Biobased Chemical

February 12, 2013

USDA outlines climate change impacts on agriculture, forestry

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe USDA has released two reports that outline the impact of climate change on agriculture and forestry. The reports provide a framework for understanding how climate change could affect the ability to meet demands for food, feed, fiber and fuel. READ MORE

February 08, 2013

Newly discovered plant structure may aid in biofuel production

BY University of Georgia Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsWhen Li Tan approached his colleagues at the University of Georgia with some unusual data he had collected, they initially seemed convinced that his experiment had become contaminated; what he was seeing simply didn't make any sense. READ MORE

February 08, 2013

Scientists turn toxic byproduct into biofuel booster

BY Brookhaven National Laboratory Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsScientists studying an enzyme that naturally produces alkanes, long carbon-chain molecules that could be a direct replacement for the hydrocarbons in gasoline, have figured out why the natural reaction typically stops after three to five cycles. READ MORE

February 07, 2013

Monsanto to acquire Rosetta Green

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsIsrael-based Rosetta Green has entered into an agreement to sell most of its assets to Monsanto Co. for $35 million. According Rosetta Green, its core technology centers on MicroRNAs, which are short RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. READ MORE

February 07, 2013

Cereplast announces new sales following restructure

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsCereplast Inc., a bioplastics manufacturer, has announced it generated approximately $300,000 in new revenue during the final two weeks of January. According to the company, the new revenue is in addition to the $500,000 in revenue announced Jan. 23. READ MORE

February 07, 2013

Amyris ships first commerical order of Biofene from Brazil plant

BY Chris Hanson Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsOn February 1, Amyris Inc. shipped the first commercial order of Biofene from its production facility in Brotas, Brazil. Biofene is Amyris's brand of renewable farnesene, which is processed into drop-in biofuels. READ MORE

February 06, 2013

Analysis: Biomass demand for biorefining to triple by 2030

BY Lux Research Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsDriven by aggressive biofuel mandates, rapid growth will cause great strain on biomass by 2030, according to Lux Research. Feedstock innovation will be needed to keep growing biomass's market share. READ MORE

February 01, 2013

Secretary Chu announces resignation

BY U.S. DOE Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsIn a letter to Energy Department employees today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the tremendous progress of the last four years, and announced his decision to not serve a second term as Secretary. READ MORE

February 01, 2013

Biomass energy legislation introduced in Okla.

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsPending legislation in Oklahoma could result in the development of a state plan to utilize woody biomass for heat and power. The bill, HB 1656, is titled the "Oklahoma Woody Biomass Energy Initiative Act of 2013." READ MORE

February 01, 2013

Scientists trick iron-eating bacteria into breathing electrons in

BY American Society for Microbiology Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsScientists have developed a way to grow iron-oxidizing bacteria using electricity instead of iron, an advance that will allow them to better study the organisms and could one day be used to turn electricity into fuel. READ MORE

February 01, 2013

Researchers use ionic liquid to pretreat biofuel feedstock mix

BY Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Found In:Pellets, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsResearch has shown that an ionic liquid proven to be effective for pre-treating individual biofuel feedstocks is also effective at pre-treating multiple different feedstocks that have been mixed and densified into a blend. READ MORE

January 29, 2013

Versalis, Yulex partner to manufacture guayule-based biorubber

BY Yulex Corp. Found In:ChemicalsVersalis and Yulex Corp. announced today they are forming a strategic partnership to manufacture guayule-based biorubber materials and will launch an industrial production complex in southern Europe. READ MORE

January 28, 2013

U.S. DOE allots $6 million to biomass supply chain technologies

BY Anna SimetFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe U.S. DOE has made $6 million available for projects focused on developing and demonstrating supply chain technologies that will enable delivery of commercial-scale lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks to U.S. biorefineries. READ MORE

January 28, 2013

Linde licenses gasification technology to Finnish company

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsGermany-based Linde Engineering Dresden GmbH has signed an agreement to license its Carbo-V biomass gasification technology to Forest BtL Oy, a Finnish biofuel developer for use in a new biomass-to-liquid facility. READ MORE

