by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Rennovia has ceased operations, after the company failed to raise sufficient financing from investors and/or strategic partners to advance its pilot-scale technology to first commercial production. The bulk of the IP assets have been
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMEKey Milestone Reached in the Audi - Global Bioenergies Partnership
(Global Bioenergies/Globe Newswire) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) and German carmaker Audi today announced that a key milestone was reached in their multi-year agreement. Renewable gasoline components were produced and shipped to Audi. Using its Leuna Demo plant, Global Bioenergies has produced
March 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Airgas to Build Two Production Facilities in California
(Airgas/Business Wire) Airgas USA, LLC, an Air Liquide company, today announced plans to increase its presence in California with the construction of a new liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) production facility in Stockton, CA and the expansion of an air separation unit
March 08, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard from the Floor at ABLC — Thursday March 1, 2018
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... On March 1, ABLC 2018 kicked off at the Mayflower Hotel in the heart of D.C. with five Avengers – a superhero bunch who all had a common thread – we are stronger together
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Lightweighting: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Renewable Carbon Fiber Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s the latest with carbon fiber? The US Department of Energy is supporting a project to develop and demonstrate an acrylonitrile (bio-ACN) production process from biomass-derived sugars at ≤ $1/lb. Additionally, the team led by NREL’s Adam Bratis
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Engineering Clostridia: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to n-Butanol Production from Biomass and CO2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE is supporting a project to develop engineered clostridia strains and fermentation process that can directly utilize cellulose and fix CO2 for n-butanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. The engineered strains can be used in fermentation to
March 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference—Thoughts and Tidbits from Day 1
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The ABLC 2018 conference began at the US Department of Agriculture headquarters with a focus on feedstock. Jordan Solomon, Managing Director & CEO Ecostrat Inc.. kicked off the event with news of new US
March 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was high drama in Washington, DC as the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference got underway and President Trump readies to meet at the White House with a number of biofuels leaders about the RFS and bioeconomy policy
March 01, 2018 Read Full Article
ABLC 2018 Preview: Deployment Dawns, Products Proliferate, and Techs Land Major Venture Deals as the Bioeconomy Advances into a Big 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, ABLC 2018 opens amidst a flutter of government rollbacks of deployment support but the hope of regulatory relief, breakthroughs in financial structuring, a decisive shift in early-stage projects to nutrition & health, and an
February 28, 2018 Read Full Article
The Biobased Economy Is Reaching a Tipping Point
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... BIO is the only trade association that advocates for the diverse policies that support the entire biobased economy – the full value chain of technologies and infrastructure to convert renewable, low-carbon, low-cost
February 27, 2018 Read Full Article
Butanol from Forest Waste: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Fermentation of AVAP Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The objective? To create an economically viable process for the production of butanol from the underutilized natural resources domestically available economically sustainable biofuel at or below DOE target selling price. And, suitable for roll-out in multiple regions containing
February 26, 2018 Read Full Article
All Your Acetogen Are Belong to Us: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Acetone and Drop-In Biofuels from Syngas Fermentation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can it be done? That is, development of a sustainable green chemistry platform for production of acetone and downstream drop-in fuel and commodity products directly from biomass syngas via a novel energy conserving route in engineered
February 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Carbon-Negative Fuels in the Spotlight as Ohio State, Argonne National Labs, Energy Vision Make Material Progress
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The biggest news along that front represents early-stage technology, but we read here that engineers at Ohio State announced that they’ve devised a process that under certain circumstances can convert coal, shale gas and biomass into electricity or syngas,
February 21, 2018 Read Full Article
US Biofuels Centre Shifts Focus to Second Gen Products
(Biofuels International) The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) based out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is moving from the development of crop-based ethanol to creating fuels and chemicals that are fungible with their petroleum-based equivalents. The change was announced at
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Hotties: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Engineering Thermophiles for Syngas-to-Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy is supporting a Kiverdi-led project to develop microbial biocatalysts to convert syngas into monoterpenes. Syngas feedstocks are relatively inexpensive and diverse, and thermophiles have several unique advantages; Meanwhile, end products have value
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Trash to Treasure – From Canada to Europe, Enerkem Turns Trash to Cash
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Canada, more big news is coming out of Enerkem with the latest waste-to-chemistry project in Rotterdam to be the first of its kind in Europe to provide a sustainable alternative solution for non-recyclable wastes, converting waste plastics
February 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Vive le ROI: Has Sylvatex Uncovered a Gold Mine in Renewable Fuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) One of the purest, high-yield financial plays we have ever seen in the energy business is possibly emerging, one that could put fracking returns to shame. Vive le ROI. And Vive le IRR and DCF, while we’re at it. Catalyst for industry
February 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Air Liquide Opens a Unique CO2 Recovery Plant in Johnstown, ON
(Air Liquide) Air Liquide invested over $30 million these past two years to build this new facility and enhance its bulk distribution fleet in Ontario and Quebec. Air Liquide Canada, a subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, world leader in gases, technologies
