In Washington, China has proposed a 25 percent tariff on US soybeans in response to a list of 1300 Chinese products that may be subject to a 25 percent tariff. China purchases 61 percent of total U.S. soybean exports, and more than 30 percent of overall U.S. soybean production. In other news, the US Environmental […]
In Washington, Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency has “so far” granted hardship waivers for 25 smaller refiners, letting them out of the requirement to blend biofuels or purchase sufficient RINs to make up the difference. Applications continue to be received by the agency who says the conditions for receiving the waiver have not […]
In Thailand, St1 has completed the construction of Etanolix® pilot plant at Ubon Bio Ethanol Ltd’s starch and ethanol plant site in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. In the project St1 is piloting its own technology to produce advanced ethanol for transportation using cassava pulp as feedstock. The pilot plant will be operated for a year in […]
In Brazil, Agrimoney reports that Rabobank believes the “ethanol parity”—or the equivalent price of ethanol in sugar terms which has traditionally dictated when mills will focus on ethanol or sugar production, depending on the better return—is no longer relevant to the global sugar market. Up until now, eyes from around the world looked to Brazilian […]
In Delaware, DuPont Industrial Biosciences announced it has been granted U.S. Patent 9,926,576 entitled “Prevention of Bacterial Growth in Fermentation Processes.” This patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covers the application of stabilized chlorine dioxide, the active ingredient in DuPont™ FERMASURE®, to reduce microbial contaminations in ethanol fermentations. Acid producing bacteria are […]
In Canada, based on BIC’s assessment of Benefuel’s technology and business plan, BIC has approved an investment as part of Benefuel’s current financing round. This investment will allow Benefuel to complete the engineering needed as a final step before the construction of its first, commercial demonstration plant in Sarnia. Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) has been […]
In Brazil, the Ministry of Mines and Energy held the first meeting of the RenovaBio Committee on Monday, formed to assist in the definition of national targets reduction of compulsory emissions to the fuel matrix. The first meeting defined the date of public consultation of the goals and presentation and approval of the Program Work […]
In Texas, researchers at Tufts University have created a genetically modified yeast that can more efficiently consume a novel nutrient, xylose, enabling the yeast to grow faster and to higher cell densities, raising the prospect of a significantly faster path toward the design of new synthetic organisms for industrial applications, according to a study published […]
In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on any aspect of the use of isobutanol in gasoline. Butamax Advanced Biofuels, has submitted an application pursuant to the regulations titled “Registration of Fuels and Fuel Additives” for the registration of isobutanol as a gasoline additive at up to 16 volume percent. Butamax has […]
It may be renaissance times for the Clean Fuels Development Coalition. Their long quest to upend proposed Obama-era vehicle efficiency rules that ignored the potential to improve efficiency and emissions via clear high performance fuels has recorded a small victory. In Washington, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt determined that the greenhouse gas emission standards for model […]
