by Troy Shantz (The Sarnia Journal) A failed Sarnia bioplastics plant has been resurrected and is once again turning Ontario corn syrup into a key ingredient of biodegradable plastics. BioAmber was the flagship for a cluster of fledgling bio-based “green” companies in
bioplastics
Back TO HOMEUMD Researcher Awarded $6 Million from the U.S. Department of Energy to Create Value-Added Biofuels and Bioplastics from Food Waste
by Samantha Watters (University of Maryland) Stephanie Lansing will serve as principal investigator, establishing a consortium of scientists and industry partners with the goal of creating renewable resources -- Stephanie Lansing, professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at
September 01, 2021 Read Full Article
£4 Million Funding to Boost UK Biomass Production
(U.K. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Lord Callanan) 24 projects receive government funding of up to £200,000 to increase UK production of biomass that can be used as sources of green energy. -- 24 projects will receive
August 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Lab-Fermented Chocolate, Coffee Cookie Cups, Apeel Sciences Raises $250M, LG Chem to Build $2.2 Bio-Buildings and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of August 27th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Chocolate without the cocoa bean? We’ve covered beef without the cow, dairy without the cow, pork without the pig, lab-grown lamb and fish, bioprinted meat, even food made out of thin air. But now
August 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Faster and Cheaper Ethanol-to-Jet-fuel on the Horizon
(Pacific Northwest National Laboratory/Phys.Org) A patented process for converting alcohol sourced from renewable or industrial waste gasses into jet or diesel fuel is being scaled up at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory with the help of partners
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioprocess for Converting Plant Materials into Valuable Chemicals
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Science Daily) Scientists have developed a bioprocess using engineered yeast that completely and efficiently converted plant matter consisting of acetate and xylose into high-value bioproducts. A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a
August 19, 2021 Read Full Article
The University Bringing Algae-based Biofuels to Commercialisation
by Scarlett Evans (Bio Market Insights) ... Now, a team from Colorado State University (CSU) is working to boost algae crop growth to reach industrial levels, with the team being awarded $3.2m from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in support
August 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Special: Anaerobic Digestion Explained
(Bio Market Insights) While it may sound like an unappealing bodily process, anaerobic digestion is a crucial method to create biogas for electricity generation, as well as a source of bio-fertiliser production. We thought we’d take a closer look at just
August 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Giving up on Climate Change? EU Says No Way – Invests $140M in Decarbonizing Projects
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The good news is for the first time since the creation of the Innovation Fund, the EU’s latest investment of €118 million (about $140 million) into 32 small innovative projects located in 14 EU Member
August 09, 2021 Read Full Article
Your Top Questions Answered: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to DigestConnect’s Q&A
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Want your most perplexing questions of the year answered? If you missed the last DigestConnect of the season, then check out this Q&A slide guide on RD, SAF, RNG, CellEth, DME, PET, BDO, LPG, foods,
August 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Having a Field Day Talking about Hemp for Biofuel in Maryland
by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) For the US agricultural community, having a field day gives farmers and others in the agricultural products value chain the opportunity not only for hands-on learning about new crops and new technologies or about
August 04, 2021 Read Full Article
President Biden’s Climate Plan and iIts Role in Agriculture & Renewable Biofuels
by Oliver Peoples (Yield10 Bioscience/Biofuels Digest) During President Biden’s April 22nd climate plan speech at the Virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate, he announced his goal of cutting 50 percent of U.S. carbon-emissions levels by 2030. This is no simple task, and consumers,
August 03, 2021 Read Full Article
Models to Create Biodiesel and Bioplastics Are Being Developed at the UAG
(Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG)/Surest Informa (Google Translation)) ... The researcher pointed out that thanks to this line of research and the projects that have derived from it, it has been possible to model chemical processes such as the production of
July 27, 2021 Read Full Article
Blue Biofuels Files 3 Additional Patents on Its CTS Technology
(Blue Biofuels) Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc., DBA Blue Biofuels, (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it filed 3 additional patents that follow on the granted patent to its Cellulose-to-Sugar (“CTS”) technology system. In the process of testing and perfecting towards commercialization,
July 23, 2021 Read Full Article
New Energy Freedom Refinery to Produce Carbon-Negative Fuel from America's Ag Wastes
(New Energy Blue/PR Newswire) New Energy Blue announced its planned construction in Iowa of a biomass refinery designed to produce renewable carbon-negative automotive fuel, which replaces gasoline. "Our Iowa project can keep one million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere every
July 20, 2021 Read Full Article
LCA Model for Biofuels: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to GREET
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies Model – aka GREET – can be used to address impacts and conduct life cycle analyses of biofuels and bioproducts. Check out Argonne National Laboratory’s
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
Carbon-Negative Bioplastic Made from Air, Invasive Plants Turned into Yoga Mats, Cultured Chicken Progress, Renewable Fiber Innovations, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of July 2nd
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) We’ve covered food made from air here, but Germany-based company Made of Air has developed a bioplastic derived from burnt plant and forestry waste, or biochar, that can be used in many ways. So far, H&M’s sunglasses
July 02, 2021 Read Full Article
‘Plugging in’ to Produce Environmentally Friendly Bioplastics
(AgriLife Today) Agriculture byproducts can help produce eco-friendly, biodegradable plastics -- Bioplastics — biodegradable plastics made from biological substances rather than petroleum — can be created in a more economical and environmentally friendly way from the byproducts of corn stubble,
June 29, 2021 Read Full Article
How President Biden’s Climate Plan Will Affect Cover Crops
by Lana Bandoim (Forbes) ... In his (President Joe Biden's) speech, he revealed paying farmers for planting cover crops that will help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Cover crops include Camelina, rye, buckwheat and several others. Yield10 Bioscience, an agtech company
June 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Bioprinted Cultured Meat, 3D Printed Algae, Biobased Coffee Capsules, Cell-Cultured Human Breast Milk, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of June 10th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) This week’s Top 8 Innovations are feeding our appetite. With cultured meat innovator MeaTech filing a provisional U.S. patent application for its bioprinting method for printing up some juicy steaks, 3D printed algae that could
