Natural Plastics

Novozymes, the world leader in industrial enzymes, today announced the launch of a new game-changing enzyme product, Novozymes Avantec®, which improves the efficiency and profitability of biofuel production. Avantec enables producers of corn ethanol to squeeze an extra 2.5% ethanol out of the corn, thereby improving their profit margins significantly.

“Corn is the single biggest input cost for an ethanol producer, and as prices have gone up, profits have disappeared,” says Novozymes Executive Vice President Peder Holk Nielsen. “Avantec is a vitamin shot for the industry. It allows you to save a lot of corn and still produce the same amount of ethanol. If you’re an ethanol producer in today’s market, that’s a real boost to your bottom-line.”

For a typical U.S. ethanol plant the savings are substantial. A plant uses around 900,000 tons of feed-grade corn per year to produce 100 million gallons of fuel ethanol, 300,000 tons of animal feed (DDGS) and 8,500 tons of corn oil. With Avantec, such a plant can save 22,500 tons of corn while maintaining the same ethanol output.

The US could save 3 million tons of corn
Corn is the key raw material in biofuel production in the U.S. and by far the biggest cost component for an ethanol plant. After the corn is harvested, the kernels are ground into corn meal, and water is added to make a mash. Enzymes convert the starch in the mash to sugar, which can then be fermented to ethanol. Avantec does this more efficiently than any other enzyme product on the market.

“Most U.S. ethanol plants convert 90-95% of the available starch, so there is significant potential for plant owners to increase output and maximize profits,” says Peder Holk Nielsen. “In fact, if all ethanol plants in the U.S. started using Avantec, they would save 3 million tons of corn.”
Avantec is the latest addition to Novozymes’ range of yield-enhancing enzyme products for the biofuel industry. Over the past five years, continuous improvements in enzyme technology from Novozymes have helped the industry increase starch conversion by 5%.

The U.S. is the biggest biofuel producer in the world, with corn ethanol production expected to reach 13.3 billion gallons in 2012.

Source: http://www.novozymes.com

Neste Oil - the world's largest producer of renewable diesel - has launched the commercial production and sales of renewable naphtha for corporate customers. NExBTL renewable naphtha can be used as a feedstock for producing bioplastics, for example, and as a biocomponent for gasoline. Neste Oil is one of the world's first companies to supply bionaphtha on a commercial scale. NExBTL naphtha is produced as part of the NExBTL renewable diesel refining process at Neste Oil's sites in Finland, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

Bioplastics produced from NExBTL naphtha can be used in numerous industries that prioritize the use of renewable and sustainable raw materials, such as companies producing plastic parts for the automotive industry and packaging for consumer products. The mechanical and physical properties of bioplastics produced from NExBTL renewable naphtha are fully comparable with those of plastics produced from fossil naphtha; and the carbon footprint of these plastics is smaller than that of conventional fossil-based plastics.

Bioplastic products produced from NExBTL renewable naphtha can be recycled with conventional fossil-based plastic products, and can be used as a fuel in energy generation following recycling.

In addition to renewable naphtha, the NExBTL renewable diesel refining process also produces renewable propane, which can be used as a traffic fuel, for cooking and heating in the home, and in food packaging. Neste Oil recently started a study on the feasibility of commercializing NExBTL propane.

Neste Oil also produces commercial volumes of NExBTL renewable aviation fuel.

All the products produced as part of NExBTL renewable diesel refining comply with the strict sustainability criteria established by the EU's Renewable Energy Directive across the entire supply chain. They have been verified as being sustainably produced, the inputs used can be fully traced back to their origin, and they contribute a significant reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to comparable fossil-based products.

About Neste Oil

Neste Oil Corporation is a refining and marketing company concentrating on low-emission, high-quality traffic fuels, and is the world's leading supplier of renewable diesel. Neste Oil had net sales of EUR 15.4 billion in 2011 and employs around 5,000 people. Neste Oil's share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

Neste Oil has been selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Ethibel Excellence Investment Register. Neste Oil has been included in The Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable corporations for a number of years in succession; and Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) has ranked Neste Oil as the best performer in the oil & gas sector. Further information: www.nesteoil.com

Source: diariodeleon.es

Novozymes, the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, and Beta Renewables, a global leader in cellulosic biofuels and part of Gruppo Mossi & Ghisolfi, today announce an agreement to jointly market, demonstrate and guarantee cellulosic biofuel solutions. As part of the agreement, Novozymes will acquire a 10% share in Beta Renewables, paying approximately $115 million cash for the equity, marketing fees, other intellectual property rights and milestone payments.

The partners will offer customers looking to produce biofuels from agricultural residues, energy crops and other cellulosic feedstocks a combination of Novozymes' Cellic® enzymes and Beta Renewables' PROESA™ engineering and production technology. Beta Renewables will embed Novozymes' enzymes in the PROESA technology and guarantee biofuel production costs upon start-up of customers' cellulosic facilities. The deal is unique in offering a combined solution that reduces the risk in customers' projects while providing competitive commercial terms.

"This type of complete offering will significantly de-risk cellulosic biofuel projects financially as well as technologically for our customers," says Beta Renewables' Chairman and CEO, Guido Ghisolfi. "It will make cellulosic biofuel projects bankable and accelerate large-scale commercialization of the industry."
"Large-scale commercialization of cellulosic biofuels is taking off, and this is a fantastic opportunity for Novozymes," says Peder Holk Nielsen, Executive Vice President at Novozymes. "Beta Renewables is an extremely committed industry front-runner. They are building advanced biofuel facilities all over the world and, by being their preferred enzyme supplier, Novozymes will gain access to significant new business opportunities. We expect Beta Renewables to be able to contract 15-25 new facilities within the next three to five years. The sales potential for Novozymes from these plants could be up to $175 million."

