by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) It’s been around for a generation or so — fast pyrolysis, that is. Though in the original low-tech incarnation — known as “cooking fire” — pyrolysis has been around since the dawn of man. But
Pretreatment
Back TO HOMEPoplar-Based Bioethanol Production Awaits Spike In Price Of Crude
by Bruce Dorminey (Renewable Energy World) As the world’s fastest growing temperate tree species, poplar can add a dozen feet annually and reach maturity in as few as four years. One of its hybrids, populus x generosa, has the widest
July 21, 2015 Read Full Article
At a Crossroads, Biofuels Seek a New Path Forward
by Richard Martin (MIT Technology Review) New microbes and new techniques show promise for advanced biofuels, but the industry is still years away from real progress. Attempting to chart a path forward for the beleaguered biofuels industry, a group of researchers
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Ethanol: Where Are the Gallons? Answers for Your Questions.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Seen a number of high-profile cellulosic projects open in recent years, and not much ethanol being produced? Wondered why? Here are answers to your questions. As Jack Webb used to say on Dragnet, just the facts,
July 02, 2015 Read Full Article
EU Green Lights €120M in Advanced Bioeconomy Projects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Brussels, The Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), has approved the funding of 10 projects totalling €120 million to boost the EU capacity to
June 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Genomatica Advances Development of Feedstock for Biochemicals
(Genomatica/Biomass Magazine) Genomatica announced significant progress in harnessing cellulosic biomass for commercial production of high-quality chemicals rather than just fuels. ... Genomatica has developed clear guidance for biomass pretreatment technology developers to enable their technologies to work better with commercial bioprocesses for
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Bioenergy and Biofuels Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass via Anaerobic Digestion and Fisher-Tropsch Reaction
(US Department of Agriculture/Ohio State University) The long term goal of this project is to commercialize an integrated anaerobic digestion system (iADs) that promises cost competitive bioenergy and biofuels production from lignocellulosic biomass. The specific objectives of this proposal are
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Why We Have a Joint BioEnergy Institute: The Story of Ionic Liquids
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... You see, JBEI’s team believe they have come up with the solution in a new generation of ionic liquids. What are ionic liquids, anyway? They are environmentally benign organic salts. In this case, salts that are liquids
June 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Sweetwater Energy Raises $10M; Begins Ramp-Up to First Commercial
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Sweetwater Energy announced it has closed on a $10 million bridge loan. The loan closed as Sweetwater said that it is now opening its Series B investor round to begin construction of a first commercial facility. Sweetwater
April 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Rubber Security
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though we usually think of diversifying away from petroleum via the fuels for our cars — what about the petroleum in the tires? Rubber security, as it turns out, offers some of the same chills
March 31, 2015 Read Full Article
Metabolic Path to Improved Biofuel Production
(EurekAlert!/US Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), a partnership that includes the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, have found a way to increase the
March 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Visalia-Based Edeniq Engineering Ethanol’s Future
by George Lurie (The Business Journal NOW) ... Lower oil prices, (Brian) Thome (president and CEO of Edeniq) said, translate into “lower prices for ethanol too. That means margins for ethanol producers will be squeezed” — a scenario that plays right into
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Novel Pretreatment Could Cut Biofuel Costs by 30 Percent or More
(Science Daily/University of California-Riverside) Researchers have invented a novel pretreatment technology that could cut the cost of biofuels production by about 30 percent or more by dramatically reducing the amount of enzymes needed to breakdown the raw materials that form
February 27, 2015 Read Full Article
2015 Sun Grant Conference: Academia Jumps One Step Forward and Shows What Will Be the Future of Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Utilization in the Southeastern USA
Author, Dan Quadros, in Auburn, Alabama.by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) After two days (February 2-3, 2015) in “Sweet Home Alabama” at Auburn University, we got overwhelmed with the most recent discoveries of cutting-edge research that were presented
February 25, 2015 Read Full Article
UGA Researchers Develop Super Yeast that Turns Pine into Ethanol
(University of Georgia/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a "super strain" of yeast that can efficiently ferment ethanol from pretreated pine, one of the most common species of trees in Georgia and the U.S. Their
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
BPI Announces Startup of Pilot Plant Featuring LTSD Technology
(Bio-Process Innovation Inc./Ethanol Producer Magazine) Bio-Process Innovation Inc. has announced the completion of the construction of its 1-ton pilot plant and successful operation of its low temperature steep delignification (LTSD) pretreatment process at its pilot facility in Otterbein, Indiana. The