June 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Maire Tecnimont Group’s Nextchem Awarded by TotalEnergies an Engineering Contract for a Biojet Plant in France
(Maire Tecnimont) The Front-End Engineering Design contract is a first step towards implementing a plant for processing up to 400,000 tons annually of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), or BioJet, at Total’s Grandpuits zero-crude platform, due to be operational in 2024;
June 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Biochemical Conversion and Lignin Utilization: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Spero Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can you really convert 50% of lignin carbon into bio-phenols? Spero Renewables is working on exactly that and making polymers and chemicals from lignin bio-phenols. Spero even enables biofuel cost reduction of $1-2 gallons gasoline
June 08, 2021 Read Full Article
More Meat without Meat, Fermentation-Based Silk, Bioplastic Water Bottles, Adidas and Allbirds Unlikely Solemates and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of May 21st
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Competitors coming together – Adidas and Allbirds – both shoe manufacturers are working together on green sneakers, a company working to commercialize biobased silk polymers, the European Union looking at waste feathers from poultry into
May 21, 2021 Read Full Article
2021 Project Peer Review—Presentation Database
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted its 2021 Project Peer Review virtually on March 8‒12, 2021; March 15‒16, 2021; and March 22‒26, 2021. Presentations for all sessions can be found in the searchable database below. For more information,
May 19, 2021 Read Full Article
From DNA Storage to Net Zero Carbon: The 10 Biggest WOW’s of ABLC’s Closing Day
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the online sessions of ABLC have drawn to a close. This week, delegates around the world will be joining in the ABLC Lounges for person to person networking. The final day of on-stage presentations
May 10, 2021 Read Full Article
Fossil-free Polyurethanes, Polycarbonates, Coatings & Adhesives: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Covestro
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As one of the world’s largest polymer companies, Covestro is looking at being more sustainable. But how exactly? How are they innovating to transform industries like automotive, construction, wood processing, electronics, cosmetics and more? From
May 05, 2021 Read Full Article
The Extraordinary ReMaking of Ordinary Things, Pt 3: J&J Green Paper Reinvents the Paper Coffee Cup with an Alternative to Plastic
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Derived from widely available plant material, JANUS coated paper can be custom-shaped and when coated, creates moisture resistance equivalent to petroleum-coated products. Unlike the old school petroleum-coated paper, J&J’s green paper technology is recyclable,
April 13, 2021 Read Full Article
Sustainable Sexy, Fish Guts to Polyurethane Replacement, $700M Bioplastic Investment and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of April 8th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Sex sells but now it can even be more sustainable with a boudoir brand’s new biodegradable adult toy line that uses corn starch-based biopolymer biolene. Going to the other extreme of non-sexy, Canadian researchers converted
April 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Earth Day 2021 Series Day 4: Biobased Products and Bioplastics
by Nathália Fernandes Pimentel* (Advanced Biofuels USA) When we think about green transitioning, the most popular images we idealize are windmills, solar panels or electric cars. But apart from energy, many products still have a large impact on carbon emissions
April 04, 2021 Read Full Article
Transitioning to a Sustainable Bioeconomy with Algae Biofuels and Biomaterials – Policy Directions for 2021 and Beyond
(Algae Biomass Organization) ... Algae, encompassing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic aquatic organisms including microalgae and seaweeds (macroalgae), create a highly versatile and tunable platform for the development of fuels and products. In most cases, large scale algae production can be done
April 01, 2021 Read Full Article
A Sweet Soy Story – World’s 1st Bioplastic from Soy Molasses
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Four companies developed the first process in the world to produce compostable bioplastic from food and feed production side streams. A biopolymer plant will be built in Uusikaupunki, Finland, in which bioplastic production will be
March 29, 2021 Read Full Article
The First ‘Cash Cover Crop’ Edges Closer to Commercialization
(CoverCress Inc./PR Web) CoverCress Inc. announces $8 million in partner funding for new low carbon oilseed. -- Midwestern farmers are one step closer to the prospect of growing a new cover crop that will generate a cash margin while supporting regenerative
March 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Corona’s Barley Waste Packaging, Skittles Biodegradable Wrappers, Nestlé’s Biobased Polyethylene, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of March 25th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) The coronavirus vaccine is offering hope to end a global pandemic, much like rainbows signal hope and solidarity. Today’s Top 8 Innovations are full of Corona and Rainbows, but in a different way. From beer
March 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Managing On-Farm Plastic Waste and Growing the Bioeconomy
(Government of Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) ... Today (March 22, 2021) the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced funding of more than $4.5 million for five new projects that will improve plastic waste management and
March 23, 2021 Read Full Article
Genome Scalpel Invented for Industrial Microalgae to Efficiently Turn CO2 into Biofuel
(Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters/EurekAlert!) A single-celled alga undergoes genome surgery to remove non-essential parts. This can lead to a most efficient cellular factory for producing sustainable biofuels from sunlight and carbon dioxide. Researchers from the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess
March 18, 2021 Read Full Article
Investing or Raising Capital in the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Biotech Bull Market
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today we look at the Biotech Bull Market — what’s up, and why. How can you get your fair share in investing or capital raising? We are hunting for Value at AMRS, CDXS, REGI, GEVO,
March 01, 2021 Read Full Article
Iron Man Investments in Bioplastic, Bill Gates’ Beef with Beef, Biobased Clogs, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of February 25th
by Hannah Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) What do Bill Gates and Robert Downey, Jr. have in common? Apparently, they both are looking for ways to alleviate climate change by getting involved in the bioeconomy. Bill Gates is talking about plant-based or
February 25, 2021 Read Full Article
Separation Tech for Biobased Products: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sulzer Chemtech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the latest separation technologies for biobased product applications like biofuels, biochemicals, biopolymers? Dr. Singh from Sulzer Chemtech USA shared this illuminating slide guide on their distillation, evaporation, membrane, extraction, crystallization and polymerization technologies,