World's largest advanced biofuel plant
In the last five years, Beta Renewables has invested over $200 million (€140 million) in development of the cost-competitive PROESA process. PROESA is the same technology that will be used at the world's largest cellulosic ethanol plant in Crescentino, Italy, where operations are expected to start by the end of 2012. The plant will initially produce 13 million gallons (50 million liters) of ethanol per year from wheat straw, energy crops and other locally available feedstocks. It has a design capacity of 20 million gallons (76 million liters) per year.

"Just one year after it was established, Beta Renewables has become a global leader in the production of non-food biofuels and biochemicals," says Guido Ghisolfi. "This agreement has double value: It demonstrates the full integration of the PROESA process with the enzyme technology and allows Beta Renewables to guarantee a full lignocellulosic cost."

Beta Renewables has also secured a deal to build at least one manufacturing plant in Brazil with GraalBio, and, recently, Gruppo Mossi & Ghisolfi received a $99 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to construct Project Alpha, a cellulosic biofuel plant in North Carolina.
Novozymes is the world's leading supplier of enzymes to the biofuel industry. The Denmark-based biotech company's Cellic enzymes enable cost-efficient conversion of biomass to ethanol and are broadly regarded as the industry benchmark.

Source: http://www.gruppomg.com

Evonik launches next-generation biofuel component

• Bio-MTBE produced at Marl site since March 2012 
• Bio-MTBE makes it easier for fuel producers to comply with EU biofuel directives ("biofuel quotas") 
• CO2 emissions from combustion of gasoline reduced 
• Does not compete with food production 
• Implementation of EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EU (RED) in all EU member states is expected to provide opportunities for growth

With a biological version of a premium antiknock agent in its portfolio (methyl tert-butyl ether, or MTBE), Evonik now offers oil companies a new option for significantly increasing the biocontent of their fuels and reducing their carbon footprint. "Bio-MTBE is the only commercially available, next-generation biofuel component for gasoline in Germany," explains Dr. Rainer Fretzen, who heads the Performance Intermediates Business Line at Evonik. "And it doesn't compete with food production, either." Bio-MTBE is produced in Marl (Germany) along with conventional MTBE.

Evonik produces Bio-MTBE from isobutene and biomethanol. Because it is made from raw glycerine, which is itself a co-product of the biodiesel manufacturing process, biomethanol is classified as a waste product according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED)—doubling its value for determining bioenergy content. That makes Bio-MTBE a promising option for fuel manufacturers looking to meet EU specifications for biofuel use and CO2 reduction.

MTBE has been a trusted antiknock agent for decades, and Bio-MTBE possesses the same technical advantages as its conventional counterpart: high energy density (86 percent of gasoline), low vapor pressure, low oxygen content, and very low solubility in water. That translates to excellent compatibility with other gasoline components and to its well-known positive effect on gasoline quality. It also means that Bio-MTBE can be handled safely in refineries and storage tanks and be conveyed by pipeline.
While Evonik has primarily sold Bio-MTBE in Germany and the Netherlands, implementation of EU directives in other member states promises additional growth potential for this next-generation biofuel component. If needed, Evonik could shift the full capacity of its plant (550,000 metric tons per year) over to production of Bio-MTBE.

Source: www.evonik.com

Amyris signed an amendment to its existing technology collaboration agreement with Total. Under the enhanced collaboration, Total reaffirms its commitment to Amyris's technology and dedicates its $82 million funding budget over the next three years exclusively for the deployment of Biofene, Amyris's renewable farnesene, for production of renewable diesel and jet fuel. Upon completion of the research and development program, Total and Amyris intend to form a joint venture company that would have exclusive rights to produce and market renewable diesel and/or jet fuel, as well as non-exclusive rights to other specialty products.

 

"Today we reaffirm our strategic relationship with Total to achieve our joint development and commercialization objectives for renewable diesel and jet fuel," said John Melo, President & CEO of Amyris. "We are appreciative of Total's ongoing support of Amyris.In addition to Amyris' continued development of jet and diesel businesses in Brazil independently, this enhanced collaboration provides a global platform for the future growth in fuels under a future joint venture with Total," Melo concluded.

 

"Amyris's best-in-class technology to produce renewable hydrocarbons has proven performance attributes," said Philippe Boisseau, President, Supply-Marketing and member of Total's Executive Committee. "With this refocused partnership, we'll reach our business objectives, expand our ability to become a key supplier in renewable fuels and better meet our customers' highest demands," Boisseau concluded.

 

Under today's announcement, Total agreed to fund $30 million during the third quarter of 2012. Additional funding will be triggered by Total at annual decision points in mid 2013 and 2014. Detailed information is included in Amyris's SEC filing associated with this transaction.

 

"Amyris and Total have had a successful research partnership since 2010 and we continue, through this amended collaboration, to pursue our shared strategy of building the world's leading renewable technology platform," said Arthur D. Levinson, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amyris. "Today's agreement deepens this long-term partnership and enables Amyris to continue investing in its core technology while accessing the market know-how and scale-up capability of Total," concluded Levinson.

 

About the Technology

Amyris has developed advanced microbial engineering and screening technologies that modify the way microorganisms process sugars. Amyris is using this industrial synthetic biology platform to design microbes, primarily yeast, and use them as living factories in established fermentation processes to convert plant-sourced sugars into renewable chemical and transportation fuel products.

 

Amyris operates laboratories and a pilot plant in California as well as a pilot plant and demonstration facility in Brazil. Amyris has been scaling its Biofene production through various production arrangements and expects to operate its first dedicated commercial scale facility in Brazil by early 2013.

 

This technology will help make it possible for producers to blend renewable hydrocarbons produced from sustainable biomass and organic waste into fuel in proportions that significantly exceed the current 7% set by European Union regulations or other government policies. Renewable fuels developed by Total and Amyris will deliver energy density, engine performance, and storage properties comparable to the best petroleum fuels.

Source: www.amyris.com

Aemetis, Inc. (OTCPK: AMTX), an advanced fuels and renewable chemicals company, announced today that the company has acquired Cilion, Inc., including a 55 million gallon per year (mgy) ethanol production plant located in Keyes, CA.

