Novozymes has launched the first ever biological foam control for sugcarcane ethanol called Fermax™. The enzyme protease replaces chemicals in the sugarcane ethanol production and prevents foam development during the fermentation process. According to Novozymes, ethanol plants that trialed Fermax experienced improved control as well as a cost reduction of up to 20 percent as compared to using chemicals. “This …
MSU Awarded $6M Biofuel, Carbon Grant
Montana State University (MSU) has received a $6 million, four-year grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new innovations at the intersection of food, energy and water systems. MSU will be working alongside the University of Wyoming and the University of South Dakota to address the sustainability profiles of biofuels and carbon capture technologies that would be introduced in …
Paris Agreement in Force, GRFA Stresses #Biofuels Role
On November 4, 2016 the Paris Agreement, reached during COP21 and signed by nearly 200 countries, went into force. This is the first enforceable accord setting targets to curb global carbon emissions with the goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. With the agreement now ‘official,’ the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) …
PNNL Turns Sewage Into Fuel
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have discovered the key to converting sewage to biocrude oil. Using the technology that mimics the geological conditions the Earth uses to create crude oil, called hydrothermal liquefaction, coupled with high pressure and high temperatures, crude oil can be produced in minutes. The resulting product is similar to …
NREL Scientists Discover Bacteria to Biofuels Breakthrough
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have discovered a metabolic pathway that take up CO2 and is then capable of breaking down and fermenting cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. The specific bacteria is Clostridium thermocellum and is among the most efficient bacteria in directly converting cellulosic materials into hydrogen and hydrocarbons …
Researchers Turning Waste Into Wealth
EPFL chemists have discovered that adding formaldehyde to lignin could turn waste, such as he molecules found in wood, into wealth. Biomass may hold a key to meeting future energy needs – it’s sugars can be turned into biofuels and other bioproducts. But until now a barrier to efficient production has been the plant’s lignin. Scientists have now turned the …
Neste Renewable Diesel to Power City of San Diego
Neste’s renewable diesel is now helping to power the city of San Diego, California. The city is using the biofuel in its vehicle fleet that includes service trucks, refuse packers, dump trucks, construction equipment and street sweepers among other vehicles. “Air quality is a significant concern in many cities around the world today. Neste offers a drop-in solution for instantly …
REG to Increase Ralston, IA Biorefinery to 30M Gallons
Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced it is increasing the annual capacity of its Ralston, IA biodiesel plant to 30 million gallons. Once the company’s largest biodiesel facility at 12 million gallons per year, over time it became REG’s smallest nameplate capacity. When the plant was built in 2001, it was a division of West Central Cooperative, now Landus Corporation. …
Minnesota Student #Biodiesel Contest Adds Video
Students looking for a little help with continuing education costs should look to biodiesel. The Clean Air Choice® Biodiesel Scholarship contest offers high school seniors awards to help with college. Now in the eighth year of the program, students may submit a short video of three minutes or less or a brief essay of 1,000 words or less about biodiesel …
Missouri Governor Authorizes Biodiesel Fund
Missouri soybean farmers will finally be receiving a portion of payments for their biodiesel under the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Fund. Governor Nixon has released $3 million to reduce the amount of $9.6 million currently owed to Missouri farmers who invested in biodiesel more than a decade ago through the fund. In response, The Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) along …