by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Paper sludge typically taken to landfills (50%), incinerated (20%) or spread on land as soil enhancement (10%). In total, there’s 8 million wet tonnes (4MT dry) of paper sludge that costs $240 million each year to
enzymatic hydrolysis
Back TO HOMEAtlantic Biomass Receives Nearly $200,000 US Department of Energy Funding for Biofuel Development
(Atlantic Biomass) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Atlantic Biomass a $184,000 grant for ”Low-Cost Production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) from Perennial Feedstocks using Simultaneous Ball Milling and Enzyme Hydrolysis.” Work on this project will be performed by
July 22, 2024 Read Full Article
BETO Selects 13 Small Businesses to Develop Innovative Bio-Based Products and Biomass Processing Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced awards for the FY24 Phase I Release 2 of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Across DOE, 229 projects in 39 states received $52 million to pursue
July 18, 2024 Read Full Article
Obtaining Hydrogen from Vine Shoots for Biofuel Production
(Fundación Descubre/Phys.Org) A research team from the universities of Jaén and São Paulo in Brazil has confirmed that hydrogen can be obtained from vine shoots through a process that does not require fossil fuels and does not emit pollutants. With their
January 16, 2024 Read Full Article
Biofuels Hold Promise as Alternative to Fossil Fuels
by Pitambara and Bishwa Bhaskar Choudhary (The Tribune) The govt should consider making a budgetary allocation to implement measures to promote wasteland for the cultivation of energy crops and impart technical know-how to farmers. Increasing the allocation and extending the term
October 16, 2023 Read Full Article
Novozymes & Fibenol Have Entered a Commercial Partnership to Demonstrate Lignocellulosic Biorefining on an Industrial Scale
(Fibenol) Due to their abundance worldwide, lignocellulosic residues have an enormous potential to substitute petrochemicals with bio-based alternatives. However, efficient cellulose degradation into sugars has long been an obstacle to the wider spread of lignocellulosic biorefineries. Now, the tide seems to
April 26, 2023 Read Full Article
From Concept to Commercialization: NREL’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels Program
by Zia Abdullah (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory supports the U.S. DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office with fundamental and applied research, development, and deployment (RD&D) designed to advance technologies to produce biobased energy, fuels, chemicals and products
April 21, 2023 Read Full Article
DOE Helps Industry Leverage Bioenergy Feedstock Expertise DEADLINE April 14, 2023
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has launched an initiative that aims to help industry and universities leverage the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium’s capabilities to help solve real-world problems that the bioenergy and bioproduct
April 10, 2023 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2023 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Biorefineries, the Future of the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) All the developed and even now developing nations are working hard on Net Zero ambitions and timelines now — India has a goal to reduce 1 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2030 and drop
February 10, 2023 Read Full Article
The Caribbean Is Swimming in Seaweed. Scientists Aim to Turn It into Jet Fuel and Batteries
by Erik F. Ringle (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Backed by U.S. Department of Energy Funding, New R&D Could Help Seed a Uniquely Caribbean Bioeconomy -- ... Kruger (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researcher Jacob Kruger) may be unable to eliminate the
December 19, 2022 Read Full Article
ROBIN Debuts THE CLARIANT CHANNEL
(Biofuels Digest) Now on ROBIN, up to the minute video and presentations, events and background from Europe's dominant player in 2G ethanol and in many chemicals markets. All content is available on THE CLARIANT CHANNEL, part of your ROBIN streaming
August 26, 2022 Read Full Article
Southwest Airlines Invests in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Pilot Project Supported by the Department of Energy
(Southwest Airlines/PR Newswire) Carrier's first-of-its-kind investment supports the development of technology intended to commercialize sustainable aviation fuel -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) ("Southwest" or the "Company") today announces an investment into SAFFiRE Renewables, LLC (SAFFiRE), a company formed by D3MAX, LLC
June 01, 2022 Read Full Article
Renewable Fuels, Monomers, Carbon Sourcing: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to Axens
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a difference between renewable carbon and circular carbon, as noted in this illuminating ABLC slide guide from Axens. How does their circular carbon tech work? Who are they partnering with? How are they accelerating
April 07, 2022 Read Full Article
Biogas Biorefineries: The Digest’s 2022 Multi-Slide Guide to USDA’s Biogas, RNG Opportunities
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Dairies, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, food processing plants…wherever there’s biomass, there’s potential for biogas and renewable natural gas. Check out this illuminating slide guide from William Orts at the USDA Western Regional Research Center in