February 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Lignin Unchained, 3D Printable: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Engineered Lignin Bioplastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The project goal? To produce and commercialize lignin-derived, industrial-grade composites with properties including 3D printability, rivaling current petroleum-derived alternatives. That’s the project undertaken by a team led by Amit K. Naskar, of the Carbon & Composites
February 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Energy Programs Should Be Fully Funded and Enhanced in the 2018 Farm Bill
by Jeremy Gilpin, Jordan Blanchard, and Cindy Thyfault (National Rural Lenders Association/Biofuels Digest) There has been a keen focus the last few weeks for President Trump and the USDA with the release of the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Report, President
February 13, 2018 Read Full Article
10 Years After: Advanced Biofuels’ Status, Opportunities and Challenges
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) In 2007 the US government established a national strategy for the development of advanced biofuels made using non-edible biomass. After 10 years we are still short of achieving the targets of this plan
February 06, 2018 Read Full Article
Innovators Dilemma Revisited in Renewable Chemicals and Materials
by Daniel Lane and Joel Stone (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... These disruptive technology innovations have happened many times throughout history and are discussed in the popular book The Innovator’s Dilemma, by Clayton Christensen. He coined the phrase in describing a process
February 05, 2018 Read Full Article
New Pilot Plant Converts Used Cooking Oil into Biodiesel
(CPI) CPI, the UK’s technology innovation provider for process manufacturing, today announced that its partnership with Green Lizard Technologies (GLT), and their licensed company Oleocycle Ltd, will be providing a second-use to waste cooking oils via a novel one-step pilot plant
February 02, 2018 Read Full Article
A Quiet Year for Biofuels M&A: 2017 Review and Outlook
by Bruce Comer (Ocean Park Advisors/Biofuels Digest) More industry players chose to develop and build new capacity rather than buy plants -- The North American biofuels industry experienced the fewest merger and acquisition transactions in recent history in 2017. There were only
February 01, 2018 Read Full Article
Building Blocks from Biocrude: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Biobased Methoxyphenols
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To develop and optimize a hybrid separation method to recover high-value methoxyphenols to improve the process economics and environmental impact for the production of advanced biofuels from catalytic pyrolysis, integrated with hydroprocessing. That’s the ambitious R&D
January 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Extraction of Valuable Oils from Algae and other Green Plants: Challenges, Opportunities and Commercial Landscape
by Brian Goodall (First Garden City Consulting/Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) ... (I)n the case of microalgae the oil has to coaxed out of the whole plant (typically single cells) using chemical or physical means to break open the cells and
January 31, 2018 Read Full Article
State of the Advanced Bioeconomy 2018 – An 8-Part Series
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week in the Digest, we begin a Special 8-part Series: The State of the Advanced Bioeconomy: Challenges and Priorities for 2018. As we head into the final month before ABLC 2018, these in-depth examinations from a group
January 31, 2018 Read Full Article
Biomass-Fed Chemical Process Projects, 2017
by Dr. Bernard Cooker (Chemical Processing Solutions/ Lee Enterprises Consulting Inc./Biofuels Digest) This is a review of the biomass-fed chemical process projects producing renewable chemical products which were published in Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP) and Chemical and Engineering News (CEN) from
January 29, 2018 Read Full Article
Biobased Buzz: Renewable Propylene Glycol – Early Success in Renewable Chemical Market
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... According to the Department of Energy, substitution of renewable propylene glycol made from biomass can reduce greenhouse gases by 61 percent, as compared to using petroleum-based propylene glycol. The process for converting biomass
January 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Valley of the Diols: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Producing PDO and HDO from Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you build a catalytic process to produce alpha, omega diols from lignocellulosic biomass? Such a process, using inorganic catalysts for conversion of biomass into 1.5 pentanediol (PDO) and 1,6 hexanediols could reduce the cost of
January 26, 2018 Read Full Article
The Rise, Rise, Rise of Bio-Methanol for Fuels and Chemical Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The clearest intersecting theme is bio-methanol. Let’s see why. For one, Södra has much more going on than Silva, and we reported on a major development in December when we related that Södra will invest more
January 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Leaps and Bounds in Sustainable Plastics and Nylons: U Wisconsin, Genomatica, Aquafil, Anellotech, Suntory, ADM, DuPont in the Mix
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been a big week in plastics and nylons, all right — not only for those who value sustainability attributes, but for fans of lower costs and higher performance, too. Let’s look at 4 Biggies makin’
January 24, 2018 Read Full Article
Enerkem and Sinobioway Group Sign a C$125M Agreement to Accelerate Enerkem's Global Expansion and Create a Joint Venture to Build over 100 Biofuel Facilities in China
(Enerkem/PR Newswire) Enerkem Inc. (www.enerkem.com), a world leading waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals producer, announced today it has signed an agreement with Sinobioway Group worth over C$125M in the form of equity investment in Enerkem Inc., future licenses, equipment manufacturing and sales, as
January 22, 2018 Read Full Article
Dry Idea: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the Bioeconomy in Arid Regions
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions (SBAR) is a multi-level research project that will cultivate two desert-dwelling crops, guayule and guar, for a sustainable bioeconomy. Scale up to profitable production, however, requires feedstock improvements, expansion of cultivation,
January 22, 2018 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to the SPARC Regional Biojet Fuel Consortium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, what an engine needs to roar to life is a spark. Or a SPARC, as in this case. As in the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC), a consortium consisting of the University of Florida (lead),
January 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 20 Advanced Bioeconomy Projects underway in North America
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To date, North America is the most active of all regions in terms of deploying advanced technology — whether it is cellulosic ethanol, isobutanol for fuels and chemicals, or renewable chemical plants, you see the first
January 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Forging New Sources for Biodiesel and Hydrocarbon-Based Products
