by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Amyris reported a Q2 net loss of $13.8M on revenues of $9,6M, up from $7.8M in Q2 2015. Revenues rose 27% from the corresponding period in 2015 primarily driven by the shipment of
BioChemicals/Renewable Chemicals
Back TO HOMEAmyris: The New Colossus Aims to Unlock Its Golden Door
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Let’s look at the 7 factors that have the company poised for a revenue transformation in the second half. 1. Gingko. Entered into an Initial Strategic Partnership Agreement with Ginkgo Bioworks to accelerate commercialization of bio-based
August 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Gasoline Additives from Sugar
(Phys.Org) Fuel additives such as isooctane have so far been produced from mineral oil. Commissioned by the French-German company Global Bioenergies, the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna will soon be producing biobased additives for gasoline. The source
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Engineering a Better Biofuel: New Protein Process in E. coli Could Lead to More Efficient Options for 'Tiniest of Factories'
by Erika Ebsworth-Goold (The Washington University) ... Now, a team from the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to make the production of certain biofuels in E. coli much more efficient.
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Organic Acids: Key Facilitators of the Bio-economy
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee-Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) Recent declines in oil prices and the failure of start-up biofuel processes to meet production cost targets have increased the interest in producing value added chemicals from biomass as coproducts. The vision is that these
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Gevo Heads out to Sea: A Clever Escape into Marine Biofuels, or a Watery Grave ahead?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gevo says: We’re staking our near-term prospects on marine biofuels. Investors hear: We’re underwater. Gevo says: Timing delay in our isobutanol gallonage, took longer to get the fixes implemented, we’ll make up on the back side.
August 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Praj to Be the First Indian Technology Provider to Launch Green Fund for 2G Ethanol Projects
(Praj/PR Newswire) First Indian Technology Company to Partner in 2G Ethanol Projects Through Green Fund; To Facilitate 'Farmer Centric Biomass Supply Model'; To Provide Build, Operate & Maintain (BOM) Package for 2nd Generation 'Biomass to Ethanol' Projects; To Offer 2nd Generation 'Smart
August 10, 2016 Read Full Article
The Summer of Innovation: How to Get Bacon out of Spent Coffee Grounds, and Other Topics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If you’ve wondered ever how to take some of the most unloved forms of food waste — old coffee grounds, spent grape pomace (the stems, skin, pulp, seeds. leftover after juice pressing) and turn them
August 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Earth Gen-BioFuel Inc. to Sponsor International Industry Symposium for Using Castor Bean Oil as a Biofuel Feed Stock
(Earth Gen-BioFuel) Earth Gen-BioFuel (OTC PINK: EGBB), "EarthGen" or "the Company," today announced that EarthGen is taking a leadership role to support the company's expansion plans and to promote the use of castor bean oil in the manufacture of biodiesel. EarthGen is
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
American Science and Technology Receives New Patent for Method to Increase the Efficiency and Profitability of Organosolv Processing of Lignocellulosic Biomass
(American Science and Technology) New Patent Will Increase the Incentives to Use Renewable Resources for Chemical Production -- American Science and Technology (AST), an emerging technology company, has been awarded a patent for a system and method for the extraction of
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
August Is the Time to Reach Out and Meet Your Member of Congress
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) Members of Congress just returned to their home states and districts for the August recess to meet with constituents and campaign for the upcoming elections. You can be sure the oil producers will
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
MEGA-BIO and the Three Amigos: DOE Hands Out $11.3M — Who for, and Whyfor?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced up to $11.3 million for three projects that support the development of biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that, as the DOE remarked, “can produce variable amounts of fuels
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Thai Firm Announces Plans to Expand Biodiesel Production Capacity
(Biofuels International) Global Green Chemicals, a Thai oleochemicals company, has announced plans to increase its biodiesel production capacity by setting up a second methyl-ester plant in Chon Buri province, located in the southeast of Bangkok. GCC plans to increase biodiesel output,
August 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Producers Set to Benefit from Green Partnership
by Liz Gyekye (Biofuels International) Biodiesel producers will benefit from a green partnership between Ireland-based industrial enzyme firm Monaghan Biosciences and Australia-based biochemicals specialist Leaf Resources, as Leaf Resources continues to seek glycerol for its proprietary Glycell process, its CEO