February 11, 2022 Read Full Article
The Key to a Successful Cellulosic Ethanol Project
by Mallikarjun Navalgund (Praj Industries/Biofuels Digest) ... Ethanol is a currently available solution and is being deployed to mitigate emissions from the transportation sector via the legacy energy infrastructure that has existed for over a century. The first generation(1G)/conventional ethanol industry
December 29, 2021 Read Full Article
Enzyme from Amazon Fungus Could Enhance Efficiency of Second-Generation Ethanol Production
by Maria Fernanda Ziegler (Agência FAPESP) Researchers at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil have found an enzyme from the Amazon fungus Trichoderma harzianum to be capable of breaking down biomass. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma are present
August 11, 2021 Read Full Article
Enzymatic Depolymerization, Catalysts, Reactive Extrusion: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Circular Plastics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Enymatic hydrolysis, thermomechanical pretreatment, bioconversion and other ways to recycle plastic waste can change the way we look at plastics and polymers. Check out this illuminating slide guide from the University of Massachusetts on waste-to-energy,
April 30, 2021 Read Full Article
Biomass to Sugar Conversion Mechanisms: The Digest’s 2021 Multi-Slide Guide to Pretreatment and Enzymes for Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Get the latest on thermochemical pretreatment and enzymatic reactions for biofuels and biochemicals production from Rajesh Gupta from Lee Enterprises Consulting in this illuminating slide guide. From lignocellulosic and algal biomass, comparison of popular pretreatment
April 21, 2021 Read Full Article
Waste Not, Want Not: INL Studies Potential of Municipal Solid Waste for Biofuels
by J. Richard Hess (Idaho National Laboratory) ...Even though MSW (municipal solid waste) has great potential, not much was known about the cost and quality of feedstocks that could be derived from MSW or MSW blends for fuel production. In
October 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Dual-Purpose Hemp Cultivars Have Best Biofuel Potential
by Katie Pratt (University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment) Dual-purpose industrial hemp cultivars show the best potential for coproduction of biofuel and bioproducts, according to University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment study. In the study led
August 14, 2020 Read Full Article
SAF Trends for 2020 and Beyond: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Sustainable Aviation Fuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s making what, how, where and when? Find out why there are a zillian paths to sustainable aviation fuels and take a look at The Digest’s latest slide guide from last week’s DigestConnect webinar to
June 15, 2020 Read Full Article
Positive Results Achieved from NREL's Use of Industry-Relevant Ozone Treatment to Deconstruct Biomass
by Zia Abdullah (U.S. Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Achieves high sugar yields with low enzyme loadings; Deconstructing Biomass with a Common Pulp and Paper Industry Method -- Ozone treatment (aka "ozonolysis") of lignocellulose pulp is a widely practiced method for
May 26, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA Issues Final Rule for Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service published a final rule for the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program on Dec. 27. The program provides quarterly payments to producers of eligible advanced biofuels. To be eligible for payments, the advanced
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Renewable Natural Gas Dominates Cellulosic Biofuels: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Iogen’s Cellulosic Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iogen is one of the top 5 registered producers of cellulosic biofuel in the U.S. and say that renewable natural gas dominates the commercial cellulosic biofuel business and that the market is more than just the
December 24, 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
Biofuels Production and Consumption in Denmark: Status, Advances and Challenges
by Sune Tjalfe Thomsen and Henning Jørgensen (IEA Bioenergy Task 39 Newsletter) 1. Status of transportation biofuel industry in Denmark -- In Denmark, a considerable part of the total energy demand is derived from renewable sources. In 2017, 26% of
December 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Vegan Renewable Diesel, Futurol Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Axens’ Fuel Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Axens Solutions is covering the entire project development cycle and working on things like BioTfuel and Vegan which are renewable diesel and jet fuels, Futurol, a cellulosic ethanol using biomass enzymatic fermentation, Atol made from
August 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Modified Enzyme Can Increase Second-Generation Ethanol Production
by Elton Alisson (FAPESP/Phys.Org) A group of researchers at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), working in partnership with colleagues at the Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR) in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil, have discovered that Trichoderma harzianum, a fungus found in the