February 18, 2021 Read Full Article
World’s First Human Composting Facility, Cultured Mouse Meat, Transparent wood Windows, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of February 12th
by Helena Taares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Innovative grossness yet brilliant is one way to describe this week’s Top 8 Innovations. From cultured mouse meat for your cat to the world’s first human composting facility that allows loved ones to turn
February 12, 2021 Read Full Article
Scientists Discover Plants' Roadblock to Specialty Oil Production
(Brookhaven National Laboratory/EurekAlert!) Research solves longstanding problem and opens path for growing crops to produce industrially important high-value fatty acids -- Hundreds of naturally occurring specialty fatty acids (building blocks of oils) have potential for use as raw materials for making
February 12, 2021 Read Full Article
China’s Jiaao Enprotech Leaps on USD155 Million Biodiesel Deal With Shell Unit
(Yicai Global) Shares in Jiaao Enprotech soared by as much as 7.25 percent today after the Chinese chemical product maker penned a CNY1 billion (USD155 million) biodiesel supply deal with the Singapore subsidiary of oil major Royal Dutch Shell. Jiaao Enprotech’s
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Reports Sustainability Benchmarks for Plastics Recycling and Redesign
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce
February 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Sustainability Plan 2030: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Avantium just released its Sustainability Plan ‘Chain Reaction 2030’, highlighting the company’s ambitious vision to achieve a fossil-free chemical industry by 2050. By outlining future plans and next steps alongside a series of case studies,
February 10, 2021 Read Full Article
NREL Reports Sustainability Benchmarks for Plastics Recycling and Redesign
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Researchers developing renewable plastics and exploring new processes for plastics upcycling and recycling technologies will now be able to easily baseline their efforts to current manufacturing practices to understand if their efforts will save energy and reduce
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
Biodegradable Computer, Cow Intestine Lamps, Soy-based Turf, Air-to-Meat: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of January 22nd
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) We all know the huge toll that electronics have on our planet, from the rare-earth metals like lanthanum, terbium, and dysprosium needed in the creation stage to what to do with quickly outdated electronics and
January 22, 2021 Read Full Article
I Spy a Fly Eye – Nanocoating in Fly Eye Has Potential, Wooden Satellites in Space: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of January 8th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) Who knew flies would be so useful! Apparently the nanocoating found in fruit fly eyes have potential applications in medicine, textiles and electronics thanks to its anti-reflective, anti-microbial and self-cleaning properties. The proteins and lipids
January 08, 2021 Read Full Article
Consultation – Your View on Promoting EU Algae Production DEADLINE: January 18, 2021
(European Commission) The European Commission has just published an online consultation on its roadmap towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector. Algae have been part of human lives throughout the world for centuries, if not longer. Some species even
January 05, 2021 Read Full Article
Top 10 Slide Guides of 2020
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In today’s Digest, we look at the HOTTEST Digest Slide Guides like Corbion’s biobased Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), Gevo’s low carbon drop-in transportation fuels, Neste, an exclusive Digest Q&A with Clariant, and even some
December 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Microalgae for Recycling Water and Nutrients: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to MicroBio Engineering
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wastewater treatment is a huge problem with about 30 billion gallons per day in the U.S. You’ve got pathogens in the water that could reach drinking water supplies. You’ve got nutrients causing excess algae growth.
December 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Enzymatic Lignin Valorization: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sugar-based bioplastics and lignin-based foams and composites are making it possible to transform the huge amount of oil based materials and products in our lives to biobased products. MetGen is making it happen with zero
December 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant Chemtex Approach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two world leaders in cellulosic deployment – Jeff Taylor from Chemtex and Paolo Corvo from Clariant – talked about how cellulosic fuels are on the march on last week’s DigestConnect. Check out this exclusive slide
October 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Biobased COVID-19 Tests, Masks, Fun with Fungus, Crustacean Shells to Bioplastic, and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of October 16th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) COVID-19 has seen an explosion in disposable items, but now innovators in India came up with a paper based COVID-19 test (that happens to be at much lower cost and gets results in under 30
October 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Energy Transition: Total Is Investing More than €500 Million to Convert Its Grandpuits Refinery into a Zero-Crude Platform for Biofuels and Bioplastics
(Total) Within the framework of its net zero strategy, Total will convert its Grandpuits refinery (Seine-et-Marne) into a zero-crude platform. By 2024, following an investment totaling more than €500 million, the platform will focus on four new industrial activities: Production of
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Mycelium Coffins, Wine Waste Sneakers, Ingredion’s New Protein Isolates and More: The Digest’s Top 8 Innovations for the Week of September 24th
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) As COVID-19 deaths sadly reached the 200,000 mark in the U.S. this week, some innovators are finding more sustainable ways to deal with death in the form of mycelium coffins that help compost the body
September 25, 2020 Read Full Article
LanzaTech Eyes Two More Spin-off Companies
by Kirstin Korosec (TechCrunch) LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren said Tuesday on the Disrupt 2020 virtual stage that the carbon capture technology company is planning to use its core technology to create two other businesses. LanzaTech captures waste gas emissions and uses bacteria
September 18, 2020 Read Full Article
R&D Spending as Stimulus
by Kelsey Tamborrino (Politico's Morning Energy) : The Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy organization argued in a new report that funding research and development would provide an immediate economic and jobs stimulus while setting up a more sustainable long-term economy that reduces
September 16, 2020 Read Full Article
EECi Biorefinery Project almost 50% Complete
(The Nation/Thailand) The Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) project is 45 per cent complete and will be ready for operation by June 2021, EECi director Jengrit Khanatharana, who is also the National Science and Technology Development Agency deputy director, said. The
September 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Australian JV Launched to Develop Novel Waste-to-Fuels Technology
