by Pamela Gregg (University of Dayton Research Institute) ... ASTM International has approved the use of a synthetic oil derived from municipal waste in the manufacture of jet fuel at petroleum refineries. The co-processing of “syncrude” with petroleum at the refinery
precursors/biointermediates
Back TO HOMEEngineers Find Neat Way to Turn Waste Carbon Dioxide into Useful Material
by Lachlan Gilbert (University of South Wales Sydney Newsroom) Making catalysts to convert waste carbon dioxide into useful industrial products has been expensive and complicated – until now. UNSW engineers show it’s as easy as playing with Lego. -- Chemical engineers
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
Anellotech Secures Funds to Develop Innovative Plas-TCat™ Plastics Recycling Technology from R Plus Japan, a New Joint Venture Company Launched by 12 Cross-Industry Partners within the Japanese Plastic Supply Chain
(Annellotech) Sustainable technology company Anellotech has announced that R Plus Japan Ltd., a new joint venture company, will invest in the development of Anellotech’s cutting-edge Plas-TCat™ technology for recycling used plastics. R Plus Japan was established by 12 cross-industry partners within
June 30, 2020 Read Full Article
15 Hot Tech Case Studies: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to The Digest’s #BetterWithBiology Top 15
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everything’s better with biology, so here’s The Digest’s newly released Top 15 case studies of today’s hottest technology and new markets for traditional oil and gas refiners. What are our top picks? Spoiler Alert: The top 15
June 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Q&A on Cellulosic Ethanol with Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DigestConnect hosted a wildly popular webinar in late April with Clariant’s Head of Business Line, Biofuels & Derivatives at Clariant but there were so many fantastic audience questions we didn’t to, that we decided to follow
May 28, 2020 Read Full Article
Scrap to Wrap, a New App? NOVA, Enerkem Set Sights on Garbage-to-Ethylene, and How, and Why
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) From Canada comes news that NOVA Chemicals and Enerkem entered into a joint development agreement to explore turning non-recyclable and non-compostable municipal waste into ethylene, a basic building block of plastics. NOVA Chemicals has committed to enabling
May 21, 2020 Read Full Article
Fueling a Cleaner Future: Ethanol Is Just the Beginning
(Omaha World-Herald/Nebraska Corn Board) When you stop at the gas station to top off your tank, how much thought do you put in to choosing the fuel that’s right for your car? For your wallet? For the environment? For the air
May 20, 2020 Read Full Article
New Lords of Circular Carbon: ArcelorMittal, EU Complete Financing of Steelanol Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, the European Investment Bank, with the support of the European Commission, has granted a EUR 75 million (nearly $82 million USD) loan to ArcelorMittal for Steelanol, the EUR 165 million ($180 million USD)
May 19, 2020 Read Full Article
USDA’s BioPreferred Program and Opportunities for a Green Recovery: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to the 2020 Green Recovery
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) During last week’s DigestConnect webinar, Kate Lewis from USDA’s BioPreferred Program shared this slide guide on how there is a refresh going on with biobased products driven largely by Millennials, the growth in intermediates even
May 04, 2020 Read Full Article
Alliance BioEnergy Building Next Generation Prototype towards Commercialization of Its Revolutionary Green Renewable Energy Technology
(Alliance BioEnergy/Globe Newswire) Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. (PINK: ALLM). Alliance BioEnergy Plus Inc., is pleased to announce that it has finalized the design and is building its new 4th generation “Cellulose-to-Sugar” (“CTS 2.0”) prototype. The Company has received funding from a couple of
April 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Bio-Based Chemicals: A 2020 Update
Ed de Jong, Heinz Stichnothe, Geoff Bell and Henning Jørgensen (EIA Bioenergy) Since the first issue of the IEA Bioenergy Task 42 report on bio-based chemicals in 2011, the importance of a circular economy has become evident. In the transition to
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Retrofits for Europe’s Industry – Handbook Published
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The BIOFIT consortium has now published a handbook on “Technical options for retrofitting industries with bioenergy”. The handbook includes arguments for retrofitting, describes the retrofitting process and its impact on public perception, summarizes the European biomass potential and logistics
April 01, 2020 Read Full Article
The Secret Sauce: Industry Partnerships Key to Advancing Bio-Based Chemicals and Fuels
by Asanga Padmaperuma (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) ... Today, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories study the development of chemicals and fuels with the use of cost-effective, renewable carbon sources, while working closely with the bioenergy industry. In support of the
March 25, 2020 Read Full Article
Taking on All of the Biomass for Conversion
by Tao Zhang (Science Magazine) The old saying that “you can make everything from biomass except money” sums up the huge challenges of converting lignocellulose into fuels and chemicals in a cost-competitive manner. Most efforts separate its more readily processed
March 19, 2020 Read Full Article
Engineered Bacteria for Acetone and Drop-in Fuels from Syngas: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to LanzaTech’s Acetone Platform
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sean Simpson and Michael Köpke from LanzaTech and researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working on developing and scaling up a novel technology platform for direct conversion of biomass syngas to acetone, which can be
February 18, 2020 Read Full Article
Bringing Algal Biofuel Production to Scale: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Biocrude Production in Advanced Photobioreactor-Based Biorefinery
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Everyone wants more productive algal strains – but how do you get them? Can you advance the technology enough to get economical, large-scale algal biofuel production? Ron Chance and Paul Roessler, both of Algenol Biotech, shared this
February 13, 2020 Read Full Article
Oberon Fuels, SHV Energy Partner up to Accelerate Renewable DME: Is This Tech a Carbon Removal Machine of Great Importance?