June 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Development of Novel Processes for the Aqueous Extraction of Natural Rubber from Taraxacum kok‐saghyz (TK)
by David A Ramirez‐Cadavid, Katrina Cornish, Upul Hathwaik, Robert Kozak, Colleen McMahan and Frederick C Michel Jr. (Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology) Taraxacum kok‐saghyz (TK) is a rubber‐producing plant being developed as a commercial alternative source of natural rubber (NR). The
May 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Indian Perspective on Bioenergy: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to IndianOil Corp.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IndianOil has a 33,000-plus work-force, extensive refining, distribution & marketing infrastructure and advanced R&D facilities. In the country’s pursuit of alternative sources of energy, IndianOil is focusing on CNG (compressed natural gas), Autogas (LPG), ethanol blended
May 15, 2019 Read Full Article
All About the Enzymes: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to METGEN
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) METGEN designs and markets novel enzymatic solutions for challenging and large industry sectors to meet specific customer needs. MetGen’s enzymes – MetZyme – are industrial, highly-active, natural catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions. They can survive in
April 25, 2019 Read Full Article
CENER is Developing Technology for Future Urban Biorefineries, to Move towards a Circular Bioeconomy
(Bio-based News) CENER is involved in 4 specific initiatives, in order to develop the most adequate management and valorization routes of different urban biowastes -- The Biomass Department of CENER (National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain) is convinced of the need to
April 17, 2019 Read Full Article
From Bioenergy to Bioproducts: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to JBEI
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Joint BioEnergy Institute is a U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Center dedicated to developing advanced biofuels—liquid fuels derived from the solar energy stored in plant biomass that can replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuels. Inside
April 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Commercialization: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Cellulosic Ethanol
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Douglas B. Rivers, PhD,from Sunflwr Consulting and a member of Lee Enterprises Consulting offers this illuminating overview and more READ MORE
February 28, 2019 Read Full Article
5 Minutes With… Dhivya Puri, Senior Technical Lead at Fiberight.
by Dave Songer (Bio-Based World News) “The milestones and professional growth I've achieved in this role are above and beyond what I could have accomplished in academia within the same time frame.” Fiberight is a UK- and US-based small and medium-sized enterprise
July 06, 2018 Read Full Article
The Carbon Rescuers: 20 Top Waste Projects and Breakthroughs that Capture Used Carbon from the Waste Pile for New Uses
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In these top 20 projects, we usually say that we are using waste, but really we are converting something from a state of waste to a state of value — and that’s not just good for
June 05, 2018 Read Full Article
India’s Biofuels Horizons: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Praj is an India-based process solutions specialist with continued leadership in ethanol & brewery space over many years — aiming to emerge as a significant water company within 5 years. The company is expanding its new
April 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Research Shows How Genetics Can Contribute for Advances in 2G Ethanol Production
(FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO/EurekAlert!) The study focused three fungi species which produce enzymes with application in biomass degradation; scientists in Brazil reveal how these substances are regulated and how they can interact synergically. Production of second-generation
April 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Industrial Sugars from Waste: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Comet Biorefining
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earlier this month, we reported that Comet Biorefining had successfully closed an investment round to fund its proposed cellulosic sugar production facility using stover and wheat straw as feedstock. PM Equity Parnership, the corporate venture and private
March 27, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Cost Sugars and Lignin Streams: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Pretreatment and Process Hydrolysis
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) According to this presentation deck from NREL’s Melvin Tucker, “to produce high concentration sugar and reactive lignin streams at high yields and low costs from biomass to meet BETO’s 2017 ($5/GGE) and 2022 ($3/GGE) Goals and Targets,
February 20, 2017 Read Full Article
Low Cost Cellulosic Sugars, Hydrogen: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Electrosep
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amidst all the discussion this week of deal-making in cellulosic and sugar-based fuels — the likes of Tesoro-Virent and Lufthansa-Gevo — we were intrigued by this slide deck on a pathway to low-cost cellulosic sugars and
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol, What Happened, What’s Happening?
