by Beth Miller (Washington University) Joshua Yuan, Susie Dai and colleagues at WashU and Texas A&M create biodiesel with electrocatalysis and bioconversion -- Researchers in the labs of Joshua Yuan in the McKelvey School of Engineering and Susie Dai at the University
catalysts
Back TO HOMEPBF Energy Expects Renewable Diesel Production, Economics to Improve in Q4
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) PBF Energy Inc. on Oct. 31 announced that its St. Bernard Renewables facility produced 13,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel during the third quarter. Production is expected to increase during the fourth quarter. The company previously
November 06, 2024 Read Full Article
HYCO1 Announces the First Commercial Operation of its Breakthrough CO2 Conversion Technology, Achieving TRL-9 Status
(HYCO1/PR Newswire) HYCO1, Inc. announces it has achieved a key milestone in commercializing its breakthrough CO2 conversion technology, already surpassing 1,500 hours of continuous steady-state operation in its first commercial CUBE™ Syngas system (CUBE™ stands for Carbon Utilization. Best Efficiency). The revolutionary HYCO1
November 06, 2024 Read Full Article
New $5 Million DoE Award Supports KU Startup’s Green Hydrogen Energy Research
(University of Kansas) With $5 million in support from the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Kansas and Avium — a startup firm founded by researchers from KU’s School of Engineering — aim to make clean hydrogen more affordable. According to
November 04, 2024 Read Full Article
In Step toward Solar Fuels, Durable Artificial Photosynthesis Setup Chains Two Carbons Together
(University of Michigan) The system produces ethylene, an important ingredient of many plastics, with much higher efficiency, yield and longevity than competing systems -- A key step toward reusing CO2 to make sustainable fuels is chaining carbon atoms together, and an artificial
October 30, 2024 Read Full Article
A New, 3B Gallon Ethanol Market: Me Energy Takes Top Prize at Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) California, Germany’s Me Energy took the million dollar first prize in the year-long Radicle Corn Value Chain Challenge. The finals were held in San Francisco as a part of ABLC Next. ME energy’s technology Me energy has developed unique technology enabling Rapid Chargers
October 24, 2024 Read Full Article
Georgia Tech Researchers Develop More Efficient Approach for Turning Plant Biomass into Useful Chemicals
by Brad Dixon (Georgia Institute of Technology) Lignin is one of the most plentiful organic polymers on Earth, making up about 20 to 30 percent of the dry mass of wood and other plants. Despite this abundance, lignin’s complex structure has challenged
October 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Aether Fuels Signs MOU with JetBlue
(Aether/Globe Newswire) Agreement creates pathway for Aether to supply sustainable aviation fuel to JetBlue -- - Aether Fuels (Aether), a venture-backed climate technology company, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU). Aether has developed a breakthrough technology that
September 25, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to SAF from Wet Wastes via Hydrothermal Liquefaction
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wet wastes could provide up to 6 billion gallons of SAF and saves on expensive alternative disposal processes that can reach as high as $4 per gallon of fuel. In this project, researchers propose a method
September 23, 2024 Read Full Article
Catalyst Selection Holds the Key to Flexible, Efficient SAF and Renewables Production
by Milica Folić and Maria Jesus Lorences Perez (Topsoe/Biofuels Digest) ... Ideally, solutions for processing renewable feedstocks into SAF should offer some feedstock flexibility, enabling refineries to produce clean fuels from a diverse range of inputs including vegetable oils, animal fat,
September 16, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Low-Pressure Hydrogenolysis Catalysts for Bioproduct Upgrading
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A team of researchers partnered with Visolis to develop a hydrogenolysis catalyst that can operate at low-pressures (≤ 5 MPa) and demonstrate conversion of a fermentation-derived C6 intermediate to a high value chemical monomer. The rewards? Risk and cost
August 30, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Biochemical Intermediates
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the best pathways to generating and upgrading biochemical intermediates. For example, wet waste to mixed volatile fatty acids in arrested methanogenesis. Or, sugars to butyric acid, or 2,3 butanediol. Tasks include mitigation of scalability
August 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Turning Carbon Pollution into Ethanol
by Ula Chrobak (Stanford University Engineering) Stanford scientists designed a catalyst that turns carbon dioxide into ethanol, which could incentivize cleaning up emissions. -- ... In two recent papers, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and Angewandte Chemie, a team of Stanford researchers
August 23, 2024 Read Full Article
New Tel Aviv University Research Enables Biofuel Production from Wet Organic Waste
(Jewish News Syndicate) “The production of biofuels from organic waste components can significantly reduce the volume of municipal waste sent to landfills, decreasing pollution of soil, water and air,” the researchers conclude. -- An innovative development by a team of researchers at Tel
August 18, 2024 Read Full Article
NEXTCHEM (MAIRE) Awarded by Sarlux Licensing, Engineering Services, Proprietary Equipment and Catalyst Supply to Integrate its NX CPO™ Technology in a SAF Pilot Plant
(Group MAIRE) Following the completion of the engineering design study announced in December 2023, NextChem Tech will act as technology integrator for a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) pilot plant to be implemented in Saras’ facility in Sarroch (Sardinia); NextChem Tech will provide
August 06, 2024 Read Full Article
NREL Research Dives Deeper Into the Mysteries of Energy Control in Electron-Bifurcating Enzymes
by Justin Rickard (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Understanding the Catalytic Mechanism of This Unusual Class of Enzymes May Be a Precursor to More Efficient Catalysis in the Production of Fuels and Chemicals -- In 2019, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) senior scientist Cara
July 24, 2024 Read Full Article
A New Catalyst Can “Recycle” Carbon Dioxide into Useful Chemicals
(University of Chicago) Research by Argonne, University of Chicago scientists aims to turn CO2 into resource -- Carbon dioxide is leaking from industrial operations into the atmosphere, causing a cascade of dangerous changes to Earth’s climate. But some scientists wondered if
July 12, 2024 Read Full Article
BASF Celebrates Capacity Increase for Sodium Methylate in South America with Customer Event
(BASF) Production capacity increase to 90kt per year implemented in the second quarter 2024; Customer event celebrates long-standing relationships and collaboration -- BASF’s Monomers division announced a production capacity increase for sodium methylate at its latest customer event in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo
July 09, 2024 Read Full Article
Fast, Simple and Ready: Unlocking Opportunities in Coprocessing SAF
by Maria J. L. Perez and Milica Folic (Topsoe/Biobased Diesel Daily) Discover which units are the most suitable for coprocessing, what modifications are required and which feedstocks are best for SAF yield. -- As the aviation industry seeks to reduce its carbon footprint,
July 08, 2024 Read Full Article
The Importance of Supply-Chain Resilience in Biodiesel Production
by Julio Canever (Evonik Catalysts/Biobased Diesel Daily) The total production capacity of biofuels is growing in the U.S. Biodiesel, blended into almost all diesel fuel sold within the country, has been a pillar for on-road decarbonization. Government incentives and requirements encourage