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Sustainable and Low-Cost: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Competing with Sub-$50 oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As Irshad Ahmed observed recently in The Digest, “until such time that we internalize the true life-cycle costs of extracting and using fossil fuels, and distinguishing fossil-BTUs from bio-BUTs, we will continue to struggle to find
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program
(U.S. Department of Agriculture/Federal Register) This Notice announces the solicitation of applications for funds available under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program (the Program) to provide guaranteed loans to fund the development, construction, and Retrofitting of
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Adopting a Circular Economy: The Biorefinery Concept
by Paul Hudman (Renewable Energy World) ... For many governments, part of this shift involves adopting a circular economy approach, utilising all aspects of ‘waste’ throughout the production chain. The concept of the biorefinery embraces this standard by making use of the entire
July 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Sugars Heading for Scale: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Leaf Resources
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Leaf Resources Limited (ASX:LER) is focused on making sustainable products from plant biomass, offering an advanced technology package for breaking down plant derived biomass to useful, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable products. Leaf Resources’ Glycell technology is
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Collegiate Biobased Network
(Soybiobased.org) Collegiate Biobased Network, a no-cost professional development organization. See what schools and universities are doing with biobased. The CBN’s mission is to inform college and university students about opportunities with biobased products and to connect students with biobased industry leaders
July 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Carbon Cature and Utilization Act Would Support Algae Technologies
(Algae Biomass Organization) Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and five of his Senate colleagues introduced today the Carbon Capture and Utilization Act of 2016, a bill that will provide provide tax credit support for algae and other carbon capture and
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Grants $2.5M for Biorefinery Waste Use, Renewable Bioproduct Study
by Kathleen Phillips (AgriLife Today) The U.S. Department of Energy has granted $2.5 million for a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study to find ways to use biorefinery waste to make new, marketable products. “In the biorefinery field, we have a saying: You
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Leaf Resources (ASX: LER) Joint Venture to Develop Five Projects with World-Class Project Ceveloper Claeris, LLC
(Leaf Resources) Leaf Resources Ltd (ASX: LER, “Leaf” or “Leaf Resources”) is pleased to announce the signing of binding legal agreements with US-based project developer Claeris, LLC (“Claeris”), to establish a joint venture (JV) entity, Leaf Development, LLC (“Leaf Development”), for the purpose
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
American Refining Group Invests in Novvi to Accelerate Renewable Base Oils, Lubricants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Two options, generally. One is a mandate-led transition, like light bulbs, power and road fuels. The other is a brand-led transition, as happens with plastics, jet fuels and clothing. Amyris’ No Compromise branding encourage
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Moving beyond Automotive towards Earth & Resources: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Toyota Tsusho
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we report that Toyota Tsusho has been identified as a major strategic investor in Anellotech, which is developing a pyrolysis-based technology for making bio-based BTX molecules as an alternative to petroleum-based supplies. Here’s the
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Toyota: Let’s Go Places with Anellotech, Bio-Places That Is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In New York, Toyota Tsusho was identified this week as a multinational strategic equity investor in Anellotech and corporate partner in the renewable aromatic chemicals supply chain. Toyota Tsusho is a member of the Toyota
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Awards $18 Million to Develop Valuable Bioproducts and Biofuels from Algae
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced six projects that will receive up to $18 million in funding to reduce the modeled price of algae-based biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) by 2019. This
July 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Transform the marketplace: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At the heart of the United States focus on bioenergy R&D is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado — supporting feedstock development, bioconversion and understanding markets for new products. NREL’s Justin Sluiter gave this
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s Changing in Biofuels? The Top 10 Trends for 2016
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A Digest reader writes: I’m looking to summarize the changes over the last 2-3 years in the biofuels market. Are you aware of any articles or summaries on this topic? It’s a good question without a ready
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
What’s New and Important About C5 and C6 Sugars?