In 2010, Aemetis entered into a multi-year project and lease agreement with Cilion to upgrade, restart, and operate the Cilion biofuels plant. Aemetis successfully retrofitted and then restarted the plant in April 2011, and has achieved continuous operations for more than one year.

 

The acquisition of Cilion advances Aemetis’ plans to utilize the existing ethanol plant’s infrastructure to create a next-generation biorefinery producing advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals in addition to ethanol and animal feed products.

In addition to the Keyes, California ethanol plant, Cilion’s other assets include spare parts and equipment that will be used at the plant.

 

In 2011, Aemetis acquired Zymetis, Inc., a biotechnology company with a patented organism that enables the production of renewable advanced biofuels and biochemicals.

“The acquisition of the Keyes plant accelerates our plan to expand this world-class ethanol production facility into a next-generation biorefinery capable of producing advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals,” said Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.

In conjunction with the acquisition, Third Eye Capital, Aemetis’ existing senior lender, provided a $15 million term loan and an $18 million working capital financing facility to assist Aemetis in the acquisition and to provide ongoing working capital.

 

“Our substantial ongoing commitment to Aemetis is demonstrative of our belief in the high quality assets and first-class team built under Eric McAfee’s leadership,” said Arif Bhalwani, President and CEO of Third Eye Capital. “The acquisition of the Keyes plant will allow Aemetis to accelerate the next phase of its renewable fuels and chemicals strategy.”

Specific details of the Cilion acquisition can be found in the Form 8-K filed by Aemetis with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2012.

 

About Aemetis

Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis produces advanced fuels. Aemetis operates a 55 million gallon biofuels plant in California, and built and operates a nameplate 50 million gallon per year renewable chemicals and advanced fuels production facility on the east coast of India. In 2011, Aemetis received a California Energy Commission grant to commercialize technology that enables the production of advanced biofuels from both non-food and traditional feedstocks. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.

 

Source: http://www.aemetis.com/

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS has been awarded "no-harm certification" from Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM) for its new biodiesel stabilizer Baynox Solution 50%. Working closely with oil corporations in Germany, AGQM (a German consortium for biodiesel quality management) investigated the undesirable side-effects of mixing antioxidants for biodiesel with brand-name diesel and their behavior in combustion engines. The LANXESS antioxidant concentrate passed the numerous tests without any restrictions and has been included by AGQM in the no-harm list.

Baynox Solution 50% is a highly concentrated solution of Baynox, the tried-and-tested biodiesel stabilizer from LANXESS. It combines the benefits of easy handling with the outstanding properties of Baynox. "Baynox Solution 50% meets the demand from countless biodiesel producers for a liquid stabilizer with a high active ingredient content that can also be metered easily," said Ralf Bogan, the product manager in charge at LANXESS Distribution GmbH. "And as we use biodiesel as a solvent for our stabilizers, customers don't need to worry about additional safety requirements in the biodiesel plant."

Baynox antioxidants are ultrapure. Apart from active ingredients and biodiesel, they don't contain alcoholic or mineral solubilizers, sulfur, nitrogen or other additives. The active ingredients combust in the engine without leaving any residues. These additives are dissolved in biodiesel and are supplied accordingly by LANXESS in liquid form. Customers receive a ready-to-use formulation that can be added during biodiesel production, thus eliminating the need for further addition of solvent that is both highly volatile and strong-smelling. Baynox was the first biodiesel stabilizer to be approved by German mineral oil suppliers.

The effective antioxidant Baynox ensures the biofuel obtained from natural raw material remains stable and can therefore be used for longer. The disadvantage of biofuel is that the unsaturated fatty acid structures easily oxidize in contact with atmospheric oxygen. The oxidation of oils and fats through atmospheric oxygen is known as rancidity. Heat, light and other stress factors accelerate this process, making the oil rancid within a short time. The consequences of this oxidation are, on the one hand, a decomposition of the biodiesel into short-chained fatty acids and, on the other, the formation of insoluble polymers (gums). This can cause damage to the engine and the injection system.

"It has been proven that Baynox biodiesel stabilizers do not impair the fuel's chemical or technical properties in any way and that there is no need to worry about impermissible interactions with other fuel components," said Bogan.

Detailed information is available online at www.baynox.com.

Source:  http://lanxess.com

Aemetis, Inc., an industrial biotechnology company producing advanced fuels and renewable chemicals, announced today that the company was awarded a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) titled “Plant Wall Degradative Compounds and Systems”, and issued the patent number 8,173,787. This patent relates to cell wall degradative systems, containing enzymes that bind to and/or depolymerize cellulose.  With this award, Aemetis has 4 awarded patents, 7 filed patents, and 4 licensed patents.  Aemetis’ biotechnologies will enable the production of advanced fuels and industrial chemicals using sugar and starch feedstock.

“This patent further protects the efficient production of advanced fuels and biochemicals”, stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “We expect to continually grow our patent portfolio as additional technologies are converted into issued patents.”

Source: http://www.aemetis.com

Today, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), China Lake announced a contract award to Albemarle Corporation, a leading specialty chemicals company, to complete its first biojet fuel production  run based on bio n-butanol provided by Cobalt Technologies, a leading developer of next generation bio n-butantol.   For this production run, Albemarle will use NAWCWD technologies to process Cobalt’s bio n-butanol into renewable jet fuel at its Baton Rouge, La. processing facility.

"Our production run of Cobalt’s bio n-butanol provides another attractive pathway to create sustainable jet fuel not only for the military, but eventually for commercial aviation,” said Dr. Michael D. Seltzer, head of NAWCWD’s Technology Transfer Program. "We are proud to be working in partnership with Cobalt and Albemarle to create this renewable jet fuel and we look forward to testing the end result.”

Funded by the NAWCWD, this initial manufacturing contract by Albemarle kicked-off in February 2012.  Upon completion, the resulting jet fuel will be tested by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) as a continuing process for military certification through the Department of Defense.  Once this testing is completed, larger production runs will be undertaken to continue with flight testing.