July 05, 2024 Read Full Article
Decision to Install Small-Scale Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production Test Rig for further Development of CO₂ to SAF Synthesis Technologies
(IHI Corporation) -The next stage of world-class synthesis technology development- - IHI Corporation together with the Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE²)(*1), a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, has been working on the
July 01, 2024 Read Full Article
Engineered Biocatalyst for Making 'Drop-in' Biofuels
by Pratibha Gopalakrishna (Indian Institute of Science/Phys.Org) Researchers at the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (IPC), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have developed an enzymatic platform that can efficiently transform naturally abundant and inexpensive fatty acids to valuable hydrocarbons called
June 28, 2024 Read Full Article
FOZ Do Iguacu Receives the First Synthetic Oil P{roduction Plant from Biogas in Brazil
(CI Biogas (Google Translation)) The International Center for Renewable Energy ( CIBiogás ) and the Brazil-Germany Cooperation for Sustainable Development, through the H2Brasil project, inaugurated, on June 17th, the first pilot plant in Brazil for the production of synthetic oil from biogas, focusing
June 19, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels Help Drive Economic Impact
by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has just released a new report on “The Economic Impact of the U.S. Industrial Bioeconomy” that spotlights economic activity tied to the transformation of renewable biomass into fertilizers, bioplastics, biofuels, bio-lubricants, and other industrial bioproducts. “Our
June 11, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Aether Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this presentation from ABLC 2024, Aether Fuels CEO COnor Madigan outlined a goal to develop the lowest cost, highest yield, and most feedstock flexible platform for sustainable hydrocarbons, incubated by Xora Innovation is an early-stage
June 06, 2024 Read Full Article
New Technique by NUS Scientists to Transform Waste Carbon Dioxide into High-Value Chemicals Achieves Cost Reduction of about 30%
(National University of Singapore) An energy-efficient, cost-effective way to convert the greenhouse gas into a wide range of chemical feedstocks -- Addressing the urgent challenge posed by escalating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their impact on climate change, researchers from the National
May 15, 2024 Read Full Article
Co-Processing SAF: Standards, Incentives and Regulation
by Maria J. L. Perez and Milica Folić (Topsoe/Biomass Magazine) ... One method of SAF production, known as co-processing, has emerged as a viable solution in the here and now. But what are the regulations and standards that producers need to
May 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Just Released: 2023 Project Peer Review Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) Highlighting Expert Feedback on BETO's Portfolio -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) released its 2023 Project Peer Review Report, a comprehensive summary of stakeholder and subject-matter expert feedback on BETO’s latest research, development, and
April 24, 2024 Read Full Article
What Fits the Process
(BDI Bioenergy/Biofuels International) ... When biodiesel producers shift to waste-based material as feedstock, the first choice is often used cooking oil (UCO). The main reason is that UCO’s feedstock parameters are close enough to that of vegetable oil. The result is
April 11, 2024 Read Full Article
AI is Accelerating Materials Science Discovery and Synthesis Exponentially
by Kent Goeking (LEC Partners/Biofuels Digest) One of the key barriers to the economic and technical success of many advanced energy technologies is the sub-optimum performance of critical inorganic materials used as catalysts, electrodes, dielectrics, and photovoltaics. Oxide materials in particular,
April 08, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuel technologies from Chevron Lummus Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digeist) Built on the strength of Chevron and Lummus technology, CLG offers innovative hydroprocessing and bottom-of-the-barrel technologies for lower carbon fuels and premium base oils, and world-class renewable fuels & circular products for the energy transition powered
April 06, 2024 Read Full Article
CO2 Transformed to Methanol with Sunlight on Copper Atoms
(New Energy and Fuel) University of Nottingham researchers have successfully transformed CO2 into methanol by shining sunlight on single atoms of copper deposited on a light-activated material, a discovery that paves the way for creating new green fuels. The international team of
March 30, 2024 Read Full Article
Co-processing Promises a Cost-Efficient SAF Pathway – but Not All Refineries Face Equal Costs
by Maria J. L. Perez and Milica Folic (Topsoe/Biofuels Digest) By introducing renewable feedstocks directly into existing diesel hydrotreaters, refineries can produce a combination of renewable and fossil diesel, reducing CO2 emissions originating from fossil-based feedstocks. But what are the main
March 28, 2024 Read Full Article
Infinium’s Project Pathfinder Is World’s First Fully Operational eFuels Facility
(Infinium) Ultra-low carbon electrofuels now in production in North America -- Electrofuels leader Infinium is now successfully operating the world’s first commercial scale facility making drop-in ready electrofuels (eFuels) in Corpus Christi, Texas. The project, known as Project Pathfinder, is a continuously
March 22, 2024 Read Full Article
Researcher Works to Lower Cost of Hydrogen Production
(Invent Penn State) Hydrogen gas, while a potentially greener alternative to fossil fuels, is currently expensive to produce. Penn State doctoral candidate in chemical engineering Arash Emdadi and his lab mates are working to improve the hydrogen production method to make
March 11, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Pathways to eFuels: CO2 Capture and Conversion to Liquid Products
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) CO2, the final frontier. We have, famously, too much of it, and can do too little with us for too high a cost. Yet, researchers are teasing out exciting new applications, such as a pathway to
February 29, 2024 Read Full Article
Nanoscale Research Might Help Convert CO2 Waste into Usable Products
by Wade Hemsworth (Brighter World) Think of it as recycling on the nanoscale: a tantalizing electrochemical process harvests carbon before it becomes air pollution and restructures it into the components of everyday products. The drive to capture airborne carbon dioxide from industrial
February 27, 2024 Read Full Article
New Research Pathway Uses Renewable Electricity to Produce Formic Acid from Carbon Dioxide
(U.S. Department of Energy) This technology was developed in the BETO-funded CO2RUe consortium mission and can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. -- Identifying routes to efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to an intermediate chemical which can be further upgraded to
February 20, 2024 Read Full Article
BASF and Envision Energy Enter a Collaboration to Drive Sustainable Energy Solutions
(BASF) Collaboration to accelerate conversion of green hydrogen and CO2 to e-methanol; BASF’s new SYNSPIRETM catalyst technology to be combined with Envision Energy’s process package; E-methanol holds significant potential as sustainable energy carrier replacing fossil fuels in various industries BASF process catalysts,
February 08, 2024 Read Full Article
BASF and Envision Energy Enter a Collaboration to Drive Sustainable Energy Solutions