by Lorenz Bauer (Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc./Biofuels Digest) What’s up with C5 and C6 sugars? Given that a significant portion of the several billion dollars spent on renewable fuels spending involves these molecules, it is not surprising that progress is
July 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Who’ll Stop the Rain?: The Road to a Biobased Fix for Carcinogenic PFCs
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Last year, news arrived that Patagonia’s venture arm, charmingly named $20 Million & Change, had invested $1 million in Beyond Surface Technologies, in search of a bio-based durable water-repellent. READ MORE
July 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Strong Demand for Bioethanol from Emerging Markets to Beef up Enzyme Sector, Study Finds
(Biofuels International) The global enzymes market is expected to reach $17.5bn by 2024 helped by strong demand for bioethanol in emerging economies, according to a new study by Grand View Research. Growing demand for enzymes in food and beverage products as they
July 07, 2016 Read Full Article
New Lignin Operation in US in Final Phase of Approval
(Biofuels International) Borregaard, a Norway-based biorefinery specialist, and Rayonier Advanced Materials (Ryam) have concluded a market, technical and engineering analysis regarding a new lignin operation at Ryam’s Fernandina Beach site in Florida to serve the growing demand for natural lignin-based
July 07, 2016 Read Full Article
US Signs Bio-Energy Research Pact with QUT
(Queensland University of Technology) A research partnership between QUT and a US National Laboratory aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop new ways of creating bio-energy from plant material. The biotechnology research partnership will bring together leading US and Australian
July 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Advance Australia Air: Byogy Steps up in Australia in Drive for Low-Carbon Jet Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Australia comes the news that the country’s former Federal Resources and Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, is now the chairman of the advisory board for Byogy Renewables, the California-based alcohol-to-jet fuel pioneer that has been
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies Obtains a EU400,000 Grant from the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) to Produce Renewable Gasoline Additives - Audi Will Use These for Engine Testing
(Globe Newswire/Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies announces today that its German subsidiary, Global Bioenergies GmbH, secured a €400.000 grant from the BMBF (the German federal ministry for research and education) to finance a 14 month-project aimed at producing renewable gasoline additives. The Company
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
Seaweed Gains Ground as a Pillar of Food Security in South America
by Orlando Milesi (Inter Press Service) Seaweed, a nutrient-rich foodstuff that was a regular part of the diet of several South American indigenous peoples, is emerging as a new pillar of food security in Latin America and is providing a livelihood
July 05, 2016 Read Full Article
TSCA Reform: EPA Publishes First Year Implementation Plan
(Bergeson & Campbell) On June 29, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted an Implementation Plan that outlines EPA's plans for early activities and actions under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, legislation that significantly
June 30, 2016 Read Full Article
The Top 20 Ways to Capture and Make Use of Carbon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was back in 2010 that the first large-scale set of projects were funded to to test innovative concepts for the beneficial use of carbon dioxide, part of a Recovery Act investment into carbon capture
June 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Climate Opportunities: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Through The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into business opportunities, spurring innovation and
June 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Verdezyne, CB&I, Albemarle, Dow AgroSciences, Newlight Technologies Land 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the EPA announced that Verdezyne, CB&I, Albemarle, Dow AgroSciences, Newlight Technologies and Princeton Professor Paul Chirik are winners of the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Awards. Though less well-known than the Presidential Challenge on Fitness,
June 24, 2016 Read Full Article
The Terpene Fuel Machine: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Terpenes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Much has been written about terpenes in the area of flavors and fragrances. But they have astonishing properties for super high-density jet fuels in the 130,000-140,000 BTU range. Think valencene, premnaspirodiene, and b-caryophyllene. Now, we
June 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Memphis Firm Aims to Replace Oil in Plastic
by Wayne Risher (The Commercial Appeal) A 75-year-old Memphis chemical plant may advance the environmentally friendly cause of non-food plant waste replacing a petroleum-based key ingredient in plastics, antifreeze and de-icer. Pennakem LLC, which originated as a Quaker Oats-run chemical plant
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Psst! Heard on the Floor at the International Bioenergy Conference
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The eyes of the world might well be on tiny Prince George, British Columbia these days — because that is the proposed site of Canfor’s commercial-scale biofuels and chemicals project. The success of such a
June 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Ester for Your Investor Is a Brew that Is True: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Greenyug
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Greenyug said it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Company’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. The partners have not confirmed scale of the facility, but Greenyug