February 16, 2015 Read Full Article
New Conversion Process Turns Biomass 'Waste' into Lucrative Chemical Products
by Elizabeth K. Gardner (Purdue University) A new catalytic process is able to convert what was once considered biomass waste into lucrative chemical products that can be used in fragrances, flavorings or to create high-octane fuel for racecars and jets. A team
December 22, 2014 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
Energy Department Announces $7 Million to Develop Advanced Logistics for Bioenergy Feedstocks
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department announced today up to $7 million for two projects aimed at developing and demonstrating ways to reduce the cost of delivering bioenergy feedstocks to biorefineries. Examples of bioenergy feedstocks include corn stover, switchgrass,
December 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Edeniq Heads down Success-at-Scale Avenue, in China
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Virtuosos of Visalia land a major contract with China giant Global Bio-chem — a 50KT cellulosic sugars plant is underway in Jilin province. In California, Edeniq announced a Joint Development Agreement with Global Bio-chem Technology Group
December 03, 2014 Read Full Article
4 Minutes With…Alex Baker, Chief Operating Officer, Leaf Resources Limited
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Glycell pretreatment process. ... I studied science with majors in biochemistry and microbiology at Griffith University. Griffith had a strong environmental link and industrial pathways for it’s science school. It lead me into a career
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Clariant’s Demonstration Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Germany: The Complete Facility, in Pictures
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Producing enzymes and yeasts on site, as part of the complete biomass-to-fuels manufacturing process. ... In recent years — the region around Straubing turned to biotech to access the high returns in high tech for its
September 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Methes Energies Signs Catalyst Supply Agreement for Its New Pre-Treatment Process
(Methes Energies) Methes Energies International Ltd. (NASDAQ: MEIL), a renewable energy company that offers an array of products and services to biodiesel fuel producers, announced the introduction of Methes PP-MEC catalyst. Dorf Ketal Speciality Catalysts LLC ("Dorf Ketal") will be the exclusive manufacturer
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
First Ionic Liquid Made from Plant Waste
by James Urquhart (Chemistry World) Ionic liquids – salts that are liquid at room temperature – could potentially be made more cheaply and greenly by recycling by-products from biofuel production processes, according to US researchers. These ionic liquids derived from biofuel
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
Students Present Research at Ethanol Conference
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) Several University of Minnesota students are giving the ethanol industry a preview of their cutting-edge research in biofuels, biochemicals and bioproducts during the 27th Annual Ethanol Conference in Minneapolis. One such student is Sahana Ramanna who is a
August 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Improving Commercial Viability of Biofuels
by Sean Nealon (UCR Today) RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) — A University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering professor is one of the authors of a paper recently published in Science that outlines ways companies can commercialize and profit from what
August 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Minn. Funds 5 Biofuel and Bioenergy Projects, Thermal RFP Soon
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has named five in-state bioenergy projects as recipients of NextGen Energy grants. ... Grant recipients include: -Easy Energy Systems, Welcome, Minn. - $500,000 The project builds a showplace biofuel production facility capable of testing multiple
July 01, 2014 Read Full Article
Michigan State University Partnership Accelerates Bio-Based Projects
(Michigan State University) The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization Program for the Bio-Economy, launched by MSU and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announces the first three BioAg projects selected for grants to help make them broadly available for consumer use. Supported
June 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Lignin Valorization: Improving Lignin Processing in the Biorefinery
by Arthur J. Ragauskas, Gregg T. Beckham, Mary J. Biddy, Richard Chandra, Fang Chen, Mark F. Davis, Brian H. Davison, Richard A. Dixon, Paul Gilna, Martin Keller, Paul Langan, Amit K. Naskar, Jack N. Saddler, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Gerald A. Tuskan,
May 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Better Yield Thanks to a Coal Waste Product
by Peter Rüegg (ETH Zurich) Biofuel can be produced from wood, too. The key to this is the suitable pretreatment of the plant parts in order to break up the wood structure. Researchers at the Transport Processes and Reactions Laboratory, ETH
May 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Neste Oil And DONG Energy To Begin Cooperation On Technology Development For Renewable Fuels
(Nestle Oil) Neste Oil, the world's largest producer of premium-quality renewable fuels, has joined forces with DONG Energy, one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, to develop an integrated process to produce renewable diesel and aviation fuel based on
April 18, 2014 Read Full Article
CRIBE, GreenField Partner to Test Demonstration Technology
(Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy is partnering with GreenField Specialty Alcohols to test and develop a technology that, if successful, will lead to significant economic and
March 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Lignocellulose Shown to Have Potential in Bioplastic Production
(Wageningen University/Biomass Magazine) Chemical building blocks from lignocellulosic feedstock form a huge potential for the production of bioplastics. More specifically, they have potential for biodegradable plastic polylactic acid (PLA). The building block for PLA - lactic acid - is currently
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
10 Time Machines for Making Biofuels and Chemicals
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The new technologies that come along have to provide pressure, temperature and feedstock at their own cost. So it’s the cost of those three elements, competing against the cost of locating, drilling and pumping. In
November 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Wood Completely Broken Down into Its Component Parts
(Fraunhofer) Crude oil is getting scarce. This is why researchers are seeking to substitute petroleum-based products – like plastics – with sustainable raw materials. Waste wood, divided into lignin and cellulose, could serve as a raw material. A pilot plant
October 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Demystifying Cellulose
by Scott Mowrey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A primer outlines the inherent challenges for biofuel production using biomass Raw cellulose from plant biomass is composed of six classes of materials with varying percentages and widely different physical and chemical properties: cellulose, hemicelluloses
October 16, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Big Six in Advanced Biofuels & Chemicals: Who’s Doing What Now?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After taking a leading role in the global first generation wave of ethanol production, here come the Brazilians — with some hot North American technologies in tow — to take on next-generation biofuels and chemicals.
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels’ 10 Scariest Challenges: Part 1 of 2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Upstream, downstream, processing, policy, finance – opportunities and challenges abound in the bioeconomy – but which challenges are the most intractable and daunting of them all? In today’s part 1, #10 through #6. They use various aliases
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Secretary Moniz Announces New Biofuels Projects to Drive Cost Reductions, Technological Breakthroughs
(U.S. Department of Energy) During remarks at the Energy Department’s Biomass 2013 annual conference, Secretary Moniz today highlighted the important role biofuels play in the Administration’s Climate Action Plan to increase our energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation
August 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Ultrasound ‘Making Waves’ For Enhancing Biofuel Production
(Science Daily) All chefs know that "you have to break some eggs to make an omelet," and that includes engineers at Iowa State University who are using high-frequency sound waves to break down plant materials in order to cook up
July 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Scientists Develop 'Green' Pretreatment of Miscanthus for Biofuel
(University of Illinois/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two University of Illinois scientists have developed an environmentally friendly and more economical way of pretreating miscanthus in the biofuel production process. "We pretreat the biomass with switchable butadiene sulfone in the presence of water to break
May 28, 2013 Read Full Article
New Advance in Biofuel Production
by Lynn Yarris(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) Joint BioEnergy Institute Researchers Develop Enzyme-free Ionic Liquid Pre-treatment Advanced biofuels – liquid fuels synthesized from the sugars in cellulosic biomass – offer a clean, green and renewable alternative to gasoline, diesel and jet fuels.
May 14, 2013 Read Full Article
API Lands Brazil Investment to Commercialize Cellulosic Process
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) With a fresh investment from Brazil’s GranBio, American Process Inc. is poised to develop its first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in both the U.S. and Brazil. API CEO Theodora Retsina, said the companies hope
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
National Labs Release New Biochemical Biorefinery Sizing Study
(US Department of Energy) The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory have released a joint study on biochemical biorefinery sizing. “Investigation of biochemical biorefinery sizing and environmental sustainability impacts for conventional
April 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Cellulosic Technology Must Use Existing Cropland — Study
by Amanda Peterka (Governors Biofuel Coalition) Cellulosic biofuels can become profitable for farmers and help displace oil, but they must use already-available agricultural land, according to a study released by a nonprofit yesterday. Commissioned by the Council for Agricultural Science and
April 05, 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
Biochemical Production of Ethanol and Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters from Switchgrass: A Comparative Analysis of Environmental and Economic Performance
by Scott M. Paapa, Todd H. West, Dawn K. Manley, Eric J. Steen, Harry R. Beller, Jay D. Keasling, Dean C. Dibble, Shiyan Chang, Blake A. Simmons (Biomass and Bioenergy) As advances in biotechnology have continued at a rapid pace,
March 18, 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
