by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the Netherlands, Reverdia and Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research have launched a joint development programme on bio-based PBS (polybutylene succinate) compounds for injection moulding. The new bio-PBS compounds will be durable and based
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMEChempolis Gets Green Light for JV Biorefinery Project
(Biofuels International) A joint venture (JV) project between Chempolis Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), which should cost around €110 million, moves on after getting approval from NRL’s board. The project has preceded several preparation stages including signing MoUs with neighbouring
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
AkzoNobel Teams up with Royal Cosun to Develop Sustainable Cellulose Products from Sugar Beet Processing
(Biofuels International) Dutch chemicals giant AkzoNobel and agro-industrial cooperative Royal Cosun have formed a new partnership to develop novel products from cellulose side streams resulting from sugar beet processing. The partnership will combine Royal Cosun's specialist knowledge in separating and purifying
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Specialty Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Levulinic Acid as a New Platform for Green Chemistry: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to GF Biochemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In February, GFBiochemicals announced at ABLC 2016 that it has acquired the assets and intellectual property of Segetis, a US-based, venture-backed levulinic acid derivatives producer Segetis has more than 50 patents and over 200 pending patent
May 18, 2016 Read Full Article
The Big Year Continues: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amyris reported Q1 2016 net loss of $15,3M on revenues of 8.8 million, compared with $7.9 million for the first quarter of 2015. The increase from Q1 2015 included product sales growth of 50% over
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Baseball, the Trade Deadline, and the Industrial Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Some teams are sellers. They reduce costs, go lean, and hunker down in a case of “wait’ll next year”. In industrial biotechnology, the calendar tells us it’s May but it might as well be July, because
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
UC Riverside Awarded $1.3M from USDA for Green Energy Research
by Sarah Nightingale (University of California Riverside) Charles Wyman, Distinguished Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and holder of the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering at the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), and Charles Cai, research engineer
May 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Commercializing in a World of $30 Oil: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Reverdia
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 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Stora Enso, Rennovia Ink Biobased Chemicals Development Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Renewable materials company Stora Enso and specialty chemicals company Rennovia Inc. have announced a joint development and license agreement to cooperate on bio-based chemicals development. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
CAB-Comm Final Report Documents Accomplishments from Six Years of Algal Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Consortium for Algal Biofuel Commercialization (CAB-Comm), led by the University of California, San Diego, has just released its final report, detailing the many accomplishments and impactful contributions achieved in its six years of operation. CAB-Comm
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Sugarcane-Based Biofuels and Bioproducts
by Ian O'Hara, Sagadevan Mundree (Wiley) Sugarcane has garnered much interest for its potential as a viable renewable energy crop. While the use of sugar juice for ethanol production has been in practice for years, a new focus on using
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA, DOE Partner to Invest $10 Million in Green Energy Research
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the joint investment of $10 million towards research that will drive more efficient biofuels production
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces Funding for Design and Construction of Manufacturing of Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biopower
(U.S. Department of Energy) Recognizing the importance of biofuels to energy and climate security, the Energy Department today announced up to $90 million in project funding focused on designing, constructing and operating integrated biorefinery facilities. The production of biofuels from
May 09, 2016 Read Full Article
The Unloved Business That's Saved Big Oil From Low Energy Prices
by Javier Blas (Bloomberg) Petrochemical earnings accounted for 75% of Exxon's net income; Oil executives see future for chemicals beyond crude rout -- Big Oil is suddenly Big Chemical. For years, the business of turning gas and crude into the chemicals used to
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Governor Says Interest Is Already There for Biochemical Tax Credit
by O. Kay Henderson (RadioIowa) Governor Terry Branstad says companies already are expressing interest in the state’s new tax credit for firms that come up with new products made from the starches, sugars and oils left-over after ethanol and biodiesel are
May 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Earnings Season: REG, Green Plains, BioAmber, ADM Report Improving Outlooks, Growth Prospects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Q1 earnings season for the advanced bioeconomy kicked off this week, with reporting from Green Plains, ADM, REG and BioAmber. That’s an ag giant, an ethanol monster, a biomass-based diesel dominator and a fast-upcoming renewable
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use
(NewBIO/Cooperative Extension System) Technology patented by Renmatix enables the manufacture of industrial sugars from biomass on a scale that is commercially cost-effective. Table of Contents Introduction From Biomass to Sugars Benefits of Supercritical Water Customers Rebuild Biorefiners based on Plantrose™ Process
May 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Harnessing Biotechnology: A Practical Guide
by Steve Weiss (Genomatica/Chemical Engineering) Biotechnology is increasingly proving its ability to address chemical industry challenges. An engineering-focused approach — bioengineering — is vital to successful industrial application For those undertaking overall process design and implementation for intermediate and specialty chemicals,
April 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Flying High with Algae
(James Cook University) A native freshwater algae grown in northern Australia can be used to create a high-quality, renewable jet fuel, an international research team has found. The multi-disciplinary team including researchers from James Cook University, University of Sydney and Israel’s
April 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Integrating the Production of Biofuels and Bioproducts
by Jonathan Male (U.S. Department of Energy) Biomass is a very versatile energy resource. While it can be converted to biofuel for vehicle use, it can also serve as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in the manufacturing of plastics,
April 28, 2016 Read Full Article
The RITE Bioprocess: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Green Earth Institute
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Earth Institute Co., Ltd. is focused on producing carbon-neutral biofuels and green chemicals derived from non-food biomass, such as leaves and stems of plants, instead of using food and feed crops. Using technology originally invented
April 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa Offers Tax Incentives In Bid To Become An Epicenter For Innovation In Bio-based Materials
by Steven Savage (Forbes) Last week the governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, signed a bill which came to him with bipartisan support from the legislature. The measure institutes tax incentives designed to accelerate the growth of the emerging biotech industry
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Recyclable, Sugar-Derived Foam -- A Renewable Alternative to Traditional Polyurethanes?
