Archive for 2019

VTT runs 80 hour-long test on syngas conversion to FT products

VTT runs 80 hour-long test on syngas conversion to FT products

September 30, 2019 |

In Finland, production of biofuel by gasification of biomass residues was successfully validated in the EU’s COMSYN project in September. The process performance was verified with bark in an 80 hour-long test run at VTT. The syngas conversion to Fischer-Tropsch (FT) products was conducted by IneraTec GmbH. The main focus of the test was to […]

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UK’s Royal Society policy briefing looks at role of synthetic fuels in sustainable transport

UK’s Royal Society policy briefing looks at role of synthetic fuels in sustainable transport

September 30, 2019 |

In the UK, a policy briefing by the Royal Society set out the potential for synthetic fuels to help transition to more sustainable fuels over the next 20 years, at a time when transport demand is set to rise. Synthetic fuels, made using carbon captured from the air, farm waste or biomass, could help the […]

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Making Enzymes More Effective: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Enzyme Engineering

Making Enzymes More Effective: The Digest’s 2019 Multi-Slide Guide to Enzyme Engineering

September 29, 2019 |

Enzyme technology enables advanced biofuels. But can we do better? Can enzymes improve conversion? Can understanding enzyme structure, function, activity technology enable industrial enzyme improvement while reducing company R&D cost? Michael Himmel, Senior Research Fellow from NREL’s Biomolecular Sciences group gave this presentation at the DOE’s BETO Project Peer Review that looks at how they […]

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The next Bad A$$ Super Force in Flavors & Fragrances? BASF – big company doing big things, entering F&F market

The next Bad A$$ Super Force in Flavors & Fragrances? BASF – big company doing big things, entering F&F market

September 29, 2019 |

Some companies never have news. Some companies seem to always have news. And in the past week, BASF falls into the latter category with 6 new press releases on their global site in a matter of 5 days – and that doesn’t include other press releases on their country-specific sites. Ok, but is it interesting […]

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NORDEN joins shipping decarbonization coalition, continues biofuel tests

NORDEN joins shipping decarbonization coalition, continues biofuel tests

September 28, 2019 |

In Denmark, NORDEN signed up to become a member of the Getting to Zero Coalition. Alongside a continued focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, NORDEN recently created a dedicated decarbonization unit and continues to test the use of biofuel. “We wish to increase the awareness of the need to develop real alternatives that can […]

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Production of biofuel by gasification of biomass residues validated

Production of biofuel by gasification of biomass residues validated

September 28, 2019 |

In Finland, the production of biofuel by gasification of biomass residues was successfully validated in the EU’s COMSYN project. The process performance was verified with bark in an 80 hour-long test run at VTT. The syngas conversion to Fischer-Tropsch (FT) products was conducted by IneraTec GmbH. The main focus of the test was to study […]

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Analyst says Europe’s crude palm oil price could jump up to $610 per ton

Analyst says Europe’s crude palm oil price could jump up to $610 per ton

September 28, 2019 |

In India, Reuters reports that crude palm oil prices in Europe could rise to average $610 per ton in the first half of 2020 thanks to rising demand and slowing production growth. Industry analyst Thomas Mielke told Reuters that the “Price rise is expected due to a slow down in global production growth, rise in […]

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Ethanol production drops 6.1% in second largest weekly downturn since stats reported

Ethanol production drops 6.1% in second largest weekly downturn since stats reported

September 28, 2019 |

In Washington, D.C., according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending Sept. 20, ethanol production swung sharply lower, dropping 61,000 b/d or 6.1% (the second-largest weekly downturn since statistics have been reported) to 943,000 barrels per day (b/d)—equivalent to 39.61 million gallons daily. This represents the smallest production rate […]

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MnDOT releases Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation in Minnesota

MnDOT releases Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation in Minnesota

September 28, 2019 |

In Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation released Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation in Minnesota, a new report that aims to get Minnesota on track to meet future goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act. Bolstering biofuels is part of the report, as is electric vehicles and other […]

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Rapeseed prices clearly exceed year-ago level, hitting EUR367 ($400) per ton

Rapeseed prices clearly exceed year-ago level, hitting EUR367 ($400) per ton

September 28, 2019 |

In Germany, UFOP reports that the small EU rapeseed crop and firm forward prices drove up producer prices for rapeseed considerably. Also, feedstock demand from oil mills picked up over the past weeks. At the beginning of the 2019/20 marketing year, farm rapeseed prices climbed sharply. The rise was due to the small rapeseed harvest […]

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