January 25, 2013

Windy conditions make willow a better feedstock

BY Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Found In:Power, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsA research team in England has discovered that differences in the ease with which sugars can be extracted from willow can be explained by differences in their wood composition in response to conditions that induce growth stress. READ MORE

January 24, 2013

USDA scientists develop bioplastic made of sugar beet pulp, PLA

BY USDA Agricultural Research Service, Rosalie Marion Bliss Found In:ChemicalsUSDA scientists and university cooperators have developed a biodegradable plastic, made of sugar beet pulp and a biodegradable polymer, that could be used in disposable food containers. The plastic, called a thermoplastic, becomes soft when heated. READ MORE

January 23, 2013

Best Buy Capital invests in Solegear Bioplastics

BY Solegear Bioplastics Inc. Found In:ChemicalsSolegear Bioplastics Inc., a developer of award-winning bioplastic technologies, is pleased to confirm that it has received a strategic investment from Best Buy Capital, the investment arm of Best Buy Co. Inc. READ MORE

January 23, 2013

Novozymes announces new CEO, releases 2012 financial results

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsNovozymes has appointed a new president and CEO and released its financial results for 2012. On Jan. 21, the company announced its board of directors has appointed Peder Holk Nielsen president and CEO, effective April 1. READ MORE

January 22, 2013

Ag Energy Coalition calls for Farm Bill Energy Title funding

BY Agriculture Energy Coalition Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsThe Agriculture Energy Coalition has urged Congress to begin work on a new five-year Farm Bill with strong mandatory funding for energy programs. The fiscal cliff bill extended the Farm Bill, but without funding for Energy Title programs. READ MORE

January 21, 2013

Sustainable energy, climate change included in inaugural address

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsPresident Barack Obama has officially kicked off the second term of his presidency. During his inaugural address on Jan. 21, Obama touched on several topics, including the economic recovery and sustainable energy. READ MORE

January 18, 2013

BNDES awards Solazyme joint venture a loan for Brazilian facility

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsSolazyme Bunge Renewable Oils, a joint venture between Solazyme Inc. and wholly owned Bunge Ltd. subsidiary Bunge Global Innovation LLC, has received approval for a R$245.699 million ($120 million) loan from the Brazilian Development Bank. READ MORE

January 18, 2013

Scientists develop tailor "nanobowl" inorganic catalysts

BY Argonne National Laboratory Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsIn a case of the Goldilocks story retold at the molecular level, scientists at the U.S. DOE's Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University have discovered a new path to the development of more stable and efficient catalysts. READ MORE

January 18, 2013

Japanese research team produces Euglena-based bioplastic

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsJapanese researchers working with the Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program have developed a bioplastic material derived from the microorganism Euglena and compounds obtained from cashew nut shells. READ MORE

January 16, 2013

BioNitrogen's proposed facility hits a new milestone

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:ChemicalsBioNitrogen Corp. has announced that Granherne Inc., a KBR company, and PRM Energy Systems Inc. have completed the conceptual engineering and initial feasibility study for its first commercial-scale plant. READ MORE

January 15, 2013

Researchers engineer cyanobacteria to grow chemical precursors

BY University of California, Davis Found In:Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsChemists at the University of California, Davis, have engineered blue-green algae to grow chemical precursors for fuels and plastics, the first step in replacing fossil fuels as raw materials for the chemical industry. READ MORE

January 14, 2013

Vilsack announces he will remain Agriculture Secretary

BY USDA Found In:Pellets, Power, Thermal, Biogas, Advanced Fuels, Chemicals"As we look ahead to a promising future in our small towns and rural communities, I am pleased to continue working alongside President Obama to grow more opportunity in rural America," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. READ MORE

January 14, 2013

USDA announces $25 million in funding for biomass projects

BY USDA Found In:Biogas, Advanced Fuels, ChemicalsAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $25 million to fund research and development of next-generation renewable energy and high-value biobased products from biomass sources though the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. READ MORE