by Cheryl Croucher (Troy Media) Part 3 of a 10-part series: Forge Hydrocarbons, a U of A spinoff, turns low-grade fats and oils into valuable fuel -- New technology employed by Forge Hydrocarbons Corp., a University of Alberta spinoff company, proves you
January 18, 2018 Read Full Article
USDA Awards Attis $3 Million Grant for Lignin Technology
(Meridian Waste Solutions Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Meridian Waste Solutions Inc., an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services and innovative technology company, recently announced the award of a $3 million grant from the USDA to support the commercialization of patented and patent-pending lignin
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Velocys: Envia Seeks EPA Approval to Generate D7 RINs
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) Velocys plc has announced that Envia Energy, the joint venture plant that utilizes its technology, has applied for a fuel pathway approval under the Renewable Fuel Standard to produce D7 cellulosic diesel renewable identification numbers (RINs). According
January 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Estimation of a 69 % Reduction in Greenhouse Gases Emissions for Fully Renewable ETBE Compared to Fossil Gasoline
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies (Euronext Growth: ALGBE) has entrusted EVEA, a company specialized in calculation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), with a study focused on the products to be manufactured in the future IBN-One plant. Fully renewable ETBE is estimated to
January 15, 2018 Read Full Article
The Long, Long, Long Journey to Green: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioeconomy Investing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the true drivers of Innovation and what are the returns for investors — what’s up and what works? There is just not a more authentic authority on the subject than long-time venture capitalist Roger
January 15, 2018 Read Full Article
GGC Readies B7bn Complex
by Yuthana Praiwan (Bangkok Post) Global Green Chemical Plc (GGC), the SET-listed biochemical arm of PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC), plans to kick off development of its 7-billion-baht biochemical complex by the third quarter. Managing director Jirawat Nooritanon said it plans to
January 12, 2018 Read Full Article
The Story of Red Rock Biofuels and the Bond Market Breakthroughs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the world of drop-in military biofuels, two major updates appeared this week. In Oregon, Red Rock Biofuels got good news on Monday when the governor approved $245 million in bonds that will allow the company’s planned
January 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Alkol Biotech Agrees to Supply 500,000 Tonnes of Biomass to Europe’s ‘Largest’ Biorefinery
(Biofuel International) Alkol Biotech and Bio Refinery Development have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the sourcing of up to 500 thousand tonnes of non-woody lignocellulosic biomass for what would be Europe’s ‘largest’ biorefinery. UK based Alkol Biotech adapts plant varieties
January 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Make Haste Slowly: The Story of Anellotech’s Journey towards a Bio-BTX Breakthrough
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In it, we are reminded that innovation is a never-ending war between two brothers named Urgency and Diligence — and the conflict comes roaring back to life when we consider the news that occasionally seeps out of that mysterious
January 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Ireland Funds New Bioeconomy Innovation and Piloting Facility
(Agro-Chemistry/University College Dublin) The Irish Bioeconomy Foundation CLG will receive a funding of €4.6 million from the Ministery for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, to develop a new Bioeconomy Innovation and Piloting Facility at Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. The facility will enable industry, entrepreneurs
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy Predictions for 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2018? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2017 gives
January 03, 2018 Read Full Article
Top 18 for 2018- 18 Ways to Support a Biobased Economy in the New Year
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The Digest has you covered with 18 ways you can support a biobased economy in 2018. ... We are going beyond biofuels today, as we dig into how we can make a difference in
January 02, 2018 Read Full Article
Industrially-Relevant Strains: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Biological Upgrading of Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy has a goal of developing industrially-relevant strains to meet titer, rate, and yield targets for fuel precursors for the 2022 BC Platform cost target goals of $3/GGE. A project led by
December 29, 2017 Read Full Article
In for a Penny, In for a Pound: The Advanced Bioeconomy and All the Pivots
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Algae.Tec has (once again) shifted its business focus, and what was once a developer of algae bioreactors to make cost-competitive fuels is now in the business of “heirloom cannabis varietals”. So, um, High Times at Algae.Tec. ... It’s
December 29, 2017 Read Full Article
Nutrition, Energy from Methane: The Digest’s 2017 Muti-Slide Guide to Calysta
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In December, we reported that Cargill and Calysta will co-create the world’s largest gas fermentation facility in Memphis, Tennessee to produce Calysta’s FeedKind protein, a family of sustainable, traceable nutritional ingredients for fish, livestock and pets. Start-up is
December 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Top Trends in 7 Key Latin America Hotspots
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In a striking pledge made in the latter part of 2016. 20 Latin American countries promised to promote biofuel production and use, with the support of development finance institutions. That was then, this is now. What’s happening towards
December 28, 2017 Read Full Article
Boosting Ethanol’s Value via CO2 Use: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to White Dog Labs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) US-based White Dog Labs have developed a new process that eliminates the production of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, during fermentation and instead shifts the carbon to added ethanol production, boosting fermentation yields by around 50
December 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioeconomy Curves and Slides, Snakes and Ladders
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Over the years we’ve all seen a lot of curveballs in the advanced bioeconomy. You see companies like Valero, which lobby the United States Congress with unbridled intensity to get rid of the Renewable Fuel Standard,
December 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Affordable, Renewable Hydrocarbons Made from Ethanol: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Vertimass
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
December 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Top 17 for 2017
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2017 was a roller coaster year. There was a paradigm shift in biofuels, technology advancements, innovations abounded, politics chaotic. Some companies shut down and disappeared like the Hobo vanishing in the snow atop the Polar