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In California, Oberon Fuels and SHV Energy are partnering to accelerate the use of renewable DME to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuel. For Oberon’s path to scale, the partnership will include funding to
February 11, 2020 Read Full Article
Gevo/Agri-Energy Earns Sustainability Certification from an Independent International Watchdog Group, the Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB)
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO), a company producing a new generation of low-carbon, drop-in, liquid transportations fuels, has received certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The certification is for Gevo’s sourcing of sustainable corn at its production facility in
February 07, 2020 Read Full Article
2020 Bioeconomy M&A Deal Review & Outlook
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Digest published today a 2020 Deal Review and Outlook Bioeconomy M&A visual guide that looks at the slurry of recent mergers and acquisitions in the bioeconomy like Lygos and Librede, NuSeed and Agrisoma, FinCo Fuels
February 05, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s the Mystery Date? Green Hydrogen for Renewable Diesel’s Stealthy Project
by Jim Lane (Hydrogen Digest) From Planet Houston we’ve heard that ENGlobal inked a $20 million to supply process modules that will be used to construct a complete hydrogen production facility. The plant will be a major component of an otherwise
January 31, 2020 Read Full Article
The Versatile Ethanol Molecule: Ethylene, with a Similar Molecular Structure to that of Ethanol, Has Enormous Market Opportunity around the World.
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Knock a water molecule off ethanol and you’ll get ethylene, C2H4—the most widely produced organic chemical globally that is the basis for scores of other chemicals and hundreds (maybe thousands) of products, from
January 30, 2020 Read Full Article
The New Carbon Economy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Waste Carbon Utilization and Management
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Electrification and batteries can’t remove the need for carbon,and a more sustainable economy is not a low-carbon economy as much as it will be a renewable carbon based economy, according to Ian Rowe, Technology Manager at
January 27, 2020 Read Full Article
Shell Uses Plastic Waste to Produce Resin Feedstocks
by Stephen Moore (Plastics Today) Shell says that it has successfully made “high-end” chemicals using a liquid feedstock made from plastic waste using a pyrolysis process that is considered a breakthrough for hard-to-recycle plastics. The initiative advances Shell’s ambition to use
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
EERE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable E : Department of Energy Announces nearly $100 Million for Bioenergy Research and Development DEADLINE Concept PaperMarch 5, 2020
(U.S. Department of Energy) Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to over $96 million in funding for bioenergy research and development. This funding supports the U.S. bioeconomy, as well as DOE's goal of providing consumers and businesses
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Living Robots, Fungus Homes, Biobased Aquaculture Ropes, Biopolymer Food Films, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of January 23rd
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was a week of lots of deal-making, like edible straw startup Loliware’s raising of $5.9 million to scale production, and deal-breaking, like Itaconix and Nouryon’s break-up over biobased chelating agents for detergent applications. But it was
January 23, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Mixotrophy: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Novel Platform for Algal Biomass
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) There’s a lot of flat, dry land in the U.S. but researchers at Arizona State University and others are looking at how that land could support biofuel production. How about evaporation-resistant reactors coupled with thermotolerant, high-productivity
January 22, 2020 Read Full Article
Who’s the Mystery Date? Green Hydrogen for Renewable Diesel’s Stealthy Project
by Jim Lane (Hydrogen Digest) From Planet Houston we’ve heard that ENGlobal inked a $20 million to supply process modules that will be used to construct a complete hydrogen production facility. The plant will be a major component of an otherwise
January 16, 2020 Read Full Article
Microorganisms Fed with Toxic Gas to Produce Biofuel
(University of Borås/Phys.Org) Today, various processes are used to convert organic waste into biogas. By combining two different processes, it is possible to obtain even more of valuable substances such as hydrogen and methane. The key is to make the most
January 14, 2020 Read Full Article
Corrosion Calamities: The Digest’s 2020 Multi-Slide Guide to Corrosion Resistant Materials for Bio-Oil
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biomass liquefaction technology and bio-oil storage has enough challenges to deal with so being able to identify corrosion-resistant, cost-effective structural materials so that materials issues isn’t one of those challenges, can come a long way to
January 10, 2020 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Biofuel Technology: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Mercurius Biorefining
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Reaching high is something Mercurius is familiar with, esp. with their REACH technology. Standing for renewable, acid-hydrolysis, condensation, hydrotreating, their REACH technology works at low temperature, low pressure and enzyme free. According to Knud Balslev at
January 02, 2020 Read Full Article
Autothermal Pyrolysis: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Rethinking Thermochemical Processing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Iowa State University is working on fast pyrolysis, and Robert Brown, Director of the university’s Bioeconomy Institute looks at how their work is making us rethink thermochemical processing. By looking at autothermal pyrolysis, and more, Brown
December 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Methane Bioconversion: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to iMicrobes’ Methane to Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Methane is proving to be a pretty valuable waste after all. iMicrobes is using their synthetic biology approach with industrial microorganisms to convert methane into methanol and their first product is 3HP, a key intermediate
December 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Finnair Participates in a Feasibility Study on Power-to-X Pilot to Advance the Development of Carbon Neutral Synthetic Fuels
(Finnair) Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT in Finland and a group of companies, including Finnair, have started a feasibility study for a synthetic fuels pilot production plant. The intended industrial scale pilot facility is based on power-to-x technology, and the target
December 23, 2019 Read Full Article
The Bioeconomy Christmas: Uncle Sam puts $12B+ for Biomass-Based Diesel, Action on Biointermediates, Cellulosics, and Small Refinery Waivers into the Stocking This Year
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, Congressional leaders announced a five-year extension of the biomass-based diesel tax credit as part of a year-end tax extenders package. As Christmas gifts go, the importance and value of this to the biomass-based diesel
December 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Confessions of a Biorefiner: Green Plains’ Journey into the Land of High-Value Proteins, and the Who, What and Why of That
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week news came out of a partnership between Novozymes and Green Plains to use biological technology to extract more value from corn protein, at what used to be known as corn ethanol plants, but with
December 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Trash to Cash – New Anellotech Technology Tackles Plastics Pollution by Recycling Plastic Waste Into Chemicals
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) In New York, breaking news arrived that Anellotech is significantly expanding its program with Plas-TCat, a new process technology aiming to convert a wide range of plastic waste directly into chemicals – which can then
December 09, 2019 Read Full Article
Shell to Provide Financial Support for Norwegian Biorefinery Project
(Bioenergy International) Biozin Holding AS has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Shell for financial support of their ongoing work to build a full-scale biocrude production facility in Åmli, Norway. The funding will support ongoing activities as
