Major Stories
9 Constellations to watch: A look at the Rising Stars in the Race to SAF
Rising stars are coming together as constellations, the stars are aligning and making magical things happen – today we explore 9 of those constellations building around Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Some of them are young protostars in the earliest stage of stellar evolution, while others are like the Earth’s sun, a main-sequence mid-size star, and a […]
The Competitive Edge: FeedstocksUnited
Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? Over half a century, work has been going on to reach implementation of bio-processes on the basis of methane. The […]
Making the fish feed we need from the scrap wood we don’t: Aquaculture Trials of Arbiom’s SylPro show real promise
From College Station and North Carolina comes the news that Texas A&M researchers have completed a round of scientific evaluations of Arbiom’s alternative protein ingredient for use in aquafeed. Studies come out every day, including studies on aquafeeds. What’s different about this one is that Arbiom is making aquafeed out of scrap wood that you […]
Cellulose microbeads, sequins and eyeware, 3D printed sandals and menswear, biobased adhesives, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of August 21st
This week, it’s all about cellulose and 3D printing and these Top 10 Innovations are so cutting edge you can literally dress yourself from head to toe in it. From cellulose sequins and cellulose eyeware to 3D printed cornstarch menswear and 3D printed sandals using coconut and pineapple wastes, it’s hip and happenin’. But don’t […]
ABLC 2020 – From Pioneer to Player, Field to Fork, Plant to Pump, and Trash to Cash
In Florida, The Digest announced that the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference (ABLC 2020) will be held March 25-27, 2020 at the Mayflower Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, and outlined the agenda, themes and announced a first wave of event speakers. More about ABLC The event website, agenda and conference details including registration and the 2 […]
8-Slide Guides
Cool Catalytic Conversion: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Vertimass’ Hydrocarbons
Vertimass’s catalytic conversion is so cool it can convert ethanol into fungible blend stocks in one step without added hydrogen. Their technology produces hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from biomass – taking biomass through existing biofuels facilities and adding the Vertimass bolt-on catalytic conversion, it comes out as benzene, toluene, xylene, jet fuel, diesel and gasoline […]
Cutting Edge Sustainability for Cutting Edge Tech: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
Sustainability is such a vague term that some throw around to make them sound good in a consumer environment that is asking for greener and more socially conscious products. The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials is tackling sustainability head on with its cutting edge sustainability tools for the biofuels and biomaterials industries. Rolf Hogan, Executive Director […]
It’s a New Day with Dawn Technology: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Avantium’s Renewable Chemicals and Polymers
Money is often a challenge in any project, but especially for biofuels the financing for a project is key to its survival. ICF offers some perspectives on how carbon intensity based fuel standards present new opportunities and challenges for biofuel developers in the near term, how efficient producers are rewarded, how lenders see the California […]
New Catalysts, Improved Genetic Tools Bring New Opportunities: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to ORNL’s Biomass to Bioproducts
Organisms are interesting creatures and genetic tools and biochemical pathway knowledge is changing the way we look at them. Brian Davison, Chief Scientist for Biotechnology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, gave this knowledge-filled presentation on how to leverage organisms for biofuels and bioproducts, consolidated bioprocessing, barriers and solutions to enabling transformation, improved tools for gene […]
From Lignin to Value: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to MetGen’s Enzymes
MetGen are pioneers in industrial enzymes for lignocellulosic biomass and are trying to empower industries to get the most out of biomass with their enzymatic technologies. Alex Michine, CEO of MetGen gave this enlightening overview of MetGen’s ‘how’, the Sweetwoods project and its integrated biorefinery flagship, enzymatic lignin valorization with MetZyme Pureco, enzymatic lignin fractioning, […]
The Latest World News
Ethanol production at 18 week low
In Washington, D.C., ethanol production averaged 1.023 million barrels per day (b/d)— equivalent to 42.97 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Output narrowed by 22,000 b/d (-2.1%) from the previous week to an 18-week low. The four-week average ethanol production rate declined 0.4% to 1.035 million b/d, equivalent […]
AMOEBA submits approval application for its biocidal active substance
In France, AMOEBA, producer of a biological biocide capable of eliminating bacterial risk in water and human wounds, and a biocontrol product for plant protection, still in trial phase, announces that a new application for approval of its biocidal active substance Willaertia magna C2c Maky has been submitted to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). If […]
USGC partners with Kenyan feed manufacturers to build corn and feed markets
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Grains Council is partnering with the Kenyan feed industry and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers, known as AKEFEMA, pledging to work together to develop the domestic feed industry there. AKEFEMA represents more than 140 of Kenya’s registered feed manufacturing companies. Through the new […]
DOE launches revamped Co-Optima website on fuel economy and performance
In Washington, D.C., the relaunch of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines (Co-Optima) website features revamped and expanded content on research designed to boost vehicle fuel economy and performance. The website has details on scientific discoveries that will lead to efficient, clean, affordable, and scalable high-performance fuels and engines, as well […]
SG Preston proposes to acquire 335,000 barrel-per-day PES refinery
In Pennsylvania, SG Preston told Reuters that it is potentially buying the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, which was damaged in a fire in June. S.G. Preston would convert the refinery and 1,300 acres to produce renewable diesel, marine diesel, and jet fuel, mostly from waste fats and oils as the feedstock. “Financial terms of the […]
R&D News
Breath! Respiring microbes generate more energy