December 26, 2017 Read Full Article
New Feedstocks, New Targets, New Processes: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the only federal laboratory dedicated to the research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL — home to the National Bioenergy Center — advances
December 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Notes from Scaleville: The Global Bioenergies, Gevo and Siluria Stories
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week we’ve received news from three companies that have struck out in search of new markets for their fundamental processes, and new applications for biotechnology in some ancient and ossified markets such as jet fuel,
December 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Microbes Help Turn Greek Yogurt Waste into Fuel
(Phys.Org/Cell Press) Consumers across the world enjoy Greek yogurt for its taste, texture, and protein-packed punch. Reaching that perfect formula, however, generates large volumes of food waste in the form of liquid whey. Now researchers in the United States and Germany
December 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities RFI Responses
(U.S. Department of Energy) Responses to Request for Information DE-FOA-0001526: Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities ... In February 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) reached out to industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and
December 14, 2017 Read Full Article
VIDEO: Planning Permission for Celtic Renewables’ Whiskey Waste to Biofuel Plant
(Waste Management World) Celtic Renewables has secured planning permission from Falkirk Council to build a commercial demonstrator plant, which will produce over half a million litres of biofuel each year from whiskey wastes. Scottish biofuel start-up, Celtic Renewables Ltd, has secured planning permission
December 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Neste's Growth Program for Renewable Products Takes a Step Forward
(Neste Corporation) Neste's Board of Directors has decided that Neste's additional production capacity for renewable diesel, renewable aviation fuel and raw materials for various biochemical uses will be located in Singapore. The decision initiates technical design of the new production line,
December 13, 2017 Read Full Article
The 12: The Advanced Bioeconomy’s 12 Biggest Talking, Fretting, Praying and Action Points Right Now
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... What are the top trends? Here are the 11 we see dominating the debate on the stage and on the floor. Jet fuel deployment – how much, how soon, by whom? California, look up, not down!
December 13, 2017 Read Full Article
ArcelorMittal Gets Nod from World Economic Forum for Integrating Circular Economy Principles into Its Business Model
(ArcelorMittal) The world’s most prestigious award programme for the circular economy, The Circulars, has highly commended ArcelorMittal for demonstrating leadership and innovation by applying circular economy principles to its business models. ... Partnering with technical and industry leaders to develop and scale
December 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioproducts, USDA and You: The Digest 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Agricutural Research Service Partnership
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
December 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Poop to Plastic and Biofuel, Innovators Put Crap to Good Use
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Faced with two problems – 1) what to do with human waste in space and 2) how to get needed supplies to astronauts in space (especially longer space missions like Mars), scientists are working on
December 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Indian Researchers Produce Chemicals from Glycerin
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In India, researchers from Chemical Engineering and Process Development Division together with colleagues from the National Collection of Industrial Microorganisms Center, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune have developed a method to produce 2,3- butanediol (BDO), 1,3- Propanediol
December 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Trash to Treasure: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Sekisui Chemical, LanzaTech’s MSW-to-Ethanol Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech, have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid waste — which can be used directly as a fuel or as a precursor to butadiene (a key raw material in the
December 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Shazzan!: Turning Urban Trash into Treasure Island, the LanzaTech, Sekisui Chemicals Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sekisui Chemicals, LanzaTech break-through in MSW-to-ethanol demonstration -- ... Were trash to acquire a substantial uplift in value, that’s the end to the landfill crisis. In Japan, Sekisui Chemical and LanzaTech have successfully demonstrated the production of ethanol from unsorted municipal solid
December 07, 2017 Read Full Article
BETO Launches New Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium
(Department of Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is proud to announce the establishment of the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium—a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming technical uncertainty in research and development of robust biomass supply,
December 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Welcome to the Protein Revolution: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Codexis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Codexis is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer
December 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Collaboration Success: Two Labs Develop a Promising Pathway to Biobased Fuels and Chemicals
(U.S. Department of Energy) Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, have successfully modified a microorganism to produce a useful intermediate from sugar fermentation, which can then be upgraded into valuable biobased fuels and chemicals. NREL’s modified
November 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Now Deploying at Commercial Scale: The Digest’s 2017 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
November 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Map of 224 European Biorefineries Published by BIC and nova-Institute
(Bio-based News) Biorefineries are the heart of the bioeconomy. Here, different types of biomass are fully utilised and transformed into a large variety of chemicals and materials The map distinguishes between “Sugar-/starch based biorefineries”, producing bioethanol and other chemicals (63), “Oil-/fat-based biorefineries
November 29, 2017 Read Full Article
From Conventional to Advantaged: The Digest’s 2017 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
November 29, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Sofinnova and Renewable Chemicals Venture Investment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sofinnova. If you’ve been raising capital in the renewable chemical space you’ve probably knocked on their door. And, like a box of British candy, found a bunch of Smarties within. How do they look at the chemical space, and
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
