Major Stories
Algae DHA: a fix for odor, taste and cost is on the way for the Gross Dose.
Omega-3s are a great thing, but here’s the bottom line: the current applications stink. Not as in, they-don’t-work. We mean, literally. Check out this comment at drpermutter.com. I’ve been taking two tabs/day of a fish oil concentrate containing 500mg DHA and 250mg EPA. After my wife complained about my body odor I cut back to […]
Algae DHA: a fix for odor, taste and cost is on the way for the Gross Dose.
Omega-3s are a great thing, but here’s the bottom line: the current applications stink. Not as in, they-don’t-work. We mean, literally. Check out this comment at drpermutter.com. I’ve been taking two tabs/day of a fish oil concentrate containing 500mg DHA and 250mg EPA. After my wife complained about my body odor I cut back to […]
Tasty Energy Treats You Can Make From Brownies
Terpenes may be the most unloved class of energy molecule of all time, if you compare R&D spending to potential. Even ARPA-E, the home of high-risk, high-reward government research into energy, hasn’t delved into terpenes since 2012’s OPEN invite, where Allylix picked up a single $467,6905 award to develop a “Renewable Platform for Production of […]
Tasty Energy Treats You Can Make From Brownies
Terpenes may be the most unloved class of energy molecule of all time, if you compare R&D spending to potential. Even ARPA-E, the home of high-risk, high-reward government research into energy, hasn’t delved into terpenes since 2012’s OPEN invite, where Allylix picked up a single $467,6905 award to develop a “Renewable Platform for Production of […]
Aux Farms, Citoyens! France’s Bioeconomy Plan is a stirring call to action on jobs, climate, innovation
It took a long time, but France in the past year published a national bioeconomy strategy and its national government has approved it. It’s here in full form. We’re publishing a digested version today not only as summary of activities in France (and its extensive bioeconomy resources, industrial base and technical innovation level), but as […]
8-Slide Guides
Capturing CO2: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Algae-based CO2 sequestration
The DOE completed an illuminating workshop on Carbon Capture and Sequestration with relation to algae-based technologies, and The Digest has prepared a selection of key slides presented by AquaFiber, Pacific Northwest National Lab, University of South Florida, Algenol, Montana State University, University of Toledo, NREL, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and RTI.
N-butanol and beyond: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Green Biologics
Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials and grasses). GBL works with feedstock partners to deliver capital efficient production models, and works with downstream partners to deliver […]
In search of lowest cost hydrocarbons: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Global Bioenergies
Global Bioenergies is a pioneer in the development of one-step fermentation processes for the direct and cost-efficient transformation of renewable resources into light olefin hydrocarbons, the key building blocks of the petrochemical industry. Since inception, the company focused its efforts on the production of isobutene, one of the most important petrochemical building blocks that can […]
Things to do with lignin: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to Upgrading Biorefinery Waste to chemicals and hydrogen
At the 2017 DOE Project Peer Review, John Staser of Ohio University gave this illuminating overview on a continuous electrochemical process to convert biorefinery waste lignin to substituted aromatic compounds for resins and resin binders. The hope? To generate additional biorefinery revenue stream and reduce the cost of biofuels to be competitive with petroleum fuels.
Can’t Get No (Liquefaction): The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide Liquefaction of Forest Biomass to Drop-in Fuels
Lysle Whitmer on behalf of an Iowa State-led group of researchers gave this illuminating overview of Liquefaction of Forest Biomass to Drop-in Fuels, at the 2017 DOE Project Peer Review sessions.
The Latest World News
Shell acquires exclusive rights to SBI BioEnergy’s biofuel technology
In Canada, Royal Dutch Shell acquired exclusive development and licensing rights for SBI BioEnergy’s biofuel technology. Edmonton-based SBI has a patented process that can convert a wide range of waste oils, greases and sustainable vegetable oils into lower carbon drop-ins for diesel, jet fuel and gasoline. “SBI has a promising new Canadian biofuels technology,” says […]
Genomatica bio-BDO process reaches 10K tons as Novamont says “A-OK” on new plant
In Italy, Novamont confirmed that its Bottrighe plant meets performance parameters including overall process performance and production volume to date for bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The plant is designed to use Genomatica’s licensed process technology to produce BDO from renewable feedstocks. Following startup in late 2016 the plant operations have been notably smooth. Genomatica also confirmed […]
House Agriculture Appropriations Bill axes BCAP, slashes Loan Guarantees and REAP
In Washington, the draft House Appropriations Committee’s FY2018 Agriculture Appropriations bill was released, and cut the Rural Energy for America Program from $50 million to $9 million, cut the Section 9003 Loan Guarntee program by $65 million, leaving $31 million, and cencelled the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. “The biobased economy is boosting innovation in domestic […]
Pacific Ethanol buys ICP for $76M, diversifies into beverage alcohols
In California, Pacific Ethanol will acquire Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (ICP) from SEACOR Holdings and MGPI Processing for $76 million, which includes $15 million in working capital. adding 90 million gallons in capacity adjacent to the company’s Pekin, IL plant. The plant can produce gin/vodka, ethanol as well as proteins The acquisition will be funded […]
Watchdog group files suit to force release of EPA-Icahn dealings over biofuels
In Washington, American Oversight filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to force the release of communications with investor and White House advisor Carl Icahn, along with calendars and phone logs for Administrator Scott Pruitt and other top agency officials. Icahn owns 82 percent of CVR Refgining and has been outspoken in radically re-shaping […]
R&D News
Xylogenics advances GX-1 Yeast Technology