(BASF and Envision Energy) Collaboration to accelerate conversion of green hydrogen and CO2 to e-methanol; BASF’s new SYNSPIRETM catalyst technology to be combined with Envision Energy’s process package; E-methanol holds significant potential as sustainable energy carrier replacing fossil fuels in various industries BASF process catalysts, a leading
February 05, 2024 Read Full Article
China Achieves Mass Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(CGTN) A Chinese company has developed a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which will soon enter the commercial market, according to Science and Technology Daily. SAF is a new type of aviation fuel that blends bio-manufactured green jet fuel with traditional fuel. It
February 01, 2024 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Infinium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Infinium is a Commercial Scale decarbonization Platform for heavy transport, utilizing existing infrastructure for lower emissions today. Infinium’s production process uses renewable power, waste CO2 and water and, unlike most of today’s SAF and Renewable Diesel,
January 30, 2024 Read Full Article
A Research Project Paving the Way for Large-Scale Production of Green Hydrogen Energy Carriers in Chile
(Fraunhofer IEE) Together with its partners, Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE is paving the way for the establishment of large-scale production of green hydrogen and its downstream products in Chile. The project’s research focuses on the
January 12, 2024 Read Full Article
HYCO1 Celebrates 9,000 Hours of Run-Time on Its Revolutionary, Patent-Pending CO2 Utilization Catalyst
(HYCO1/PR Newswire) HYCO1 celebrates over 9,000 hours of run-time on its proprietary, patent-pending CO2 utilization catalyst at its Houston, Texas CUBE™ Technology Center (CUBE™ is Carbon Utilization at Best Efficiency). Operating for over a year inside of a commercial diameter reactor tube, the HYCO1
January 10, 2024 Read Full Article
CAER, Chemistry Researchers Awarded US Department of Energy Grant to Develop Biofuel Technology
by Dave Melanson (University of Kentucky) Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Department of Chemistry have received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance their innovative biofuels research. The project is titled “Robust Engineered Catalysts
January 09, 2024 Read Full Article
New Research Could Make Turning Waste Cooking Oil into Biofuel Easier and Quicker
(De Montfort University Leicester) Researchers at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have pioneered a new manufacturing process which could make the creation of biofuel from waste cooking oil faster and more efficient. Professor Katherine Huddersman, Dr Rawaz Ahmed, Saana Rashid, and Ketan
January 08, 2024 Read Full Article
Dimensional Energy Secures $20 Million Series A Funding
(Dimensional Energy/Business Wire) Global leader in carbon utilization technology will use funds to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel production and the decarbonization of our economy. -- Dimensional Energy, Inc., a global leader in cutting-edge carbon utilization technology, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and
December 14, 2023 Read Full Article
ArcelorMittal S.A.: ArcelorMittal Announces the First Industrial Production of Ethanol
(ArcelorMittal/Globe Newswire) ArcelorMittal announces the first industrial production of ethanol at its Steelanol plant, Europe’s first carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) project. This historic milestone was achieved on 7 November 2023, at ArcelorMittal Belgium’s Gent plant. The first industrial-scale production is
November 17, 2023 Read Full Article
Chinese Academy Realizes CO2 Reduction to Ethanol via Tandem Single Atom Electrocatalyst
(Chinese Academy of Sciences/Mirage News) The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) into carbon-based fuels provides a promising strategy to mitigate CO2 emission and promotes the utilization of renewable energy. The Cn (n≥2) liquid products are desirable because of their high energy densities and ease of
November 15, 2023 Read Full Article
SunGas Renewables Selected to Supply Green Methanol for New Hydrogen and E-Methanol Facility in Australia
(SunGas Renewables) The $1.4 billion green hydrogen and methanol project at Bell Bay is expected to produce 300,000 tonnes of green methane per year -- SunGas Renewables today announced it has been selected by Australian green hydrogen and methanol project developer, ABEL Energy, to
November 10, 2023 Read Full Article
Petrobras Technology Enables Riograndense Refinery to Process 100% Renewable Feedstocks
(Petrobras) Test Unveils Pioneering Advancements in Biorefining on a Global Scale -- The Riograndense Petroleum Refinery (RPR) has accomplished a historic achievement by successfully processing 100% soybean oil in a Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit at the Refinery. This milestone was made
November 09, 2023 Read Full Article
How Green Ammonia Is Helping to Drive the Hydrogen Transition
(Nium/RE:TV) Hydrogen is the most abundant element on Earth and has been identified as an important clean fuel for the energy transition, emitting only water when burned instead of carbon dioxide. However, producing hydrogen can be carbon intensive, and storing and
October 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Comstock Fuels Completes All Validation Milestones
(Comstock/Globe Newswire) Executes Exclusive License for Proven Refining Process -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced completion of all milestones required for the scale-up of its proprietary lignocellulosic biomass refining process, culminating in the execution by its wholly
October 18, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Electrocatalytic CO2 Utilization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Low-temperature CO2 electrolysis is a promising pathway to produce low carbon intensity fuels and chemicals, offering advantages in scalability, process efficiency, and intermittent operation. Significant risks must be overcome for CO2 electrolysis to help meet 2050 decarbonization goals A
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Visolis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A recent DOE project aims to support Visolis, a biotech start-up company, to develop hydrogenolysis catalyst that can operate at low-pressures (≤ 5 MPa) and demonstrate conversion of a fermentation-derived C6 intermediate to a high value
October 06, 2023 Read Full Article
SAF in Action: Carbon Negative Jet Fuel Made from Manure and More
(U.S. Department of Energy) Wet waste—including food waste, manure, sewage, and inedible fats, oils, and greases—is a large source of methane emissions, a pollutant 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have created
October 06, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Upgrading of C1 Building Blocks
A new DOE project aims to develop the centerpiece technology for an integrated biorefinery concept based on the conversion of renewable and waste sources of C1 intermediates (e.g., syngas, CO2, methanol) to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with improved carbon
October 02, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Accelerating the Catalyst and Process Development Cycle for Bioenergy Applications
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ChemCatBio accelerates the development of catalytic technologies for converting biomass and waste resources into fuels and chemicals with a lower carbon footprint. From sustainable aviation fuel to bio-based marine fuel to renewable monomers for material manufacturing, the Chemical
September 27, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) High-value chemicals and materials have the clearest near-term path to market; accordingly, the program is encouraged to increase its focus on ancillary technologies for producing high-value chemicals alongside core technologies that focus on producing high-volume fuels.
