successful in helping businesses create
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Bioindustrial Innovation Canada Approves COMM SCI Project in Benefuel
(Bioindustrial Innovation Canada) Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) is a not-for-profit organization based in Sarnia, Ontario. Its goal is to help Ontario and Canada become globally recognized leaders in the field of sustainable technologies. In 2016, BIC established the Centre for Commercialization
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
One Commercial, Two Commercial, Three Commercial, Four: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant’s Sunliquid Cellulosic Ethanol Technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant’s sunliquid technology for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into sugars, followed by fermentation to cellulosic ethanol, is flexible to be used to convert different feedstocks on a regional basis, for example corn stover in North
May 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 23rd, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
May 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Hot Tech for Fuels: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Joint BioEnergy Institute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) JBEI’s mission is to convert biomass to biofuels. The goal is to provide the nation with clean, renewable transportation fuels identical to gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Inside JBEI’s Emeryville laboratories, researchers are using the latest tools
May 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Biotechies Riding Herd on Biofuel Policy Uncertainties
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) Ag technology promoters are pedaling hard for biofuels-friendly policies in Washington, D.C., to make life livable for cash-strapped farmers supplying markets that didn't exist 30 years ago. Erick Lutt, director of industrial and environmental policy for Biotechnology
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Industrial Enzyme Frontiers: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MetGen’s MetZyme enzymatic solutions cover the entire bio-based value chain from feedstock to high-value chemicals and enable the use of cellulosic feedstocks as well as the creation of entirely new bio-based materials. Alex Michine and the MetGen
May 21, 2018 Read Full Article
Riding Bacterium to the Bank: Sandia Researchers Tailor E. coli to Convert Plants into Renewable Chemicals
(Sandia National Laboriatories/EurekAlert!) What does jet fuel have in common with pantyhose and plastic soda bottles? They're all products currently derived from petroleum. Sandia National Laboratories scientists have demonstrated a new technology based on bioengineered bacteria that could make it economically
May 18, 2018 Read Full Article
DSM Wins Patent Infringement Case Against Lallemand Related to Low-Glycerol Yeast Technology Applicable in Ethanol Production
(DSM/PR Newswire) Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials received unanimous jury verdict in a Federal Court in Wisconsin concluding that all glycerol reducing ethanol yeast products sold by Lallemand infringe DSM's US Patent 8,795,998. After several
May 17, 2018 Read Full Article
The Scientist Still Fighting for the Clean Fuel the World Forgot
by James Temple (MIT Technology Review) In the closing weeks of 2008, the US Department of Energy invited politicians and press to a dedication ceremony for the Joint BioEnergy Institute in Emeryville, California. The state-of-the-art lab, backed by $125 million in
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Verdezyne, Ave Atque Vale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Southern California the report has arrived that Verdezyne is winding down as a company, and today is the last day of operations. The low oil price environment has claimed another victim among the renewable chemical
May 16, 2018 Read Full Article
Drop-in Fuels and Biomaterials: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Global Bioenergies is a pioneer in the development of one-step fermentation processes for the direct and cost-efficient transformation of renewable resources into light olefin hydrocarbons, the key building blocks of the petrochemical industry. Since inception, the
May 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies and an Industrial Consortium Including Sekab, Neste Engineering Solutions, Repsol and SkyNRG Receive Major EU Funding to Demonstrate the Production of Isobutene-Derived Gasoline and Jetfuel from Wood
(Global Bioenergies) European grant amounting to €13.9 million, of which €5.7 million for Global Bioenergies Industry consortium led by Global Bioenergies and bringing together Sekab, Graanul Invest, Neste Engineering Solutions, Repsol, Peab Asfalt, SkyNRG, Ajinomoto Eurolysine, IPSB, TechnipFMC and Linz University Aim at
May 14, 2018 Read Full Article
The Building Blocks of a Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium
The company is now safely emerged from its celebrated IPO, and is embarked on the development of the first commercial plant project with its JV partner BASF — so, its been a big period and even more critical thresholds lie
May 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production and Consumption in the US: Status, Advances and Challenges
by Mahmood Ebadian and James D. McMillan (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) ... The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was enacted in 2007 to enhance domestic production of fuels and spur economic development while reducing reliance on imports and improving the
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