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Australia, Epichem has entered into a partnership agreement with Obsidian Minerals to establish Perren to develop a novel and disruptive waste to fuels technology using oxidative non catalytic dissolution. Perren will endeavor to develop and commercialize
September 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Lignocellulosic Platform Goes Beyond Biofuels: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant’s Sunliquid
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Chemicals, catalysis, additives – At ABLC Digital this July, Clariant shared how they are working on advancing biofuels globally and details on their sunliquid technology to decarbonize transportation. A fully integrated and carbon negative process, sunliquid
September 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Follow the Rainbow! The Digest Interview: Dr. Chaudhari at Praj Industries on 2020 and What the Future Holds
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The recent launch of Praj’s Bio-Prism platform comprises of renewable chemicals and materials (RCM) solutions and promises sustainability while reimagining nature. We are witnessing strong interest from various stakeholders and some of the
August 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Earnings Season – 5 Companies Remain Strong in Wild 2020
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) 2020 is a doozy for many biofuel and bioeconomy companies but here are 5 companies – several that were voted for The Digest’s Hot 50 companies – that are taking 2020 by the reins and
August 17, 2020 Read Full Article
“B-Corp” Certification for Novamont, Making It Also a "Benefit Corporation”
(Novamont) Novamont’s commitment to be a force for global regeneration with higher purposes than mere profit was strengthened today by being awarded the ‘B Corp’ Certification. The Italian bioplastic manufacturer has joined 3,423 companies spanning 150 industries in 71 countries
July 31, 2020 Read Full Article
Converting Mixed Plastics into Valuable Chemicals: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Anellotech’s Renewable Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) At ABLC Digital, Anellotech shared their vision of converting large volumes of mixed waste plastics directly into valuable chemicals using their Plas-TCat technology and they talked about progress with the new joint venture company with 12
July 29, 2020 Read Full Article
Letter to the Advanced Bioeconomy: Advance off the Beach
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There was always going to be a point when the advanced bioeconomy reached the end of the “R&D years” and transitioned into “the years of deployment”, and if you read the Biden plan here or the latest pushback from
July 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Ethanol Leaders See Happy Days in the Future
by Nat Williams (Illinois Farmer Today) The ethanol industry has a long, complicated history. But supporters believe the best days are ahead. “Fuel ethanol was a thing as early as early as automobiles. Henry Ford made his automobiles to run on ethanol
July 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Takeaways: 10 Big Bioeconomy Trendlines at ABLC for Fuels, Chemicals, Materials, Food and Feed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here are the Top 10 Trendlines we saw and heard from the 8000+ delegates and viewers at ABLC 2020. 1. The thundering herd. One informed firm that does extensive amounts of technology scouting, due diligence and market price
July 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Profitable Growth Through Renewable Solutions: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Neste
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants to dominate the world, right? But Neste wants to do it in a nice way by becoming the global leader in renewable and circular solutions. There are 3 ways they are working on this
June 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Pandemic? How New Technologies Add Resilience to Our Economy and 7 Wolfpack Experts Analyze the Options
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... A thread of hope appeared this week from the bioeconomy’s Wolfpack, seven due diligence experts hungry for value — Paul Bryan, Ron Cascone, David Dodds, Michele Rubino, Joel Stone and Steve Weiss. Let’s see how they
June 09, 2020 Read Full Article
Scientists Develop New Chemicals Process to Recycle Bioplastics
(BioMarket Insight) The UK-based scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath have developed what they describe as a “faster, more efficient way” of recycling plant-based bioplastics. The team has shown how their chemical recycling method not only speeds up the process,
June 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A on Cellulosic Ethanol with Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow
May 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Assam: NRL’s Bio Refinery Plant to Use 5 Lakh MT Bamboo as Raw Material Annually
(Northeast Now News) Sonowal lauds NRL authority for regularly making monthly payment to its workers to the tune of Rs. 1.20 cr during lockdown period -- The Bio Refinery Plant, which is being executed by the NRL, with a project cost of
May 26, 2020 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy Building Next Generation Prototype towards Commercialization of Its Revolutionary Green Renewable Energy Technology
(Alliance BioEnergy/Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (PINK: ALLM). Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc., is pleased to announce that it has finalized the design and is building its new 4th generation “Cellulose-to-Sugar” (“CTS 2.0”) prototype. The Company has received funding from a couple of
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
How Badly Is COVID-19 Slamming Biofuels Industry? 30% Reduction of Ethanol Production Capacity, Nearly Half Offline in Coming Weeks?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... RFA told The Digest that about 4.4 billion gallons of capacity has come offline since March 1, plus what was already idle, the total is about 5.2 billion gallons idle – that’s approximately
April 06, 2020 Read Full Article
Plastics Industry Oversold Recycling to Americans, Now What?
by Zoey Shipley and Miro Korenha (Our Daily Planet) NPR and PBS Frontline recently announced a new joint investigation which has revealed that since the 1980s, “the plastics industry spent tens of millions of dollars promoting recycling through ads, recycling projects, and public relations, telling people
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Versalis: Biomass Power Plant Restarted at Crescentino and Bioethanol Production Onstream within the First Half of the Year
(Eni) Versalis, Eni’s chemical company, has announced that all the plants at Crescentino (Vercelli, Piedmont) will be up and running by the first half of 2020. The plant, acquired in November 2018, is designed for industrial-scale production of bioethanol and has
February 18, 2020 Read Full Article
7 New Changes in USDA Biorefinery Funding Opportunities – Now is the Time to Take Advantage
by Cynthia Thyfault (Global Biofuture Solutions) The USDA Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, also known as the “9003” program, provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of commercial scale
February 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Circular Solution for Bioplastics, McDonald’s Fryer Oil to 3D Printing Resin, Human Hair to Fertilizer, Crab Shells and Seaweed to Yarn, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 6th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The infinity symbol…a figure 8 on its side, a lemniscate…no matter what you call it, it signifies the concept of limitlessness or eternity which is what the bioeconomy has been doing lately in its limitless innovations.