September 07, 2023 Read Full Article
E-fuels: Axens, Paul Wurth (SMS group) and IFPEN Sign an Agreement for the Co-Development of the Reverse Water Gas Shift Technology
(Axens) Axens, SMS group subsidiary Paul Wurth and IFP Energies nouvelles signed a co-development agreement for the optimization of the Reverse Water Gas Shift technology (RWGS) and its integration into e-fuel projects. The RWGS technology is indeed an essential part of the
August 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Ethanol-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with HEA Internal Reforming Catalyst for Transportation Applications
(Green Car Congress) Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Connecticut have demonstrated high-performance metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFC) with an integrated high entropy alloy (HEA) internal reforming catalyst (IRC) for transportation applications using ethanol and methanol
August 28, 2023 Read Full Article
On Top of SAF: ... Topsoe Believes All Possible Pathways Are Needed—but for Most, Investment Costs Remain High.
by Susanne Retka Schill (SAF Magazine) U.S. SAF goals are lofty. New tax credits provide real incentives. Multiple technologies are ready to roll. Opportunities lie ahead. But the challenges are complex, Henrik Rasmussen, Topsoe’s managing director for the Americas, tells SAF Magazine.
August 25, 2023 Read Full Article
Start for the "Leuna100" Project: Use of the Green Fuel Saves Gigatons of CO2
(Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT) Green methanol for shipping and industry -- The Berlin-based climate tech start-up C1, together with its partners – the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and
August 23, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Infinium
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Infinium is a Commercial Scale decarbonization Platform for heavy transport, utilizing existing infrastructure for lower emissions today. Infinium’s production process uses renewable power, waste CO2 and water and, unlike most of today’s SAF and Renewable Diesel,
August 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Clariant's MegaMax® Catalyst Chosen by European Energy for World's Largest e-Methanol Plant
(Clariant) European Energy is building the world’s largest CO2-to-green methanol plant, with an annual capacity of 32,000 tons; End-customers include maritime giant Maersk, the Lego Group and Novo Nordisk; MegaMax catalyst optimally suited for green methanol production due to its high activity and
August 15, 2023 Read Full Article
Rid Us this Day our Daily Waste: New Path out of the Plastics Problem
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The main reason is that the products made by existing processes are so low in value that, instead of making treasure from trash, we make trash from trash, and there’s no cash. The fact that
August 15, 2023 Read Full Article
PCC Hydrogen Secured Crucial Funding from USDA and KSTC
(PCC Hydrogen/Business Wire) PCC Hydrogen Inc. (PCCH2) is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded a highly competitive Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Award of $175,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of
August 10, 2023 Read Full Article
New Ethanol Fuel Cell Technology Rivals Fossil Fuels and Electric Car Batteries
by Beatriz Nina Ribeiro Oliveira (University of Central Florida) Ethanol fuel cells, in which alcohol can be poured directly in as fuel, offer cleaner emissions than fossil fuels and no charging times compared to electric vehicle batteries. University of Central Florida researchers
August 09, 2023 Read Full Article
Axens Will Provide Vegan Technology to Haike Chemicals for Its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Project in China
(Axens) Shandong Haike Chemical Co. Ltd, a Chinese refining and petrochemical company, has selected Axens’ Vegan® technology to produce low carbon, cost competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by retrofitting its existing assets. Vegan® technology is a second-generation hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) solution which
August 03, 2023 Read Full Article
UvA Chemists Recycle Shrimp Waste as Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation
(University of Amsterdam) Flexible spheres of the biomolecule chitosan, made from shrimp waste, can be used for catalysts that generate hydrogen gas from borohydride salts. In a paper in Green Chemistry, a research team at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) shows
August 01, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Anellotech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Founded in 2008, Anellotech is a sustainable technology company that has invented and is developing innovative technologies to produce cost effective, renewable chemical and to recycle mixed plastics. Over the past years Anellotech has raised over
July 31, 2023 Read Full Article
Taking a New Crack at the Cellulosic Code: Blue Biofuels Is Trying to Grow
by Luke Geiver (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Blue Biofuels is trying to grow in multiple areas. From its home state of Florida, the aspirant advanced biofuel production company is trying to expand its know-how and commercial readiness with a novel mechano-chemical cellulosic
July 27, 2023 Read Full Article
ART, a Chevron, Grace Joint Venture, Launches Catalyst System to Produce Renewable Diesel, Sustainable Aviation Fuel from 100% Renewable Sources
(W.R. Grace & Co./Globe Newswire) Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART), a joint venture of Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and specialty chemicals leader W. R. Grace & Co. (Grace), today launched ENDEAVOR™, a hydroprocessing catalyst solution to produce renewable diesel (RD) and
July 26, 2023 Read Full Article
HYCO1 and Kansas Ethanol Collaborate on World's Largest Biogenic CO2 Utilization Facility
(HYCO1/PR Newswire) HYCO1, Inc. announces that it has entered into a 20-year carbon dioxide supply agreement with Kansas Ethanol, located in Lyons, Kansas for the planned construction of the world's largest biogenic carbon dioxide utilization facility, Green Carbon Synthetics Kansas, LLC. HYCO1 is
July 19, 2023 Read Full Article
CEFC Backs New Green Hydrogen Technology Turning Waste into Super Energy
(CEFC) The CEFC is backing HydGene Renewables, a new Australian company that has developed an alternative green hydrogen solution that turns biomass into hydrogen in a process that is both renewable and carbon negative. The HydGene technique uses novel biocatalysts to convert