10 Bioeconomy Bellwethers: Earnings Season Reveals Choppy Waters in Q3 2017, Bullish Outlook for 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season has arrived and earnings season too — and here are the highlights for 10 bellwether bioeconomy publicly-traded stocks. Aemetis – ethanol prices dive, but cellulosic on the way Avantium – IPO completed, Synvia next, then
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Speed, Baby, Speed: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to DMC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DMC’s technology enables reproducibility and robustness to scale; Production of a diversity of targets using a single bioprocess; HTS approaches that translate to full scale performance — and the company says, “50X improvement in speed and cost of product
November 27, 2017 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2017 Guide to the 20 Top European Biorefinery Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You won’t hear it from the NGOs orbiting Brussels who have long figured out that bashing biotechnology is good for the fund-raising cash register, but Europe has become the hottest geography on the planet for
November 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Are Petite Poplars the Future of Biofuels? Studies Say Yes
by Michelle Ma (Phys.Org/University of Washington) In the quest to produce affordable biofuels, poplar trees are one of the Pacific Northwest's best bets—the trees are abundant, fast-growing, adaptable to many terrains and their wood can be transformed into substances used in
November 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Investments in Alberta's Clean Technology Sector Strengthens Innovative Energy Generation
(CISION/Western Economic Diversification Canada) Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, a subsidiary of Montreal-based Enerkem Inc., is receiving $3.5 million from the Government of Canada through the Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative to build the final phase of a facility that converts non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into liquid biofuels and chemicals. The
November 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Scale-Up: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Building Industrial Fermentation for World Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Next, we invited Genomatica’s Jeff Lievense as part of a special session focused on the scaling-up of fermentation technologies — from the pitfalls to the pratfalls. Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry,
November 22, 2017 Read Full Article
Australian Researchers Lead Way in Developing Sustainable Biofuel Technology
by Cecilia Connell (ABC News) An Australian-first biofuel demonstration facility in the New South Wales Hunter Valley has been touted as a game-changer in the food versus fuel debate, that has overshadowed the production of ethanol for some time. The Federal Government,
November 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Microorganism Factories: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Verdezyne
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Verdezyne is a privately held industrial biotechnology company that is developing and commercializing novel genetically engineered microorganisms for use as “factories” to manufacture renewable chemicals. Verdezyne’s unique microorganisms permit greener, cleaner and more cost effective production
November 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Congress and Tax Legislation: It Is Not Just about Biofuels.
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization) ... BIO has led the effort to prompt Congress to recognize the important and emerging biobased sector. Congress’ current effort to reform taxes can revitalize U.S. manufacturing and grow the economy by including legislation supporting
November 21, 2017 Read Full Article
Farm to Flight – Carinata Crop Commercialization Takes off
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Qantas will operate the world’s first biofuel flight between the United States and Australiaearly in the new year in collaboration with World Fuel Services and Altair Fuels. Qantas’ new Dreamliner is being powered by Brassica
November 20, 2017 Read Full Article
From Pollution to Products: The Digest’s 2017 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
November 16, 2017 Read Full Article
$2.25 Per Gallon Biohydrocarbon Fuels, Unsubsidized? Biozin Licenses IH2 Technology — Heads for Commercial-Scale in Norway
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company has awarded an FEL-2 license agreement for the IH2 technology which converts biomass to liquid transportation fuels, to Biozin Holding. The Front End Loading (FEL-2) package will be completed for the core IH2 technology
November 16, 2017 Read Full Article
A Green Take on Carbon Dioxide
by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd./Biofuels Digest) ... This thought represents giving hope to CO2 recovery from biofuels, via understanding uses for the commodity; as well as helping our planet. ... Many experts remain optimistic about taming the GHG beast, through renewable energy,
November 15, 2017 Read Full Article
Sweet and Getting Sweeter: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Evolva
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Evolva has been evolving. The company best-known for its stevia-based sweetener developments and had a zillion applications it was investigating, has focused down on “three highly profitable products in the near term”: stevia, nootkatone, and resveratrol. This
November 15, 2017 Read Full Article
MEG(a)VENTURE: Braskem, Haldor Topsoe Chase Down Biobased MEG in New Commercial Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brazil and Denmark, Braskem and Haldor Topsoe have signed a technological cooperation agreement to develop a pioneering route to produce monoethylene glycol (MEG) from sugar. The agreement calls for the construction of a demonstration plant in Denmark, with operation
November 15, 2017 Read Full Article
VTT to Develop Enzymes Found in Wildfire-Prone Areas
( VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Micro-organisms found in the wildfire-prone dry tropical forests of India are an exciting prospect for biochemical production, as they are accustomed to the challenging conditions following a forest fire. The enzymes they
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
30 Hot Cellulosic Technologies, 30 Quick Takes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, DowDuPont said it was exiting the cellulosic biofuels business and you’d think that the company just burned down the warehouse with the original text of the Renewable Fuels Standard — the coverage of the
November 14, 2017 Read Full Article
Aviation Fuels and Much More: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Gevo
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We Really Do Mean “Drop-in”. 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
November 13, 2017 Read Full Article
No Crop Left Behind: Inside the USDA’s Bioeconomy Feedstock Strategy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... 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 of regionally-based industries producing advanced biofuels, industrial
November 13, 2017 Read Full Article
Advanced Bioeconomy Horizons: The 5 Top R&D Trends Right Now