February 06, 2020 Read Full Article
2020 Bioeconomy M&A Deal Review & Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest published today a 2020 Deal Review and Outlook Bioeconomy M&A visual guide that looks at the slurry of recent mergers and acquisitions in the bioeconomy like Lygos and Librede, NuSeed and Agrisoma, FinCo Fuels
February 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Could Bacteria Help Recycle Greenhouse Gases in the Future?
by Florence Schulz, translated by Daniel Eck (EURACTIV.de) Could bacteria assist in the recycling of greenhouse gases in the future instead of releasing them into the atmosphere? European researchers are working to reverse the metabolism of intestinal bacteria that feed
February 04, 2020 Read Full Article
The Versatile Ethanol Molecule: Ethylene, with a Similar Molecular Structure to that of Ethanol, Has Enormous Market Opportunity around the World.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Knock a water molecule off ethanol and you’ll get ethylene, C2H4—the most widely produced organic chemical globally that is the basis for scores of other chemicals and hundreds (maybe thousands) of products, from
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Mattel’s Biobased Building Blocks, World’s 1st Fuel-Cell Powered Train, Self-Healing “Frankenstein” Concrete, Potato Starch Produce Packaging, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 30th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From big companies like Mattel and their first building block sets made from bioplastics, to smaller innovators and entrepreneurs, the bioeconomy had a busy week with innovations. A new plant-based faux fur that incorporates SORONA, a
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Turning CO2 into Fuel
by Andrew Myers (American Energy Society) ... Recycling CO2 emissions themselves as researchers at Stanford University are doing has shown some promising results. They are turning carbon dioxide from car exhaust pipes and other sources into fuels like natural gas
January 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Living Robots, Fungus Homes, Biobased Aquaculture Ropes, Biopolymer Food Films, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 23rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was a week of lots of deal-making, like edible straw startup Loliware’s raising of $5.9 million to scale production, and deal-breaking, like Itaconix and Nouryon’s break-up over biobased chelating agents for detergent applications. But it was
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Taco Bell and Perdue Biopackaging, iPhone Plant-Based Case, Castor Straws, Cabbage Lamps, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 17th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Kermit the Frog said “It’s not easy being green,” but these innovations might just change that and make it easier than ever to support a biobased economy. From a 100% compostable plant-based iPhone case, to Taco
January 17, 2020 Read Full Article
UPM Celebrates Five Years of Operations at Advanced Biofuels Facility in Finland
(Biofuels International) Finnish company UPM has marked the five-year anniversary of the start of operations of the first biorefinery in the world to produce wood-based advanced biofuels, the Lappeenranta Biorefinery. The facility uses wood-based residual raw material crude tall oil to
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Licella and BioLogiQ Join Forces to Accelerate Commercialisation of Cat-HTR™ Technology in Australia
(Licella) Licella and BioLogiQ join forces to accelerate commercialisation of Cat-HTR™ technology in Australia, to chemically recycle post-consumption plastic that would otherwise not be recycled. -- Australia consumes 3.4 million tonnes of plastic each year, of which only 9% is recycled1.
January 09, 2020 Read Full Article
World’s 1st Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Yacht, Hemp Airplane, Rock Snot to Biomaterials, Sisal-Based Thermal Insulation, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 3rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The bioeconomy is kickstarting 2020 with a flurry of innovations, like a millennial entrepreneur who developed a method to convert invasive toxic algae commonly called “rock snot” into various materials including paper, fabric and bioplastic. Another
January 03, 2020 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 10 Top Advanced Bioeconomy Markets & Predictions for 2020
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A mere “The Year in Rewind” as we sail into 2020? Not the good ship Digest! Instead, we dust off our crystal ball and offer our predictions for the year ahead. As the sunset of 2019 gives
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Converting Waste to Synthetic Crude Oil: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Licella’s Thermochemical Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Licella is transforming plastic and biomass waste into high value sustainable resources. Their Cat-HTR platform uses water at high temperature and pressure to transform wastes and residues to synthetic crude oil, chemically equivalent to fossil
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
LEGO Bioplastic Bricks, Castor Bean Coats, World’s First Hydrogen Powered Ferry and Carrier Ship, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 20th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some, it’s holiday shopping season and now LEGO’s first bioplastic block set is an option! The kit—appropriately designed to make a treehouse—uses sugarcane-based polyethylene. Another great gift Top 10 Innovation from this week is French
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Biorefining Start-Up Wins Significant EU Funding to Scale-Up Business
(Bioenergy Insight) Biorefining start-up Chrysalix Technologies has won significant funding from the EU to scale-up its business. The company uses waste wood and agricultural by-products as well as sustainably-grown biomass to produce biofuels, biomaterials, greener chemicals and bioplastics. Its BioFlex process
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Neutrons Optimize High Efficiency Catalyst for Greener Approach to Biofuel Synthesis
(U.S. Department of Energy/Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Science Daily) Researchers used neutron scattering in the development of a catalyst that converts biomass into liquid fuel with remarkably high efficiency and provides new possibilities for manufacturing renewable energy-related materials. Researchers led by the
December 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Corpse to Compost, Jose Cuervo’s Agave to Straws, Ford’s Coffee Waste Parts, Reebok Biokicks, Cellulose Optical Fibers, Catalysts Algorithms, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 12th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Jose Cuervo’s new project to convert agave byproduct into biodegradable straws to death (corpse to compost), this week’s Top 10 Innovations are a hoot to boot. Car maker Ford is using McDonald’s coffee waste in
December 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Thermochemical Technology to Turn Trash to Treasure: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Enerkem’s Waste to Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Taking non-reyclable waste to sustainable chemicals and biofuels is Enerkem’s world. Current products from ‘trash’ include syngas, methanol and ethanol with alternative pathways currently under development. Andrea Redford, Chief Business Development Officer from Enerkem gave this
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
A Plastics Dichotomy – Durables versus Single Use
by Ronald Cascone (Nexant, Inc./Biofuels Digest) ... Durable items are those that are in use for a long time, even years, mostly are rigid, have substantial weight per item, generally are not littered, are typically of more expensive performance polymers
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Launches Plastics Innovation Challenge
(U.S. Department of Energy) On November 21, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced the launch of the Plastics Innovation Challenge, a comprehensive U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program to accelerate innovations in energy-efficient plastics recycling technologies. Plastics are
December 11, 2019 Read Full Article
9 Hot New CO2 Applications
by Sam A. Rushing (Advanced Cryogenics/Biofuels Digest) ... Food and beverage applications often account for 70% of all tonnage consumed in the merchant sector. There are also demands of a captive and sequestration nature, which in my view, are generally categorized
December 10, 2019 Read Full Article
Enzymes Bring Biomass Value: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen’s Enzymes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Tailored hydrolysis enzymes have many benefits for biomass, especially since it’s a soup of the day and each unique substrate is a combination of feedstock. MetGen has this covered with their production strains and processes that streamline
December 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Emissions from Production of Plastics Deserves Same Scrutiny as End-of-Life Debate, Says Expert.