(American Chemical Society/EurekAlert!) Polyurethanes in products from cushy sofas to stretchy spandex have made sitting, sleeping and walking more comfortable. But once they have served their purpose, most of the non-degradable materials pile up in landfills. Now scientists report in the
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
The New Sugars: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to 5C and 6C sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As part of March Madness, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers of 5C and 6C sugars, from pilot to player. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day. The recorded
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet, BioAmber in Big Cellulosic Sugar Partnership: Biobased’s Hot Babes Hook Up
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ontario, Comet Biorefining has signed an off-take agreement with bio-succinic acid producer BioAmber for cellulosic dextrose from Comet’s upcoming first commercial plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The dextrose will be produced from agricultural residues using
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Fast & Flexible: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Renmatix
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants. The company’s water-based Plantrose process is the lowest cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars, used
April 18, 2016 Read Full Article
UPM Biofuels Gains ISCC PLUS Certification for Bio-Based Applications
(UPM Biofuels) UPM Biofuels has extended sustainability certification to cover all of its output streams from the Lappeenranta Biorefinery in Finland under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Scheme ISCC PLUS. UPM Biofuels produces renewable diesel and naphtha at the
April 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels, Plastics and Drugs: Is This the Future of Our Farms?
by John Vidal (The Guardian) Climate change and poor returns on wheat and dairy drive rural revolution in ‘future-proof’ agriculture -- ... In Essex, David Eagle is growing acres of sea buckthorn, a salt-tolerant plant that grows wild in Siberiacorrect and
April 18, 2016 Read Full Article
DG-Based Resins Spring into Plastics
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nebraska’s Laurel Biocomposite produces biomaterials for thermoset applications. -- Laurel Biocomposite LLC is using distillers grains to create biomaterials that will be used in lawn and gardening products across the United States this spring. The
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Supporting the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA Biomass Programs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This month, we held a well-attended webinar on USDA Biomass programs. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, by the USDA’s Mark Brodziski. The recorded version of the USDA Biomass Programs webinar can
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
New SPI Bioplastics Division Report Defines Bioplastics, Explores the Growing Field of Bioplastics and Demonstrates How Material Innovation Can Offer Environmental aAdvantages.
(SPI) As bioplastics become more popular and an emerging material of choice, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association's SPI Bioplastics Division released a new report today (April 1, 2016), Bioplastics Simplified: Attributes of Biobased and Biodegradable Products, which explains bioplastics in
April 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Methanol as a Chemical Platform: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Enerkem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers for chemical intermediates, from pilot to player. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, from Enerkem Senior Vice President Tim Cesarek,
April 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Scale-Up of Emerging Biofuel Technologies
by Lorenz Bauer and William Quapp (Biofuels Digest) ... However, attempts to translate these small scale successes into commercial technologies have been less successful. It is easy to blame lower oil and natural gas prices and opposition from special interest
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Pivot to Play: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Cellulosic Sugars
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on the markets and makers of cellulosic sugars, from pilot to player. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, from industry consultant Vonnie Estes — whose latest
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol: For the Rubber or the Road? New Russian Tech Advances for One-Step Alcohol-to-Butadiene
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Russia, ETB Catalytic Technologies has received $0.6 million from ZAVKOM and Skolkovo Fund as a series A investment to build a pilot plant for the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol, The investors received 22%
April 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Boom-boom: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Renewable Diesel’s Growth and Horizons
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we held a well-attended webinar on the boom on in Renewable diesel. Here below is a slide deck presented on the day, from Will Thurmond, President of Emerging Markets Online — highlights from the upcoming Drop
April 11, 2016 Read Full Article
New Platforms, New Pathways: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Organic Acids, the Molecules and Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Late last week, Michele Rubino joined us in a March Madness webinar on the molecules and markets for organic acids, and presented the illuminating slides seen here. The main Digest slide deck can be seen
April 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Branstad Signs Chemical Tax Credit Bill in Ames
by Austin Harrington (Ames Tribune) Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds came to Iowa State University Wednesday to sign a bill into law that will create a $10 million tax credit for companies in the renewable chemical manufacturing
April 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Sweet Spot: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Organic Acids, the Molecules and Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Late last week, Michele Rubino joined us in a March Madness webinar on the molecules and markets for organic acids, and presented the illuminating slides seen below. For further illumination, Michele can be reached here.