December 06, 2019 Read Full Article
LIFE Methamorphosis Project Allows to Obtain Biofuel from Organic Waste
(LIFE Methamorphosis) LIFE Methamorphosis has launched two prototypes, UMBRELLA and METHAGRO, which operate under this principle. UMBRELLA is installed in the Ecoparc de Montcada i Reixac (Ecoparc 2), one of the waste treatment plants owned by the AMB, managed by FCC Medio
December 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Wanted – Stronger Microbial Strains: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to NREL’s Biological Sugar Upgrades
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Microbial strains convert lignocellulosic sugars to fuel precursors, but Jeff Linger from National Renewable Energy Laboratory gave this illuminating presentation at the DOE’s BETO 2019 Project Peer Review that details how they are looking to
December 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Pathway to Fuels: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Bio-Syngas and Fatty Alcohols
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Did you know that Dow and LanzaTechpreviously validated syngas conversion to fatty alcohols via the +1 pathway (LeuABCD) in Clostridium? There is a project underway now to develop a new bio-syngas fermentation process using engineered bacteria
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Cemvita Factory Rockin’ It: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Cemvita’s CO2 Utilization
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Earlier this week we talked about making protein and meat out of air, so taking CO2 and utilizing it seems right in line. C+C Music Factory’s song from the early 90’s “Everybody Dance Now” comes to
November 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Oh So Sweet! Amyris’s Look at Farnesene Production from Sugars: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MegaBio and Farnesene
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Amyris is working on a MegaBio goal. Mega because it’s a big goal – develop a fully integrated and scalable process to produce farnesene from cellulosic sugars at $2 per liter in the U.S. Quinn Mitrovich from Amyris
November 25, 2019 Read Full Article
Neste Opens an Office in Melbourne, Australia
(Neste) Neste, the world’s leading provider of renewable diesel and the 3rd most sustainable company in the world*, strengthens its footprint in renewable feedstock sourcing. The company has opened an office in Melbourne to serve Neste’s waste and residue raw material
November 22, 2019 Read Full Article
Better Biofuels with Biomass: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Axens and the BioTfueL Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BioTfueL, originally launched by Total, is a project to produce biofuels via thermochemical conversion and includes several partners that work together on this. Axens Solutions recently spoke at ABLC NEXT about the project, how biomass
November 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Like Fine Wine, Smellin’ Fine: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Anellotech’s Aromatics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Fine wine takes time but it’s so worth it when you gather that first aroma of a freshly opened bottle…and Anellotech shows us that the wait is worth it when it comes to technology too.
November 18, 2019 Read Full Article
St1 and beyond: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Hydrogen for Renewable Diesel and Other Bio-Based Applications
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This week, we reported that St1 has awarded ÅF Pöyry with engineering assignment for a new renewable fuel production unit investment project. The new plant will be built in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is the largest single investment
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
SOFAST It’s Scary!: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Arthrospira/Spirulina Algae Strains
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Streamlined Optimization of Filamentous Arthrospira/SpirulinaTraits (SOFAST) is looking at algae in a whole new way. Lumen Bioscience in particular has been working on a unique, patented technology to genetically enhance Arthrospira for improved growth and biomass composition
November 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at ABLC Next
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA releases Report on the Bioeconomy: The USDA released its Report on the Bioeconomy Imiplementation Framework. The Bioeconomy Initiative: Implementation Framework will serve as a guiding document for the BR&D Board member agencies to increase government accountability
November 01, 2019 Read Full Article
About Those Biobased Amines We Might One Day Dream up at Ptixar Amination
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Lately the amines, which in the simplest description are compounds with a bunch of nitrogen stuffed inside, have improved their reputation. For one, a number of Direct Air Capture technologies have been receiving big
October 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Chemical Catalysis Pioneer James Dumesic Wins International Energy Prize
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Prolific biofuels researcher James Dumesic has been named the winner of the 2019 Eni Energy Transition Award. The internationally renowned Eni Awards were established in 2007 to recognize excellence in energy and environmental research. The Energy Transition Award honors
October 11, 2019 Read Full Article
The 10 Most Overlooked Stories in the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This is such Top Secret stuff that every announcement was, we surmise, buried in the hardest-to-find hole, on the loneliest street, of the most out-of-the-way town on Planet Neptune. Just shows what you might find down a
October 09, 2019 Read Full Article
What You Need to Know about Using FPBO on Your FCC Unit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the liquid energy market, it's no longer enough to have fuels which are "affordable and available but not sustainable", or "sustainable and available but not affordable". We've lived for a long time on "two out
October 08, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Transport Biofuels from Biomass and Other Renewable Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Several of the better known IEA Bioenergy rock stars — there are four and possibly five in this set, from the US and Canada, so we’ll put them sort of on a par with Neil
October 08, 2019 Read Full Article
US Patent Granted for Enzymes Developed by ICGEB-DBT Bioenergy Group
(International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology) A new cellulase preparation discovered by scientists at ICGEB, New Delhi has received a US patent award. This discovery is likely to provide a better alternative to the available option on the market for
October 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Names Gevo as One of the “The Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World”
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today that Biofuels Digest has named Gevo on its NEXT 50 list “the Next 50 Companies to Disrupt the World.” The honor was specifically given for Gevo’s partnership with Renmatix and their work to
October 03, 2019 Read Full Article
$73 Million, 35 Projects, Who Won, for What and Why: The DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office 2019 Project Selections
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy has selected 35 projects totaling $73 million for bioenergy research and development support. Funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, these projects will help reduce
October 02, 2019 Read Full Article
Magnificent Microbes: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Targeted Microbial Development
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The industry is always on the look for microbial pathways that are capable of producing high carbon efficiency intermediates that are amenable to economic bioconversion, separation, and catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. At
October 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Convert CO2 into Raw Materials Using Nanoparticles
(Ruhr University Bochum (Google Translation)) Enzymes use cascade reactions to produce complex molecules from comparatively simple raw materials. The principle was copied by researchers. An international research team has converted carbon dioxide into raw materials using nanoparticles. The scientists at
September 30, 2019 Read Full Article
Bio-Sourced Materials: A New Milestone!