June 30, 2023 Read Full Article
Production and Catalytic Upgrading of 2,3-Butanediol Fermentation Broth into Sustainable Aviation Fuel Blendstock and Fuel Properties Measurement
by Martin Affandy, Cheng Zhu, Marie Swita, Beth Hofstad, Dylan Cronin, Richard Elander, and Vanessa Lebarbier Dagle (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Fuel) With the increasing demand for sustainable supplies of aviation fuel and need to address
June 14, 2023 Read Full Article
Improving Rigor and Reproducibility Can Accelerate Catalytic Research
by Cody Wrasman, Jacklyn Hall, and Josh Schaidle (ChemCatBio) Achieving the Chemical Catalysis for Bioenergy Consortium's (ChemCatBio's) mission of accelerating catalyst and process development relies on rigorously collected and reproducible catalytic data. However, the best practices for collecting, processing, and reporting catalytic
June 14, 2023 Read Full Article
After More than 15 Years, BDI’s RepCat Technology Comes of Age
by Ron Kotrba (Biobased Diesel Daily) The commissioning of three new plants in less than a handful of months marks a milestone for the decade-and-a-half-old “new” biodiesel technology. BDI-BioEnergy International, the Austrian biodiesel process-technology provider and plant builder whose pioneering achievements in
June 13, 2023 Read Full Article
Available Now! BETO 2023 Project Peer Review Presentations
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted the 2023 Project Peer Review on April 3-7, 2023, in Denver, CO. During this in-person event, more than 280 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolios presented their progress
June 02, 2023 Read Full Article
Shell Catalysts & Technologies Announces Expansion of World-Scale Facility in Port Allen
(Office of John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana) Shell Catalysts & Technologies announced a final investment decision of $121.7 million to expand its West Baton Rouge Parish facility. Improvements to the flagship plant will increase production of high-performance catalysts used
May 23, 2023 Read Full Article
Disrupting Climate Change: 13 Tech Innovators Helping to Save the Planet
by Meghan Gunn, Kerri Anne Renaulli and Ned Potter (Newsweek) ...These disruptors are pushing the boundaries of technology in creative ways to find solutions to the climate crisis and other, often related, environmental challenges. And they are often doing so
May 22, 2023 Read Full Article
Aviation Climate Task Force Issues First Research Grant to Drive More Sustainable Aviation Fuel using Direct Air Capture Technology
(Aviation Climate Taskforce (ACT)/PR Newswire) The Aviation Climate Taskforce announces today the funding of its first research grant to pioneer an innovative Direct Air Capture (DAC)-to-Jet approach—transforming conventional DAC to aviation-aligned reactive DAC by combining CO2 capture with CO2 conversion. The $400,000 grant to Susteon will be
May 17, 2023 Read Full Article
Preparing a Renewable Route to Rubber Material
(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/Phys.Org) ... Butadiene, an essential component of synthetic rubber, is currently produced by the petrochemical industry from fossil reserves. But it could be efficiently made in a one-step reaction from renewable ethanol using a modernized
April 18, 2023 Read Full Article
SAF in the Big Sky State
by Susanne Retka Schill (SAF Magazine) Calumet’s Montana Renewables has set sights on optimizing renewable jet output to be North America’s largest producer. -- As of late February, Montana Renewables LLC claims the distinction of being the largest sustainable aviation
April 12, 2023 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $14 Million to Optimize Production of Affordable Biofuels and Biochemicals DEADLINE April 21, 2023
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Department of Energy today announced $14 million in funding to support and optimize the production of affordable biofuels and biochemicals while significantly reducing carbon emissions. This funding will advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goals to address
April 06, 2023 Read Full Article
International Study Develops Ground-Breaking Method of Making Biodiesel from Dirty Old Cooking Oil
by Alan Williams (University of Plymouth) A scientist from the University of Plymouth has played a key role in new research which has developed a powerful, low-cost method for recycling used cooking oil and agricultural waste into biodiesel, and turning food
April 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Novel Catalyst for Highly Selective Photoelectroreduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethanol
by Li Yuan (Chinese Academy of Sciences/Phys.Org) Artificial photosynthesis (AP), using sunlight to produce valuable chemicals and fuels from carbon dioxide (CO2), is a promising strategy to achieve solar energy storage as well as negative carbon cycle. However, artificial photosynthesis is quite complex and
March 27, 2023 Read Full Article
Off the Ground
by Katie Schroeder (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Several alcohol-to-jet projects, partnerships and technologies have been announced in the past 18 months. Ethanol Producer Magazine checks in on each, looking at where they stand and what they might ultimately achieve. ... Multiple airlines forged
March 10, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Aether Biomaterials
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aether’s biosourced MCH is currently used today in both jet fuels and ICE fuels. MCH is the carrier compound for the Chiyoda SPERA hydrogen transport & storage system. MCH is a source of Toluene. The
March 08, 2023 Read Full Article
EU Funds New Project that Advances Environmental Benefits of LNG as Marine Fuel
(Wärtsilä/AltFuels) Coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Green Ray project has secured European Union funding to develop solutions minimizing methane slip from marine engines, advancing the environmental and climate benefits of LNG as a ship fuel. The initiative
March 03, 2023 Read Full Article
Machine Learning Model Speeds up Assessing Catalysts for Decarbonization Technology from Months to Milliseconds
by Joseph E. Harmon (Argonne National Laboratory) Scientists create computational model for identifying low-cost catalysts that convert biomass into fuels and useful chemicals with low carbon footprint. ... A major stumbling block at present is lack of effective, low-cost catalysts needed
March 01, 2023 Read Full Article
Feedstock Imperatives: What Biobased Diesel Producers Need to Know to Develop a Common-Sense Feedstock Specification.