From Gen1 to High-Value: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Aemetis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aemetis owns and operates 110 million gallons per year of ethanol and biodiesel facilities in the US and India, and is upgrading the plants using patented technology to produce lower carbon, higher value advanced biofuels and
May 11, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 10th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
May 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Building Out Biomass in the Land Down Under
by Patrick C. Miller (Biomass Magazine) Will Australia use bioenergy to its full potential, or primarily serve export markets? -- Australia’s bioenergy sector is alive and brimming with ideas about how to keep pace with progress being made internationally. However, biofuels advocates
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Selects $3 Million in Research Projects to Advance Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Biobased Products
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3 million in funding for advanced biofuels, bioenergy, and biobased products available through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI). DOE has selected two projects from
May 09, 2018 Read Full Article
BioAmber Files for Chapter 11 in both US and Canada
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, BioAmber Inc. announced that it filed a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code and that its two Canadian subsidiaries, BioAmber Sarnia Inc. and BioAmber Canada Inc., filed a Notice
May 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Accelerating Ag Innovation: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the USDA Agricultural Research Service
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to:
May 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Estonian Forest Magic: Sweetwater, Graanul to Build First Commercial Biorefinery for cellulosic sugars, lignin
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Sweetwater Energy and Europe’s largest wood pellet producer, the Tallinn, Estonia-based AS Graanul Invest, said that they will build a commercial-scale integrated biorefinery that will produce clean cellulosic sugars and highly pure lignin from 50,000
May 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Chempolis Seals Deal for Indian Biorefinery: A New Technology, Designed in Finland, Will Produce Bioethanol, Biochemicals, and Green Energy from Bamboo
(Chempolis) The biorefining technology company Chempolis, the Finnish energy company Fortum, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), a state-owned Indian oil company, have formed a joint venture to construct a biorefinery in the state of Assam in Northeast India. The joint venture will
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
Succinctly Succinic: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Reverdia and Bio-Succinic Acid
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reverdia is a joint venture between Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and Roquette Frères, the global starch and starch-derivatives company. Reverdia is dedicated to be the global leader in the
May 04, 2018 Read Full Article
To Meet Emission Reductions Objectives in Transport, Sustainable Renewable Fuels Are an Important Part of the Solution
(Methanol Institute/EIN Presswire) The Methanol Institute (MI), the trade association representing the global methanol industry this week released a paper providing input for the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) trilogue procedure currently underway between the European Council, Parliament and Commission. The Methanol
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
BIO Showcases 100 Companies in New Renewable Chemical Platforms Report
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) The biobased economy encompasses the entire value chain of sustainable manufacturing – from the supply of renewable or waste feedstock, through biotech platforms, to production and use of biobased fuels and products. BIO is
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Integrating Biology and Chemistry: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Center for Biorenewable Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) CBiRC was founded in 2008 with funding from NSF, creating an Engineering Research Center focused on advanced manufacturing for sustainable biobased chemicals. The R&D program creates a multi-year, interdisciplinary, multi-institutional center that joins academia, industry and
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 2nd, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
May 02, 2018 Read Full Article
The Undiscovered Furan Country: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Origin Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Origin is a new kind of chemical company, focused on the future of materials science. By finding value in underutilized feedstocks like cardboard, wood waste and agricultural residues, they invent new and better materials for humanity. Origin’s
May 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Reproducible, High-Yielding, Biological Caproate Production from Food Waste Using a Single-Phase Anaerobic Reactor System
by Corine Orline Nzeteu, Anna Christine Trego, Florence Abram, and Vincent O’Flaherty (Biotechnology for Biofuels) ... In recent years, organic waste streams have been investigated as attractive and sustainable feedstock alternatives. In particular, attention has recently focused on the production of caproate
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Green Technology Born in Reality: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The estimable and always fascinating and quotable James Iademarco gave this illuminating overview of the state of renewable chemicals - as he aptly puts it Green Technology born in reality - and the promise of
April 30, 2018 Read Full Article