(Michelin) The BioButterfly project launched by Michelin in 2012 has just achieved another milestone: the construction of France's first industrial demonstrator capable of producing butadiene from ethanol. The goal is to replace the oil-based raw materials used in the company's
September 27, 2019 Read Full Article
Increase Value, Reduce Costs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Advanced Algal Systems. Maybe you’ve heard of it but did you know that technologies are being developed as part of a DOE program to enable production of sustainable algal feedstocks that perform reliably in conversion processes
September 24, 2019 Read Full Article
Increase Value, Reduce Costs: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Advanced Algal Systems
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)Advanced Algal Systems. Maybe you’ve heard of it but did you know that technologies are being developed as part of a DOE program to enable production of sustainable algal feedstocks that perform reliably in conversion processes
September 20, 2019 Read Full Article
UC Engineering Excels with $11.8m MBIE Endeavour Funding
(University of Canterbury/Scoop) ... This research will develop a new process and materials to produce bio-hydrogen and capture carbon dioxide by using New Zealand wood biomass resources from log harvesting and wood processing. The bio-hydrogen produced could be used as
September 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Replacing the Barrel: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Conversion Technologies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Developing efficient and economical biological and chemical technologies to convert biomass feedstocks into energy-dense liquid transportation fuels, such as renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as bioproducts, chemical intermediates, and biopower is the primary goal
September 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Reaches Joint Development Agreement to Explore Converting Plant Sugars into Fuel
by Andrew Kessel (Proactive Investors) The plan is to investigate the potential of sugars and glycerol derived from cellulose to be converted into hydrocarbon molecules for use in fuels or chemicals --Gevo Inc (NASDAQ:GEVO), a renewable fuels company, announced Tuesday
September 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Announces Breakthrough Development of Low-Carbon No Particulate Renewable Diesel
(GEVO) Converting Isobutanol or Fusel Oils to Renewable Diesel -- Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) a leading renewable fuels and chemicals manufacturer, announced today that it has developed proprietary, breakthrough processes that converts either low-carbon isobutanol or low-value “fusel oils,” a mixture of alcohols
September 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Rice Reactor Turns Greenhouse Gas into Pure Liquid Fuel
by Mike Williams (Rice University) Lab’s ‘green’ invention reduces carbon dioxide into valuable fuels -- A common greenhouse gas could be repurposed in an efficient and environmentally friendly way with an electrolyzer that uses renewable electricity to produce pure liquid fuels. The catalytic reactor
September 05, 2019 Read Full Article
What Are the Realities for Sustainable Hydrogen in Oil, Chemicals and Steel?
(Hydrogen Digest) The International Energy Agency observed in its Future of Hydrogen report (here), that “ the technologies are available to avoid the emissions from fossil fuel use [in industrial sectors] by producing and supplying low-carbon hydrogen.” Yes, hydrogen is used in
September 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Clariant Successfully Concludes Testing of Energy Crop Miscanthus at Straubing Plant for GRACE Project
(Clariant) INA has chosen Clariant’s sunliquid® technology to assess usability of miscanthus for conversion into lignocellulosic sugars & ethanol within the EU-funded GRACE project in which INA participates; About 30 tons of miscanthus were processed at Clariant’s pre-commercial plant in
September 03, 2019 Read Full Article
Scientists Identify Protein Factors Increasing Yield of a Biofuel Precursor in Microscopic Algae
(Tokyo Tech News) Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kyoto University, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, and Tohoku University have identified a protein, Lipid Remodeling reguLator 1 (LRL1), in microscopic algae that is involved in the production of triacylglycerol, a biofuel
August 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Commercializing Conventional and Advanced Transport Biofuels from Biomass and Other Renewable Feedstocks -- Co-processing
(IEA Bioenergy Task 39) Many petroleum refiners in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia are thinking about upgrading bio-feedstocks using existing infrastructure. Approximately 40 refineries around the world have so far implemented or tested some type of hydroprocessing of mixed
August 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Ready to Meet Market Growth?: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Gasification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Missed The Digest’s webinar on Biomass Gasification? Wondering what it is or where it’s at? Biomass Gasification is a thermochemical process in which a renewable solid carbonaceous feedstock is reacted with air, oxygen, CO2 and/or steam
August 07, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Receives ISCC Plus Certification
(Geva/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) announced today (August 5, 2019) it has achieved its International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the ISCC PLUS scheme for Food, Feed, Industrial Applications, Energy, Biofuels outside Europe. In obtaining ISCC certification, Gevo continues
August 06, 2019 Read Full Article
Adding Sugar and Salt to Catalyse Production of Biofuels
by M Somasekhar (The Hindu Business Line) A nanocarbon catalyst developed by IIT-Hyderabad can be used to convert corn cob waste into valuable fuels -- Using sugar and salt, researchers at IIT Hyderabad have developed a nanocarbon catalyst to help in the
August 01, 2019 Read Full Article
Here Comes the Sun – Sunliquid Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Clariant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Clariant, a Switzerland based specialty chemicals company, has four business areas: Care Chemicals, Natural Resources, Catalysis and Plastics & Coatings. While the first half of the year has been challenging, Clariant was able to increase sales
July 29, 2019 Read Full Article
Rules and Regulations: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Regulatory Landscapes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) How chemical products and novel substances are regulated in the U.S. has a huge impact on the bioeconomy and the companies that are producing bioproducts today. Bergeson & Campbell shares their thoughts on the Toxic Substances
July 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor at the 2019 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... (T)he bioeconomy’s biggest and grandest show, the BIO World Congress, takes us on an accustomed journey through the present and future in a sector that has more twists and turns than the rides at
July 10, 2019 Read Full Article
ABFA: Letter Urges EPA to Finalize Provisions in REGS Rule
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) A group of 15 companies sent a letter to Assistant EPA Administrator for Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum June 12 urging the agency to finalize provisions in the proposed renewable enhancement and growth support (REGS) rule
June 20, 2019 Read Full Article
Gamalux to Profit from Sustainability Policies of EU
(Daily Express/Bernama) Amid the uproar over the European Union’s (EU) discriminatory move against palm oil, one player in the Malaysian palm oil downstream sector seems unperturbed and is in fact expecting better demand for its products this year from European clients.