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) ... Biome Bioplastics CEO Paul Mines said that the discussion around plastics isn’t solely about its end of life but its start of life. He also said that the production of oil-based plastics was hugely carbon
December 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Compostable Coffee Capsules, Banana Waste Bioplastic, Cocoa Husk Chocolate Wrappers, Cactus Leather, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of December 4th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The holiday season is in full gear for some and this means coming up with gifts for family and friends. For The Digest readers this week, there is no dearth of biobased alternatives to consider like
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
New PHA Pathway, Stroodles Noodle Straws, Bamboo Poutine, Seaweed Bioplastic, Rice Husk Travel Mugs and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 28th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S. today and many are gathering around the table, chatting about the latest news, like the new Air Protein – air-based food – and whether it will be served alongside…or
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Oh So Sweet! Amyris’s Look at Farnesene Production from Sugars: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MegaBio and Farnesene
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amyris is working on a MegaBio goal. Mega because it’s a big goal – develop a fully integrated and scalable process to produce farnesene from cellulosic sugars at $2 per liter in the U.S. Quinn Mitrovich from Amyris
November 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Like Fine Wine, Smellin’ Fine: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Anellotech’s Aromatics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fine wine takes time but it’s so worth it when you gather that first aroma of a freshly opened bottle…and Anellotech shows us that the wait is worth it when it comes to technology too.
November 18, 2019 Read Full Article
17 Trillion Pounds of Plastic – How Much Is Biodegradable?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Algenesis’ Algae Polymers
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Science by Nature and Nature by Science is what it’s all about for Algenesis. Their goal is for 100% renewable, biodegradable, recyclable polyurethane that can be used for everything from flip flops to surfboards. Michael Burkart
November 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Sustainable Technology Acquires DuPont’s G2 Ethanol Technology
(Sustainabile Technology Corp/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sustainable Technology Corp., a subsidiary of Petron Scientech Inc., has completed the acquisition from DuPont, the complete technology assets for the world-class, second-generation technology developed and demonstrated by DuPont, capable of commercially producing ethanol from cellulosic
October 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Chemical Catalysis Pioneer James Dumesic Wins International Energy Prize
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Prolific biofuels researcher James Dumesic has been named the winner of the 2019 Eni Energy Transition Award. The internationally renowned Eni Awards were established in 2007 to recognize excellence in energy and environmental research. The Energy Transition Award honors
October 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Investing in Australian Biomanufacturing
(Office of the Department of Education; the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education; the Hon Karen Andrews MP Minister for Industry, Science and Technology; John Alexander OAM, MP, Member for Bennelong ) The Morrison Government is investing in the development of
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Call for Partners: Use or Invest in (Biobased) Polymerization Shared Facility
by Jim Lane and Marcel van Berkel (Biofuels Digest/Polymerization Shared Facility) Green Chemistry Campus, REWIN and Wageningen University are planning the development of the first multipurpose Polymerization Shared Facility Pilot Plant in Bergen op Zoom. In this facility new and redesigned
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
A Juicer that Turns Peels into Bioplastic Cups, Shellfish Plastic, White Dog Labs’ Feed Supplement, Eucalyptus Fiber and Wool Sneakers, Plant Starch Dog Toys, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 19th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It seems that plastic is in the news daily between bag bans, straw bans and even Ray-Bans. But there are companies out there tackling the plastic problem with alternatives like the new “Feel the Peel” juicer
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Sugarcane and Cotton Waste Turned into Fuels, Plastics, Feed
(Manufacturers Monthly) The potential to manufacture high-value products from sugarcane and cotton by-products is one step closer to realisation with an injection of funding from the Australian federal government into a project by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Professor Ian O’Hara, of
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Warding off Armyworm, Wiping without Worry, Banana Fiber Sanitary Napkins, Mango Bioplastics, Wearable Fermentation-Based Protein Jacket and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of September 13th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Not only is it Friday the 13th, it’s also a full moon tonight. But don’t worry, this week’s Top 10 innovations will scare all the boogies away, starting with Provivi’s new fall armyworm pheromone now produced
September 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Zero-Emission Hydrogen Beer Trucks, Algae to Generate Clean Water, Cheesy Biogas, Algae Backpacks, Bamboo Toothbrushes, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 30th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pumpkin spice everything is already appearing in stores across the U.S. and so is beer for Oktoberfest, but Anheuser-Busch’s beer will be delivered using zero-emission hydrogen beer trucks! Have some cheese with that beer as cheese
August 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Cellulose Microbeads, Sequins and Eyeware, 3D Printed Sandals and Menswear, Biobased adhesives, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of August 21st
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, it’s all about cellulose and 3D printing and these Top 10 Innovations are so cutting edge you can literally dress yourself from head to toe in it. From cellulose sequins and cellulose eyeware to
August 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Circular Economy Package, European Commission, July 2018
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) The European Union (EU)’s landmark ‘Circular Economy Package’ came into force last year. By July 2020, the bloc’s 28 member states will have to incorporate the Package into national law. Some say that this legislation is the most
August 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Receives ISCC Plus Certification
(Geva/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today (August 5, 2019) it has achieved its International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the ISCC PLUS scheme for Food, Feed, Industrial Applications, Energy, Biofuels outside Europe. In obtaining ISCC certification, Gevo continues
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Blazing Pathways through the Clean-Tech and Governmental Wilderness
by Douglas L. Faulkner (The Cleantech Conservative/Leatherstocking LLC/ Biofuels Digest) ... (W)e first addressed bio-based plastic research needs; second, we reviewed government regulations preventing the growth of advanced biofuels, a controversial action; then we launched an effort for 2019 for an intensive look
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Vertimass Completes First Technology License To Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc.