In Denmark, researchers at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain) at the Technical University of Denmark shed light on how bacteria and baker’s yeast generate and use their energy to grow and how it is possible to evoke a shift in the metabolism from fermentation to respiration of E. coli and baker’s […]
University of Leeds study shows energy ROI for fossil fuels diminishing quickly
In the UK, a new study, co-authored by scientists from the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of Leeds, has calculated the EROI for fossil fuels over a 16 year period and found that at the finished fuel stage, the ratios are much closer to those of renewable energy sources – roughly 6:1, and potentially […]
French researchers take inspiration from aquatic spider to improve CO2 conversion to fuels
In France, a team of researchers affiliated with French several institutions has found a way to improve the conversion of CO2 into fuels by mimicking the behavior of the diving bell spider. In their paper published in the journal Nature Materials, the group describes using captured air bubbles to improve the conversion efficiency of carbon […]
University of Leeds researchers lead study using ‘superbugs’ resistance to build biopolymers of the future
In the UK, the molecular machinery used by ‘superbugs’ to resist chemicals designed to kill them could also help produce precursors for a new generation of nylon and other polymers, according to new research. Scientists from the University of Leeds have collaborated with Australian researchers to identify ancient protein pumps that make infectious bacteria tough […]
Michigan State researchers create synthetic nano-sized factory based on bacteria
In Michigan, researchers at Michigan State University has created a synthetic nano-sized factory, based on natural ones found in bacteria. This research could someday lead to new medical, industrial or bioenergy applications. Natural nanofactories are found in bacteria all over the planet. Some make nutrients. Others sequester toxic materials that would otherwise make the bacteria […]
Policy & Policymakers
Trump orders agencies to boost biofuel blending quotas for 2021
In Washington, D.C., the backlash from biofuels and agriculture industries over the recent 31 small refinery waivers from the EPA has caused President Trump to request a push for more E15 beyond the more common E10 gasoline, and a request for the EPA “to give a 500 million gallon boost to the amount of conventional […]
White House looking at several options to backtrack on EPA’s hardship waiver approvals
In Washington, Reuters reports that a cabinet meeting held at the White House on Thursday discussed several options to reduce tension in the farm belt following the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of 31 hardship waivers recently, including the reversal of some of those approvals. Another option is one that the ethanol industry has long called […]
Iowa’s governor and ag secretary write EPA administrator outlining damage waivers have on ethanol industry
In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler outlining the damaging effects of the 31 new small refinery waivers (SRE’s) undermining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Reynolds and Naig also extended an invitation to Administrator Wheeler to come to Iowa and see the devastating […]
President Trump on the backfoot following farm country backlash to EPA’s waiver decisions
In Washington, Reuters reports that President Trump held a two-hour meeting with cabinet members on Monday that included representatives from the Department of Energy, USDA and Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to stem the blowback from angry farmers and their legislators following the approval of 31 hardship waivers by the EPA last week. The […]
Malaysia offers UK route to palm oil trade post-Brexit
In Malaysia, Bloomberg reports that the country’s prime minister said in an opinion column that the UK could avoid the European trade war with the country by taking its own route post-Brexit by importing palm oil. Though he said he hopes to avoid a trade war with the EU and continues to “hold out the […]
Other Recent Articles
Avantium reports progress towards commercialization, $3.3M grant
In the Netherlands, technology development and renewable chemistry company, Avantium N.V. reported in its 2019 half year results that the “company is progressing its technologies towards commercialization.” In particular, their most advanced technologies – Mekong and Dawn – are progressing towards commercialization thanks to €3 million (about $3.3 million) in European Union grants that were […]
Indonesia tells domestic airlines to snub Airbus over EU palm oil trade dispute
In Indonesia, Bloomberg reports that the country is stepping up its threats of a trade war with Europe over its ban on palm oil for biodiesel from 2020 by telling its domestic airlines to switch to Boeing planes from Airbus as retaliation. Domestic airlines were looking at Airbus after the Boeing 737 MAX-8 crash earlier […]
Braskem teams with French research center to develop new bio-solutions
In Brazil, Braskem announced a collaboration agreement with the prestigious European research center Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) for the development of renewable solutions. Specializing in scientific projects, the center will be an important partner for advancing new research and development routes based on natural resources, which will contribute to progress in sustainable, innovative solutions and economically […]
BB Energy looks at biofuels in Asia Pacific as way to diversify away from tight margins in conventional fuels
In Singapore, Reuters reports that BB Energy has hired two traders for the Asia Pacific region to focus on biofuels and petrochemicals thanks to what it sees as promising growth in the sector, pointing to the need to diversify away from conventional fuel markets. Profits from traditional energy products like diesel and jet fuel have […]
Indian Oil Company to invest nearly $3.5 billion in green projects including 2G and 3G ethanol
In India, the Economic Times newspaper reports that Indian Oil Company plans to invest nearly $3.5 billion in green energy projects across a wide-ranging portfolio of renewables including 2G and 3G biofuels as part of its roadmap to reduce its impact on climate change. Hydrogen CNG and hydrogen fuel cells are among the other areas […]
Bolivian ag sector ready to team with YPFB on biodiesel
In Bolivia, local press reports that the national oilseed and wheat producers’ association together with the Eastern agricultural chamber of commerce and Gravetal Bolivia have announced they’re willing to co-invest in biodiesel production with Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB). The national oil minister said those companies along with others have indicated interest in developing a […]