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Amazing Algaculture: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MicroBio Engineering
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) MicroBio Engineering works on facility designs, algae equipment, R&D, engineering consulting, techno-economic analyses, LCAs and wastewater treatment. Their focus on algaculture, specifically microalgae cultivation, is what the focus of this presentation is on. John Benemann, CEO and
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
California Project to Test Renewable Dimethyl Ether as Transportation Fuel
by Betsy Lillian (NGT News) Oberon Fuels, a California-based producer of dimethyl ether (DME), has been awarded a $2.88 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for a multi-phase project to produce renewable DME as a low-carbon transportation fuel in
June 18, 2019 Read Full Article
4 Key Bioenergy Technologies: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to SoCalGas
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) he Southern California Gas Company is the primary provider of natural gas to the region of Southern California and has a vision to become the cleanest natural gas utility in North America. As California works to
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Biofuels Industry Stakeholders Call on EPA to Remove RFS Regulatory Barriers
(Advanced Biofuels Association) Today (June 12, 2019), member companies and organizations from the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA), the Coalition to Address Removal of Regulatory Impediments (CARRI), and others with interest in deploying sustainable fuels sent a letter to Assistant EPA Administrator
June 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Study Identifies Most Promising Feedstocks for Pyrolysis-Based Biorefinery
(CORDIS/Phy.Org) A study into the composition and processability of different biomass feedstocks has found sunflower seed husks and poplar wood slabs to be the most suitable for producing bio-based products via fast pyrolysis conversion. The study was conducted by Capax Biobased
June 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Diesel Decarbonization Brings Transformative Opportunities for Next Generation Biodiesel Feedstocks
by William R. Thurmond (Emerging Markets Online/MENAFN) New study finds next generation feedstock markets and technologies are big winners in diesel decarbonization initiatives for low carbon fuels. In the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, strong demand signals and incentives
June 03, 2019 Read Full Article
EERE’s SBIR Selects Bioenergy Phase I Innovation Projects
(U.S. Department of Energy) American small businesses got nearly a $22 million boost from the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Small businesses are receiving Phase I Release 2 grants (from
May 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Running on Refuse
by Matt Thompson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Enerkem is producing methanol and ethanol at its Edmonton, Alberta, plant, diverting up to 24 percent of the city’s landfill waste. The company has partners for another project in the Netherlands. -- A Canadian company is
May 15, 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
Biofuel Made from Roadkill, Cardboard Café, Wheat Straw Transformed to Isobutene, 3D Printed Biobricks, Algae Plastic, and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of April 25th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of April 25th. In today’s Digest, biofuel made from roadkill, cardboard café, wheat straw transformed to isobutene,
April 25, 2019 Read Full Article
The Advanced Bioeconomy: New Fortunes 2019
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Let’s turn to New Fortunes 2019 – our overview of what we believe will be the 24 hottest market segments in the near term – places to focus your innovations and to unlock value. From cannabis and
April 24, 2019 Read Full Article
REACHing for the Stars: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Mercurius Biorefining
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Mercurius Biorefining is developing its novel REACH process, which converts cellulosic biomass to hydrocarbons in the renewable diesel, aviation, and marine fuel ranges. Valuable by-products include bio-char and a bio-plastic monomer, FDCA. REACH (Renewable Acid-hydrolysis Condensation Hydrotreating)
April 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Putting CO₂ Emissions to Work: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Opus 12
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Opus 12 has developed a device that recycles CO₂ into cost-competitive chemicals and fuels. Their technology bolts onto any source of CO₂ emissions, and with only water and electricity as inputs, transforms that CO₂ into some
April 19, 2019 Read Full Article
Gevo Plans to Decarbonize Luverne Plant Using Wind, RNG
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) According to (Gevo CEO Patrick) Gruber, Gevo is working to decarbonize its biorefinery in Luverne, Minnesota, in an effort to improve profitability. He said the company thinks it’s possible to make significant improvements in
March 29, 2019 Read Full Article
The Digest’s Top 10 Celluosic Project Flashpoints, 10 Quick Takes
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s all very rosy on the cellulosic potential frontier. As Gevo and Renmatix recently observed, “cellulosic sugars are one of the most abundant feedstocks in the world, and in many geographies with dense vegetation, using woody
March 26, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Breakdown: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Sweetwater Energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweetwater Energy has developed a unique and patented technology for producing low-cost sugars and clean lignin fiber from multiple non-food plant materials to help meet the modern world’s increasing demand for biochemicals, bioplastics and biofuels. Jack Baron,
March 18, 2019 Read Full Article
Brazil’s GranBio Acquires USA’s American Process
by Helena Taveres Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... The acquisition of American Process Inc’s technologies, intellectual property portfolio and physical assets strengthens GranBio’s market position in the deployment of highly competitive industrial processes for conversion of biomass to renewable fuels, chemicals, and