India’s Biofuels Horizons: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj is an India-based process solutions specialist with continued leadership in ethanol & brewery space over many years — aiming to emerge as a significant water company within 5 years. The company is expanding its new
April 26, 2018 Read Full Article
2018 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Open for Nominations April 30; DEADLINE July 2, 2018
(American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute) The ACS Green Chemistry Institute® is pleased to announce the opening of the 2018 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The U.S. EPA supports the continuation of the awards program for 2018 under the sponsorship of the
April 25, 2018 Read Full Article
New Method Significantly Improves the Production of Biohydrogen and Other Biochemicals
(VTT) A joint study by the University of Turku and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has shown that the ability of photosynthesising microbial cells to produce biohydrogen from solar energy can be markedly improved by attaching the cells to a
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Prairie Catalytic, LanzaTech, Synvina, Fulcrum BioEnergy, POET-DSM, Cargilla/Calysta, Enerkem, and REG Geismar
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ABLC 2018 wrapped up with the ABLC Wolfpack including James Iademarco from Strategic Avalanche, David Dodds with Dodds & Associates, Ron Cascone from NEXANT, independent consultant Paul Bryan, and Joel Stone from ConVergince. While they didn’t howl at the moon,
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Going Our Way: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For many people, the key question is — what is Amyris becoming, and when, and where and how? We reported on Amyris’ progress most recently in “The New Colossus aims to unlock its Golden Door” and
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Chemicals Axioms and Provocations
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ABLC featured a well-received session on renewable chemicals moderated by longtime Digesterati David Dodds. His initial overview on issues and opportunities in renewable chemicals is well worth some intense focus in its own right. Dodds also
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of April 25th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
April 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Certification Program Will Help Biodiesel Producers Meet FSMA Requirements
(Iowa Biodisel Board) Iowa Biodiesel Board launches program to meet industry need; Webinar takes place May 10 -- Biodiesel producers who want to sell glycerin that can end up as an animal food ingredient will soon be up against the deadline to
April 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Catalyzing Biobased Chemicals: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the launch of the Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable (BTLR), the ACS GCI seeks to provide a forum for pre-competitive industry collaboration. Building on the American Chemical Society’s roundtable model, the BTLR will be devoted to
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Bill Gates and CowTech: Fix or Replace Our Friends in the Pasture?
by Jim Lane (Biofuel Digest) ... Clearly, meat isn’t going away very soon, the cow isn’t going away very soon. So, why not invest in sustainable transformation as well as replacement? That’s an approach that was applied in 2015 to the energy
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Partners in Production--Chemical Companies Are Developing Technologies that Would Create New Market Opportunities for the Ethanol Industry
by Tim Albrecht (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The ethanol industry has polished its coproduction of distillers grains. Now, a handful of companies have found different uses for DDGS, or ethanol itself, that can provide new value-added coproducts for the industry. Ethanol is flexible
April 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Chemicals, a Second Life for Carbon: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) LanzaTech has developed a fully sustainable integrative gas to fuels and chemicals platform that has no impact on food, water security or high biodiversity land use. LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform disrupts the current highly centralized global energy
April 19, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of April 18th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
April 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Australian Sugar Industry Warned to Look beyond Biofuel Future
by Lara Webster (ABC Rural) The Australian sugar cane industry is being told to look beyond biofuels due to the risk of future technologies wiping out demand. Only a fortnight ago the Queensland University of Technology delivered a report outlining how the biofuels industry
April 19, 2018 Read Full Article
EIB’s Agriculture and Bioeconomy Programme Loan under Juncker Plan Will Support Close to EUR 1bn of Private Investment across Europe
(European Investment Bank) New financing initiative targets investments by private cooperatives and companies in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector; The EIB financing will amount to EUR 400m and is expected to back close to EUR 1bn of investment across Europe; Agreement is guaranteed
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Ethanol Market Development Organizations Applaud Japan Policy Shift To Allow Use Of U.S. Ethanol
(U.S. Grains Council) The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy and their member organizations welcome the news Tuesday that the Japanese government’s new biofuel policy will allow imports of ETBE made from U.S. corn-based ethanol. “The U.S.