"This is a significant milestone not only for our collective team, but for the greater industry looking to advance sustainable jet fuels,” said Bob Mayer, CEO of Cobalt Technologies. "It has been a pleasure working closely with the U.S. Navy to advance to this stage of testing and we are very pleased with the selection of Albemarle as our processing partner, for its proven experience in custom manufacturing and strategic focus on sustainable chemistry.”

Specifically, Cobalt converts non-food feedstock, like woody biomass, into renewable butanol for both chemicals and fuels, including jet fuel.   The combined science team from Cobalt and the NAWCWD focused on scaling and optimizing the dehydration chemistry for the conversion of bio n-butanol to 1-butene, followed by oligomerization of the biobutene into jet fuel, based on a process developed at NAWCWD in China Lake, CA. Once the team completed its initial research, the search for a large-scale processing partner began, which resulted in the awarding of today’s contract to Albemarle. 

"We are excited to support the custom scale-up and processing for this advanced technology project as it aligns with our commitment to sustainability,” said Tom Thomas, Division Vice President Fine Chemistry Services, Albemarle. "We are always looking for projects in which we can use our solutions based expertise to help address the world’s most important environmental needs.  We believe advancing biofuels and developing a renewable jet fuel is of great importance.”

This initial production run is the first significant milestone under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) signed between NAWCWD and Cobalt in 2010 to develop technology for the conversion of bio n-butanol into full performance jet and diesel fuels. This CRADA was made possible by the U.S. Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, which allows private organizations to access the expertise, capabilities and technologies of U.S. Federal laboratories to improve the economic, environmental and social well-being of the United States.

The development of cost-effective and sustainable sources of fuel for military use is a high priority for the U.S. Navy, which is aiming to cut the use of foreign-based fossil fuels in half by 2020.  This summer, the Navy is planning on using the recent purchase of 450,000 gallons of biofuel for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise as part of the Great Green Fleet demonstration, a carrier strike group composed of nuclear ships, hybrid electric ships running biofuels and aircraft flying on biofuels.  Additionally, by 2016 the Great Green Fleet will be fully deployed using 50/50 blends of biofuels for ships and aircraft.

About Cobalt Technologies
Cobalt Technologies is a leader in commercializing the production of bio n-butanol as a renewable chemical and fuel.   N-butanol is a widely used industrial chemical found in paints, lacquers and other surface coatings, with a global market of over $5 billion.  By producing low-cost bio n-butanol, Cobalt’s unique technology enables the use of bio n-butanol as a platform molecule for the production of a broad array of fuels and chemicals, including jet fuel, bio-based plastics and synthetic rubber.  Cobalt’s technology platform offers a continuous process to efficiently convert diverse non-food feedstocks into biobutanol.  Engineered to achieve low costs through its proprietary biocatalyst, advanced bioreactor and energy efficient design and the use of low-cost feedstock, Cobalt is making biobutanol and its derivatives a cost-effective substitute to petroleum-based chemical products.
Cobalt is based in Mountain View, Calif. Cobalt is backed by leading investors in the cleantech sector, including Pinnacle Ventures, Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Parsons & Whittemore, Life Sciences Partners (LSP), @Ventures, Harris & Harris and Burrill and Company.

About Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)
NAWCWD is an organization within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), dedicated to maintaining a center of excellence in weapons research and development for the Department of the Navy (DoN).  The Research Division within NAWCWD has developed patent pending technology for converting bio-1-butanol to both full-performance jet and diesel fuels that can meet the stringent NAVY fuel specifications that provide our warfighter safety at sea with no sacrifice in performance.
For further information, please visit www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd/index.html

About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. is a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics, petroleum refining, utilities, packaging, construction, automotive/transportation, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, food-safety and custom chemistry services. The Company is committed to global sustainability and is advancing its eco-practices and solutions in its three business segments, Polymer Solutions, Catalysts and Fine Chemistry. Corporate Responsibility Magazine selected Albemarle to its prestigious "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 2010 and 2011.  Albemarle employs approximately 4,000 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Albemarle regularly posts information to http://www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, Regulation G reconciliations, SEC filings, and other information regarding the Company, its businesses and the markets we serve.
Albemarle’s Fine Chemistry Services (FCS) Division is an innovative, full-service provider of fine chemicals to the world’s leading companies across the pharmaceutical, agrichemical, and specialty materials markets.  Albemarle’s FCS Division helps global customers successfully complete projects through a combination of proven chemistry expertise, world class process development, high-quality custom manufacturing and exceptional service.  From innovative R&D to commercial-scale production, Albemarle’s FCS Division delivers knowledge, experience, resources, creativity and service allowing its customers to move products to market faster.  To learn more about Albemarle’s FCS Division, please visit www.albemarle.com/fcs.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Source:  http://www.cobalttech.com

Virent and Virdia, formerly HCL CleanTech, announce the successful conversion of cellulosic pine tree sugars to drop-in hydrocarbon fuels within the BIRD Energy project, a joint program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure and the BIRD Foundation. The project, which commenced in January 2011, successfully demonstrated that Virdia’s deconstruction process generated high-quality sugars from cellulosic biomass, which were converted to fuel via Virent’s BioForming® process.

Virent used Virdia’s biomass-derived sugars to produce gasoline and jet fuel, the latter being sent to the U.S Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for analysis where it passed rigorous testing. Tim Edwards of the Fuels Branch of the AFRL said, “This fuel passed the most stringent specification tests we could throw at it (such as thermal stability) under some conditions where conventional jet fuels would fail. This fuel is definitely worth further evaluation.”

“While Virent’s BioForming® process has previously generated fuels and chemicals from sugars in cellulosic biomass,” said Virent Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Randy Cortright, “The high-quality sugars generated from pine trees using Virdia’s process leveraged Virent’s conversion process, establishing a viable route to drop-in hydrocarbons from biomass.”