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Energy Programs Enable New Feedstock Production To Help Fuel the Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Congress changed mandatory funding for two key bioenergy programs – despite their tangible successes – through its Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Omnibus spending bill. USDA’s Section 9003 Loan Guarantee Program and the Biomass
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE BETO Updates Multi-Year Program Plan
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has released the 2016 update of its Multi-Year Program Plan, which serves as an operational guide to help the BETO manage and coordinate its activities. The plan
April 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Abundant Quantity, Low Cost, Organic Acids: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Rivertop Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Rivertop has developed a way to make glucaric acid, glucarates and other biodegradable chemicals from renewable resources in abundant quantity and at a low cost. These and other renewable chemicals can reduce society’s dependence on
April 05, 2016 Read Full Article
BRAG Petition Succeeds: EPA Expands Chemical Data Reporting Exemptions To Biodiesel Products
(Bergeson & Campbell/BRAG) On March 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Partial Exemption of Certain Chemical Substances from Reporting Additional Chemical Data final rule in the Federal Register. This final rule amends the list of chemical substances
April 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative Collaborating with Comet Biorefining to Develop Agricultural Biomass Supply Chain
(Comet Biorefining) Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative, an Ontario-based farmer's cooperative, confirms that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Comet Biorefining to collaborate on the development of a sustainable agricultural biomass supply chain in southwestern Ontario. Comet Biorefining
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Making Lignin Pay: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last week, we held a well-attended webinar on “Making Lignin Pay — Now, Soon, Never?” Here below are the slides presented on the day. The recorded version can be accessed here. READ MORE / MORE
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Survival of the Hardest-Working -- Cells that Work Hard Stay Alive, Lazy Cells Die
by Beth Miller (Washington University) A team of engineers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered a way to improve production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, materials and other useful chemicals by capitalizing on the work ethic of cells. The research team, led
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Turning Gut Bacteria Into Bioplastic Factories
(Asian Scientist) E. coli, a common gut bacteria, can be engineered to produce biodegradable polymers for use in surgical sutures, among other applications. -- A Korean research team has engineered gut bacteria to create non-natural polymers in a biorefinery—allowing various plastics
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
DuPont Industrial Biosciences Honored with Biorenewable Deployment Consortium’s Outstanding Achievement Award
(Biorenewable Deployment Consortium) The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC) honored DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) with the organization’s 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award for the company’s continuous contributions to the deployment of biochemical and advanced cellulosic biofuels. “The Biorenewable Deployment Consortium is proud to
March 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Better Use of Entire Biomass of Willow
(Phys.Org/VTT Technical Research Center of Finland) VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto University investigated how willow biomass can be utilised more efficiently. When processed correctly, willow is eminently suitable as a source of sugar in the production of
March 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Drop in, Trip Out, Turn On: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Drop-In Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yesterday, we held a well-attended webinar on “Drop-In Fuels” Here below is the first slide deck presented on the day. We’ll have the remainder of slides tomorrow. The recorded version can be accessed here. READ MORE
March 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Rivertop Renewables, DTI Blast thru Nameplate at First Commercial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Benchmark tests prove higher volumes than initial forecast; plant receives “Recommended” rating after first customer audit In Montana, Rivertop Renewables, a Montana-based novel chemicals company, announced it exceeded the nameplate capacity of its first commercial production
March 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Biobased Plastics and Resins, What’s New, and Who’s Top Cat?: The Digest’s 2016 Visual Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Yesterday, we held a well-attended webinar on “Biobased Plastics and resins?” Here below are the slides presented on the day. The recorded version can be accessed here. READ MORE
March 30, 2016 Read Full Article
GS Caltex to Build Plant for Biobutanol in H1
by Lee Seo-young (Korea Herald) GS Caltex will begin the construction of a plant for mass-production of biobutanol, a renewable biofuel for cars that can be used as a substitute for gasoline, during the first half of this year, the
March 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Doing More with Less: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Stora Enso
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We knew that Stora Enso has become awesomely serious about the advanced bioeconomy when news emerged in 2014 that the company had acquired Virdia for $33 million with additional potential payouts totaling approximately $29 million following
March 25, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s up with Cellulosic Fuels: The Digest’s 2016 March Madness Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we conducted a webinar on the state of cellulosic fuels as part of our 2016 March Madness series. You can experience the recorded version of the webinar here. Meanwhile, here is the primary slide
March 24, 2016 Read Full Article
AST Increases Scale of Wisconsin Research Facility
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) American Science and Technology has completed the scale-up of its biorefinery in Wausau, Wisconsin. The scale-up increase’s the processing capacity of AST, an emerging technology company in the biochemicals and renewable fuel sector, from 100 kilograms
March 23, 2016 Read Full Article
A Chemical Intermediate with Big Mo’: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to FDCA
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) To accompany our coverage this week of advanced chemicals with 5-HMF and its derivative, FDCA, we turn to a first-class study done by Weastra on the potential of selected bio-based chemical intermediates, specifically succinic acid,
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
AVA-CO2’s Move to Replace Formaldehyde Shows the Endurin’ Allure in Furans
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In June 2014 the 6th adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic and
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
No Pain, No Gain: A Tale of Three Companies, Pacific Ethanol, BioAmber and TerraVia at a crossroads