March 18, 2019 Read Full Article
5 Minutes With… Peter Jürgens
by Liz Gyekye (BioMarket Insights) “There is a huge interest in the circular economy at the moment. In relation to the circular economy, the chemicals sector is really pressing ahead with this agenda.” REDCert was founded in 2010 by leading associations and
March 15, 2019 Read Full Article
Novel Potent Antimicrobial from Thermophilic Bacterium
(University of Groningen/EurekAlert!) University of Groningen microbiologists and their colleagues from Lithuania have discovered a new glycocin, a small antimicrobial peptide with a sugar group attached, which is produced by a thermophilic bacterium and is stable at relatively high temperatures. They
March 14, 2019 Read Full Article
Let’s Get Agitated: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biomass Conversion Agitation Strategies
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gregory Benz, from Benz Technology International and a member of Lee Enterprises Consulting offers this illuminating overview of wet conversion agitation systems like solids mixers and turbine agitators, various test summaries, and more. READ MORE
March 13, 2019 Read Full Article
Eni and COREPLA Agree to Produce Hydrogen from Plastic Packaging Waste
(Eni) Today, Eni signed an agreement with COREPLA to launch research projects to produce hydrogen from non-recyclable plastic packaging waste. -- Eni signed an agreement with COREPLA, the National Consortium for the Collection, Recycling and Recovery of Plastic Packaging, to launch
March 12, 2019 Read Full Article
Throw Deep: Heard on the Floor at the Washington Sustainable Aviation Fuels Summit
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman noted: “Secretary Mabus advised us to set a goal. If it’s good enough for the Navy, it’s good enough for SeaTac airport, and we’ve established a partnership with 13
March 12, 2019 Read Full Article
101 for Low Carbon Fuel Standard
by Paul Greene (BioCycle Magazine/Montrose Environmental) California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which grew out of the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, is stimulating markets for biogas, including renewable natural gas -- Biogas project developers and financiers are finding strong offtake opportunities selling
March 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Engineers Develop Fast Method to Convert Algae to Biocrude
(University of Utah/Science Daily) A team of chemical engineers have developed a new kind of jet mixer for creating biomass from algae that extracts the lipids from the watery plants with much less energy than the older extraction method. This key
March 05, 2019 Read Full Article
Shell Joins Air Liquide, Nouryon in Enerkem Waste-to-Chemicals Project in Rotterdam: The Complete Story
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Shell will become an equal equity partner in the proposed commercial-scale waste-to-chemicals project, which will be the first of its kind in Europe to make valuable chemicals and biofuels out of non-recyclable waste materials. The consortium,
March 04, 2019 Read Full Article
Lighting the Way to Bioproducts: Smart Microbial Biosensors for Conversion Pathway Design
by Babetta (Babs) Marrone (Los Alamos National Laboratory) For several years, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) scientists have been taking advantage of the molecular tools that naturally reside within microbial cells. Although microbes use these tools to carry out their metabolism and
February 28, 2019 Read Full Article
The Expert Witness: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioeconomy Litigation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Wayne Lee, CEO of Lee Enterprises Consulting offers this illuminating overview of what bioeconomy litigation is, what makes a good expert witness, and more. Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s largest bioeconomy consulting group with over 100
February 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Changing of the Guard: Legendary Association Heads, Technologists Head off to New Adventures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) With the news that Matt Carr is leaving his post as the Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization, it’s beginning to feel like a real changing of the guard is taking place on the watchtowers
February 21, 2019 Read Full Article
Biogas Business: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Biogas Conversion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Terry Mazanec, a member of Lee Enterprises Consulting offers this illuminating overview of biogas, what it’s good for, scale, bio-methane, what to do with it, key players, and more. Lee Enterprises Consultingis the world’s largest bioeconomy consulting
February 20, 2019 Read Full Article
MEGA MEG – Braskem and Haldor Topsoe’s Monoethylene Glycol from Sugar Is in Operation
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ...Brazil-based Braskem and Denmark-based Haldor Topsoe just commissioned their pioneering demonstration unit, located in Denmark, for the development of monoethylene glycol (MEG) from sugar. Their innovation for renewable plastic made from sugar instead of traditional fossil
February 11, 2019 Read Full Article
Flax Fiber Skis, Biobased Turf for 2020 Olympics, Gevo’s Isoprene, Veja Vegan Leather, Castor Oil Jacket Membrane and More: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of February 8th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of February 8th. In today’s Digest, flax fiber skis, biobased turf for 2020 Olympics, Gevo’s isoprene, Veja
February 08, 2019 Read Full Article
GLOBAL BIOENERGIES: First Production of Isobutene from Wheat Straw at Demo Scale
(Global Bioenergies/Globe Newswire) New phase for the H2020 Optisochem project after 18 months of activity; Sugars from wheat straw produced at Clariant's Sunliquid® pre-commercial plant have been shipped to Global Bioenergies' Leuna demo plant; Successful test runs for production of straw-based isobutene, batches delivered
February 06, 2019 Read Full Article
January 2019 PyNe43 Newsletter Available
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) It (January 2019 PyNe43 Newsletter) contains contributions on Electrocatalytic upgrading to stabilize pyrolysis oil Progress towards commercialization at pilot and demonstration scale Pyrolysis of forestry and fishery residue for rural applications. Overview on catalysts to upgrade pyrolysis oils.