by Christine Riedl (Biobased Diesel Daily/BDI-BioEnergy International) In the most relevant market newsletters, feedstocks like used cooking oil (UCO) or animal fats are specified by the free fatty acid (FFA) content, moisture, insoluble impurities and unsaponifiable matter (MIU), and sometimes
February 28, 2023 Read Full Article
Researchers Produce Green Hydrogen from Seawater
by Daniela Castim (World Bio Market Insights) Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia have successfully split seawater without any pre-treatment to produce green hydrogen. The international team was led by the University of Adelaide’s Professor Shizhang Qiao and Associate Professor Yao
February 22, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to SHV Energy and rDME technology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) SHV Energy is a leading global distributor of off-grid energy, such as LPG, LNG, hydrogen, bioLPG and rDME. The company serves 30 million business and residential customers in 24 countries across 4 continents. The ambition
February 15, 2023 Read Full Article
UNM to Lead Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Project for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(University of New Mexico) A project from The University of New Mexico has been selected for funding under a U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office interagency agreement with the Minority Serving Institution STEM Research & Development Consortium. Abhaya Datye, Distinguished Professor in the
January 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Researchers Capture Carbon More Effectively with New Catalyst Design
by Tyler Irving (Tech Explore/University of Toronto) A new catalyst design created by researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering could significantly improve the practicality of an electrochemical process that converts captured carbon dioxide into
January 26, 2023 Read Full Article
Evonik Integrates Alcoholates Business into Catalysts Division
(Evonik/Biobased Diesel Daily) Evonik Corp. is pooling its expertise and integrating the alcoholates business into its catalysts business line. The existing extensive portfolio of heterogeneous catalysts is thus supplemented by homogeneous catalysts. As of January, the international network of production sites
January 24, 2023 Read Full Article
Maersk Backs C1 to Make Zero-Carbon Shipping a Reality Faster – and Cheaper.
(Circular Carbon Chemistry) Berlin-based start-up found a way to mass-produce green methanol at a competitive price / Partnership with the global pioneer in decarbonisation of shipping enables faster scale and technological cooperation. The Climate tech start-up C1 has raised growth capital
January 16, 2023 Read Full Article
RUDN University Chemists Improve Ethanol Conversion Using Activated Carbon Based Supports
(Russian Foundation for Basic Research/News Wise) RUDN University chemists have improved the catalyst for ethanol conversion. With it, a mixture of compounds with a high octane number was obtained. This was achieved thanks to a special substrate for the activated carbon
January 04, 2023 Read Full Article
To Battle Climate Change, Scientists Tap into Carbon-Hungry Microorganisms for Clues
by Theresa Duque (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) New technique could fast-track future carbon-free solar fuels -- Berkeley Lab scientists have developed a nature-inspired technique for converting carbon dioxide into solar fuels. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have demonstrated
December 30, 2022 Read Full Article
New Notice of Intent for Improving Bioenergy Feedstocks and Optimizing Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced its intent to issue two funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) in early 2023. These potential FOAs, “Reducing Agricultural Carbon Intensity and Protecting Algal Crops (RACIPAC)” and the “2023
December 26, 2022 Read Full Article
International Study Develops Ground-Breaking Method of Making Biodiesel from Dirty Old Cooking Oil
(University of Plymouth) A scientist from the University of Plymouth has played a key role in new research which has developed a powerful, low-cost method for recycling used cooking oil and agricultural waste into biodiesel, and turning food scraps and
December 22, 2022 Read Full Article
$1 Million Awarded to Minority Serving Institutions for Bioenergy Research
(U.S. Department of Energy) Three projects have been selected for funding under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) interagency agreement with the Minority Serving Institution STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC). DOE has leveraged the interagency agreement to reduce barriers to entry for
December 17, 2022 Read Full Article
To Battle Climate Change, Scientists Tap into Carbon-Hungry Microorganisms for Clues
by Theresa Duque (Science Daily/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) New technique could fast-track future carbon-free solar fuels -- Scientists have demonstrated a new technique, modeled after a metabolic process found in some bacteria, to convert carbon dioxide into solar fuels through artificial
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Danish University Research Receives Funding to Produce Hydrogen from Biogas
(Bioenergy Insight) Denmark's first plant to produce hydrogen by catalytic pyrolysis of biogas is due to be ready in three years. The technology can convert carbon - captured via photosynthesis - into solid form and simultaneously produce hydrogen very energy-efficiently Carbon
December 01, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to ChemCatBio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ChemCatBio’s mission is to accelerate the catalyst and process development cycle for bioenergy applications – but how? What’s the potential impact of a billion-ton bioeconomy? What are the catalysis challenges in the conversion of biomass
November 30, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Making High-Efficiency Ethylene from CO2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In this project, researchers aim for high-efficiency electrochemical production of ethylene from CO2,. Specific in this project, they sought to design electrodes to direct the cascade reaction from CO2 to ethylene via carbon monoxide, and
November 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Consortium Formed for Developing New Process Technology to Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(OMV Group) Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) in Germany announces funding of EUR 3.1 mn for Methanol-to-SAF (M2SAF) development project; BASF, Thyssenkrupp, OMV, DLR and ASG join M2SAF consortium The strong growth of the aviation industry requires solutions to
November 18, 2022 Read Full Article
Clean Hydrogen Fuel Is Easier to Produce from Seawater with Stable Hierarchical Electrocatalysts
(King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/Phys.Org) Seawater, which comprises more than 95% of the Earth's water, could become a key resource in the sustainable production of clean hydrogen fuel with use of water-splitting catalysts developed by a KAUST-led team. Water
November 02, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Polymers for Simultaneous CO2 Capture and Conversion to Value-Added Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This Project aims to advance the Technical Readiness Level through experimental and modeling to enhance the efficiencies while assessing the TEA/LCA of a dual functional catalytic porous polymer for simultaneous capture and conversion of CO2
October 28, 2022 Read Full Article
40-Million-Euro Sustainable Kerosene Research Project CARE-O-SENE Receives Funding
(CARE-O-SENE (Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene)/Sasol/Business Wire) The international research project CARE-O-SENE (Catalyst Research for Sustainable Kerosene) was granted 30 million euros in funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Additionally, the industrial consortium partners contribute 10