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic reaction rates, microcrystalline cellulose, cyanobacteria working in teams, vertical farming, vegan products & markets. The 5 top disruptive techs we’ve seen in recent weeks are attacking these fronts. Here’s what we see. 1. Breakthrough on (microcrystalline) cellulose
November 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Renewable Drop-In Fuels at Scale: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Ensyn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn uses its patented and proprietary RTP fast thermal technology to convert wood residues and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Ensyn has had continuous commercial operations for more than 25 years. Its technology has
November 09, 2017 Read Full Article
BioFuelDB: A Database and Prediction Server of Enzymes Involved in Biofuels Production
by Nikhil Chaudhary, Ankit Gupta, Sudheer Gupta, Vineet K. Sharma (Peer J) In light of the rapid decrease in fossils fuel reserves and an increasing demand for energy, novel methods are required to explore alternative biofuel production processes to alleviate these
November 08, 2017 Read Full Article
Winning the Race for New Technology via Public-Private Partnership: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL PPP Programs and Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This year at ABLC Next, NREL’s Rich Bolin, gave us an overview of partnership perspective, opportunities and past performance. Signature companies are engaged, in the space — advanced manufacturing, fuels, power, chemicals, and much more. Public-private partnership
November 07, 2017 Read Full Article
Synthetic Biology-enabled Manufacturing: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Visolis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Visolis process will enable production of bio-based elastomers, unsaturated polyester resins, super adsorbent polymers, and other products using a variety of feedstocks like agri-residues, dextrose, glycerol and syn-gas. As we come down the cost curve,
November 06, 2017 Read Full Article
Building Blocks for Less: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Rennovia
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Rennovia, Inc. is a chemical process technology development company focused on the creation of novel processes for the cost-advantaged production of commodity and specialty chemicals from renewable feedstocks. Rennovia is developing processes for the production of biobased
November 02, 2017 Read Full Article
BREAKING NEWS: DowDuPont to Exit Cellulosic Biofuels Business
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, DowDuPont announced that it intends to sell its cellulosic biofuels business and its first commercial project, a 30 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa. The Nevada project is still going
November 02, 2017 Read Full Article
One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure: Enabling Europe’s Bioeconomy
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) From October 10th -11th the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) celebrated 10 years in Brussels, Belgium, as it plays a crucial role in providing a central meeting place for policy
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
COSMOS: The Future of Plant Oil
by Michael Eggleston* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On October 9th the 10th European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy kicked off in Brussels, Belgium, giving participants the opportunity to take part in a stakeholder workshop held by the European research project COSMOS
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Scientists Work to Make Biodegradable Plastic from Sunlight
(Fox47News/MSU Today) Michigan State University scientists are proposing a new way to economically produce biodegradable plastics with sunlight and help from an ancient microorganism. The team, led by Taylor Weiss, a postdoctoral researcher in the Ducat MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory labat the MSU-Department of
November 01, 2017 Read Full Article
Presentations from BETO’s Annual Conference Now Online!
(U.S. Department of Energy) On July 11–12, 2017, BETO hosted its 10th annual conference—Bioeconomy 2017: Domestic Resources for a Vibrant Future! More than 300 attendees from industry, government agencies, the national laboratories, and academia gathered to discuss opportunities and challenges facing
October 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Waste Makes Haste: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Enerkem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Enerkem’s technology converts non-recyclable municipal solid waste (i.e. garbage) into clean fuels and renewable chemicals. Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is the world’s first commercial biorefinery to use municipal solid waste to produce methanol and ethanol. This facility is the result of more than
October 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Beta Renewables in Cellulosic Ethanol Crisis, as Grupo M&G Parent Files for Restructuring
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “Italian newspapers reported over the weekend that cellulosic ethanol developer Mossi & Ghisolfi shuts down this week,” reported a source from Europe. “227 people of whom 121 from the Crescentino ethanol refinery are to stay at
October 31, 2017 Read Full Article
Governments, International Agencies Affirm the Need to Massively Increase Bioenergy and Byproducts to Fight Climate Change
(BioFuture Platform) According to projections of international energy agencies, the use of bioenergy as a share of the world’s energy usage needs to more than double by 2030 if the world is to avoid temperature rises above 2º C. “We simply
October 30, 2017 Read Full Article
Sugar Beet Pulp Project Enters Second Stage after Successful Pilot Tests
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In Germany, the PULP2VALUE project is entering its second stage after successful pilot tests and creating new value chains from sugar beet pulp. The project aims to achieve two main objectives by the end of the project,
October 30, 2017 Read Full Article
If You Build It, They Will Come: Biofuels Industry Sees Renewable Chemicals as New Strategy
by Jesse Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) To create additional value in the biobased economy, companies and investors are turning toward the production of renewable chemicals and products. They argue that in prioritizing higher-value chemicals and products, advanced biofuels will
October 30, 2017 Read Full Article
The Brazilian Conference on Science and Technology BioEnergy and the Progress in the BioEconomy in Brazil
by Laís F. Thomaz* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Held in Campos do Jordão on 16-19 October 2017, the Third Edition of the Brazilian BioEnergy Science and Technology Conference (BBEST) highlighted the theme "Designing a Sustainable Bioeconomy". [caption id="attachment_89735" align="alignleft" width="300"] BBEST--Brazilian BioEnergy
October 28, 2017 Read Full Article
BIO Applauds Senate Introduction of Renewable Chemicals Tax Credit
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Business Wire) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today thanked Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and co-sponsors Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Al Franken (D-MN) for introducing the Renewable Chemicals Act of 2017 (S.1980). The