January 28, 2019 Read Full Article
Reaping the Benefits of Agricultural Waste
(University of New Castle) Australia’s $63 billion* agriculture sector stands to benefit from a revolutionary fuel technology that will convert multiple agricultural waste streams into valuable biofuel and green chemical products for the first time. In partnership with the University of
January 25, 2019 Read Full Article
The Bio Wilburys: ExxonMobil, REG Add Clariant to Monumental Effort for Cellulosic-to-Biodiesel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) For some time, as the advanced bioeconomy has continued its pivot to deployment-scale diesel and jet fuels, there has been quite a bit of scrutiny and skepticism over the sourcing of enough sustainable feedstock to supply
January 24, 2019 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group Partner with Clariant to Advance Cellulosic Biofuel Research
(ExxonMobil/Renewable Energy Group/Globe Newswire) Partnership to expand on joint ExxonMobil and REG research into cellulosic biodiesel; Clariant’s sunliquid® technology to facilitate creation of compatible cellulosic sugars; Objective is to combine technologies into a single, integrated biodiesel production process ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group (REG)
January 23, 2019 Read Full Article
Etihad Airways Flies the World’s First Flight Using Fuel Made in The UAE From Plants Grown in Saltwater by Khalifa University
(Etihad Airways/Aviation Pros) The Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a non-profit entity established by Masdar Institute that is part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, announced the world’s first commercial flight using locally produced sustainable fuel on an Etihad Airways
January 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Biomass Biocrude: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Ensyn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Ensyn produces a biocrude from forest and agricultural residues using its proprietary thermal technology. Dr. Robert G. Graham, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ensyn gave this illuminating overview of their growth in RFO, advancement in refinery co-processing, and
January 17, 2019 Read Full Article
Pushing Microbes to Deliver Preferred Products
by Tom Ziemer (University of Wisconsin-Madison/Phys.Org) If environmental engineer Daniel Noguera had his way, he would orchestrate a microbiome to pump out higher-value chemical products. In that vein, Noguera, the Wisconsin Distinguished Professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, along
January 16, 2019 Read Full Article
VTT Develops New Wood Gasification Method to Produce Biofuel, Chemicals
( VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland/Canadian Biomass) VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has developed a new technique based on gasification, which offers a sustainable way to turn forest industry byproducts, such as bark, sawdust and forestry waste, into
January 16, 2019 Read Full Article
Catalysis Rocking: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to ChemCatBio
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ChemCatBio is a research and development consortium dedicated to identifying and overcoming catalysis challenges for biomass conversion processes. Led by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories, we work with industry to rapidly transition R&D discoveries
December 26, 2018 Read Full Article
The Wonders Down Under: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Australia and the Bioeconomy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s goal is to contribute to the development and deployment of integrated biorefineries as part of highly efficient sustainable value chains (co-)producing food/feed ingredients, chemicals, materials, fuels, power and/or heat out of sustainably sourced
December 26, 2018 Read Full Article
“REWOFUEL”: Residual Soft Wood Conversion to Drop-in Biofuels
(Netzwerk Biotreibstoffe) The aim of the EU-funded project REWOFUEL is to demonstrate the performance, reliability, environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the value chain for the transformation of residual wood to Bio-Isobutene (bio-IBN) by fermentation and its further conversion into biofuels. The
December 26, 2018 Read Full Article
Table’s Been Set in 2018: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Cellana
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Cellana develops algae-based products and has demonstrated commercially scalable yields for multi-products. Their algae is the world’s first biomass with two high-value product applications from different components. Martin Sabarsky, Cellana’s CEO gave this illuminating overview of cellana’s
December 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The BioIncredibles 2: iMicrobes Is Using Methane to Produce Chemicals, and Mikey the Microbe Likes It
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The achievement of a major proof of concept is the news, in the case of Industrial Microbes — the ability to show that they can convert methane into multiple products (albeit at low efficiency, in
December 20, 2018 Read Full Article
Improved Catalyst Can Speed up Conversion of Industrial Biomass into Biofuel
by Monika Kundu Srivastava (TechExplorist) ... Scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, have developed a faster, environment-friendly method for conversion of industrial biomass into biodiesel. An organic compound called furfural is produced from agricultural waste biomass like bagasse, cottonseed hulls, sawdust, oat
December 19, 2018 Read Full Article
Fast Pyrolysis Technology: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Biomass Technology Group
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Biomass Technology Group develops fast pyrolysis technology and FPBO applications as well as the commercialization of such technology and production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil. Bert van de Beld from BTG gave this illuminating overview of their fast pyrolysis technology
December 17, 2018 Read Full Article
$$$ from Neste, Fulcrum, Others Making Renewable Diesel a Dream Come True
by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ... By The Digest’s estimates, there’s been close to two billion dollars in investments in renewable diesel lately. And the capacity just keeps growing. Between World Energy, Zymergen, Phillips 66 and REG, Diamond Green Diesel, Fulcrum, Red
December 17, 2018 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Energy Title Contains Climate Tweaks, Slimmer Funding
by Jessie Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... While the bill is largely viewed as a status-quo farm bill, the bill importantly reauthorizes the Energy Title (IX) and contains some new programs and tweaks aimed at helping producers become more
December 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Neste Strengthens Its Global Leading Position in Renewable Products with a Major Investment in Singapore
(Neste) Neste Corporation has made the final investment decision on additional renewable products production capacity in Singapore. The decision is based on a growing global market demand for low-carbon solutions in transport and cities, aviation, polymers and chemicals. The investment worth approximately
December 13, 2018 Read Full Article
Residual Biomass to Gasoline: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide ABLC Guide to Bioliq Pilot Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Karlsruher Institut für Technologie’s Bioliq pilot plant is producing synthetic fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic, ash rich biomass. Bernd Zimmerlin from Karlsruher Institut für Technologie gave this illuminating presentation on the technology behind the magic, from fast
December 11, 2018 Read Full Article
New Report Finds EPA Could Be Doing Much More to Unlock Growth of Low-Carbon Biofuels
by Jesse Stolark (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... The industry has been unable to produce the volumes called for under the advanced and cellulosic categories due to a variety of reasons – including the pace of technology, falling petroleum