October 18, 2022 Read Full Article
LanzaTech Produces Ethylene from CO2, Changing the Way We Make Products Today
(LanzaTech/Globe Newswire) Breakthrough Discovery to Replace the Barrel with Synthetic Biology, Addressing One of the Largest Carbon Emitters in the Chemical Industry -- LanzaTech NZ, Inc. (“LanzaTech”), an innovative Carbon Capture and Transformation (“CCT”) company that transforms waste carbon into materials such
October 12, 2022 Read Full Article
New BASF CircleStar™ Catalyst Decreases CO2 Footprint in the Bio-Ethylene Value Chain for Products Ranging from Jet Fuel to Plastics
(BASF) CircleStar™ improves selectivity and reduces carbon emissions by more than 10 percent; Novel geometry leads to better mass transfer and longer catalyst lifetime; CircleStar™ contributes to transformation of chemical industry to climate neutrality BASF introduces CircleStar™, an innovative dehydration catalyst
October 11, 2022 Read Full Article
Honeywell to Make Lower-Carbon Aviation Fuel from Ethanol
by Stephanie Kelly (Reuters) Tech firm Honeywell International Inc (HON.O) will roll out technology that could increase supplies of lower-carbon aviation fuel produced from ethanol, the company said Monday, as the Biden administration calls for the aviation industry to reduce emissions. Honeywell's technology can increase production
October 10, 2022 Read Full Article
PNNL Team Recognized with ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry
by Mary Ann Showalter (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced that development of a catalytic process and catalyst to create sustainable aviation fuel is receiving the 2023 ACS Award for Affordable Green Chemistry. The team named in the
September 30, 2022 Read Full Article
New Catalyst Offers a More Affordable Way to Produce Hydrogen from Seawater
by Jeannie Kever (University of Houston) Researchers Discover a Single Catalyst Capable of Splitting Both Freshwater and Seawater at Low Voltage -- Hydrogen has drawn attention in recent years as a potential source of clean energy because it burns without producing
September 28, 2022 Read Full Article
Catalytic Process with Lignin Could Enable 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory/Biobased Diesel Daily) An underutilized natural resource could be just what the airline industry needs to curb carbon emissions. Researchers at three institutions—the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Washington State University—report success
September 28, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalyst Deactivation Mitigation for Biomass Conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As we observed once here in Digestville, biomass is where catalysts go to die. How can we change that? Providing fundamental insight and actionable recommendations for extending catalyst lifetime in biomass catalytic conversion by a collective and
September 22, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Catalyst Synthesis and Characterization
by Jim Lane (Biofuel Digest) Accelerated catalyst and process development cycle enabling demonstrated performance enhancements in half the time. That’s the bold goal of a DOE project aimed at providing a fundamental insight leading to actionable recommendations for critical catalysis challenges by
September 19, 2022 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Catalytic Upgrading of Pyrolysis Vapors
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Catalytic fast pyrolysis is a versatile technology pathway for the direct liquefaction of biomass and waste carbon sources. In this slide deck from NREL’s Mike Griffin, we explore the Potential for high carbon yields to
September 15, 2022 Read Full Article
Direct Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Bulk Chemicals and Liquid Fuels
(Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences) High-efficiency utilization of CO2 facilitates the reduction of CO2 concentration in the global atmosphere and hence the alleviation of the greenhouse effect. The chemical utilization of CO2, which refers to converting CO2 into value-added chemicals and
September 09, 2022 Read Full Article
One-Step Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil Using CaO Promoted Activated Carbon Catalyst from Prunus persica Seeds
by Ayesha Hameed,Salman Raza Naqvi, Umair Sikandar and Wei-Hsin Chen (MDPI Special Issue Catalysts for Biofuel and Bioenergy Production) In recent years, the scope for replacing fossil fuels has been appealing to the world, owing to limited conventional fuels, crude
September 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Green Plains, Tallgrass and PNNL Awarded DOE Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology
(Green Plains) Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE), Tallgrass, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) today announced they have been awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology as part of the federal agency’s effort
September 06, 2022 Read Full Article
Easing Pain at the Pump with Food Waste: New Method for Making Biodiesel Fuel
by Jack Levy (Worcester Polytechnic Institute/ Phys.Org) ... To make the fuel, the researchers employed a process called hydrothermal liquefaction, which uses heat and water to break down the food waste into a liquid. It's a method that has been used
September 02, 2022 Read Full Article
Department of Energy Announces $29.5 Million for Improved Bioenergy Resource Recovery and Conversion Systems
( U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $29.5 million to 15 projects to improve the current science and infrastructure for utilizing waste streams, often disproportionately located in underserved communities, and support the development of improved organisms and
August 31, 2022 Read Full Article
2021 Project Peer Review Report
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) hosted its virtual 2021 Project Peer Review on March 8‒12, 15‒16, and 22‒26, 2021. During the event, 271 projects in BETO’s research portfolio were presented, representing a total
August 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Scientists Create a New Catalyst for 'Green' Biodiesel
( The National University of Science and Technology MISIS/Tech Xplore) An effective industrial catalyst for the faster production of biofuels at low temperatures has been synthesized by an international scientific team with the participation of scientists from MISIS University. The
August 29, 2022 Read Full Article
Producing Biodiesel from Palm Kernel Shells
by Reginald Davey (AZO Materials) A new paper appearing in the journal Environmental Research has explored the production of biodiesel from palm kernel shells, an agricultural waste stream. Scientists from Malaysia, Brunei, and Oman have contributed to the research. ... ... Palm
August 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Chung-Ang University Researchers Develop Novel Heterostructure Catalyst for Effective Hydrogen Generation from Water Splitting
(Chung-Ang University) The new catalyst improves the efficiency of hydrogen production from water splitting without incurring high costs -- Hydrogen, a clean fuel, can be produced sustainably by electrocatalytic water splitting, a process where the water molecule is split into oxygen and
July 28, 2022 Read Full Article
UW-Madison Alternative Fuels Researcher Applies for Corn-to-Diesel Patent
by Jason Calvi (FOX 6 Milwaukee) ... Inside University of Wisconsin-Madison labs, there is a possible breakthrough, something for which UW is seeking a patent. ... "It’s got to be a reality. It’s the only option we have. Because we know some day
July 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Overcoming the Toughest Catalyst Challenges in the Bioeconomy: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to LEC