Direvo Reaches Milestone in Consolidated Bioprocessing of Lignocellulose to Lactic Acid
(Direvo) Direvo Industrial Biotechnology GmbH (Direvo) today announced that it reached an important milestone in developing a consolidated bioprocess for lactic acid production from lignocellulose. Up until now, there has not been any known consolidated bioprocess for producing lactic acid from
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
Lux: Alternative Fuel Companies Reach for Real Revenue in 2013
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A 32-page report by Lux Research picks winners and losers in 2012 among alternative fuel developers. The state of the market report, which is provided only to clients, also predicts that many companies will
February 25, 2013 Read Full Article
DDGS-to-Cellulosic Ethanol Process Could Commercialize Rapidly
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) NEAtech, a new energy alternatives company, is searching for financing to further test and commercialize its patented distillers grain-to-cellulosic ethanol process. The consulting company, which has a joint venture with BBI International, received patent
February 07, 2013 Read Full Article
If Polluters Pay, Will Renewables Rise?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Changes in EU policy and the financing of advanced biofuels have led to a revival of project formation in Europe. The latest news from Finland is that St1 is proceeding towards a build on its 10
February 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Lawrence Berkeley Lab Says Principle Proven on New Ionic Liquid Pretreatment Process for Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Lawrence Berkeley Lab has developed a new technology that enables the engineering of host microorganisms suitable for biofuel processing using ionic liquid pretreatment. It may also enable fermentation under septic conditions, since invasive organisms are
January 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar-Rich Willow Can Boost Biofuels' Green Credentials
by Mark Kinver (BBC News) Scientists have identified willow trees that yield five times as much sugar as ordinary varieties, "drastically reducing" the impact of biofuels. UK researchers found that if the trees grew at an angle, they produced a special kind
January 25, 2013 Read Full Article
Acid-Catalyzed Esterification of Karanja (Pongamia pinnata) Oil with High Free Fatty Acids for Biodiesel Production
by K.V. Thiruvengadaravi, J. Nandagopal, P. Baskaralingam, V. Sathya Selva Bala, S. Sivanesan (Fuel/Science Direct) We report the production of a biodiesel fuel by acid-catalyzed esterification of high free fatty acid (FFA) karanja oil (KO). Pretreated KO was converted to biodiesel
January 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Announces Awards for Achievement in Development of Bio/Renewable Fuels, Chemicals, Materials
Biofuels Digest announced its annual awards for achievement in the development of biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased materials - all available with background on the who, what and why of each award - today at biofuelsdigest.com. Best Project (thermochemical) Best Project (fermentation) Best
December 31, 2012 Read Full Article
DOE Funds $650K for Algae Research at Stevens Institute
(Algae Industry Magazine) Funded by a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Biomass Program, Dr. Adeniyi Lawal of Stevens Institute of Technology will be leading a team investigating microalgae as a biomass fuel source. Dr. Simon Podkolzin,
December 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Novel Pretreatment for Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol Production “Glycerol Bio-Refinery Process”
(Leaf Energy) The patent application titled “Methods for Converting Lignocellulosic Material to Useful Products” (“Glycerol Bio-refinery process”) describes the process developed at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) by Zhanging Zhang, Ian O’Hara and William Doherty. The production of biofuels from
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
NREL Researchers Use Imaging Technologies to Solve Puzzle of Plant Architecture
(US Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) Breakthrough could help optimize capture of sugars for biofuels Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) combined different microscopic imaging methods to gain
November 30, 2012 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Conversion Process Cuts Costly Separating Step
(University of Wisconsin-Madison) Using a biomass-derived solvent, University of Wisconsin-Madison chemical and biological engineers have streamlined the process for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-demand chemicals or energy-dense liquid transportation fuel. Their new method eliminates the need for costly pretreatment steps that
November 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Wood Completely Broken Down into Its Component Parts
(Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes) Crude oil is getting scarce. This is why researchers are seeking to substitute petroleum-based products – like plastics – with sustainable raw materials. Waste wood, divided into lignin and cellulose, could serve as a raw
October 26, 2012 Read Full Article
POET-DSM Makes Major Technology, Process Purchase for Commercial Cellulosic Bio-Ethanol
(POET) POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels has contracted for a key technology/process component in breaking down cellulose to produced advanced biofuel. POET-DSM has contracted with International Technology Group ANDRITZ, through its U.S. subsidiary ANDRITZ Inc., to supply a two-step biomass treatment process for
October 26, 2012 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
Feedstock Flexibility: Key to Future Profitability?
