Western Biomass Energy LLC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on Oct. 31. The facility was the nation's first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol plant when it was brought online in January 2008 by KL Process Design Group.
German researchers extract hydrogen from wet biomass
By Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg
February 12, 2013
German researchers are developing a process to extract hydrogen from wet biomass using aqueous phase reforming. In this method, the wet biomass comes into contact with a catalyst, and chemical reactions break down the material to release hydrogen.
ICM Inc. has announced that it signed a contract with Abengoa Bioenergy for the Advanced Oil Separation System (AOS) to be deployed at the company's Madison, Ill., and Mt. Vernon, Ind., facilities.
A new initiative in Europe, Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels, aims to expedite deployment of advanced biofuel technologies. In February, chief executive officers of seven European biofuel producers and airlines met in Brussels form the group.
On Feb. 11 the USDA released a report detailing its agricultural projections for the next 10-year period. According to the paper, titled "USDA Agricultural Projections to 2022."
A paper from the American Academy of Microbiology on yeast is a good read, digging into the historical development of yeast, the science of good yeast production and outlining the basic steps of brewing good beer.
A new initiative in Europe, Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels, aims to expedite deployment of advanced biofuel technologies. In February, chief executive officers of seven European biofuel producers and airlines met in Brussels form the group.
NEREA, a subsidiary of Akuo Energy, has begun construction of a 13 MW biomass cogeneration facility in Estrees-Mons, in the Somme department of France. SABEHF, a subsidiary of NEREA, will supply the facility with wood pellets.
Georgia Southern University's Herty Advanced Materials Development Center has opened the first fully-integrated pilot pellet mill in the U.S. The new production line, located in Savannah, Ga., includes a nearly $2 million investment in equipment.
Scientists 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.
State lawmakers in Maine have introduced three bills that seek to limit the sale of ethanol within the state. One bill aims to prohibit corn ethanol sales within the state altogether. The other would impact blend levels available for sale.
When 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.
The Andersons Inc. reported a strong year for its diversified agribusiness, earning $79.5 million, or $4.23 per diluted share, on revenues of $5.3 billion. The company's ethanol group had an operating loss of $3.7 million in 2012.
When 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.
Although some want to revise or repeal the renewable fuel standard, Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture has not wavered. "Our position is that we are strong supporters of the RFS," he said Feb. 7.
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has announced future support levels for biomass, which encourages smaller-scale combined-heat-and-power (CHP) generation and sways away from large-scale biomass combustion.
On Feb. 6 Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., introduced legislation that aims to amend the Clean Air Act to require the U.S. EPA to based its cellulosic biofuel targets under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) on actual production.
On 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.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke articulately and passionately of the importance of America's ethanol producers in helping to strengthen this country's economic and national security at the National Ethanol Conference.
An open house was held on January 25 to introduce Zero Waste Energy LLC's first U.S.-based dry anaerobic digester (AD). The system is located at the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, where it will process locally generated waste.
On Feb. 7, the U.S. EPA approved a new blender pump configuration for the sale of E15 and E10. The configuration, submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association, can be used by retail stations to address misfueling concerns.
On Feb. 6 Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., introduced legislation that aims to amend the Clean Air Act to require the U.S. EPA to based its cellulosic biofuel targets under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) on actual production.
Archer Daniels Midland Co. has reduced ethanol production as a response to poor margins, investors were told in a question period following the company's Feb. 5 earnings report.
Israel-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.
Israel-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.
Cereplast 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.
Driven 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.
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