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... a fascinating look at the evolution in the fuels, renewable chemicals, specialty products and nutrition that make up the advanced bioeconomy. ... The most spectacular news of the week belonged to TerraVia, which landed a
March 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Going to Scale: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Avantium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BASF and Avantium have now signed a letter of intent and entered into exclusive negotiations to establish a joint venture for the production and marketing of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), as well as marketing of polyethylenefuranoate
March 16, 2016 Read Full Article
“Call Me TerraVia”: Solazyme Transforms, Shakes up and Refinances
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Solazyme undergoes Focus Reassignment Surgery and re-emerges as TerraVia. Industrials to spin off, nutrition the focus now. The what, the why, and the “why now?” In California, Solazyme said that it is now focusing exclusively on
March 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Momentum Builds behind Researcher's New Biomass Process
(University of Wisconsin-Madison/Phys.Org) For a world hooked on fossil carbons, the vials of amber syrup in Jim Dumesic's lab are full of sweet potential. Dumesic's group caused a stir in research circles and the media in 2014 by publishing a
March 11, 2016 Read Full Article
The Big Year Dawns: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Amyris
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Amyris reported Q4 revenues of $9.6mn and a net loss for Q4 of $41.9 million ($34 million after elimination of non-recurring items), well below Wall Street consensus estkmates of $32.4 million. “The fourth
March 11, 2016 Read Full Article
The PLA Story: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Polylactic Acid Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we look this week at markets for cellulosic sugars, this classic powerpoint that outlined the case and markets for biobased polylactic acid came to mind. We’ll not debate whether PLA is really polyacid or a
March 09, 2016 Read Full Article
BDI Subsidiary Reopens Expanded Distillation Research Center
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) UIC GmbH, a subsidiary of Austrian biodiesel technology provider BDI-BioEnergy International AG, has just reopened its expanded and modernized research center near Frankfurt, Germany, in Alzenau. According to BDI, UIC is a pioneer in fine vacuum
March 09, 2016 Read Full Article
A Conversation with US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
(Industrial Biotechnology) ... My current assessment is that there exists an unlimited sense of opportunity in the biobased products and bioenergy sector. I look at the work being done at the USDA, which is extensive and has been helpful in getting
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
€2.1 Trillion and Counting: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Europe’s Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the EU, the European bioeconomy is generating 18.3 million jobs and driving €2.1 trillion in annual revenue in the E28, says nova-insitut, in report for the Bio-based Industries Consortium just now released. You can download
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
€2.1 Trillion Revenues and 18.3M Jobs: The European Bioeconomy, Demystified
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the EU, the European bioeconomy is generating 18.3 million jobs and driving €2.1 trillion in annual revenue in the E28, says nova-insitut, in report for the Bio-based Industries Consortium just now released. What is the
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Report Finds Iowa Well Positioned for Biorenewable Chemicals
(Iowa State University Bioeconomy Institute) A new white paper has found that Iowa is better positioned than many domestic competitors to capitalize on the next frontier of bioprocessing in the United States. The report, titled “Biobased Chemicals: The Iowa Opportunity,” was released
March 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Disruptive Renewable Chemicals: The Digest’s 2016 8-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
March 03, 2016 Read Full Article
IKEA Joins Advanced Bioeconomy via Newlight Deal
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Sweden, IKEA and Newlight Technologies have entered into a supply, collaboration, and technology license agreement that will supply IKEA with Newlight’s AirCarbon and enable IKEA to produce AirCarbon thermoplastic under a technology license. Under the
March 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Leaf Resources Expands Equity Stake in ZeaChem, Signs JV to Develop Celluosic Sugars Project in US
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Leaf Resources and ZeaChem signed a joint venture agreement to establish a Glycell based project in the USA. The new agreenent advances the relationship between the two companies from an October 2014 Collaboration
March 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Stimulating Investment To Grow the Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Innovation Organization) ... The challenge our industry faces right now is to continue building investment in the biobased economy. That can be accomplished with both policy and non-policy activities. ... On the policy front a new coordinated federal
February 29, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Posts Presentations from Hydrogen, Hydrocarbons, and Bioproduct Precursors from Wastewaters Workshop
The Hydrogen, Hydrocarbons, and Bioproduct Precursors from Wastewaters Workshop was held March 18–19, 2015, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Washington D.C. offices. Sponsored by the DOE's Bioenergy and Fuel Cell Technologies Offices, the
February 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Zeitgeist at the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference
[caption id="attachment_70483" align="alignright" width="260"] LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren visits with Advanced Biofuels USA's Bill Brandon at a pre-conference get-together.[/caption] by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) You might think that annual conferences feel the same year after year. Not true. One of
February 25, 2016 Read Full Article
UW Scientists Team up with Big Oil to Develop Renewable Jet Fuel
by Thomas Content (Milwaukee, Wisconsin Journal Sentinel) ... In one project among several around the nation, ExxonMobil is working with researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on technology to bring down the cost of renewable diesel and jet fuel. Researchers led
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
New Ammonia Biomass Pretreatment Process Improves Yield with Lower Enzyme Loading; Improving Cellulosic Biofuel Economics
(Green Car Congress) A team from the US, China and India, led by researchers from Michigan State University, has developed a new liquid ammonia biomass pretreatment methodology called Extractive Ammonia (EA). EA-pretreated corn stover delivers a higher fermentable sugar yield
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
High Margin Alternatives to Petroleum: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Earth Energy Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earth Energy Renewables is a company focused on commercializing bio-based chemicals and fuels. The company has demonstrated success in creating high-margin green alternatives to petroleum-based products. With a robust technology that can process any biodegradable