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Sweet Smell of Success: Greenyug, ADM Taking Biobased Chemicals to Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In California, Greenyug said it will build an industrial-scale ethyl acetate manufacturing facility adjacent to Archer Daniels Midland Company’s wet mill corn processing facilities in Columbus, Nebraska. Greenyug has formed a subsidiary, Prairie Catalytic
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
BIC and Vanguard Initiative Sign Bioeconomy MoU
(Bio-based Industries Consortium) Two leading European bioeconomy players, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the Vanguard Initiative have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for better interregional cooperation on the bioeconomy. The collaboration will support improved access to funding and awareness-raising
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Missing a Turn on the Road to a Billion Tons
by Corinne Young and Michele Jalbert (re:chem/Biofuels Digest) A Billion Ton Bioeconomy. For those of us who have worked in this space for the last decade, the US government’s aspiration to grow the sector to such size and scope is music
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Crossing the Chasm to Scale: S2G Goes Commercial with Bioglycols
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) They call it the Valley of Death, but it’s a complete misnomer. It’s the “nearly impassible Khumbu Icefalls” of Death — filled with chasms, crevasses and painful progress towards the summit in the far distance. But
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Hot Prospects for Chemicals from Biomass
by Terry Mazanec and KSL (Lee Enterprises Consulting/Biofuels Digest) A major theme of 21st Century industrial development will be replacement of fossil resources by renewable resources in the production of fuels and chemicals. Due to their massive scale and cost,
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Re-Think, Re-Use, Retro-Fit: 15 4G Techs Transforming Gen-1 Biobased Plants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Here, we profile 15 techs that offer incremental to profound shifts in the economics of the Gen-1 ethanol fleet, and have implications for everything from passenger cars to jets. #15 Vertimass and Byogy #14 Croda #13 Hummingbird #12 Alliance BioEnergy #11 GeoSynFuels #10
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Should Sustainability Include Using Farmlands for Plastics, Textiles and Dyes, or Food?
by Clare Goldsberry (Plastics Today) A presenter at the recent ANTEC conference posed a provocative question: Are biobased materials really sustainable? -- He (Professor Majid Sarmadi of the University of Wisconsin-Madison )pointed out that sustainability goes beyond whether or not to
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Expanding the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Using the Billion Ton Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This analysis was presented by Jonny Rogers at ABLC Feedstocks 2016, and is the result of is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Energy, Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), National Laboratories, and various Agency
June 15, 2016 Read Full Article
TSCA: What Effect Will the TSCA Amendments Have on Proposed and Future Rulemakings?
(Bergeson & Campbell) On June 7, 2016, the Senate passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) by voice vote and sent it to President Obama for signature. As reported in our May 26, 2016,
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy Receives Independent Verification of Sugars Through CTS Processing of DDG, From Large Ethanol Producer
(Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc./Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (OTCQB:ALLM) (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that with the senior science officers of a large U.S. ethanol producer present, the CTS process produced fermentable sugars from Distillers Grain (DDG) as
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
A Biomass to Sugar Value Chain: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Canada’s Sarnia Biocluster
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) "How much value is in the entire value chain, going from stover in the field to all the products?" asked Sandy Marshall, chairman, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. His question opened his description of the birth of
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Urgent ‘Shift’ Needed in Media Approach to Bioenergy
(Bioenergy Insight) Bioenergy academia and industry representatives, who attended the European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE), are calling on European policy makers and the media to reconsider their approach to bioenergy. ... A press release issued by EUBCE organisers said: “The attention
June 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Global Bioenergies’ Renewable Isobutene Compatible with Chemical Oxidation
(Global Bioenergies) Global Bioenergies today announced the completion of a series of tests on the oxidation of bio-sourced isobutene. The reaction produces methacrylic acid, one of the main components of acrylic paint, in a market valued more than €500 million,
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
50-100% Boost in Yields, and No CO2: The Digest’s 8-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
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
50% Yield Boost for Ethanol? No CO2? What?! White Dog Labs Comes out of Stealth
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In what might become the most transformative development in fermentation yields since Noah debuted winemaking technology in the Book of Genesis, US-based White Dog Labs have unveiled a new process that eliminates the emission of CO2, a
June 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Ahem, It’s the Chems: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Sofinnova and Biobased Chemicals Private Equity
