Biobased Chemical

September 17, 2018

Australian researchers produce biobased hydrogen

BY Macquarie University Found In:ChemicalsBacteria that turn sugar into hydrogen are being engineered by Macquarie University researchers who received a $1.1 million grant from ARENA, the Australian government’s renewable energy agency. READ MORE

September 10, 2018

UD engineers study microbes for biofuel production

BY Julie Stewart, University of Delaware Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Eleftherios (Terry) Papoutsakis of the University of Delaware a three-year, $1.5 million grant to study the production of clostridium bacteria as platforms for biofuels. READ MORE

September 07, 2018

DOE funds 36 bioenergy research and development projects

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Power, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy is awarding 36 projects a combined $80 million to support early-stage bioenergy research and development to enable cost-competitive drop-in renewable hydrocarbon fuels, biobased products and power. READ MORE

September 06, 2018

Ricketts cuts ribbon on Prairie Catalytic facility in Nebraska

BY Office of Gov. Pete Ricketts Found In:ChemicalsOn Sept. 5, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts attended a ribbon cutting in Columbus to celebrate the grand opening of Nebraska-based Prairie Catalytic LLC’s new $50 million biobased ethyl acetate production facility. READ MORE

September 06, 2018

DOE invests $1.1 million in sorghum disease resistance research

BY University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsWith the announcement of a $1.1 million grant for sorghum disease resistance research led by the University of Illinois, the Department of Energy is signaling a new investment in the future of the crop. READ MORE

September 04, 2018

Opinion: Midterm Elections, RVO Decisions, and Lame Duck Tax Relief

BY Michael McAdams Found In:Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsWith former U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt taking aim at the biofuels industry, what started out as a challenging year is now winding down on an ostensibly more moderate and manageable note. READ MORE

August 29, 2018

In Depth: The Slippery Slope of Biolubricants and Biogreases

BY Raj Shah and Shana Braff Found In:Advanced Fuels, Chemicals

August 28, 2018

Researcher wins DOE grant to create value from biorefinery waste

BY the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsRajesh Shende, an associate professor at SD Mines, has received a $2.16 million grant from the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office to research and demonstrate ways to turn waste from biorefineries into valuable products. READ MORE

August 27, 2018

Aalto University, VTT sign bioeconomy agreement

BY VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsOn Aug. 23, Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland signed a collaboration agreement on the CERES flagship program and took a concrete step towards a joint innovation ecosystem in the field of bioeconomy. READ MORE

August 17, 2018

USDA solicits applications for REAP funding

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe USDA is soliciting fiscal year 2019 applications for the Rural Energy for America Program, which helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. READ MORE

August 17, 2018

Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill reaches full production capacity

BY Metsäliitto Cooperative Found In:Pellets, Biogas, ChemicalsMetsä Group has announced its next-generation bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, reached full production capacity in August. The facility produces a variety of products, including pulp, biogas and biofuel pellets. READ MORE

August 17, 2018

Researchers protect yeast from damage in biofuel production

BY University of Wisconsin-Madison Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsResearchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and several Department of Energy laboratories have identified two changes to a single gene that can make the yeast tolerate pretreatment chemicals used in cellulosic biofuel production. READ MORE

August 15, 2018

Ag groups urge Congress to quickly complete work on Farm Bill

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsMore than 150 ag groups and businesses sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Agriculture urging them to complete work on the 2018 Farm Bill before the Agricultural Act of 2014 expires on Sept. 30. READ MORE

August 14, 2018

BioAmber moves forward with plan to liquidate its assets

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsBioAmber Inc. it has received court approval to move forward with plans to liquidate its assets, including the company’s Sarnia, Ontario-based biorefinery that produces biobased succinic acid. READ MORE

August 09, 2018

DOE schedules meeting of biomass R&D advisory committee

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will hold an open meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee on Aug. 22-23 in Arlington Virginia. READ MORE