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Shell Releases Energy Transition Report: Commits to 50% Lower Emissions by 2050, Biofuels to Top Oil by 2100 in “Sky” Scenario
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands and England, Shell released its most definitive statement yet on its low-carbon future and committed to 50% lower emissions by 2050 and net zero by 2070 in its operations and emissions from its
April 18, 2018 Read Full Article
Advocating for Commercialization of Biobased Products: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to BRAG
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable biobased products. A coalition of companies and trade associations committed to enhancing the legal and regulatory positioning of biobased products
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
The $20 Million Carbon XPRIZE: The 10 Finalists, Revealed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, XPRIZE announced the 10 teams advancing to the final round in the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE. The 10 finalists, each taking home an equal share of a $5 million milestone prize, were revealed
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Contract Fermentation Landscape: Facility Selection in an Environment of Limited Options
by Mark Warner (Warner Advisors LLC/Biofuels Digest) Funding for early stage advanced biotechnology is ramping up and companies commercializing fermentation-based technologies are faced with the decision to either build their own demonstration-scale facility or utilize existing contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). There
April 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Isobutanol’s Horizons: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial scale
April 12, 2018 Read Full Article
No Crop Left Behind: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA/NIFA’s Coordinated Agricultural Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Er, what are AHB, SUBI, BANR, SBAR, NARA, CENUSA, SPARC, IBSS and NEWBIO? You’d be forgiven if you mistook Ahb Subi Banr-Sbar for a well-placed official in the Iranian government — but, in fact, it’s a 9-project network to facilitate the development
April 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Researchers Develop Two-Step, One-Pot Process for Synthesis of Benzene from Microalgal Oils
(Green Car Congress) Benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is a natural component of crude oil and is one of the elementary petrochemicals. It is used as a precursor to the manufacture of more complex chemicals, and, with a high octane number, is
April 10, 2018 Read Full Article
Talking Carbon: Europe’s Prejudice towards Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) Technology
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) With over 260 million cars on the road in Europe, industry leaders and governmental representatives alike are putting the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) under fire for its lack of clarity surrounding its impact
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Rural Issues Growing Jobs and Rural Economies: The Farm Bill’s Energy Title
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Since their inception in the 2002 Farm Bill, Energy Title (Title IX) programs have helped farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities generate thousands of jobs and millions in economic development. The sectors impacted by
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Enzymatic Construction of Highly Strained Carbocycles
by Kai Chen, Xiongyi Huang, S. B. Jennifer Kan, Ruijie K. Zhang, Frances H. Arnold (Science Magazine) Double rings made with heme -- Cyclic organic structures with adjacent three-carbon rings—bicyclobutanes—are useful starting materials for chemical and materials synthesis owing to their extreme
April 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Tenth Edition of the Bioeconomy’s “Who is Who” Directory to be Published – The Beeline to Suppliers and Partners in the Growing Bio-Based Business
(Bio-Based News/nova-Institut) nova-Institute has been publishing the “International Directory for Bio-Based Businesses” since 2009. In 2016, the almanac was moved to a freely available online database (iBIB, www.bio-based.eu/iBIB) which facilitates easy and direct access to suppliers, products, services and experts from the
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
The Hog’s a Hot Dog: N-Sense, Gen3Bio, Nebullam, PowerPollen, TeselaGen Takin’ Biotech to the Next Level
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For a number of years we have been pointing to Iowa’s intriguing combination of feedstock, infrastructure and political consensus on renewables as a potent force in bioeconomy deployment. But these days, toss in some serious innovation
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
First Car Driving with Global Bioenergies’ Renewable Gasoline
(Global Bioenergies) First Audi car to drive at the Montlhéry circuit using over 34% renewable gasoline; One-cylinder engine testing results confirm renewable gasoline has very high performances; Start of the on-road testing phase -- Today, for the first time, Global Bioenergies will use
April 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Next Steps for Succinic: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to BioAmber
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioAmber’s Mission? To be a fast growing producer of chemical intermediates that uses sugars instead of fossil fuels and sells competitively priced, sustainable chemicals with strong profit margins and the cleanest environmental footprint in the industry. CEO
April 04, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of April 4th, 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of invention and change is just too strong, we’ve realized, to highlight annual or even quarterly or monthly rankings and summaries of significant product and service advances. For now, we’re going to be tracking