October 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Positive Results from Flagship Biorefinery Feasibility Study
by Processum (Canadian Biomass Magazine) The project Flagship Biorefinery has been carried out in order to investigate the prerequisites to realize a new, full scale biorefinery based on sustainable wood raw material from Swedish forests. The biorefinery would produce approximately 1 million
October 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Making Renewables Mainstream: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We reported on Amyris’ progress recently in “The New Colossus aims to unlock its Golden Door” and in Two Up: Amyris, Queensland gamble on farnesene for SE Asia. Meanwhile, Amyris President of R&D Joel Cherry presented these illuminating
October 27, 2017 Read Full Article
BIO Asks for Reauthorization of Section 9003 Program in Farm Bill
(Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization and 66 renewable chemical producers recently asked leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture to reauthorize the Farm Bill’s Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Manufacturing Assistance Program (Section 9003). BIO
October 26, 2017 Read Full Article
Synthetic Petroleum: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Synpet Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Synpet Technologies is a Turkish-US company founded in 2014, which operates a 15 ton/day demonstration facility in Pasakoy, Turkey. The company developed its Thermal Conversion Process, which breaks down organic waste materials by using heat, pressure and water to produce
October 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Letter from Washington: The Grand Alliance Flashes V for Victory in Renewable Fuels Fight
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been a very busy week in Washington DC, the high point being a letter to seven senators sent late Thursday by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who took significant (and as of a few days ago,
October 25, 2017 Read Full Article
Sustainable Chemistry’s Drivers: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Capricorn Venture Partners Sustainable Chemistry Fund
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Changing expectations, changing demographics in a fragile world. Those are just some of the drivers for sustainable chemistry. Performance or sustainability? Consumers demand both. Those drivers are behind a surge in sustainable chemical venture investing, and
October 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Unprecedented Insight into ‘Miraculous’ Biochar
(Bioenergy Insight) ... Led by the University of Tuebingen in Germany, and involving researchers from the US Colorado State University, the new research published in the journal Nature Communications has provided a mechanistic understanding of biochar’s properties. The research revealed how
October 24, 2017 Read Full Article
Novel and Bio-Based Chemicals: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Elevance
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Elevance Renewable Sciences is a world leader in natural oil metathesis, with a commercial-scale biorefinery in Gresik, Indonesia and a group of collaborators including Stepan, P&G, Wilmar, Materia and Clariant. In 2015, the company introduced Elevance Clean
October 23, 2017 Read Full Article
Ribbon-Cutting for First-of-Its-Kind Chemical Manufacturer in Delaware
by Zoë Read (WHYY) A specialty chemical company said its Delaware plant can now make a key chemical bonding agent, common in household products, from 100 percent renewable resources. This is a first in North America. On Wednesday, company executives for Croda and
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Methane for Supper: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Industrial Microbes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) iMicrobes designs and builds microorganisms, including industrial strains of bacteria and yeast to produce chemicals from natural gas and carbon dioxide. Their green, bio-based methods are “more cost effective than sugar or oil, helping to make
October 20, 2017 Read Full Article
ExCo79 Workshop Publication ‘The Role of Industrial Biorefineries in a Low-Carbon Economy- Summary and Conclusions’
(International Energy Agency) Biorefineries are generally expected to play an important role in decarbonising the energy and transport sectors with bioenergy and biofuel products. In addition, national and regional economies would benefit the most from a production portfolio that favours high-added
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
2017 Green Chemistry Student Chapter Award Winners Announced
(American Chemistry Society Green Chemistry Institute) What better place than the classroom for green chemistry – the “field open for innovation, new ideas, and revolutionary progress” – to flourish? In the years since its inception, green chemistry has been increasingly implemented in
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Ethanol Producers Work with UN to Accelerate Shift to Low Carbon
(Ethanol Europe Renewables, Ltd./EurActiv) EERL partners with UN Climate Change for COP 23 -- Ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Bonn (COP 23, 6-17 November), Ethanol Europe Renewables Ltd (EERL) and UN Climate Change have partnered to boost the deployment of
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC Next 2017: Fulcrum Prices Bonds, GOP Governors’ Pro-Biofuels March on DC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the biggest news sweeping the floor at ABLC Next 2017 and perhaps the biggest industrial biotechnology update of 2017, the long-awaited financing is approaching completion for Fulcrum Bioenergy’s highly-anticipated waste-to-fuels project in Nevada, that
October 19, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Carbon Demand Regears Biodiesel Inputs
by Niamh Boyle (Prima Markets/Biodiesel Magazine) Prima Markets provides a comprehensive summary of the growing international demand for low carbon fuels, including U.S. policy drivers and waste feedstock consumption, along with a detailed overview of the international trade of low carbon
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
UA to Head New Center Focusing on Biofuels and Bioproducts
(University of Arizona News) The goals of the Sustainable Bioeconomy for Arid Regions Center will be to address the nation's needs for biofuels and bioproducts, strengthen Arizona's bioeconomy, and provide training for the next generation of scientists and engineers. The University of
October 18, 2017 Read Full Article
Advance to Go!: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to the State of the Advanced Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference on Next-Gen Technologies and Markets opens in San Francisco with a record audience size, with diversification as its theme and “Go!” as the takeaway message — with investment and technologies arriving
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
State of the Advanced Bioeconomy 2017
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “Never fall in love with a feedstock”, LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren spends a considerable amount of time reminding us here in Digestville, and that pertains to any area of industrial activity. ... It’s not your Dad’s ethanol,
October 17, 2017 Read Full Article