In Indiana, Xylogenics released a new strain design for its patented GX-1 yeast production and fermentation process. The efficiencies created by the newest strain design will have an immediate impact on industries that rely on micro-organism technologies, most notably the ethanol industry wherein individual production plants are planning to invest upwards of $350 million annually […]
Genetics roadmap to develop more resilient farmed fish
In Scotland, researchers at WorldFish will embark on new research to create more resilient fish with characteristics such as disease resistance and more effective feed utilization, using advanced techniques such as genomic selection to introduce these characteristics into its improved tilapia strains. Use of genomic selection tools, which enable the selection of animals based on […]
Ethanol from thin air advances with catalyst breakthrough
In California, Stanford University scientists reported on a promising technology to make renewable ethanol from water, carbon dioxide and electricity delivered through a copper catalyst. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). For the PNAS study, the Stanford team chose three samples of crystalline copper, known as copper […]
US ethanol production drops to 15.38B gallon annual rate
In Washington, according to EIA data as analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, US ethanol production averaged 990,000 barrels per day (b/d)—or 41.58 million gallons daily. That is down 12,000 b/d from the week before and the lowest in seven weeks. The four-week average for ethanol production decreased to 1.003 million b/d for an annualized […]
UK researchers unlock genetic secrets of plant cell walls
In the UK, Researchers from the University of York and the Quadram Institute have unlocked the genetic secrets of plant cell walls. Recent developments in genome sequencing technology have provided detailed information about the genetics of crop plants, but what has been lacking to date is the technology needed to collect comparable cell wall data […]
Policy & Policymakers
EPA Proposes Clean Water Rule Rollback: Growers happy, enviros miserable
In Washington, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has propsoed to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule and with it, a series of Clean Water Act protections for wetlands, streams and other waters originally aimed at improving the drinking water supply. The EPA’s move prompted strong reaction from environmental and farmer interests. “The goal of the Clean […]
India’s GST tax plan may slow biodiesel, ethanol adoption
In India, the Times of India is reporting that a 18% GST tax that has been proposed for ethanol and biodiesel is expected to slow efforts to increae blending, according to experts and producers polled by the news outlet. G Chandrashekhar, commodity expert and Biodiesel Association of India honorary member told The Timnes, “Tax on […]
President Trump re-affirms Administration support for biofuels in two Iowa speeches
In Iowa, in remarks to Iowa ag leaders at Kirkwood Community College and again at his Cedar Rapids rally, President Donald Trump reiterated his support for American renewable fuels. His remarks come as several issues vital to the future of renewable fuels are pending within his administration. At Kirkwood the President said: “We’re here today […]
Mexico OKs E10 ethanol limit excepting 3 cities
In Mexico, The Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission will increase the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended in Mexican gas supplies from 5.8 percent to 10 percent, except in the cities of Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. The announcement modifies the Mexican Official Standard NOM 016-CRE-2016 regarding the quality specifications for fuels by increasing […]
Trump stumps for ethanol in Iowa despite concerns on RFS blending volumes
In Iowa, President Trump said the ethanol industry was under siege by his Environmental Protection Agency but promised that he would save it as he said he’d do during his campaign. The White House has given the EPA the green light to publish the 2018 blending mandate proposal after reviewing it last week but changes […]
Other Recent Articles
ORNL X-ray and neutron-scattering research unlocks sectrets of cellulosic biofuels
In Tennessee, researchers from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and North Carolina State University used a a combination of X-ray and neutron scattering to revealed new insights into how a highly efficient industrial enzyme is used to break down cellulose. Their results are published in the journal Angewandte ChemieInternational Edition. Producing biofuels like […]
Altering Distillation Curve of Biodiesel – Olefin Metathesis
By Dr. Kapil Shyam Lokare, Special to The Digest Rudolf Diesel in 1892 received a patent for a compression ignition reciprocating engine. However, his original design, which used coal dust as fuel, did not work as planned. To put things in context – thirty-three years prior, in 1859, crude oil was discovered in Pennsylvania. The […]
“Not worth reducing indirect land use emissions” using California’s approach: new study
In Illinois, a team of researchers writing in Nature Communications concluded California’s indirect land use change factors in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, applied nationally, would imply that the cost of reducing a ton of carbon is 20 percent higher than the avoided damages from those emissions. Lead researcher Madhu Khanna found that “It penalizes […]
Brazil sugar production soaring, up 104% in June
In Brazil, a S&P Global Platts survey of analysts concludes that “sugar production in Brazil’s key Center-South region in the first half of June is expected to be nearly 2.45 million metric tons “, up 104% on the year and up 40% from the second half of May. The survey, which noted the drier weather […]
Quebec ups renewable fuel targets, unveils $1.5B clean energy plan
In Canada, Quebec’s provincial government unveiled its said it will spend $1.5B between now and 2019 to spir clean energy and reduce oil dependency. As a part of the 2017-2020 Action Plan, Quebec Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Pierre Arcand has announced the jurisdiction’s first ever volumetric requirements on renewable fuels (such as ethanol […]
Downstate New York to introduce biodiesel obligation for heating oil
In New York, downstate New York counties are set to join New York City as national leaders in providing cleaner air through increased use of biodiesel in home heating oil, a product called Bioheat fuel. Legislation passed yesterday by Assemblyman Steve Englebright (A.6954-A) and Senator Phil Boyle (S.B5422-A) would expand the state’s commitment to […]