“Passing the AFRL’s arduous test requirements for jet fuel further substantiates the superior value proposition of the advanced carbohydrates that Virdia is introducing,” said Philippe Lavielle, Virdia CEO. “As demonstrated by the BIRD Energy project results, Virdia’s CASE™ (Cold Acid Solvent Extraction) process can deliver the high-purity, cost-effective cellulosic sugars needed as the primary raw material for jet fuels and other applications. We are pleased to work with Virent to prove that the value of cellulosic biomass can be unlocked.”

Virdia’s CASE process encompasses a sequence of proprietary extraction and separation operations. Originally developed around the Bergius process (concentrated hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of biomass), the CASE process achieves the highest yields in the industry, and produces high purity fractions of sugars and lignin. Its low temperature, low pressure hydrolysis coupled with its closed loops of acid recovery and solvent extraction establish it as one of the most economical and environmentally sustainable processes.

Virent’s BioForming platform utilizes a novel combination of catalytic processes to convert water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons derived from biomass to non-oxygenated hydrocarbons that can be used as drop-in compounds in gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel. Virent’s BioForming platform catalysts and reactor systems are similar to those found in today’s petroleum oil refineries and petrochemical complexes.

About Virent, Inc.

Virent is replacing crude oil by creating the chemicals and fuels the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources. Its patented technology features catalytic chemistry to convert plant-based materials into a full range of products identical to those made from petroleum. The products are drop-in replacements that enable full utilization of existing logistics infrastructure without blending limitations or compromising on product quality. The development of Virent’s BioForming® technology platform is supported through strategic partners including Cargill, Coca-Cola, Honda and Shell, as well as 120 employees based in Madison, Wisconsin. Please learn more at www.Virent.com.

About Virdia

Virdia is the developer of the CASE process that converts lignocellulose into industrial sugars and lignin from wood chips and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to enable the growth of renewable chemicals and second-generation biofuels. Virdia envisions that producing high quality, competitively priced sugars and lignin from sustainable sources of biomass will help reduce our dependence on petroleum-derived products, reduce overall carbon emissions, and develop new manufacturing industries in rural areas. Founded in 2007, Virdia is a privately held company backed by top-tier venture capital firms, including Tamar Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Burrill & Company and Triple Point Capital. Please learn more at www.Virdia.com.

This project received funding from BIRD Energy; for more information, please visit
www.Birdf.com.

Genetic mutations to cellulose in plants could improve the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels, according to a research team that included two Iowa State University chemists.

The team recently published its findings in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mei Hong, an Iowa State professor of chemistry and an associate of the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, and Tuo Wang, an Iowa State graduate student in chemistry, contributed their expertise in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to the study.

The study was led by Seth DeBolt, an associate professor of horticulture at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Chris Somerville, the Philomathia Professor of Alternative Energy and director of the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, is also a contributing author. The research project was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Researchers studied Arabidopsis thaliana, a common model plant in research studies, and its cellulose synthase membrane complex that produces the microfibrils of cellulose that surround all plant cells and form the basic structure of plant cell walls.

These ribbons of cellulose are made of crystallized sugars. The crystal structure makes it difficult for enzymes to break down the cellulose to the sugars that can be fermented into alcohol for biofuels. And so DeBolt assembled a research team to see if genetic mutations in the plant membrane complex could produce what the researchers have called "wounded" cellulose that's not as crystalline and therefore easier to break down into sugar.

Hong, who had done previous studies of plant cell walls, used her lab's solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance technology to study the cell walls created by the mutated system. The goals were to collect as much information as possible about the molecular structure of the cell walls to see if mutations to the plants resulted in changes to the cellulose.

"We found that the crystalline cellulose content had decreased in the mutant cell walls," Hong said. "We can quantify the degree of change, and be very specific about the type of change."
The cellulose microfibrils in the mutant cell walls, for example, were thinner than those found in normal plants, Hong said. The studies also found an additional type of cellulose with an intermediate degree of crystal structure.

Hong said those findings suggest the genetic mutations did create differences in cellulose production and formation.
The study also reports the cellulose produced by the mutated plant could be more efficiently processed into the sugars necessary for biofuel production.

"What this work suggests, in very broad terms, is that it is possible to modify cellulose structure by genetic methods, so that potentially one can more easily extract cellulose from plants as energy sources," Hong said.
The research team's paper said developing techniques to modify the structure of plant cellulose in crops for better and easier conversion to fermentable sugars "could be transformative in a bio-based economy."
Source:
Iowa State University
Via: www.k-online.de

ZeaChem Inc., a developer of biorefineries for the conversion of renewable biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals, today announced that it has successfully completed contract negotiations to receive its portion of a $40 million grant from USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Regional Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP). The USDA project will establish regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and bio-based products.

ZeaChem is creating the industry’s first truly integrated cellulosic biorefineries, capable of producing a broad portfolio of fuel and chemical products from renewable biomass. ZeaChem’s role in the USDA project is the logical progression of the company’s phased development strategy, in which it researches and develops saleable products at each step toward commercialization. The company will receive $12 million of the total $40 million grant, and will implement the AFRI project at its existing 250,000 gallonper-year (GPY) integrated demonstration biorefinery, located at the Port of Morrow, near Boardman, Ore.

“ZeaChem is pleased with the USDA’s support to establish a bioenergy economy in the Pacific Northwest,” said Jim Imbler, president and chief executive officer of ZeaChem. “The grant allows ZeaChem to use our existing integrated demonstration facility to develop advanced biofuels beyond cellulosic ethanol, including bio-based jet, diesel and gasoline. The project highlights one of our unique strengths, which is that we can utilize a variety of biomass feedstocks and proven processes to develop a wide range of economical and sustainable fuel and chemical products.”

Bio-based jet and diesel are an extension of the company’s C2 product platform, which is currently being deployed at the integrated demonstration biorefinery and already includes intermediate chemicals acetic acid and ethyl acetate, and cellulosic ethanol. The integrated demonstration biorefinery is an ideal proving ground with adequate capacity to provide test quantities of drop-in fuels for commercial and military applications. Design of the AFRI project is underway and the equipment modules are expected to be installed in 2013. Production of bio-based jet and diesel is expected to begin in 2013 and production of bio-based gasoline, part of the C3 product platform, will follow in 2015.