by Irshad Ahmed (Lee Enterprises) ... I believe cellulosic ethanol is here to stay for the long haul and it is finally exhibiting real potential to establish a critical-mass commercial base alongside the corn-ethanol industry. Its commercial success will come from the
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Better Use of Entire Biomass of Willow
(Phys.Org/VTT Technical Research Center of Finland) VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto University investigated how willow biomass can be utilised more efficiently. When processed correctly, willow is eminently suitable as a source of sugar in the production of
March 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Biomass Supply Chain Trade-Offs: Basis for Successful Bioenergy Businesses
by Rajdeep Golech (Biomass Magazine) Feedstock sourcing is a critical aspect in the development of cellulosic biofuel businesses. -- Emphasis toward greenhouse gas reduction and massive availability of agriculture and forest residue has led to an increased interest in converting
January 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Ionic Liquid Pretreatment: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) JBEI has opened up the licensing door for some of their signature ionic liquid pre-treatment technologies: Long Alkyl Chain Alcohols as Co-solvent, Precipitant, and Extraction Medium in Ionic Liquid Pretreatment (2013-105), a cost-effective and efficient process to
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Feedstocks, Techniques, and Enzymes: The Critical Trio in Any Cellulosic Ethanol Project
(Global BioBusiness) It may be surprising to know that, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as “cellulosic ethanol”. Instead, there is cellulosic “sugars”. That because it is often forgotten that the cellulosic process (also called “2nd generation”) creates glucose,
December 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol Prospects Boosted by Research
(The Crop Site) US - The potential for producing cost-effective cellulosic ethanol that uses plentiful and sustainable cellulosic plant biomass continues to grow, thanks to research at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
Abengoa Celebrates Grand Opening of Its First Commercial-Scale Next Generation Biofuels Plant
(Abengoa/GlobeNewswire) U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas Senator Pat Roberts offer remarks during on-site event commemorating landmark occasion for advanced biofuels industry. Abengoa's proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology turns crop residue (stalks, stems and leaves)
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
POET-DSM’s Project LIBERTY Opens, as Fantasy Becomes Real
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) POET-DSM’s 20 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant opens with hoopla, and heartfelt messages about the spirit of innovation, and a time for technology change and policy firmness. “Once, we all lived off the land, sun, wind
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Questions and Answers on the Outcome of the Second Call for Proposals under the NER 300 Programme
(Europa.EU) ... NER 300 is one of the world's largest funding programmes for innovative low-carbon energy demonstration projects. The programme aims to successfully demonstrate environmentally safe carbon capture and storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy (RES) technologies on a commercial scale
July 10, 2014 Read Full Article
Patriot Renewable Fuels Hires Leifmark to Plan First Stage of Major US Cellulosic Ethanol Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Inbicon technology planned as centerpiece of low-carbon, high-profit platform: “Patriot will lead the way.” In Illinois, Patriot Renewable Fuels announced that Leifmark has been hired to create a custom Project Definition, the first stage of a
May 27, 2014 Read Full Article
Special EU Biofuels Report: The Top 10 Stories of the Year, and More
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The technology is there. Demand for alternative fuels, chemicals and materials is there. Feedstock is expensive. In so many of the signature developments announced around the world this year, there’s been an EU technology in
December 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Scale-up and Evaluation of High Solid Ionic Liquid Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Switchgrass
by Chenlin Li, Deepti Tanjore, Wei He, Jessica Wong, James L Gardner, Kenneth L Sale, Blake A Simmons and Seema Singh (Biotechnology for Biofuels) Ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment is receiving significant attention as a potential process that enables fractionation of lignocellulosic