Success in Succinic, Succinctly: The Digest’s 2017 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. The
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
SPARC in the Engine: Florida Aims to Be an Alternative Jet Fuels Hub as New Public/Private Project Debuts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sometimes, what an engine needs to roar to life is a spark. Or a SPARC, as in this case. As in the Southeastern Partnership for Advanced Renewables from Carinata (SPARC), a consortium consisting of the University of Florida (lead),
October 13, 2017 Read Full Article
One-Step Reforming of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Yields Fuels, Chemicals
by S. Himmelstein (Engineering 360/IEEE) A new plasma synthesis process promises to enhance greenhouse gas emissions control while producing valuable chemical feedstocks. The technology developed at University of Liverpool allows for the direct, one-step activation of carbon dioxide and methane into higher value liquid
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Dynamic Metabolic Control: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to 10X Bioprocess Intensification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The US Department of Energy is supporting a project from DMC Limited and Duke University to develop scalable and cost-effective next generation semi-continuous fermentation based processes for biofuels, reducing commercial scale capital costs 5-10 fold. The rationale? Rapid
October 12, 2017 Read Full Article
Biofuel Production with the Sun, the Sea and Thermochemical Reactions
by Marcius Extavour (XPRIZE/Biofuels Digest) ... Hydrocarbon drop-in fuels are among the leading products targeted by the CO2 conversion community, be it diesel, methanol, butanol, or others. New approaches to the science and technology of CO2-to-fuels may alter the energetics, the economics,
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Conventional and Cutting Edge Biofuels: The Digest’s 2017 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
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Synova and the Pursuit of Clean, Green and Lean
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A newer technology Synova Power has arrived with the promise of clean, green, lean stream of pipeline-quality natural gas from biomass. ... Streams coming off cellulosic biofuels or biogas refineries have been green, and in some cases (and increasingly) lean,
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
ASU, CSU, NREL Share in $3.5 Million Algae Project
(Algae Industry Magazine) Colorado State University scientists and Arizona State University’s Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation are partners in a three-year grant of up to $3.5 million from the Department of Energy, aimed at improving how algae-based biofuels
October 11, 2017 Read Full Article
Mossi Ghisolfi Weighs Sale of Italian Biofuel Business - Source
by Stephen Jewkes (Reuters) Italian bioplastics multinational Mossi Ghisolfi is considering selling its Italian business in the biofuels sector as part of a restructuring deal, a source close to the matter said. The company, Italy’s second-biggest chemicals business behind that of oil
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Ames Laboratory Announces New Science in Converting Biomass
(Ames Laboratory/Ethanol Producer Magazine) In every plant—from trees to crops—there exists a substance that makes up its wood or stems, fiber, and cell walls. This substance is a complex natural polymer called lignin, and it is the second largest renewable carbon
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
AVAPCO, BYOGY Renewables, and Petron Scientech Announce Partnership to Demonstrate Technologies in the ABBA Integrated Biorefinery Projec
(PR Web) The ABBA Integrated Biorefinery project, to be built at the AVAPCO Thomaston Georgia site, will co-produce bio jet fuel and Bioplus® nanocellulose. It has received a Phase 1, $3.7 million award from the Department of Energy. Negotiations with the Department
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
Engage the Hyper-Drive: Synbio’s Fastest Are Going Faster, Bigger as Kytopen, Ginkgo, Twist Biosciences, Arzeda, TeselaGen Feel the Need for Speed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Is everyone’s organism for making fuels, chemicals, materials, foods, flavors, fragrances and therapeutics — beautifully and slowly — heading for rapid obsolescence? “Everyone wants to make it faster,” notes Kytopen co-founder Cullen Buie. “Over the past
October 10, 2017 Read Full Article
8 Fast Flyers Chosen for Top Cat: The Big Attack on Biomass Catalysis Begins
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Somewhere in the files of the Department of Energy it is called the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium. Inside the halls of National Labs, they call it ChemCatBio. ... They’re on a mission to bring forward commercial bioenergy applications two
October 05, 2017 Read Full Article
Financing Bioeconomy Ventures, Pt. 7 – Engineering Design Assessment: Front-End Engineering Design and Loading Evaluation
by Bernard Cooker, John Diecker, and Daniel Lane (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) This article is the seventh in a series on the information needed by a Capital Investor, received from the Project Developer (PD), for the Capital Investor to make an
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Financing Bioeconomy Ventures: Pt. 4 – Competitive & Strategic Analysis of Renewable Fuel and Chemical Ventures
by Lorenz Bauer, Gerald Kutney and Bob Kodrzycki (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Investors focused on renewable chemicals and fuels are looking for projects with the greatest commercial potential. However, within the plethora of potential projects in which to invest, there is
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
2nd Generation Biorefinery Solutions. YXY Marks the Spot: The Digest’s 2017 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 construction of the first commercial plant with its JV partner BASF — so, it’s a monster year for Avantium. Avantium’s YXY technology
October 04, 2017 Read Full Article
Hearing Focuses on Farm Bill Rural Development, Energy Programs
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Sept. 28, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing on the 2018 Farm Bill focused on rural development and energy programs. The committee has now held nine hearings this
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Bioprocessing Engineers Recover Glucosinolate from Oilseed Meal
(Phys.Org/South Dakota State University) The oil extracted from ground seeds of camelina and carinata, oilseed plants from the mustard family, can be used as jet fuel. However, with oil prices at an all-time low, that is economically challenging. These promising biofuel
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
Financing Bioeconomy Ventures: Pt. 6 – Pilot Plant Site Assessment and Validation of Experimental Data
by Lorenz Bauer and Charles Loos (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Investing in new bio-economy technologies involves the inherent perils associated with building new plants and introducing new products into existing markets. However, one avoidable peril is basing decisions on poorly planned research
October 03, 2017 Read Full Article
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