by Pete Moss (Biodiesel Magazine/Frazier, Barnes & Associates) ...Refined soybean oil is more expensive than degummed. Tallow is more expensive than yellow grease and so on. But why is soybean oil more expensive when it is the most abundant oil
January 23, 2012 Read Full Article
A Critical Component
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Choosing the most appropriate feedstock pretreatment method for a given facility can make or break plant economics A wide variety of feedstock pretreatment materials and technologies is readily available in the marketplace. From steam stripping, to
January 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Feedstock Solutions: Researchers, Members of Industry Unite to Report on Feedstock Densification
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) Approximately 100 professionals working in the feedstock and biorefining sectors recently met at Idaho National Laboratory to participate in a U.S. DOE-funded workshop. ...“Our objective was to broaden the view of densification from just a
October 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Iowa State Researchers Produce Cheap Sugars for Sustainable Biofuel Production
(Iowa State University) Iowa State University's Robert C. Brown keeps a small vial of brown, sweet-smelling liquid on his office table. "It looks like something you could pour on your pancakes," he said. "In many respects, it is similar to molasses." Brown,
October 03, 2011 Read Full Article
GBL and Songyuan Laihe Chemical Company (Laihe) Enter into a Technology Collaboration Agreement
(Green Biologics) GBL and Laihe Chemical Co. a company focused on producing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals from non-food bio-mass resources have entered into a collaborative development and licensing agreement in China. Under the terms of the agreement GBL and Laihe
September 02, 2011 Read Full Article
China’s Vision for Renewable Energy: The Status of Bioenergy and Bioproduct Research and Commercialization
Elizabeth R. Nesbitt, Paul Thiers, Johnway Gao, Sharon Shoemaker, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Julie Carrier, Joy Doran-Peterson, John Morgan, Guangyi Wang, Pierre Christian Wensel, Shulin Chen (Journal of International Commerce and Economics) The Chinese government is vigorously promoting commercialization of renewable energy and bioproducts, given environmental issues plus food, energy, and national security concerns,
August 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Salt-loving Microbe Provides New Enzymes for the Production of Next Gen Biofuels
(Joint Genome Institute) Calif.—In order to realize the full potential of advanced biofuels that are derived from non-food sources of lignocellulosic biomass—e.g., agricultural, forestry, and municipal waste, and crops such as poplar, switchgrass and miscanthus—new technologies that can efficiently and
July 08, 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
Researchers in Three States Work on Densification
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In order for ag residues and energy crops to be profitably converted to biofuels, it is expected that biorefineries will need to acquire all of their feedstocks from within close proximities to the plants.
May 03, 2011 Read Full Article
U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy Announce Funding for Biomass Research and Development Initiative
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) To support President Obama's goal of reducing America's oil imports by one-third by 2025, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) today jointly announced up to $30 million over three to four years that
April 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Shell Exits Algae as It Commences “Year of Choices”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Last week [after previously exiting their investment in Choren, a Fischer-Tropsch technology based in Germany] Shell announced that it will will exit its shareholding in Cellana, a joint venture between Shell and HR Biopetroleum. Today,
January 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Enzyme Cocktail Could Eliminate a Step in Biofuel Process
(NewsGuide) Conversion of biomass to fuel requires several steps: chemical pretreatment to break up the biomass – often dilute (sulfuric) acid, detoxification to remove the toxic chemicals required in pretreatment, and microbial fermentation to convert the soluble sugars to fuels. Virginia
December 28, 2010 Read Full Article
Beet as a New Energy Crop
(The Bioenergy Site) For the past two years, North Dakota State University Biofuels Economist, Cole Gufstafson, has been working in partnership with Green Vision Group and Heartland Renewable Energy (HRE) to create an energy beet for the biofuel industry in North
August 25, 2010 Read Full Article
Using Ionic Liquids Without Acids for Biomass Conversion into Biofuel Saves Time, Energy, Colorado State University Professors Discover
(Colorado State University) Dissolving plant biomass in “green” solvent ionic liquids - salts that melt at low temperatures - converts more sugars needed for biofuel more quickly than traditional methods, according to a new study by Colorado State University professors. The
April 26, 2010 Read Full Article
Saving Energy When Pre-Processing Biofuels
by Matt Ford (Ars Technica) ...When it comes to the processing of organic feedstocks for use in biofuel operations, getting plant matter down to size often represents a significant cost, as grinding and milling do not come cheap. New work by
April 15, 2010 Read Full Article
New Method Uses Electrolyzed Water For More Efficient Fuel Production
(Science Daily) Using electrolyzed water rather than harsh chemicals could be a more effective and environmentally friendly method in the pretreatment of ethanol waste products to produce an acetone-butanol-ethanol fuel mix, according to research conducted at the University of Illinois.