April 04, 2018 Read Full Article
ASTM Sub-Committee Approves Additional Route to Alcohol-to-Jet Fuel and Increases Approved Blend Levels to 50%
(GEVO/Globe Newswire) Next Step is for full ASTM Approval -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) announced today that late last week an ASTM International Sub-Committee voted in favor of revising specification D7566 (Standard Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuel Containing Synthesized Hydrocarbons) to (i) include
April 03, 2018 Read Full Article
CO2 Use Is Slowly Picking up Speed
(Bio-based News/nova-Institut) First semi-commercial facilities, technical advances, but political support still unclear -- 6th Conference on Carbon Dioxides as Feedstock for Fuels, Chemistry and Polymers in Cologne, 15-16 March, showed state of the art technologies, current levels of investment as well as
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Green Biologics Partners With Kingsford® Charcoal to Launch New EcoLight™ Natural Charcoal Lighter Fluid
(Green Biologics/PR Newswire) Green Biologics, Inc. announced that it has agreed to supply their patented GreenFlame® bio-based charcoal lighter fluid formulation exclusively to Kingsford® Charcoal, to be marketed under a new brand: EcoLight™. The licensing agreement builds on the successful 2017 introduction of
April 02, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations, 3.28.18 Release
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to BIO, the global economic value today of the biobased economy – including industrial biotechnology, renewable chemicals and polymers, biofuels, enzymes and biobased materials – is $355.28 billion. And looking at the new USDA Indicators report
March 30, 2018 Read Full Article
Low-Cost Sugars and Lignin: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Sweetwater Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweetwater Energy has developed a unique and patented technology for producing low-cost sugars and clean lignin fiber from multiple non-food plant materials to help meet the modern world’s increasing demand for biochemicals, bioplastics and biofuels. Sweetwater CEO
March 23, 2018 Read Full Article
Enerkem Makes a Major Breakthrough by Producing a New High-Octane Biofuel
(Enerkem/Oil and Gas 360/PR Newswire) Enerkem Inc., a world-leading waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer, announced today during the 255th American Chemical Society national meeting being held in New Orleans, that it had succeeded in producing a new high-performance biofuel that could improve the octane rating
March 22, 2018 Read Full Article
USDA Biobased Economy Report Indicates Potential for Rural Prosperity with Renewable Chemicals
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Pharmiweb) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today applauded USDA’s release of a new report, “Indicators of the U.S. Biobased Economy.” The report measures substantial economic growth, job creation, and household income for the agricultural sector from biofuel and bioenergy production. Moreover,
March 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Project Focus: Converting Dairy By-Products into High Value Bio-Based Chemicals.
(AgriChemWhey/Biobased World News) ... Producers that can access plentiful feedstocks with the minimum of fuss can have the best of both worlds – exactly the position that Ireland finds itself in. The country is in the midst of a bio-based revolution
March 21, 2018 Read Full Article
The MixAlco Process: Green Energy for the Future
by Matt McDowell (The Battalion) Texas A&M professor’s green energy research is helping turn bio waste into useful chemicals and fuels. -- ... The MixAlco process, a term originally coined by Mark Holtzapple, chemical engineering professor, uses bio waste as input
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Bioeconomy Potential of Portugal, Romania and Poland Profiled in New BIC Country Reports
(Bio-based Industries Consortium) The Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) has published three new Country Reports mapping the potential and identifying opportunities for expanding the bio-based industry in Poland, Portugal and Romania. Poland’s bioeconomy sector is focused on agriculture, forestry and food processing, areas which are already central to the
March 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Better Biomass Conversion for Biofuels and Bioproducts
by Krista Eastman (University of Wisconsin-Madison/Phys.Org) Behind the successful conversion of biomass to a better biofuel or a new green chemical, there is a carefully chosen solvent. The right solvent not only dissolves biomass but also drives the efficiency of the
March 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Leveraging the Power of Algae: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Algenol is a global, industrial biotechnology company that is commercializing its patented algae technology platform for production of ethanol and other biofuels, chemicals and biobased materials. Formed in 2006, and headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida with an
March 13, 2018 Read Full Article
SEKAB’s Ylwa Alwarsdotter Acknowledged by International Magazine Il Bioeconomista
(SEKAB) On International Women’s Day, the international web magazine Il Bioeconomista, acknowledges the women who have contributed most to the evolution of the bioeconomy. For the second consecutive year Ylwa Alwarsdotter from Swedish biofuels company SEKAB is one of the twelve
March 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Vertimass Named Winner of National Corn Growers Association Competition: "Consider Corn Challenge: New Uses for Field Corn as Feedstock for Making Sustainable Chemicals"
(Vertimass/PR Newswire) Vertimass' ethanol to renewable fuels and chemicals offers exceptional corn growth potential -- The National Corn Growers Association named Vertimass LLC as one of six awardees of the "Consider Corn Challenge: New Uses for Field Corn as Feedstock for