AST Awarded Biomass Extraction Patent

Joanna Schroeder

American Science and Technology (AST) has been awarded a patent for the system and method the company developed for the extraction of chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. The company says their system reduces the costs of Organosolv processing and helps to make biochemicals from biomass more economically viable. Led by Dr. Ali Manesh and group of researchers and engineers at AST, …

advanced biofuels, biochemicals, biomass, biomaterials

Will Pursuing #Bioenergy Require Trade-offs?

Joanna Schroeder

Will pursuing bioenergy require trade-offs? This question served as the basis from research out of North Carolina State University (NC State) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that finds that choosing how to meet bioenergy goals means making trade-offs about the impact on ecosystems and wildlife. The study primarily focused on the southeastern U.S. but the researchers believe the results …

bioenergy, biofuels, biomass, Research

Funds Available for #Biomass Powered Biorefineries

Joanna Schroeder

The USDA is helping biorefineries go even greener. The USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service, a division within the USDA, has allocated funds through the Repowering Assistance Program, to assist renewable fuel facilities convert away from fossil-fuel based heat and/or power to renewable biomass power. Applications are being accepted from July 25, 2016 until October 24, 2016 and only facilities in …

Alternative energy, bioenergy, biomass, Electricity, USDA

AI Bio Funds $13M for #Biomass-Based Bioproducts

Joanna Schroeder

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions (AI Bio) has announced the funding for 61 projects to develop bioproducts from biomass resources. Totaling nearly $13 million, the monies will help support Alberta agriculture through the development of local feedstocks, such as forestry waste, to develop renewable products including replacements for fossil-fuel derived materials. The funds are also helping to diversify and strengthen the …

advanced biofuels, Agribusiness, biomass, biomaterials, bioproducts, Biotech

Texas A&M AgriLife Receives $2.5M DOE Grant

Joanna Schroeder

Researchers from Texas A&M AgriLife Research have received a $2.5 million grant to conduct a three-year study to find ways to use a biorefinery waste to make new products. Dr. Joshua Yuan, a biotechnologist, is the lead scientist on the project that will primarily focus on ways to make plastic materials from the lignin waste. “In the biorefinery field, we …

advanced biofuels, biomass, biomaterials, Research

DOE Invests in Algae

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy has made it’s latest investment in the development of algae as a feedstock to produce advanced biofuels and bioproducts. The focus of the money is for companies who are working to overcome the barrier of high production costs through improvements in algal biomass yields. The DOE says the three companies who received funding will develop …

advanced biofuels, algae, biomass, bioproducts

DOE Releases 2016 Billion Ton Report

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) along with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have released its 2016 Billon-Ton Report. The study found that within 25 years, the U.S. could produce enough biomass to support a bioeconomy including renewable aquatic and terrestrial biomass resources. The report also found that by 2040, the country could sustainably produce at least one billion tons …

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, biomass, bioproducts

Ensyn to Build Forest Waste-to-Fuel Biorefinery

Joanna Schroeder

Ensyn has broken ground on the first of its kind biorefinery in Quebec that will produce renewable fuel oil from forest residues. The Governments of Canada and Quebec will provide $76.5 million in funding to AE Côte-Nord Bioenergy for the Port Cartier project that when in full production, will convert forest residues into 40 million litres of renewable fuel oil …

advanced biofuels, biomass

Enginuity Worldwide Wins Grant for BioCoal Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded a $250,525 grant to Enginuity Worldwide to develop its BioCoal Fuel. The Missouri-based company uses its patented rotary compression technology to produce the renewable fuel. The multi-phase grant will begin on July 1, 2016 and will end June 30, 2017. “Through its innovative biotechnology, Enginuity Worldwide has provided Nebraska with an …

Alternative energy, biomass

CleanTech Biofuels Advances MSW Biomass Project

Joanna Schroeder

In New Jersey, CleanTech Biofuels has acquired a 99 percent membership interest in 25 Van Keuren, LLC. CleanTech Biofuels is focused on producing combined heat and power and advanced biofuels and biochemicals from municipal solid waste (MSW). The two companies, in partnership, will now move forward on the building of a transfer station and materials recovery facility that includes CleanTech …

advanced biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Waste-to-Energy