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
7 Megatrends for the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Where is the bioeconomy headed? In the annual State of the Industry briefing at the 2016 Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, the Digest presented a survey on that topic. Here are the trends we spotted in the
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Second-Generation Biofuel Markets: State of Play, Trade and Developing Country Perspectives
(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) UNCTAD's first report on the state of biofuel technologies in 2007 highlighted a sector with great potential, but at the time that was a long way off from markets. In 2015, countries made commitments
February 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet Biorefining to Build Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
(Comet Biorefining/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Comet Biorefining Inc. has announced the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in 2018 producing dextrose sugar from
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Analyst: Biofuels Consolidation Will Continue in 2016
(Ocean Park Advisors/Ag Professionals) ... "Our experience leads us to believe there will be an increased number of owners and boards of renewable fuel companies evaluating their options in 2016, if not testing the market for reasonable assessments of the value
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Bioethanol Made from Agricultural Residues Used for the First Time in Cleaning Agents
(Clariant) Clariant and Werner & Mertz collaborate; Clariant supplies cellulosic ethanol made with sunliquid® technology for Frosch® Bio-Spirit Multisurface-Cleaner; Second-generation bioethanol is produced from local agricultural residues without competing with food sources Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, in cooperation with Werner
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
American Chemical Society Launches Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the American Chemical Society in cooperation with LanzaTech, Intrexon and other leading bio-based chemical companies, announced at ABLC the formation of a Biochemical Technology Leadership Roundtable. This collaboration will identify and address key
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Protein and Perfume: At ABLC, Even Less of a Focus on Fuels
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James/Biofuels Digest) This week, we attended the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, a major annual gathering of firms in the bioindustrial space. As we noted in our conference recap from March 2015, the industry’s focus had been pivoting
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
GFBiochemicals Acquires Segetis, Enters the US Market
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, GFBiochemicals announced at ABLC 2016 that it has acquired the assets and intellectual property of Segetis, a US-based, venture-backed levulinic acid derivatives producer Segetis has more than 50 patents and over 200 pending patent
February 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Comet to Build 30K Ton Biomass Sugar Plant in Ontario
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, Comet Biorefining announced at ABLC 2016 the location of its commercial-scale biomass-derived sugar facility in the TransAlta Energy Park in Sarnia, Ontario. The 60 million pounds per year plant will come online in
February 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Harnessing the Power of Biology: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Genomatica
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) 1. Harnessing the power of biology to unlock new alternative feedstocks. -- Genomatica is a widely-recognized technology leader for the chemical industry, and for four years running has been the #1-ranked company in the Hot 30.
February 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Requests Information on Biofuels & Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking input from industry, academia, national laboratories, and other biofuels and bioproducts stakeholders to identify existing pilot- or process development-scale facilities with the capability to perform process verifications for biomass
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
ARA Ships 100% Drop-In Biofuels for Navy Certification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, ARA completed the delivery of over 150,000 gallons of 100% drop-in jet and diesel fuel to fulfill its DLA/US Navy certification fuel contract, two months ahead of schedule. For the first time ever,
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Options, Values, and Benefits to Adding CO2 Recovery to Existing and Planned Ethanol Plants
by Sam Rushing (Biofuels Digest/Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd.) The long term sustainability of first generation ethanol facilities, through advanced biofuels plants, is realized by making money from all the by-products; and of course, CO2 is one of the leading components of
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Chempolis’ Cellulosic Ethanol Technology Heads for Commercial-Scale in India
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Chempolis’ multi-year quest to build cellulosic ethanol in India finds a happy landing. -- In India, €110 million joint venture cellulosic ethanol project of Chempolis Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) is moving towards construction
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
India's First Biofuel Refinery to Be Ready by 2019
by Supratim Dey (Business Standard) With Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) witnessing a surge in the requirement of bio-fuel, as national policies mandate certain percentage of its blending with petrol and diesel, India within next three years will get its first bio-fuel
February 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Farmers Optimistic about Corn Stalk Sugar Mill Plans
(The Observer) A group of Southwestern Ontario farmers are one step closer to building a sugar mill for corn stalks and other plant matter, to help boost their bottom lines and attract more biochemical plants and jobs to the area. Bioindustrial
February 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Nigeria: Investing in an Ethanol Plant for Export
by Uba Godwin (This Day/AllAfrica.com/Global Trust Consulting Group) Uba Godwin writes on how cassava and other raw materials could be processed into ethanol for export -- It is disheartened that Nigerians at this level of technological development worldwide are still
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
The Extreme 16: Strutting Microbial Terminators Pumping up the Pursuit of Sustainable Molecules
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Take it to the Extreme, with these microscopic wonders that are changing the way we pursue sustainable fuels, renewable chemicals and biobased materials. -- These days, researchers are turning up life forms trapped under hundreds of
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $11.3 Million Available for Mega-Bio: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced up to $11.3 million in funding to develop flexible biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that can be modified to produce advanced fuels and/or products based on external factors, such as market demand.