(Vertimass/Oil&Gas 360) Vertimass' ethanol to renewable chemicals and jet fuel offers ethanol producers new product capabilities -- Vertimass completed its first technology license agreement with Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida, to produce renewable jet fuel along with Benzene, Toluene,
July 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Avantium Awarded Funding for VEHICLE
(Avantium) Avantium N.V. announces that it has been awarded €1.3 million for its Dawn and Mekong Technologies from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. The total subsidy granted to the Industry Consortium
July 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Letter from Route 12 and the Pacific Northwest: From Waste Streams, a Bioeconomy Rising
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington state, there’s a new mill near the city of Dayton that is the first to use waste straw to make pulp for paper products, and biopolymers; and, a new project near Granger turning
June 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Letter from Europe: The Bioeconomy’s Journey to Yes through the Valley of No
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Europe this past week we’ve had European Commission’s own and massive EU Sustainability Week, the ART Fuels Forum, and the Paris Air Show, and if you were trying to get anywhere quickly along the Paris-Brussels
June 25, 2019 Read Full Article
All I Need Is the Air that I Breathe: The Search for Better Sources for Octane and Better Uses for Aromatics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, a new report concludes that emissions from petroleum-based gasoline “are one of the biggest health threats facing the American public”. The report links a wide range of respiratory and even neurological diseases to toxic
June 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Towards Sustainable Bioeconomy - Lessons Learned from Case Studies
by Marta Gomez San Juan, Anne Bogdanski and Olivier Dubois (Food and Agricultural Organization) ... )T)his report offers lessons from 26 case studies of sustainable bioeconomy interventions from around the world and from a range of different sectors. The overall aim of the report is
June 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Ireland's First Grass-Fed Biorefinery Hits the Road to Help Farmers Go Green
(European Science Communication Institute/Phys.org) A New Mobile Refinery Is Travelling Across The West Of Ireland To Turn Grass Into Sustainable Materials -- Along the windy west coast of Ireland a biorefinery on wheels is turning grass into a series of different
May 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Paper Sludge to Biogas, 3D Printed House, Cocoa Bean Waste-to-Fuel, Vegan Silk Biopolymers, Biobased Adhesives, and More: The Digest's Top 10 Innovations for the Week of May 8th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of May 8th. In today’s Digest, paper sludge to biogas, 3D printed house, cocoa bean waste-to-fuel, vegan
May 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Anellotech’s Bio-TCat Technology Viability Confirmed during Pilot Plant Campaign – Moving forward with Commercialization
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) We hear the theme song to Disney’s Carousel of Progress… “It’s a great big beautiful tomorrow…” but it’s also a great big beautiful today because the viability of Anellotech’s Bio-TCat technology has been proven by
May 06, 2019 Read Full Article
DE-FOA-0002029: FY19 Bioenergy Technologies Office Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement
(U.S. Department of Energy) This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will provide funding to address the highest priority R&D areas within biofuel technologies, bioproducts, and biopower. It includes Areas of Interest (AOIs) from all five BETO programs: Feedstock Supply and Logistics; Advanced
May 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Renewable Diesel is a Game Changer for Sustainable Aviation and Low Carbon Fuel Markets in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Southeast Asia
by Will Thurmond (Biofuels Digest/Emerging Markets Online) According to a new study by market research firm Emerging Markets Online, renewable diesel is becoming a game changer for several key areas of the low carbon fuels industry, including: (1) the global aviation industry,
April 24, 2019 Read Full Article
REACHing for the Stars: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Mercurius Biorefining
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mercurius Biorefining is developing its novel REACH process, which converts cellulosic biomass to hydrocarbons in the renewable diesel, aviation, and marine fuel ranges. Valuable by-products include bio-char and a bio-plastic monomer, FDCA. REACH (Renewable Acid-hydrolysis Condensation Hydrotreating)
April 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Beyond Beef with No Cow, Sunflower Crop Waste for Phone Cases and Binders, BASF’s Bioactives from Rambutan Tree, Repurposing Wastewater Algae, Nouryon’s Biopolymer for Hair Care, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of April 17th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of April 17th. In today’s Digest, beyond beef with no cow, sunflower crop waste for phone cases
April 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Technology Turns Municipal Wastewater Algae into Specialty Chemicals for Biofuels, Bioplastics
(Purdue University/Phys.org) Gen3Bio has designed mobile 15-gallon enzymolysis pilot plants to be placed in wastewater treatment facilities to transform algae into specialty bio-based chemicals, such as biofuels or bioplastics. -- A startup is advancing a unique way to transform algae used
April 08, 2019 Read Full Article
Students' Soybean Straws Win Award
(The Exponent) Three Purdue students brought home top honors and a $20,000 prize at this year's Student Soybean Product Innovation Competition for their biodegradable soybean based drinking straw, according to a Purdue press release. "Team Stroy" is made up of Natalie Stephenson, a senior in
April 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Sustainable Chemicals Produced by Vertimass Now Eligible for Iowa Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit
(Vertimass/Cision/PR Newswire) Vertimass' ethanol to renewable chemicals offers ethanol producers alternative product capability -- The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has approved the addition of four new renewable chemicals to the list of those eligible under its first-in-the-nation renewable chemical production tax
April 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Scion Welcomes Climate Policy Report
(Scion Research) Crown research institute Scion congratulates the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on his report Farms, forests and fossil fuels: The next great landscape transformation released today. Scion CEO Dr Julian Elder says the report’s proposal to take a “landscape approach”
