- Email: [email protected]
Mascoma announces $49.5 M in DOE and State of Michigan funding for cellulosic fuel facility
F O C U S DSM launches DOE-funded research initiative for second generation biofuels On 21 Oct 2008, Royal DSM NV announced the execution of a multimillion dollar cooperative funding agreement with the US Department of Energy to underwrite a portion of R&D costs aimed at enabling “second generation” biofuels from non-food feedstocks. In Feb 2008, a consortium led by DSM that includes Abengoa Bioenergy New Technologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory was awarded $7.4 M by the DOE toward a proposed $33 M program to conduct cost effective enzyme development focused on finding applications in cellulose-based biorefineries for the production of advanced biofuels biobased products. Press release from: DSM, PO Box 6500, 6401 JH Heerlen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 45 578 2422. Fax: +31 45 574 0680. Website: http://www.dsm.com (21 Oct 2008) & Het Financieele Dagblad, 21 Oct 2008 (Website: http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch) & Chemical Week, 27 Oct 2008, 170 (33), 9
LibraGen and DSM link a deal to codevelop and produce enzymes LibraGen, a Toulouse-based biotech firm, and DSM have agreed to jointly develop omega-transaminases for the production of chiral amines. LibraGen will use its discovery and development expertise to identify enzymes that can convert ketones into optically pure R- and S-amines for use in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. The enzymes will be produced on an industrial scale by DSM using its fermentation technology and proprietary expression platform. Subsequent development of biocatalytic processes will be carried out by both partners. DSM Pharmaceutical Products, which offers contract manufacturing and development services to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical firms, expects a significant reduction in the time between enzyme discovery and final product screening. Chemical Week, 29 Sep 2008, 170 (30), 35
Evonik has granted exclusive licence to Solvias for homogeneous catalysts Evonik Degussa GmbH has granted an exclusive license to Solvias AG of
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Basel, Switzerland, to develop, manufacture, and market the catASium and cataCXium ligand product lines. Evonik remains active in homogenous catalysis as manufacturer and vendor of catMETium catalysts for metathesis reactions. Solvias is a centre for homogeneous catalysis and high throughput screening (HTS). catASium is a product line of chiral ligands for asymmetric hydrogenations that consists of highly variable chiral ligands and their associated Rh complexes. cataCXium is a line of CX coupling ligands with proven success in solving industrial CX coupling problems. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11, 45128 Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (30 Sep 2008) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 6 Oct 2008, (439), 10 (in French)
Topsoe involved in next generation biofuels On 10 Oct 2008, Haldor Topsoe A/S announced that it will participate in building the world’s first plant producing DME from biomass. Within 18 months the plant will supply 4-5 tonne/d of the new biofuel dimethyl ether, DME. “Topsoe has extensive DME experience, and we are pleased to be part of this important project, which potentially will make a substantial contribution to solving the energy challenges of tomorrow,” says Technology sales manager Jens Perregaard. The plant will be constructed as part of the European project BioDME, coordinated by Volvo. The BioDME project will demonstrate the entire technology chain from biomass to trucks running on DME, including fuel distribution and dedicated filling stations. The project was kicked off yesterday with activities in Stockholm and Pitea. The biofuel supply chain: Topsoe and Chemrec will design and build the new DME plant, which will be located at the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Pitea, Sweden. The plant is based on the gasification of black liquor, a byproduct from paper production, and Topsoe’s unique DME synthesis. Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000. Fax: +45 4527 2999. Website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com (10 Oct 2008)