The USDA AFRI Regional CAP is led by the University of Washington and includes GreenWood Resources, Oregon State University, Washington State University, the University of California, Davis, University of Idaho, and the Agricultural Center for Excellence. ZeaChem’s role is to lead R&D and demonstration trials for production of “drop-in” transportation fuels, including bio-based jet and diesel fuels and bio-based gasoline.

ZeaChem has begun core facility operations at its 250,000 GPY integrated demonstration biorefinery in Boardman, Ore. The “bookends” project enabling the production of cellulosic ethanol will be complete in 2012. The company is now actively developing commercial-scale biorefineries for the production of advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals.

Source: www.zeachem.com

Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, and POET, LLC, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, today announce a joint venture to commercially demonstrate and license cellulosic bio-ethanol, the next step in the development of biofuels, based on their proprietary and complementary technologies. POET–DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is scheduled to start production in the second half of 2013 at one of the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants in the United States.

The two partners will produce cellulosic ethanol from corn crop residue through a biological process using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by fermentation. The first commercial demonstration of the technology will be at Project Liberty, which is currently being constructed adjacent to POET’s existing corn ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The initial capacity is expected to be 20 million gallons in the first year, growing to approximately 25 million gallons per year.

POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, intends to replicate and license the technology to additional plants to be built at the other 26 corn ethanol facilities in POET’s network and license it to other producers in the United States and the rest of the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that in the United States as many as 350-400 new bio-refineries will have to be constructed by 2022 to meet the volume requirement of 16 billion gallons/year of cellulosic bio-ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

DSM and POET will each hold a 50% share in the joint venture, which will be headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The initial capital expenditure by the joint venture in project Liberty will amount to about $250 million. The closing of the joint venture is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The joint venture is expected to be profitable in the first full year of production (2014) and to deliver substantial revenues with above-average EBITDA contribution in the medium/longer term.

Both partners in the joint venture bring deep expertise and experience in different areas of cellulosic bio-ethanol. They also share the same vision for a bio-based economy.

Jeff Broin, POET founder and CEO, said: “This joint venture brings together two companies leading the transition from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy. The partnership has set an ambitious goal: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, which is the most competitive liquid transportation fuel on the market today. We believe that the joint venture positions us well to meet our ambitious cellulosic ethanol production goals.”

Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, commented: “This cooperation is a milestone in realizing DSM’s strategy. By leveraging the unique opportunities in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences we can contribute our heritage of over a century in both biotechnology and chemistry to this joint venture with a biofuels leader. Together we shall deliver the key to unlock the cellulosic bio-ethanol opportunity. As the world is facing unprecedented challenges with a growing population making an ever bigger claim on the planet’s resources, we need to accelerate the transition to a bio-based economy and this joint venture is a significant step in that direction.”

As one of the world’s largest producers of corn ethanol, POET has been actively developing cellulosic bio-ethanol for more than a decade. In November, 2008, the company started operating a cellulosic bio-ethanol pilot plant at its research center in Scotland, South Dakota. For the past five years, POET has been working with farmers to bale, transport and store corn crop residue—the cobs, leaves, husks and some stalk left in the field after the grain harvest.

DSM already has a unique position in the development of cellulosic ethanol as the only company offering both yeast and enzyme solutions to increase conversion rates to make the technology commercially viable. DSM has vast experience in scaling up biotechnological processes and an extensive global footprint and relationships to help accelerate technology adoption in key markets.

Cellulosic bio-ethanol from corn crop residue represents a large opportunity. If the technology is replicated at POET’s network of 27 existing corn ethanol plants, it could produce up to one billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol per year.

In an analysis of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. EPA projected 7.8 billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol coming from corn crop residue by 2022. Beyond that, the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture have estimated that more than one billion tons of biomass is available in America that could produce enough cellulosic bio-ethanol to replace a third of the country’s gasoline use.

Conference calls

Today, 23 January 2012, DSM and POET will hold a conference call for the media from 2.00-3.00pm EST / 20.00-21.00 hrs CET which can be accessed by dialing (800) 683-4564 (US only) or +1 (913) 312-2904 with access code 845366#

Tomorrow, 24 January 2012, DSM will hold a conference call for investors and analysts from 09.30-10.30 CET which can be accessed by dialing +31 10 29 44 271 or +44 203 365 3207. A replay can be accessed as of approximately 10.30 CET by dialing +31 10 29 44 210 with access code 1194829#.

About POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC

POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is a 50/50 joint venture between Royal DSM and POET, LLC. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the company is a cooperative effort of two innovators that provides the key to unlocking the opportunity of converting corn crop residue into cellulosic bio-ethanol. Built on the strengths of both companies the joint venture has a critical mission: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, the most competitive renewable liquid transportation fuel on the market today. Drawing on the deep expertise and experience of POET and DSM in different areas of converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol, POET - DSM Advanced Biofuels will have its first commercial-scale plant co-located with POET's biorefinery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Based on this plant the JV will globally license an integrated technology package for the conversion of corn crop residue to cellulosic bio-ethanol. More information: www.poetdsm.com.

About POET

POET, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 25-year-old company has a production capacity in excess of 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 9 billion pounds of high-protein animal feed annually from its network of 27 production facilities. POET also operates a pilot-scale cellulosic bio-ethanol plant, which uses corn cobs, leaves, husk and some stalk as feedstock, and expects to commercialize the process in Emmetsburg, Iowa. More information: www.poet.com.

source:  http://www.dsm.com

In 1925, Henry Ford observed that fuel is present in all vegetative matter that can be fermented and predicted that Americans would some day grow their own fuel. Last year, global biofuel production reached 28 billion US gallons, and biofuel accounted for 2.7% of the world's transportation fuel. Bioethanol, a popular type of biofuel, is largely derived from sugary food crops such as corn and sugarcane. However, technologies are being developed to generate bioethanol from non-food sources, such as the lignocellulosics present in switchgrass and trees. The sugars locked in the polymers of cell walls, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, can be extracted and fermented by yeast into bioethanol.