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0001434: Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels (NO. DE-FOA-0001433)
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels”. This FOA supports BETO’s goal of
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Hydrothermal Processing on the Move: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to AVA Biochem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... AVA Biochem is expanding its product portfolio to include platform chemical FDCA (2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid). In addition to 5-HMF, the Swiss company will now deliver FDCA to customers and partners engaged in research and development of new
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
2016 Time to Double-down on Renewable Chemicals
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (Biofuels Digest/re:chem Alliance) For all of 2015’s turbulence in the renewable chemical sector, in one area – US government policy – the industry saw marked progress. For the last two years, the Renewable Chemical &
February 02, 2016 Read Full Article
The Race for the 100% Biobased Plastic Bottle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Switzerland, AVA Biochem revealed that it is expanding its product portfolio to include platform chemical FDCA (2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid)— and that’s a pathway to a molecule called PEF that’s a potential bio-based replacement for PET used to
February 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Virent Announces Strategic Collaboration with Tesoro to Advance the Commercialization of Virent’s BioForming Technology for Low Carbon Fuels and Chemicals
(Virent) Virent has entered into a new strategic relationship with Tesoro to accelerate the development and commercialization of Virent’s BioForming technology to produce cost effective, low-carbon, drop-in, bio-based fuels and chemicals. The agreement provides funding to Virent to advance its
February 01, 2016 Read Full Article
29 New Industrial Products Open New Markets for Soy
(United Soybean Board) Farmer-funded projects drive innovations in soy chemistry -- Last year, the soy checkoff partnered with researchers to develop 29 new soy-based products that replace petrochemicals and help manufacturers meet sustainability objectives. These products, and hundreds of others
February 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Are Biobased Products Clean and Safe?
by Steve Hentges (Biofuels Digest/Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group) In a recent column, GFBiochemicals Chief Commercial Officer Marcel van Berkel wrote about the potential of levulinic acid as a biobased platform chemical. As an example, he mentioned that health concerns have been
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
6 Promising New Ways to Make Bio-Based & Renewable Plastics
by Ann R. Thryft (Design News) A trend we think we're seeing is that it's not enough anymore to come out with a bio-based plastic, a biodegradable bio-based plastic, or a sustainable plastic made of non-bio-based waste products. Yes, we
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
From First-Gen to Advanced: The Digest’s 2016 8-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
January 28, 2016 Read Full Article
CRISPR-Cas9 Tool Expedites Production of Biofuel Precursors and Specialty Polymers in Living Systems
by Sarah Nightingale (Phys.Org) A team led by a researcher at the University of California, Riverside has adapted the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system for use in a yeast strain that can produce useful lipids and polymers. The development will lead to
January 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Readying for Market: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to REG Life Sciences
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In January 2014, REG acquired LS9 for a purchase price of up to $61.5 million. Most of the old LS9 team, including the entire R&D leadership group, joined the newly named REG Life Sciences, LLC.