December 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest’s 5-Minute Guide to Loan Guarantees: Who Got ‘Em, What’re They Doing?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In today’s Digest – visit our 5-Minute Guide to Loan Guarantees — INEOS Bio, Myriant, Sapphire Energy, Abengoa, Chemtex, Enerkem, Fiberight, Fulcrum, ZeaChem – Plus POET-DSM, Diamond Green Diesel, Coskata and Range Fuels Projects open for business INEOS Bio ... Myriant ... Sapphire
July 30, 2013 Read Full Article
12 Bellwether Biofuels Projects – Where Do They Stand?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced biofuels – mirage or reality? In January we wrote: “When these 12 projects open for business (or not) in 2013, you’ll know for sure.” So, what do we know? ... We identified 12 “Bellwether projects” in
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Agronomists and Admirals: Looking back at ABLC 2013
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James and Associates/Biofuels Digest) ...There is no question that there have been growing pains along the way, more than we would have hoped, but the industry continues along its trajectory towards scale. We expect 2013 to be a
April 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Abengoa Begins Operating the First Demonstration Plant Using Waste-to-Biofuels Technology
(ENP Newswire/Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production) Abengoa (MCE: ABG.B), the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has started operations at the demonstration plant that uses waste-to-biofuels technology. The plant has a
April 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Biorefinery 2015 – The Shape of Advanced Biofuels to Come – Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Today in part II, we look at a new set of technologies coming along that are redefining our ideas about scale and cost. ... A barrier to long term deployment? The $11 per gallon average capital
March 26, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuels in the US: How Much and How Soon? 2014′s Terrific Ten
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Although no commercial-scale cellulosic biofuels facilities are operating in the United States at present, at least ten projects exceeding 20 million gallons per year are expected to begin operations by 2014. Tristan R. Brown and Robert
March 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Davy Process Technology Ltd and SEKAB E-Technology Form Strategic Partnership
(SEKAB/Davy Process Technology) Davy Process Technology Limited (Davy), a Johnson Matthey company, andSEKAB, a leading player in the field of the ethanol based chemicals and biofuels, today announced at World Biofuels Markets that they are embarking on a collaboration to
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Recent Advancements in Various Steps of Ethanol, Butanol, and Isobutanol Productions from Woody Materials
by Pedram Fatehi (Biotechnology Progress) In this review, the recent advancements and technical challenges associated with the production of ethanol, butanol, and isobutanol via bioconversion routes from celluloses of woody materials are reviewed. Physicochemical processes, e.g. steam explosion, seem to be
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Aviation’s Declan Ryan Invests in Irish Algae-Based Fuels Venture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Ireland, former Ryanair CEO Declan Ryan has joined investors in backing Aer Sustainable Energy Ltd, better known as Aer Bio. He was a director of Ryanair Holdings from August 1986 until 2004, holding several
January 28, 2013 Read Full Article
The Sherpas: 7 Biofuels Feedstock Developers Clearing Paths to the Summit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Every great biofuels technology has its own companion feedstock strategy – with unique advantages and technical challenges. Who’s got what it takes to be a great Sherpa, providing that feedstock or intermediates edge that puts
October 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Enzymatic Digestibility of Corn Stover Fractions in Response to Fungal Pretreatment
by Zhifang Cui, Caixia Wan, Jian Shi, Robert W. Sykes, and Yebo Li (Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research) Corn stover fractions (leaves, cobs, and stalks) were studied for enzymatic digestibility after pretreatment with a white rot fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Among the three fractions, leaves had the least
September 14, 2012 Read Full Article
International Cooperation to Develop Global Bioenergy Capacity: How Global Partnerships Are Clearing the Way to Achieve America's RFS2 Goals
