In Colorado, researchers at the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) say better understanding of a bacterium could lead to cheaper production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels. Their discovery was made during an investigation into the performance of Clostridium thermocellum. The scientists found the microorganism utilizes […]
In Germany, integration of advanced (2nd generation / 2G) biofuel plants with conventional (1st generation / 1G) biofuel plants can lead to significant synergies and cost savings, especially for bioethanol plants. For biodiesel, conversion of fossil refineries to advanced biofuel production is another promising option as well. These are the results of a scoping study […]
In Tennessee, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Colorado State University and Envirofit International report that up to the 4 million premature deaths each year attributed to indoor cookstove smoke might be prevented because cleaner biomass cookstoves. With 3 billion people in developing countries using open fire cookstoves, the need is great for durable, low-cost […]
In Texas, researchers have used game theory to find efficiencies in the biomass supply chain that could boost the economic viability of using the feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. The researchers said there can be up to 20% annual variations on feedstock supply so a variety of mitigation strategies to ensure supply availability including long-term […]
In the UAE, Tadweer is 75% completed with the installation of its joint UCO biodiesel production facility it is developing with Masdar Institute. The plant aims to significantly improve the efficiency of the production process through R&D. The two-year research agreement with the Masdar Institute follows on previous work that looked at producing UCO biodiesel […]
In Colorado, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in conjunction with the Engine Manufacturers Association, Renewable Energy Group Inc., the National Biodiesel Board, VW and Mercedes conducted a study on biodiesel stability in high-pressure common rail (HPCR) fuel systems for diesel engines to help OEMs determine if current stability requirements for B6-B20 biodiesel blends are adequate […]
In India, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee have patented a fractional hydrolysis technology they say produces low cost ethanol from a perennial weed known as Kans grass, typically used for thatching roofs. Using the process, scientists could recover over 43.78% cellulose and 24.22% hemicellulose from the Kans grass compared to 37% cellulose […]
In Australia, chemical and biomolecular engineers from the Melbourne School of Engineering have discovered a new way to deliver carbon dioxide to microalgae, which in turn, can be harvested to make renewable fuels such as biodiesel. Carbon dioxide is well known to speed up the growth of microalgae. Published in the research journal, Energy and […]
In California, a team led by a researcher at the University of California, Riverside has adapted the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system for use in a yeast strain that can produce useful lipids and polymers. The development will lead to new precursors for biofuels, specialty polymers, adhesives and fragrances. Published recently in the journal ACS Synthetic […]
In Illinois, Argonne National Laboratory released a study funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) that examines the potential effects of future biofuel production on freshwater resources in the Missouri River Basin—a region that could play a central role in the production of cellulosic biomass like switchgrass, a perennial energy crop. […]