April 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Covestro and Genomatica Launch Partnership for High-Performance Plant-Based Materials
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... Materials manufacturer Covestro and biotechnology company Genomatica joined forces to research and develop high-performance materials based on renewable feedstocks. With their collaboration, both partners are aiming to reduce the use of fossil-based resources such as
April 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Edible Seaweed-Based Packaging, Dissolvable Polyvinyl Alcohol Grocery Gag, Bioplastic from Apple and Orange Waste, Levi’s Cottonized Hemp, Biobased Composite Car Ceat, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of March 28th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of March 28th In today’s Digest, edible seaweed-based packaging, dissolvable polyvinyl alcohol grocery bag, bioplastic from apple
March 28, 2019 Read Full Article
This Mexican Company Is Making Biofuel from Cactus Plants
by Sean Fleming (World Economic Forum) ... Rogelio Sosa López, is a farmer and tortilla producer from Zitácuaro. Like many farmers, he was always open to the idea of finding new ways to keep operating costs down. Working with a
March 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Ingredients and Innovations: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Corbion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Corbion is a global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients. In 2018, Corbion generated annual sales of € 897.2 million
March 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Slovenian BioApp Helps Reduce Pollution from Single-Use Plastics
by Lidija Petković (European Commission) The ERDF-funded BioApp platform has become the focal point for research ideas on developing smart biomass materials in the cross-border region of Slovenia and Italy. The EU produces over 25 tonnes of plastic waste every year. In response,
March 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Stora Enso Invests in Next-generation Renewable, Recyclable and Biodegradable Formed Fiber Solutions
(Stora Enso/PR Newswire/FinanzNachrichten) Stora Enso is investing EUR 5 million to build a new production line and related infrastructure to manufacture formed fiber products at Hylte Mill in Sweden. The formed fiber technology enables manufacturing of products that are designed for circularity, meaning that
March 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Call for EU to Stop Subsidies for Fossil Fuels to Help Bio-Based Materials Sector and the Circular Economy
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insight) “Please stop all subsidies to fossil fuels. In 2016, €56 billion went from EU member states to fossil fuels.” EU member states need to stop subsidising fossil fuels in order to help the bio-based materials industry, according
March 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Light My Fire and Prickly Pear Bioplastics, Biobased Paraxylene, Black Phosphorus Biocomposite, Tide and Terracycle’s eco-box and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of March 14th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of March 14th. In today’s Digest, Light My Fire and prickly pear bioplastics, biobased paraxylene, black phosphorus
March 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Sugar Set for 'Energycane' Reinvention
(University of Queensland/Phys.Org) Gene-editing sugarcane for use in renewable energy and bio-plastics could help secure the industry's future. The University of Queensland's Professor Robert Henry said sugarcane's reinvention as an "energycane" crop could sustain the industry in the face of falling global
March 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Engineered Microbe May Be Key to Producing Plastic from Plants
by Chris Barncard (University of Wisconsin-Madison) With a few genetic tweaks, a type of soil bacteria with an appetite for hydrocarbons shows promise as a biological factory for converting a renewable — but frustratingly untapped — bounty into a replacement for
March 11, 2019 Read Full Article
World’s 1st for Product Carbon Footprints, Polyhydroxyalkanoates Bioplastic, BASF Shoe Shanks, Bacteria-Infused Knits, Eastman’s Cellulosic Yarn and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 28th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of February 28th. In today’s Digest, world’s 1st for product carbon footprints, polyhydroxyalkanoates bioplastic, BASF shoe shanks,
March 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Research Uncovers Potential Sustainable Refining Method for Lignin
(Phys.Org/Texas A&M University) Lignin, used as a renewable resource to produce high-value products, has presented both production and economical challenges for biorefinery operations. However, a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist suggests the use of an extraction method, plus other refining processes
February 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Separation Technology: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Attis Industries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Attis Industriesis a diversified company focused on innovation and technology including renewable fuels, bio-based plastics, healthcare and communications infrastructure. At a recent investor meeting, Attis offered this illuminating overview of their proprietary biomass processing technology, Attis’ renewable fuels, investment
February 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Grow Your Own Bioplastic Home, Avocado-Pit Bioplastic, Arla and UPM’s Wood-Based Dairy Packaging, PHA Bioplastic Water Bottle and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 20th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of February 20th. In today’s Digest, grow your own bioplastic home, avocado-pit bioplastic, Arla and UPM’s wood-based
February 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Pilot Plant to Turn Sugarcane Waste into Biofuel and Beer Bottles
(Queensland University of Technology) QUT researchers and Mercurius Australia have commenced work on a pilot plant to prove the economic viability of turning sugarcane waste into either jet and diesel fuel or chemicals that could be used to make plastic soft
February 18, 2019 Read Full Article
The Stora Enso Story – A Magical Tale of Trees and Forests
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... In today’s Digest, we talk about Stora Enso’s story – the renewable materials company that develops and produces wood and biomass based solutions for a range of industries and applications globally – what they
January 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Attis Industries Enters into a Definitive Agreement to Acquire Corn Ethanol Facility and Grain Malting Operation from Sunoco LP
(Attis Industries/Globe Newswire) Attis Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ATIS) (the "Company" or "Attis"), a diversified innovation and technology holding company today announced that it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) (“Sunoco”) to acquire and operate