by Thomas Corle (Leifmark LLC, Inbicon Technology Marketing Partner) Opening his presentation with imposing nature images of pristine beauty, Corle's presentation lays Denmark's aspirations on the table - to move from 2006's 15/85 (CO2 emission) to 85/15 (CO2 neutral) in
August 15, 2012 Read Full Article
Cheaper Chemicals from Algae, Farms, and Forests
(Business Wire/Lux Research) Harvesting Technologies Can Cut Feedstock Costs by $25 per Ton, says Lux Research. The bio-based materials and chemicals industry needs to tap newer, non-food sources of biomass and cellulosic material and raise volumes of feedstock before it can
August 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Sunliquid Cellulose Ethanol Process Reaches Demo Scale in Germany
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant is now operating its demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Straubing, Germany. With an annual capacity of up to 1,000 tons (330,000 MMgy), the demonstration facility is scaling up the
July 31, 2012 Read Full Article
The Hot Zone: Thermocatalytic Biofuels Projects Are Going South – Here’s Who and Why
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...With the coming of advanced bioprocessing, the picture of opportunity has radically changed and the Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest, in particular, have been assessing their opportunities and attracting projects. ...But in the Southeast, there’s been a
June 11, 2012 Read Full Article
DSM Enzymes for Cellulosic Ethanol Qualified by DONG Energy
(DSM) Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, has been qualified as supplier of enzymes for DONG Energy - Inbicon’s wheat straw to cellulosic ethanol process. The enzymes have been successfully used in the demonstration scale biorefinery
June 06, 2012 Read Full Article
No Project Is an Island: Four Crucial Milestones for Advanced Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Four projects, four technologies, four feedstocks, four geographies. Couldn’t be more differentiated, couldn’t be more linked in terms of affirming investor confidence in advanced biofuels. ...Virent CEO Lee Edwards... outlined four basic industry goals for 2012-13 that
April 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Steel in the Ground: The Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plants in the World Are Ready to Prove Their Mettle
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Guido Ghisolfi is a confident man. A chemical engineer by trade, at 55, he’s already spent three decades leading research and development (R&D) activities at Italy-based Mossi & Ghisolfi Group, a $3 billion per
April 16, 2012 Read Full Article
The Distributed/Centralized BioProduction Approach: Sustainable Biofuels and Bioproducts Are Possible Through the Significant Reduction of Biomass Transportation Costs
by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) Problem Definition: The production of biofuels in the US is at a substantial roadblock. Due to the high cost of transporting large quantities of low density, low value biomass to biorefineries, the economies of
March 27, 2012 Read Full Article
What is Cellulosic Ethanol? The Future Fuel
(EcoGreen4US) ... Cellulosic ethanol is produced from plant fibre which is widely available almost anywhere in the world. Today, producing cellulosic ethanol is not in a laboratory anymore. A number ofmanufacturing plants around the world have been producing cellulosic ethanol asalternative to diesel and gasoline orpetrol. Some of the plant fibres which have been studied could be
January 30, 2012 Read Full Article
POET, DSM Form Landmark Cellulosic Ethanol Joint Venture
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Two titans form a monster JV, starting out with a $250M investment. ...In Iowa, Poet has teamed with Dutch-based Royal DSM to create a 50/50 joint venture called Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels that will produce cellulosic ethanol and license
January 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Abengoa Selected by the Brazilian Development Bank to Develop a Second Generation Ethanol Plant in Brazil Based on Sugar Cane
(Abengoa) Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, has been selected by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and FINEP, the promotion and investment agency for studies and projects, to
January 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Gen2 Biofuel Feedstocks: The Coming Surge in Energy Crops and Cellulosic Sugars
by Pavel Molchanov (Raymond James) As energy investors know well, it is much better to own the oil than to refine it. In other words, the bulk of the value is in the upstream of the value chain. Next-generation (Gen2) biofuels