December 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Researchers Advance Biomass Transformation Process
(Chinese Academy of Sciences/Phys.Org) ... Thus, it is important to develop a highly efficient water-resistant catalyst to directly and selectively convert crude aqueous oxygenate mixtures to value-added chemicals; water-immiscible ones (easy separation after reaction) are especially of great importance. However, the efficiency
December 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Renmatix, Gevo Ink Deal to Develop Cellulosic Hydrocarbons for Jet Fuel, Gasoline Markets
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) We have word bubbling up simultaneously from Pennsylvania and Colorado that Gevo and Renmatix inked a joint development agreement to evaluate the commercial feasibility of creating renewable jet fuel by integrating Renmatix’s Plantrose Process with Gevo’s
December 07, 2018 Read Full Article
The Laws of Biofuels Deployment, and TACs that Whack: Heard on the Floor at the CAAFI Annual Meeting
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... This year, the TAC (Technical Advisory Committee of the Biomass R&D Board) did something about as audacious and rare as shouting loud praise of open markets and democratic values on the streets of Pyongyang. The
December 05, 2018 Read Full Article
Brain Regeneration, Data Storage with Biocomputers, Plastic from Waste Gases, Bamboo Diapers, Gene-Edited Wheat, Jackets from Bison Fluff : The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the Week of November 29th
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of November 29th. ... #3 Munich researchers use algae to convert waste gas to carbon fiber In Germany, researchers
November 30, 2018 Read Full Article
A Fuel Value over $7.00 per Gallon, and Everyone’s Chasing It: The Birth of USA Bioenergy and the Surge in Renewable Diesel
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, we are now seeing project flow projecting a sustainable $7.63 price for renewable diesel in the California market, where the Low Carbon Fuel Standard stacks on top of the RIN values from the federal
November 21, 2018 Read Full Article
It Might Be Giant: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Nanocellulose, American Process Style
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A few years back, Research & Markets startled the bio world when they projected that the “Nanocellulose Market by Type (Cellulose nanocrystals, Cellulose nanofibrils, cellulose nanocomposites, and others) would reach $250 Million by 2019, signifying annualized CAGR of 19%
November 15, 2018 Read Full Article
Clariant, Neste Partner to Develop Biobased Industrial Solutions
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Neste Corp. and specialty chemicals company Clariant have signed an agreement to partner in developing and making new sustainable material solutions accessible to a variety of industries. The companies will start replacing fossil-based ethylene and propylene used
November 14, 2018 Read Full Article
BASF Produces Methanol According to the Biomass Balance Approach
(BASF) Production with second generation renewable raw materials; Reduction of greenhouse gases by at least 50 percent; Independent certification of the process; Methanol: important raw material for many value chains -- BASF has started production of methanol on the basis of renewable raw materials according
November 14, 2018 Read Full Article
Report on the Thermochemical Sciences Symposium at Auburn University
by Leyla Battista-Channell* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Auburn, Alabama: Home to the Auburn tigers, the “loveliest village on the plains,” and this year’s host to the Thermochemical Sciences Symposium. Previously held at other universities, why Auburn University this year? The Biosystems
November 12, 2018 Read Full Article
ASU Teams Find New Ways to Harness CO2 to Reduce Biofuel Costs
(Arizona State University/Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy has announced 36 projects that together have been awarded $80 million to support early-stage bioenergy research and development. Two Arizona State University research teams are among the grantees, with the grants to
November 12, 2018 Read Full Article
Heard on the Floor: Reflections and the Buzz from ABLC Global 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It was, at times, not unlike the old trading floor of the Chicago Board of Trade and that was no coincidence, for there was optimism abounding and the deal-talk that flows from a general feeling that
November 12, 2018 Read Full Article
The 40 Hottest Technologies in the Advanced Bioeconomy 2018
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In California, Impossible Foods took the #1 spot in the 2018 “40 Hottest Technologies in the Advanced Bioeconomy” rankings, published today in The Digest, the world’s most widely-read bioeconomy daily. The announcement was made live at
November 09, 2018 Read Full Article
Biofuel from a Container
(Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft/TechExplore) ... Even then, gasoline would still be required to power combustion engines, which will be operating for decades to come. The only sustainable way to keep us mobile is to replace this gasoline with alternative fuels. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute
November 07, 2018 Read Full Article
2018 State of the Industry: ABLC Global Kickoff Presentation and Remarks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Where is the industry right now?What are the 25 Key trends, how the industry is organizing, what’s up, what’s hot, what’s down, and what 6 Future Technologies should we keep a sharp eye on? Let’s take
November 07, 2018 Read Full Article
Waste Gasification: 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to 2-Stage Incineration and “True” Gasification
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) IEA Bioenergy Task 33 is a working group of international experts with the aim to promote the commercialization of efficient, economical and environmentally preferable thermal biomass gasification processes. Here, Lars Waldheim of Waldheim Consulting gave this illuminating
October 25, 2018 Read Full Article
Pyromaniax Unbound
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Why the attention? Some of it in the most recent data and news regarding commercial status. TCat-8 has operated for over 2,000 hours with continuous catalyst circulation including a fluid bed reactor, catalyst stripper, catalyst regenerator, quench tower,
October 25, 2018 Read Full Article
JBEI Researchers Produce High Density Jet Fuel Precursors from Bacteria
(Green Car Congress) Researchers with the US Department of Energy (DOE) Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), with colleagues in China, have produced the tricyclic sesquiterpenes epi-isozizaene, pentalenene and α-isocomene—promising jet fuel feedstocks—at high production titers, providing novel, sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based jet
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
R1,1 Billion Gas to Fuel Green Energy Plant for Middelburg
(Middleburg Observer) A gas to fuel green energy plants to the value of R1,1 billion will be built in Middelburg next year, anchoring the town as South Africa’s flagship commercial ethanol production region. ... A pilot fermentation unit was shipped to South Africa,
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
The Transition: The Digest’s 2018 Multi-Slide Guide to Bioproducts Transition Dynamics
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) BETO has been developing a broad understanding of different conversion processes that produce bioproducts and the associated market attributes. However, there is not much understanding around how investment decisions are made and the possible successful
October 24, 2018 Read Full Article
EBRD Plans to Invest 80 Million Euros into Ukrainian Bioenergy
by Jack Laurenson (Kiyv Post) Biomass as a replacement for Russian gas in heating is one grassroots initiative that has become an emerging business, earning real profits for investors. For example, the biogas outlet in Velyky Krupil, Kyiv Oblast, provides electricity