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Terry Mazanec from Lee Enterprises Consulting takes us on a journey through the toughest catalyst challenges in the bioeconomy and, most importantly, how to overcome them. From feedstock consistency and availability to substrate intransigence and
June 30, 2022 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil Methanol to Jet Technology to Provide New Route for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
(ExxonMobil/Business Wire) ExxonMobil today announced a unique process technology to enable the manufacture of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from renewable methanol. ExxonMobil is focused on growing its lower-emission fuels business by leveraging technology and infrastructure. ExxonMobil is engineering proprietary methanol to
June 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Catalytic Conversion of Biomass-Derived Resources into Biodiesel
(Biofuels International) The emergence of biodiesel as an alternative fuel substitute for traditional petroleum-based fuels has changed the way the country produces energy. Biomass is one of the most abundant renewable resources and therefore has led to much attention and research
June 16, 2022 Read Full Article
New Artificial Enzyme Breaks Down Tough, Woody Lignin
(Science Daily/DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Study shows promise for developing a new renewable energy source -- An innovative artificial enzyme has shown it can chew through woody lignin, an abundant carbon-based substance that stores tremendous potential for renewable energy and
June 01, 2022 Read Full Article
International Consortium to Advance Decarbonization of Aviation Sector
(Sasol/Biobased Diesel Daily) Sasol and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin will lead a consortium to develop and optimize next-generation catalysts that will play a key role in decarbonizing the aviation sector through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). At a ceremony at Sasol’s global headquarters in Johannesburg
May 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Illinois Tech Researchers Awarded Grant to Scale Up Innovative Carbon Capture and Conversion Process at the Source
(Illinois Institute of Technology) A team of Illinois Institute of Technology researchers received a grant from ARPA-E to scale up an innovative process of carbon capture and conversion directly from exhaust gas sources such as power plants and industrial sites
April 21, 2022 Read Full Article
Start-up C1: With Quantum Chemistry and Prominent Investors to Green Methanol
(C1) ... The first chemical process that C1 has developed using its technology platform is a much more efficient and sustainable process for producing methanol. The alcohol has been an important basic material in the chemical industry since the beginning of
April 12, 2022 Read Full Article
Catalyst Design to Direct High-Octane Gasoline Fuel Properties for Improved Engine Efficiency
Connor P.Nash, Daniel P.Dupuis, AnuragKumar, Carrie A.Farberow, Anh T.To, CeYang, Evan C.Wegener, Jeffrey T.Miller, Kinga A.Unocic, EarlChristensen, Jesse E.Hensley, Joshua A.Schaidle, Susan E.Habas, Daniel A.Ruddy (Applied Catalysis B: Environmental) Paraffin-to-olefin ratio (P/O) affects the principal gasoline fuel properties. Cu-Zn/BEA catalyst yielded
April 11, 2022 Read Full Article
ChemCatBio Director Presents at ABLC 2022
(U.S. Department of Energy) Director Josh Schaidle gave a presentation on ChemCatBio during the “Catalyst and Catalytic Upgrading” panel of the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC) 2022 summit, which was held March 16–18 in Washington, D.C. View Director Schaidle’s presentation
April 11, 2022 Read Full Article
A More Efficient Path to Green Production of Bio-Derived Chemicals and Fuels
(Lehigh University) Researchers discover an enhanced reaction rate when gold and palladium nanoparticles are placed on a conductive support. -- A bimetallic catalysis technique using gold and palladium nanoparticles on a conductive support has been pioneered by researchers from Lehigh
April 08, 2022 Read Full Article
The Race to Upcycle CO2 into Fuels, Concrete and More
by Mark Peplow (Nature) Companies are scrambling to turn the greenhouse gas into useful products — but will that slow climate change? -- Tongyezhen is a town with coal in its bones. ... But later this year, a chemical plant
April 06, 2022 Read Full Article
New Perspective Highlights Promise of Hybrid Approach for Cellulosic Biofuel Production
by S. Heather Duncan (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Scientists with the Center for Bioenergy Innovation at ORNL highlighted a hybrid approach that uses microbes and catalysis to convert cellulosic biomass into fuels suitable for aviation and other difficult-to-electrify sectors. -- The
March 31, 2022 Read Full Article
Artificial Photosynthesis: The Ultimate Renewable Tech
(Bio Market Insights) Around 3.5 billion years ago, plants became able to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy. Researchers in the field of artificial photosynthesis are figuring out how humans could do the same. Plant photosynthesis consists of three steps. First,
March 30, 2022 Read Full Article
A New, Sustainable Way to Make Hydrogen for Fuel Cells and Fertilizers
(RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science) A new sustainable and practical method for producing hydrogen from water has been discovered by a team of researchers at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan led by Ryuhei Nakamura. Unlike
March 30, 2022 Read Full Article
New, Nature-Inspired Concepts for Turning CO2 into Clean Fuels
(University of Cambridge) Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste. -- Instead of capturing and storing CO2, which is incredibly energy-intensive, we have demonstrated a new concept
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
New Bioprocesses for Lignin Valorization: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biological Lignin Work
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) NREL is focusing on commodity productswith sufficient market sizes to aid biofuels production (e.g., adipic acid), working with Lignin Util. & SepConfor lignin substrates, and developing innovative biocatalysts and bioprocesses for lignin valorization. Get all
March 25, 2022 Read Full Article
Novel Funding Model Provides Researchers Support to Produce SAF from Timber Byproduct
by David Melanson (UK CAER/Biobased Diesel Daily) ... Biofuels researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research recently received funding from OUR&D, a unique grassroots not-for-profit organization based in Denver, Colorado, that is seeking to supplement the current
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Greener Biofuel Production Beckons
(Chemical Processing) Novel electrocatalyst-based system operates at mild conditions and produces hydrogen -- A research team at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., has developed a patent-pending system that uses a flow cell bioreactor to turn carbon previously
March 24, 2022 Read Full Article
Competitive Edge: EDIOL, LLC’s Catalyst Tech
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Instead of focusing on thermochemical conversions, my company developed the world’s first true catalyst for fluid cat cracking woody biomass into pure liquid hydrocarbons and bioplastic resins. Cellulose and semi-cellulose are directly converted into Iso
February 04, 2022 Read Full Article
Researchers Develop Pb1Cu Catalyst for CO2-to-formate Conversion
by TU Bingxin (University of Science and Technology of China) A research team led by Prof. ZENG Jie from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), and their collaborators, realized highly selective CO2-to-formate conversion via Pb1Cu catalyst. The study was published in Nature Nanotechnology. Converting CO2 into