Category: Research

New Purdue research shows GHG emissions of soybean biodiesel better than previously thought

New Purdue research shows GHG emissions of soybean biodiesel better than previously thought

September 15, 2016 |

In Georgia, biomass-based fuels present a tremendous opportunity to transition toward a more sustainable mix of renewable energy. This was a key theme of an alternative fuels workshop hosted Sept. 14 by the U.S. DOE in Macon, Georgia. The workshop examined the sustainability of feedstocks like soybean oil, which can be used to make biodiesel […]

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Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech produce first 1,500 gallons of Lanzanol for ATJ

Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech produce first 1,500 gallons of Lanzanol for ATJ

September 14, 2016 |

In the UK, an innovative low carbon fuel project has taken a significant step forward after successfully producing 1,500 US gallons of jet fuel. The breakthrough towards developing commercially viable low carbon fuel is the result of a partnership between Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech. Since 2011 they have been committed to producing the world’s first […]

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Scotland teaming up to produce ethanol from bracken

Scotland teaming up to produce ethanol from bracken

September 13, 2016 |

In the UK, Oakland Biofuels is working with Scottish Land & Estates to explore the possibility of producing ethanol from bracken. A demonstration of the equipment used to harvest the nuisance plant was held near Blair Atholl last week, showing farmers and landowners how it could be useful thanks to processing rather than spraying it […]

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Boskalis and GoodFuels Marine successfully test UPM BioVerno in a dredger

Boskalis and GoodFuels Marine successfully test UPM BioVerno in a dredger

September 12, 2016 |

In the Netherlands, Boskalis and GoodFuels Marine announced the successful performance of live tests on a sustainable wood-based drop-in biofuel called UPM BioVerno. The fuel supplied by Finnish UPM Biofuels is the first ever biofuel derived from wood residue used in a marine fleet. Boskalis vessel “EDAX”, a 1696 deadweight tonne (DWT) cutter suction dredger, has […]

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Donut study offers hope for PHO replacement

Donut study offers hope for PHO replacement

September 11, 2016 |

Enzymatically interesterfied conventional soybean oil (EIE), with a little tweaking, could be an effective replacement for partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) in donuts, according to a recent report in the American Oil Chemists Society’s Inform Magazine. A donut deep-frying study carried out by Qualisoy and Stratas Foods LLC compared donuts prepared with a typical PHO soybean […]

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Defense Logistics Agency to invest $3.3 million in wood to jet fuel technology in Maine

Defense Logistics Agency to invest $3.3 million in wood to jet fuel technology in Maine

September 8, 2016 |

In Maine, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will invest $3.3 million to advance wood to jet fuel technology at the Technology Research Center (TRC) of the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute at the University of Maine. The technology is based on FBRI’s patented thermal deoxygenation (TDO) process, which was shown to yield jet fuel test samples […]

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UK could become seaweed powerhouse but major gaps need filling

UK could become seaweed powerhouse but major gaps need filling

September 7, 2016 |

In the UK, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science has determined commercial seaweed farming could become a major industry along the country’s coastline thanks to growing demand for algae for biofuel production as well as in nutraceuticals and along the bioeconomy supply chain. Lack of regulation for seaweed farming and a dearth of […]

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Louisiana researcher gets funding to develop software and algorithms for algae biofuel research

Louisiana researcher gets funding to develop software and algorithms for algae biofuel research

September 6, 2016 |

In Louisiana, a researcher from the University of New Orleans has been awarded $141,453 by the Louisiana Board of Regents Industrial Ties Research Subprogram to software and theoretical underpinning needed to help convert algae into biofuel such as advanced algorithms for analyzing and optimizing gene regulatory network-based biofuel production modeling in algae. The grant will […]

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Dutch company secures US patent for hydrous ethanol blends between 60% and 95%

Dutch company secures US patent for hydrous ethanol blends between 60% and 95%

September 5, 2016 |

In the Netherlands, SHE Blends BV has been awarded a US patent for high level hydrous ethanol fuel blends between 60% and 95% with an eye on the E85 market. The company already commercializes 15% hydrous ethanol blends at the pump in the Netherlands and has expanded to several other countries as well. Sister company […]

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Illinois State researcher gets funding to develop pennycress genetic resources

Illinois State researcher gets funding to develop pennycress genetic resources

September 1, 2016 |

In Illinois, Illinois State Associate Professor of Genetics John Sedbrook is collaborating on a $1 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop genetic resources that can be used to rapidly domesticate field pennycress as a new winter annual oilseed cover crop. Illinois State University’s portion of the grant is $367,021, […]

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