January 12, 2012 Read Full Article
DOE Finalizes $132 Million Loan Guarantee to Support the Abengoa Bioenergy Project
(US Department of Energy) Groundbreaking Cellulosic Ethanol Project Expected to Fund Over 300 Jobs and Build Nation’s Capacity for Cellulosic Ethanol Production U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department finalized a $132.4 million loan guarantee to Abengoa Bioenergy
September 30, 2011 Read Full Article
COFCO Accelerating Construction of Cellulosic Ethanol Producion Line
(SBWire) COFCO's first phase of the cellulosic ethanol production line will lay a foundation in Zhaodong, in December 2011. The first phase of the cellulosic ethanol production line with capacity of 50,000t/a in COFCO Corporation (COFCO) will lay a foundation
September 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Abengoa Announces DOE Offer of Conditional Commitment for $133.9 Million Loan Guarantee to Build Inaugural Biomass Plant in United States
(Abengoa/PR NewsWire) Abengoa today announced that its subsidiary, Abengoa Bioenergy, has been selected by the US Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office to receive an offer of a conditional commitment for a $133.9 million federal loan guarantee for the construction of
August 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Sud-Chemie Breaks Ground on German Wheat Straw-to-Ethanol Plant
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) German-based international specialty chemicals company Süd-Chemie AG held a groundbreaking July 26 for a 1,000 ton-per-year, demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Straubing, located in the Lower Bavaria region. The plant, which is expected begin
August 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Is China for You? Part II: The Resources and Investor Perspective
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The drivers for biofuels and cleantech as a whole? According to the 2010 China Statistical Yearbook, from 2005 to 2009 the gross domestic product of China grew at a compound annual growth rate of 16.5%
July 25, 2011 Read Full Article
Virent Makes Gasoline from Cellulosic Biomas
(Virent) Biofuels Pioneer Converts Corn Stover and Loblolly Pine Into BioFormate™ Gasoline with Molecular Composition Similar to Gasoline Derived from Fossil Fuels Virent announced it has successfully produced biogasoline from corn stover and pine harvest forest residuals, as a recipient of the U.S.
June 03, 2011 Read Full Article
National Advanced Biofuels Consortium: How Biomass Fits into the Petroleum Infrastructure
(National Advanced Biofuels Consortium) This 55-slide presentation from a National Advanced Biofuels Consortium Webinar describes the organization and work of the consortium using many valuable charts, graphs and illustrations, including those that depict existing infrastructure. One of the most useful illustrations
May 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Mission Mode Programme on Biofuels and Bioenergy
(India.gov.in) The Department of Biotechnology has launched a mission programme on biofuel from biomass. The thrust is on developing ethanol using Lignocellulosic waste as a raw material, identifying recombinant microbial strains for enhanced ethanol recovery, producing high quality raw material
April 29, 2011 Read Full Article
MHI Establishes Technology to Produce Biofuel Locally at Low Cost from Rice and Barley Straws
(JapanCorp.net) Project to Make Efficient Use of Soft Cellulose Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has successfully established technology to produce ethanol for automobile fuel, satisfying the standards of the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO), from lignocellulose (soft cellulose) such as rice
April 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Fuel and Animal Feed Both Produced from Advanced Biofuel Biomass: The New Biofuel Paradigm
By Robert Kozak (Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc.) Worldwide Importance of Protein Animal Feed When I began working with sugar beet processors on our beet pulp biofuel sugar process, one of their first questions was, “Will there still be pulp available to
April 17, 2011 Read Full Article
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Looks to Expand Biofuels Partnerships
by Heather Lammers (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The scenario for your business dream plays out like this. You have an idea to make a fuel from biomass using a biochemical conversion processes. You and your investors have completed bench-scale
February 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Abengoa to Build Ethanol Plant