A major obstacle to this strategy is that most wall polysaccharides are O-acetylated (i.e., chemically bonded to acetate groups), and the acetate released from these molecules during processing inhibits the activity of the microbes that ferment sugars into alcohol. Based on techno-economical models, a 20% reduction in biomass acetylation is predicted to translate into a 10% reduction in bioethanol price. Thus, a major goal in the field of plant biofuel research is to diminish the O-acetate content in the cell walls of plants, possibly by blocking the enzymes that acetylate the cell wall polymers. However, little is known about the acetylation enzymes in plants.
A team of researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, set out to identify the enzymes that acetylate the polysaccharides that are present in lignocellulosic feedstocks. Their initial work focused on xyloglucan, a type of hemicellose that is abundant in plant cell walls. Using a mass spectrometric technique, the scientists isolated a mutant from amongst a mutagenized population of the model plant Arabidopsis (a member of the mustard and cabbage family) that exhibited a 20-45% reduction in xyloglucan O-acetylation. The researchers mapped the mutation to a physical location in the Arabidopsis genome, and named the gene locus ALTERED HEMICELLULOSE XYLOGLUCAN 4 (AXY4). Blocking the expression of AXY4 in Arabidopsis eliminates xyloglucan O-acetylation.

A natural variety of Arabidopsis growing in northern Scotland also has low levels of xyloglucan O-acetylation. Intriguingly, this variety was found to have a natural mutation in the same gene - AXY4. This finding demonstrates that lack of xyloglucan O-acetylation does not represent a selective disadvantage for the plant, and supports the feasibility of genetically blocking the expression of the protein that controls O-acetylation in plants destined for biofuel production.

"The identification of the first gene to encode a polysaccharide O-acetyltransferase opens the door for identifying similar genes in bioenergy crop feedstocks, such as miscanthus or other energy-grasses. These genes can be used as genetic markers to facilitate breeding programs that aim to generate biofuel feedstocks with reduced lignocellulosic acetate content," says Markus Pauly, a plant biologist at Berkeley's Energy Biosciences Institute.

Source: American Society of Plant Biologists

Via: www.k-online.de

Old and new energy crossed paths in the American midwest last week: a new cellulosic ethanol refinery called Project LIBERTYis on the way in for Emmetsburg, Iowa, while the U.S. State Department appears to have shut the door on the notoriousKeystone XL oil pipeline project through Nebraska.  The new refinery is being built by the POET biofuel company and it will be the first commercial scale biofuel plant in the U.S. to produce ethanol from dried leaves, stalks and other corn waste. Project LIBERTY represents another step forward in America’s long, slow transition out of high-risk fossil fuels such as the tar sands oil that would have gone through the Keystone pipeline, but it also reveals that there can be some unexpected stumbling blocks along the way.
Biofuels and Rural Economies

First, the good news: Project LIBERTY is only in the early site preparation phase of construction and it is already beginning to create new agricultural jobs in the area, bearing out one key focus of President Obama’s biofuels policy. Aside from the temporary work created during construction, the Twin Cities’ Star Tribunereports that farmers in the Emmetsburg area are hiring extra help to bale and store tens of thousands of tons of dry corn stover (the stalks and other detritus left over from harvest) that will be used in massive quantities by the new refinery when it opens in 2013.

A Bump in the Road for Biofuels

Unfortunately, according to a press release from POET last week, the preliminary stover baling operation has hit a snag. Farmers in the area did gather up an impressive 61,000 tons after this year’s harvest but they haven’t delivered it to the refinery’s storage site. They are waiting for word on the status of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) in the 2012 federal budget. A delay could put a major glitch in POET’s ongoing research into the most efficient and sustainable ways to handle large amounts of stover. Republican representatives in Congress have stated their willingness to monkey wrench President Obama’s economic initiatives in order to win the next election, so it’s little wonder that Project LIBERTY Director Jim Sturdevant seemed a little nervous in that press release, closing with a polite but urgent reminder that “Research is paramount to what we’re doing in Emmetsburg.”

Corn Stover and Sustainability

Research into stover handling will be a key factor in Project LIBERTY’s long term viability because, while it is tempting to think of post-harvest leftovers as “free” biomass, crop waste can’t be removed willy-nilly without affecting the long term health of the soil. Jim Lane of Biofuels Digest covers that issue in a recent article onbiofuel profitability, noting that about a ton of stover has to be left in the field for every 2-3 tons harvested, in order to protect the soil. The farmers supplying POET are being somewhat more conservative according to a company-affiliated blog. So far they are removing only about 25 percent of available stover, though that number that could eventually rise (or fall) as more research is gathered.

Biofuels and Fossil Fuels

Sturdevant emphasizes that Project LIBERTY is a direct stakeholder in local farmland preservation, noting that, “Not only do we have to keep a consistent flow of biomass to the facility, we need to ensure that farmers know how to harvest in a manner that maintains soil health.” That’s a clear contrast with the devastation incurred by other energy harvesting operations such as tar sands oil extraction and mountaintop coal mining, so it will be interesting to see what kind of support the farmers of Emmetsburg get in the next federal budget compared to the support traditionally rendered to the fossil fuel industry.

 

Source: http://www.triplepundit.com

The future of the U.S. ethanol industry depends on its ability to increase yields, be competitive with fossil fuels and fill a growing need for energy independence. Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) is lending its expertise to make that possible.

Fred Michel, a biosystems engineer based on OARDC’s Wooster campus, has been collaborating with Cleveland-based Arisdyne Systems Inc., which developed a technology called hydrodynamic controlled-flow cavitation that enables ethanol plants to produce more renewable fuel from the same amount of corn.