January 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Sunliquid Is Awarded the 2015 German Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment
(Clariant) Sunliquid prevailed against 14 competitors in the category Process Innovations; Cellulosic ethanol made with sunliquid® technology is groundbreaking for climate and environmental protection; Biofuel enables up to 95% savings in greenhouse gas emissions without competing with food resources Clariant, a world leader
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Partner Collaborations Advance Second-Generation Elevance Biorefinery Technology
(Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.) In collaboration with several partners, including the special contribution of Versalis under a strategic partnership started in early 2014, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. — a high-growth company that creates novel specialty chemicals from natural oils —
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Tesoro Makes Its Move on Renewable Biocrude
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Texas, Tesoro has unveiled its plan to foster the development of biocrude made from renewable biomass, which can be co-processed in its existing refineries, along with traditional crude oil. And the company has identified three
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Bullish on Biocrude: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Tesoro’s Biocrude Strategy and Partners
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tesoro has unveiled its plan to foster the development of biocrude made from renewable biomass, which can be co-processed in its existing refineries, along with traditional crude oil. And the company has identified three new
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
New Building Block: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Dupont, ADM’s Novel FDME Pathway
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland announced a new “breakthrough process” in producing FDME from fructose, with “the potential to expand the materials landscape in the 21st century with exciting and truly novel,
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
DuPont Industrial Biosciences, ADM Find “Breakthrough Process” for a “Long-Sought Molecule”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland announced a new breakthrough process in producing FDME from fructose, with “the potential to expand the materials landscape in the 21st century with exciting and truly
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Joule Unlimited: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Joule is advancing a production platform for Liquid Fuel from the Sun, expected to eclipse the scale, productivity and cost efficiency of any known alternative to fossil fuel today. Its transformative Helioculture platform directly and
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Anellotech’s Partner in Pursuit of 100% Renewable Plastic Bottles Revealed…It’s Suntory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Anellotech’s 80-foot high development unit readies for installation, the giant Japanese beverage maker is revealed as its collaboration partner. Whether Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Orangina, Aquafina water, Gatorade, Schweppes is your beverage of choice, the 100%
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Biobased Chemicals, the Regional Opportunity: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Iowa’s Biobased Prospects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What’s next in the biobased revolution? After fuels, chemicals, say many. What’s the role of incentives, the size of the opportunity and the potential rewards for a region? Two Iowa-based organizations, the Cultivation Corridor and Iowa
January 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Plug-and Play Synthbio: Arzeda, INVISTA, Others Finding New Pathways to Affordable, Everyday Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A new generation of advanced technologies, based primarily in the United States but active in Europe and around the world, is changing our way of thinking about what a factory has to look like, one
January 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Little Falls Ethanol Plant Begins Renovation
by Vicki Ikeogu (SC Times) Construction has started at a Little Falls ethanol plant to convert it to a renewable chemical manufacturing plant. U.K.-based Green Biologics Ltd. owns Central Minnesota Renewables, formerly known as Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative. It's in the process
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Report Calls for Iowa Biochemical Tax Credit
by George C. Ford (The Gazette) Authors contend state offers 'discernible advantages' -- A report released Thursday (January 13, 2016) contends Iowa is better positioned than many other states to capture a large share of the emerging biorenewable chemical market,
January 15, 2016 Read Full Article
The 30 Hottest Biobased Molecules for 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the Digest has released the 30 Hottest Biobased Molecules for 2016, as voted by the Digest’s global readership. The Readers were surveyed over December and January, and rated more than 100 individual molecules
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Audi Beefs up Collaboration with French Biotech to Extend Biofuels Scope
(Biofuels International) Car giant Audi is entering a renewed collaboration agreement with French renewable energy firm Global Bioenergies to promote the development of biofuels. The two companies recently announced the delivery by Global Bioenergies to Audi of a first batch of
January 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Biocatalytic Solutions: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Microvi Biotechnologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Microvi is a biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes biocatalytic solutions in the water, energy and chemical industries. The company’s core discipline is its MicroNiche Engineering platform technology, where the microenvironment of biological
January 12, 2016 Read Full Article
E Pluribus, Unum: LanzaTech, Global Bioenergies Demonstrate The Biotechnology App Store
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Global Bioenergies, LanzaTech tighten isobutene partnership, the era of “swap-in, swap out” biorefining microbes comes clear, closer -- In France, Global Bioenergies and LanzaTech signed a new collaboration agreement to broaden the feedstock flexibility
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Bacteria Attack Lignin with Enzymatic Tag Team
(Rice University/Science Daily) Research shows how nature handles lignin -- New research shows how bacterial enzymes team up to attack lignin. The findings could lead to more efficient processes for creating biofuels from wood, grass and agricultural waste, say scientists. The molecules
January 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Project Aims to Lower Cellulase Cost through Enzyme Recycling
(Autodisplay Biotech GmbH) In November, an international consortium led by Autodisplay Biotech GmbH started Pathway EFB, a €1.6 million ($1.75 million) collaborative research and development project to significantly lower cellulase cost in the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals. The
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Top 10 Bioeconomy and Biofuels Predictions for 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we reach the end of 2015? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and peer into tomorrowland. As the sunset of 2015 gives way
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
REACHing towards Cellulosic Fuels: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to Mercurius
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mercurius says it “has the technology and processes that will, for the first time, make the production of cellulosic biofuels profitable while meeting the needs of the diesel and jet fuel markets and satisfying government
December 30, 2015 Read Full Article