(Biofuels International) Technology provider for the energy and environment sectors Abengoa will implement its enzymatic hydrolysis process technology to produce bioethanol at a commercial-scale in the US. The news comes after the company's second generation bioethanol pilot production plant, located in
February 23, 2011 Read Full Article
VIASPACE Reports Independent Test Results for Giant King Grass as Feedstock for Renewable Bio Ethanol and Other Cellulosic Biofuels
(Viaspace/PRNewsWire) High Per-Acre Productivity of Giant King Grass Promises 40% Reduction in Biofuel Feedstock Costs VIASPACE Inc., and its subsidiary VIASPACE Green Energy Inc., reported results of recent independent testing of Giant King Grass as a feedstock for producing second-generation cellulosic biofuels
February 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Vinod Khosla on the Technology Pathway to Biofuels
by Vinod Khosla (Green Tech Media) Part 1: Production technologies: where are we? The financial crisis of 2008 set back a number of projects and slowed actual construction of pilot and demo plants like it did in all industries, be
January 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Feedstock-Conversion Interface Projects – Connecting Feedstock Resources to Conversion Processes
by Dr. J. Richard Hess (Biomass Program Technology Manager, Idaho National Laboratory) Dr. Hess details the biomass attributes that impact the nature of and cost of feedstock preparation, biochemical conversion, and thermochemcal conversion, along with general flow diagrams for each process.
October 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Hydrocarbon Fuels: National Advanced Biofuels Consortium
by Dr. Thomas D. Foust (Executive Director of the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium, National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The DOE created the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC) to help develop cost-effective technologies to develop advanced “drop-in” biofuels compatible with our current infrastructure,
August 04, 2010 Read Full Article
South Dakota State University Research: Re-Using Enzymes in Industry
(South Dakota State University) A South Dakota State University scientist is exploring ways to re-use enzymes in processes such as making cellulosic ethanol. The research could lead to big financial savings for industry. “Enzymes are usually very expensive items in chemistry or
May 12, 2010 Read Full Article
South Dakota State University Studies Corn Stover Pretreatment
(Biomass Magazine) Using a high shear bioreactor (extrusion) pretreatment process can help prepare corn stover as a feedstock for making cellulosic ethanol, a South Dakota State University study finds. The SDSU study explored different temperatures, screw speeds, and enzymes to learn
April 09, 2010 Read Full Article
Uganda Scientists Find Ways to Get Ethanol from Stems, Leaves
by Halima Abdallah (The East African) Uganda scientists have made a breakthrough in extracting bio-ethanol from non-food parts of plants — cassava stems, cassava leaves, pineapple leaves, elephant grass stems and wood — opening the way for commercial production of ethanol
March 29, 2010 Read Full Article
Qteros and UMass Amherst Announce the Issuance of a U.S. Patent for Production of Ethanol from a Unique Microorganism, the Q Microbe™
Qteros, Inc., and the University of Massachusetts Amherst announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,682,811 titled “Systems and Methods for Producing Biofuels and Related Materials” describing the novel creation of products, including
March 24, 2010 Read Full Article
Sorghum's Gaining Momentum, Farmers & Policy-Makers Say
by Dave Mowtiz (AgricultureOnline) Grain sorghum is gaining the attention of eastern Corn Belt farmers in an area dominated by corn, soybeans and wheat, reports a category winner of the National Sorghum Producers Association's yield contest. Chris Robinson, who farmers in
March 18, 2010 Read Full Article
Research Shows Promise of Low-Cost Biofuel Production from Sugar Beets
(Atlantic Biomass) Research reported in the December issue of the American Society of Microbiology’s journal Applied and Environment Microbiology on the development of a thermostable enzyme opens the way to a new pathway for low-cost biofuel production using sugar beet
December 09, 2009 Read Full Article
Thermal Stabilization of Erwinia chrysanthemi Pectin Methylesterase A for Application in a Sugar Beet Pulp Biorefinery
(Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the Journal of the American Society for Microbiology) Directed evolution approaches were used to construct a thermally stabilized variant of Erwinia chrysanthemi pectin methylesterase A. The final evolved enzyme has four amino acid substitutions that together