August 09, 2018

Bioplastic producer Bio-on installs Siemens technology

BY Bio-on S.p.A. Found In:ChemicalsBio-on S.p.A.has chosen Siemens automation and plant control and management systems for its bioplastic production plant at Castel San Pietro Terme, near Bologna, Italy. The systems are expected to increase efficiency and eliminate errors. READ MORE

August 07, 2018

Velocys: Environmental milestone reached for Mississippi project

BY Velocys plc Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsVelocys plc announced Aug. 7 that the USDA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Bayou Fuels biorefinery in Natchez, Mississippi. READ MORE

August 06, 2018

DOE seeks input on needs related to biomass catalyst scale-up

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has opened a request for information (RFI) that aims to help it understand current needs related to catalyst development for the conversion of biomass and waste streams. READ MORE

August 03, 2018

BioAmber seeks court approval to liquidate assets

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsBioAmber Inc. has announced it is seeking court approval to pursue liquidation of its assets, as well as alternative offers, after the company failed to receive any acceptable sales or investment bids before a July 27 deadline. READ MORE

August 03, 2018

New membrane technology may aid biofuel production

BY Argonne National Laboratory Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsNamed for the mythical god with two faces, Janus membranes—double-sided membranes that serve as gatekeepers between two substances—have emerged as a material with potential industrial uses, including uses in the biofuel industry. READ MORE

August 02, 2018

USDA designates new categories under BioPreferred Program

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsThe USDA’s Office of Procurement and Property Management recently published a final rule amending guidelines for designating biobased products for federal procurement under the BioPreferred Program. READ MORE

July 25, 2018

Cool Planet closes $20 million in funding

BY Cool Planet Found In:ChemicalsCool Planet, an agricultural technology company focused on soil health solutions, has closed on an additional $20.3 million of new investment and note conversion. The funding will be used to increase overall production of Cool Terra. READ MORE

July 24, 2018

LANL: Feeding plants to this algae could fuel your car

BY Los Alamos National Laboratory Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsResearchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and partner institutions recently provided the first published report of algae using raw plants as a carbon energy source. The research could boost algae’s potential value as a biofuel. READ MORE

July 23, 2018

NREL: New finding will help convert lignin to useful products

BY National Renewable Energy Laboratory Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsAn research team, including scientists from NREL, has discovered and characterized a new family of cytochrome P450 enzymes that is critical to improving the conversion of lignin into valuable products such as nylon, plastics, and chemicals. READ MORE

July 20, 2018

Attis announces site for biorefinery, selects feedstock provider

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsIn mid-July Attis Industries announced plans to purchase a site in Georgia to locate its first commercial-scale biorefinery and said it has executed a letter of intent with a timber company to provide feedstock for the proposed facility. READ MORE

July 19, 2018

Biobased car created using Luminy from Total Corbion PLA

BY Total Corbion PLA Found In:ChemicalsThe world’s first biobased, circular car has been successfully designed and built in the Netherlands by the Technical University of Eindhoven. The car is made, in part, with Luminy PLA supplied by Total Corbion PLA. READ MORE

July 19, 2018

DOE launches new lab partnering service

BY U.S. Department of Energy Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. Department of Energy has officially launched the Lab Partnering Service, an online, single access point platform for investors, innovators, and institutions to identify, locate, and obtain information from DOE’s 17 national laboratories. READ MORE

July 13, 2018

EPA seeks nominations to SAB, agricultural science committee

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. EPA has announced it is seeking nominations for scientific experts to serve on its Science Advisory Board and four SAB standing committees, including the SAB Agricultural Science Committee. READ MORE

July 12, 2018

Biorefining has small impact on wood product, feedstock markets

BY International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsA new report has shown that biorefineries, which produce biobased fuels and chemicals, will have only a small effect on the availability and pricing of wood products and feedstocks. READ MORE

July 11, 2018

Opinion: RFS Program Under Attack

BY Michael McAdams Found In:Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe ABFA, and other groups, including the Renewable Fuels Association, have filed suit contesting the recently granted small refinery exemptions under the renewable fuel standard. READ MORE