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
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Like Opera with TSCA-Nini
by Eric Wolff (Politico's Morning Energy) TSCA-NINI SINGS! The Senate swept aside any remaining procedural hurdles Tuesday night and passed a major revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act, sending one of the biggest environmental bills in years to President
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
The New Cellulosic Value Chain: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In April, we reported that 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
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
It Depends: Heard on the Floor at ABLC Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The headline from the event is that projects and feedstock providers are more engaged than we have seen previously — a wave of technology development that once took place with a “we’ll work out
June 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Helping Ethanol Producers Get the Most Out of Their Product
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) When margins matter most, strategies to ratchet up ethanol yield make good business sense. -- In the ethanol production world, yield is king. Fluid Quip Process Technologies and Edeniq Inc. have technologies that can help
June 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Kultevat Receives First Process Patent for Dandelion Rubber
(Rubber & Plastics News) Kultevat Inc., a company devoted to the commercial development of high-quality rubber and co-products from the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz, or TKS), has received its first process patent. U.S. Patent No. 9,346,924 B2, issued May 24, covers
June 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Miniature but Mighty: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Nanocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Last year, we reported that Research & Markets projected the “Nanocellulose Market by Type (Cellulose nanocrystals, Cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose nanocomposites, and others) to reach $250 Million by 2019, signifying annualized CAGR of 19% between 2014 and 2019. Heft growth
June 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Big Buckaroos in Tiny Town: The Gold Rush Ahead in Nanocellulose
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s that way for nanocellulose, too — a material made from the largest organisms imaginable — our friends, the trees — which display astonishing Marvel-like properties when processed into nanofibrils and nanocrystals, with gigantic implications
June 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Renewable Industries Canada Becomes New Face of Canada's Biofuels and Bio-Based Sectors
(Renewable Industries Canada/MarketWired) Canada's foremost biofuels organization has re-launched under the name Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada). The change -- from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association -- reinforces the 32 year-old non-profit association's mission to promote the use of value-added products
June 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Of Sausage-Making, DC and Bioenergy Budgets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The signals coming out of Washington DC are so confusing, you might be wondering if there’s going to be a budget for the US Department of Energy for the fiscal year starting this October. ... Meanwhile, the DOE’s
June 02, 2016 Read Full Article
The SynBio Foundry: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Ames National Lab, Argonne National Lab, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Sandia National Lab seek
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Evolva, Wageningen and Algae.Tec Advance on High-Margin Bio-Opportunities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweeteners, acrylic, and nutraceuticals led the news at the end of this week, with key announcements out of Evolva, Wageningen and Algae.Tec. ... All the announces are developmental in nature — patents, R&D, product supply for future
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
TSCA Reform: An Analysis of Key Provisions and Fundamental Shifts in the Amended TSCA
(Bergeson & Campbell) The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg) makes important changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that result in fundamental shifts in the requirements and approach under the law, while introducing
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Ford’s Green CO2 Materials Will Reduce Carbon Emissions
(The Green Optimistic) Ford, after working with other companies and universities, is taking the next environmentally-friendly leap to include biomaterials in vehicles. By using excess CO2 to create high-quality plastics and foam, the company will use such materials in vehicle seats
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
After 40 years: The Digest’s Multi-Slide Guide to Toxic Substances Control Act reform
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform has been a “work in progress” for years. House and Senate passage in 2015 of substantive TSCA reform measures considerably improved the odds that Congress would enact TSCA-reform legislation
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Why Does Biology Take so Long to Make Commercial Products? A Job for BOB
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (W)hy is so biology so challenging? -- “It’s partly how we have done it. We sort through the research, then we design, and then we spend a lot of time in the lab pipetting
May 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Good News, Kemosabe: Reverdia and Wageningen UR Launch Development of New Bio-PBS Compounds
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
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Chempolis 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
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