14 More Answers for your Burning Questions about Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, the New Agriculture, and Biobased Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Q. How have the US elections and the regulatory situation in the US impacted development of biofuels for other countries, particularly Latin America? ... Not much impact from the 2014 US elections, so far —
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
17 Answers for Your Burning Questions about Biofuels, Renewable Chemicals, Biomass and More.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Q. We’ve heard a lot about carbon capture, but what about carbon capture and conversion (to a more soluble, transportable and storable form), for example conversion to bicarbonate? A. To date, all ventures in the carbon
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Bio-on: World First Facility for Producing Bioplastic from Biodiesel Co-Product Glycerol
(Globe Newswire/NASDAQ) An agreement signed today by Bio-on and S.E.C.I. S.p.A. part of Gruppo Industriale Maccaferri holding, will see Italy's and world's first facility for the production of PHAs bioplastic from biodiesel production co-products, namely glycerol. The two companies, operating in
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Renewable Light Hydrocarbons: The Digest’s 2016 8-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,
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
BETO Announces Notice of Intent (NOI) to Develop Pathways to Biofuels and Bioproducts
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department announces its intent to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) entitled “MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts to Enable Biofuels.” This FOA supports BETO’s goal of meeting its 2022
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
TSCA Reform: Detailed Summary of Key Changes in Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (S. 697) as Compared with S. 697 Passed by Senate EPW in June
(Bergeson & Campbell) This analysis reviews the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (S. 697) as passed by the Senate on December 17, 2015, and compares it to the previous version of S. 697 (identified as
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Rapid Development of Cost Superior Bio-Based Processes: The Digest’s 2015 8-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
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Are We There Yet? A Biofuel Refinery Update
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? --- In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Biodegradable Chemicals, Renewable, Abundant, Low Cost: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Rivertop Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Rivertop has developed a way to make glucaric acid, glucarates and other biodegradable chemicals from renewable resources in abundant quantity and at a low cost. These and other renewable chemicals can reduce society’s dependence on
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Chempolis, Avantha Partner to Offer Cellulosic Technology
(Chempolis, Ltd.) Chempolis Ltd., a Finland-based biorefining technology corporation, has entered into partnership with Avantha Group’s research wing Avantha Centre for Industrial Research & Development to offer technology to India to extract ethanol from various agricultural residues for blending with petrol. India is
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Aromatics Ascending: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Axens to Accelerate Bio-BTX via Anellotech Partnership
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Anellotech, IFPEN and Axens said they have completed construction on a fully-integrated development and testing plant, “TCat-8”, for the production of bio-based paraxylene, benzene, toluene, ortho-xylene and meta-xylene (BTX), from non-food sources.
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
US Senate Passes TSCA Reform
by Gayle S. Putrich (Plastics News) The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would update a decades-old law regulating chemical manufacture, transportation and use, after weeks of waiting under a hold focused on unrelated legislation. Though the bill (S 697)
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Consumers Go ‘Green.’ Are We Leveraging This Trend Enough?
by Sebastian Søderberg (Novozymes/Biofuels Digest) ... I believe consumers are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about the damage their consumption can cause to the planet. With this awareness, comes a growing focus on products that reduce GHG emissions and maximize resource efficiency.
December 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Ramp up Them thar Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Berkeley Lab and ABPDU
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, established by the United States Department of Energy, is the Advanced Biofuels Process Demonstration Unit, designed to help ramp up the bioeconomy. ABPDU enables early stage advanced biofuels, biomaterials, and
December 16, 2015 Read Full Article
C5 Is the New C6
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Goodbye glucose, hello xylose. The X-Factor in the advanced bioeconomy might just be a sugar that starts with an X. ... When we think about C5s — that are liberated by new technologies from the cellulosic
December 16, 2015 Read Full Article
New Catalyst Paves Way for Bio-Based Plastics, Chemicals
by Tina Hilding (Washington State University News) Washington State University researchers have developed a catalyst that easily converts bio-based ethanol to a widely used industrial chemical, paving the way for more environmentally friendly, bio-based plastics and products. The researchers have published
December 15, 2015 Read Full Article
A Metabolic Pathway in Cyanobacteria Could Yield Better Biofuels and Bioproducts from Photosynthesis
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Scientists from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have discovered that a metabolic pathway previously only suggested to be functional in photosynthetic organisms is actually a major pathway and can enable efficient conversion of
December 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels to Bioeconomy Conference Speaker Summaries Published
(Biofuels Digest) In Canada, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association released a 16-page synopsis of more than a dozen addresses at the recent Canadian Bioeconomy Summit. The synopsis team was led by Dr. Jack Saddler, ... READ MORE Download Summaries Excerpt from
December 14, 2015 Read Full Article
The YXY Kings: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Avantium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Avantium is a technology company specialized in the area of advanced catalytic research. From 2005 onwards, Avantium has developed a proprietary technology to produce Furanics building blocks from plant based sugars, under the name YXY.
December 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Ecofriendly Bioplastic from Inexpensive Sources of Methane: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Mango Materials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mango Materials utilizes a patent-protected process to manufacture bioplastic from inexpensive sources of methane gas. The San Francisco Bay Area-based company has proven the ability to produce the bioplastic poly-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA), which can be economically
December 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Great News on DCA and We Don’t Mean Shorter Lines at Reagan National
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) You can have a transformative world or materials at affordable prices — but if you want both, you might well be seeing dicarboxylic acids somewhere in the mix. That’s why JBEI’s latest and greatest is worth
December 09, 2015 Read Full Article
.jpg)
Our Sponsors
FREE Subscription! Advanced Biofuels USA events calendar; policy and actions; education newsletters
