Lake Erie Biofuels dba HERO BX recently cut the ribbon at their new research and development laboratory at Knowledge Park on the campus of Penn State Behrend.

“This marks the culmination of an idea that began years ago,” said HERO BX Founder & CEO Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III, “where the work inside these four walls will serve as a catalyst for change.”

The HERO BX laboratory is intended to advance the company’s efforts to diversify and develop biodiesel products for new markets while utilizing the skills of Penn State Behrend students for research. “The HERO BX lab will create new opportunities for Penn State Behrend students to collaborate with an industrial research partner – in this case, developing cleaner, domestically-produced, renewable fuel sources,” added Penn State Chancellor Ralph Ford.

One of the first initiatives is to realize a way to reduce the sulfur content of raw materials, or feedstocks, used in biodiesel production to diminish the fuel’s pollutants even further. Subsequent studies will focus on increasing the efficiency of biodiesel in cold temperature applications such as the airline industry.