Coffee-roasting process successfully tested for improving energy density, reducing transport cost of cellulosic biomass

In the UK, a thermal process called torrefaction, typically used for coffee bean roasting, has been successfully tested as a means of improving the combustion potential of willow, canary grass and wheat straw. The tests by the Supergen Bioenergy Consortium, showed that torrefaction reduces the space and mass of biomass, making it more economical to transport, and improves the energy density, or time and energy inputs needed to heat them to burning point.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

10 Most Offbeat Stories of the Year: a Biofuels Digest anniversary special report

#1. A favorite story this year was the vote by the Vermont State Senate to approve hemp cultivation for the production of ethanol. That is ethanol, a/k/a/ "moonshine whiskey" and hemp a/k/a "marijuana...

Today in Biofuels Opinion: “There is a growing consensus in the environmental community that federal government subsidies and mandates for corn-based ethanol have produced unintended, yet potentially catastrophic environmental consequences.”

The Environmental Working Group: "There is a growing consensus in the environmental community that federal government subsidies and mandates for corn-based ethanol have produced unintended, yet potent...

Nevada team converts coffee grounds to biodiesel; says Starbucks could produce 3 Mgy from its waste, plus pellet-stove fuel

In Nevada, a chemical and engineering team at the University of Nevada has developed a process to convert used coffee grounds to biodiesel. The researchers says that up to 3 million gallons of biodies...

Special Report on Cellulosic Ethanol: Synthetic six-carbon alcohols may hold key to higher energy density, fuel efficiency in cellulosic fuels of the future

In the US, a fascinating development worth tracking comes from the National Academy of Sciences: a new process to genetically engineer e.coli bacteria to produce six-carbon alcohols. In nature, car...

Researchers say wasted coffee grounds could provide up to 340 Mgy of biodiesel

In Nevada, researchers at the University of Nevada-Reno have announced that coffee grounds, which have an 11-20 percent oil content by weight, could be the source of up to 340 Mgy of biodiesel. Ground...

KL Energy achieves 56% lift in glucose recovery for cellulosic ethanol production, reduces enzyme rate 22%

In South Dakota, KL Energy announced that it has been able to increase its overall glucose recovery rate by 56% per dry ton of wood while simultaneously reducing its enzyme rate by 22%. Testing for gl...