Supported by a $1 million Third Frontier grant awarded in 2008, Arisdyne’s technology is currently installed at four ethanol plants throughout the United States, with several more plants considering implementation. Testing conducted by Michel has proven that Arisdyne’s cavitation system helps increase ethanol yield by 2 to 3 percent -- data critical to convince even more players in the industry to test and adopt this new technology.

The impact can be significant: a 3-percent yield boost can increase the revenue of a 100-million gallon ethanol plant by approximately $3.75 million annually. And if the entire U.S. ethanol industry (13.2 billion gallons in 2010) were to use cavitation, the revenue increase could reach at least $500 million annually.

In addition to testing and validating Arisdyne’s cavitation technology, Michel has assisted in demonstrating the amped-up yield claims at ethanol plants where this technology is being considered. He has also conducted a broad range of experiments to help prove and improve the process.

“At ethanol plants in the United States, corn grain containing between 70 and 73 percent starch is dry-milled, mixed with water and enzymes, fermented and then distilled to ethanol,” said Michel, who has spent time researching biofuel technologies at the

National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. “While the recovery of starch in commercial ethanol plants is high, as much as 4 percent of the starch remains in the byproducts after fermentation. We are targeting that 4 percent through the use of cavitation.”

Installed at the beginning of the ethanol production process, Arisdyne’s cavitation system breaks open the cell structure of corn particles, releasing trapped starch molecules in the kernel -- more starch means more sugar and, ultimately, more ethanol. This system has the added advantages of easily adapting to existing ethanol plant infrastructure and requiring little energy to run.

This diagram illustrates how cavitation "liberates" more starch from milled corn before it's fermented and distilled to ethanol (courtesy of Arisdyne Systems Inc.).

While maximizing the availability of starch is a key feature of this technology, Michel is also looking at the possible use of cavitation to treat another carbohydrate present in corn that can be turned into ethanol: cellulose. Use of cavitation for cellulosic ethanol production could generate another 3- to 5-percent boost in total fuel production from the same amount of grain delivered to ethanol plants.

Additionally, Michel is investigating the use of cavitation for cellulosic ethanol production from non-edible crops and crop residue, including wheat middlings, wheat and soybean straw, switchgrass and sorghum. “The pre-treatment process involved in cellulosic ethanol production is very expensive, hindering the development of this renewable fuel sector,” he explained. “Cavitation could reduce pre-treatment costs and make the whole process more effective.”

While Arisdyne is a pioneer in the use of cavitation to produce biofuels (successfully using its technology at biodiesel and wastewater plants), it lacked expertise in the ethanol production process when it decided to test the cavitation system in this industry. Conversations with Ohio State agricultural economists and the university’s

Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center led Arisdyne to Michel and, soon after, to the Third Frontier grant application.

“Dr. Michel and OARDC have brought to our team expertise we didn’t have regarding the chemistry of ethanol and the challenges of cellulosic ethanol production,” said Fred Clarke, Arisdyne Systems’ executive vice president. “This relationship has also made available to us very sophisticated lab capabilities, equipment, and staff; testing procedures that are crucial for the success of this project; and the credibility that comes from having an unbiased academic perspective.”

Arisdyne has so far secured more than $7.5 million in private equity funding, including investments from such Ohio entities as Columbus-based Reservoir Venture Partners, Cincinnati- based Queen City Angels, and Cleveland-based Early State Partners. Funding also comes from California-based Chevron Technology Ventures and Georgia-based Cordova Ventures.

The company has created and sustained 13 jobs as a result of this project.

Find out more at http://arisdyne.com/vp/ethanol.htm.

 

Source:  http://bioproducts.osu.edu

Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have patented a process to produce biobutanol, a fuel that can be used in existing gasoline engines without any modifications, from whiskey by-products. In utilizing waste products, the process eliminates the need to use arable land and food crops to produce a more sustainable fuel.
The team at Napier Biofuel Research Center focused their efforts on pot ale, the liquid left over in copper stills after whisky fermentation, and draff, the spent barley left over from the malting process, as whisky production, the largest biological process in the UK, produces large quantities of these waste products.    
Scotland's malt whisky industry produces 1600 million liters/year of pot ale and 187,000 tons/year of draff. Samples of the two substances were provided by Diageo's Glenkinchie Distillery.   
"While some energy companies are growing crops specifically to generate biofuel, we are investigating excess materials such as whisky by-products to develop them. This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one of Scotland's biggest industries. We've worked with some of the country's leading whisky producers to develop the process," says Martin Tangney, director of the Biofuel Research Center.
The process has currently only been tested in 5 liter vessels, but the researchers' next step will be to scale the process up to vessels of 100 l. The university is planning to set up a spin-out company to commercialize the process.


Source: http://www.plasticsnews.com

Joule Unlimited, a Cambridge, Massachusetts based company, has just begun construction on a test facility in Texas which will produce ethanol and diesel fuels from an innovative new source: gene altered organisms that absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide in order to “sweat” hydrocarbons.

These organisms live in a panel that resembles a photovoltaic cell and similarly faces the sun. They live in stagnant water and only need small amounts of chemical nutrients to prosper, making them hearty and, so far, able to withstand a variety of testing conditions. The move to a testing facility near Austin will test just how hearty and resilient these organisms are once they are exposed to the elements.

The technology is similar to the fuel-from-algae processes that many companies are experimenting with, except for one basic difference. In the algae process, the organisms actually hold the fats and fuels that need to be crushed out of them, or removed by some other means. This process is energy intensive and is generally the roadblock to commercializing biomass fuels. In the Joule process, the organisms actually “sweat” the fuels – eliminating the biggest bottleneck that has existed to make commercial production a reality.

For the organisms producing diesel, the extraction process is very easy – diesel floats in water, the same way that oil does, and can be skimmed off the top. For the ethanol producing plants, the fuel will have to be evaporated from the water.

The test plant is set to begin operations in June and Joule is expecting the production to reach 25,000 gallons of ethanol for each acre of panels - a much higher yield per acre than any other waste/biomass source has achieved to date. If all goes as planned, the pilot plant will switch to commercial production in 2012.

Source: http://sustainablelifemedia.com/