Mascoma announces $49.5 M in DOE and State of Michigan funding for cellulosic fuel facility Mascoma Corp, with the US Department of Energy (DOE), Michigan Governor Jennifer M Granholm, members of the Michigan Congressional delegation and the Michigan Economic Development Corp, announced that Mascoma has received a total of $26 M in funding from the DOE and an overall contribution of $23.5 M from the State of Michigan. The funds will be applied toward the development of a cellulosic fuel production plant that uses nonfood biomass to convert woodchips into fuel. The facility will be located in Chippewa County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the town of Kinross. The funding provided by DOE and the State of Michigan will accelerate Mascoma’s construction of the plant and the scale-up of its technology process while also paving the pathway to commercial lowcarbon and sustainable fuel production in Michigan. Press release from: Mascoma Corp, 1380 Soldiers Field Road, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02135, USA. Tel: +1 617 234 0099. Fax: +1 617 868 0408. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.mascoma.com (7 Oct 2008)
Novozymes awarded $12.3 M contract from DOE Novozymes has been awarded a $12.3 M contract from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to improve the enzymes necessary to produce cellulosic ethanol. Novozymes’ project DECREASE (Development of a CommercialReady Enzyme Application System for Ethanol) aims to improve the performance of Novozymes’ most advanced enzyme system, to further reduce the cost of cellulosic ethanol production. Under the terms of the 2.5-year contract, Novozymes has committed to increase the efficiency of the enzymes used in the conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol by two-fold. In combination with internally funded R&D to reduce enzyme production costs, this work will enable Novozymes to supply new and even more cost-efficient commercial cellulases in pilot, demonstration, and commercial plants by 2012. Novozymes will match the
DECEMBER 2008
LibraGen and DSM link a deal to codevelop and produce enzymes LibraGen, a Toulouse-based biotech firm, and DSM have agreed to jointly develop omega-transaminases for the production of chiral amines. LibraGen will use its discovery and development expertise to identify enzymes that can convert ketones into optically pure R- and S-amines for use in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. The enzymes will be produced on an industrial scale by DSM using its fermentation technology and proprietary expression platform. Subsequent development of biocatalytic processes will be carried out by both partners. DSM Pharmaceutical Products, which offers contract manufacturing and development services to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical firms, expects a significant reduction in the time between enzyme discovery and final product screening. Chemical Week, 29 Sep 2008, 170 (30), 35
Evonik has granted exclusive licence to Solvias for homogeneous catalysts Evonik Degussa GmbH has granted an exclusive license to Solvias AG of
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Basel, Switzerland, to develop, manufacture, and market the catASium and cataCXium ligand product lines. Evonik remains active in homogenous catalysis as manufacturer and vendor of catMETium catalysts for metathesis reactions. Solvias is a centre for homogeneous catalysis and high throughput screening (HTS). catASium is a product line of chiral ligands for asymmetric hydrogenations that consists of highly variable chiral ligands and their associated Rh complexes. cataCXium is a line of CX coupling ligands with proven success in solving industrial CX coupling problems. Press release from: Evonik Industries AG, Rellinghauser Strasse 1-11, 45128 Essen, Germany. Website: http://www.evonik.com (30 Sep 2008) & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 6 Oct 2008, (439), 10 (in French)
Topsoe involved in next generation biofuels On 10 Oct 2008, Haldor Topsoe A/S announced that it will participate in building the world’s first plant producing DME from biomass. Within 18 months the plant will supply 4-5 tonne/d of the new biofuel dimethyl ether, DME. “Topsoe has extensive DME experience, and we are pleased to be part of this important project, which potentially will make a substantial contribution to solving the energy challenges of tomorrow,” says Technology sales manager Jens Perregaard. The plant will be constructed as part of the European project BioDME, coordinated by Volvo. The BioDME project will demonstrate the entire technology chain from biomass to trucks running on DME, including fuel distribution and dedicated filling stations. The project was kicked off yesterday with activities in Stockholm and Pitea. The biofuel supply chain: Topsoe and Chemrec will design and build the new DME plant, which will be located at the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Pitea, Sweden. The plant is based on the gasification of black liquor, a byproduct from paper production, and Topsoe’s unique DME synthesis. Press release from: Haldor Topsoe A/S, Nymollevej 55, PO Box 213, DK 2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000. Fax: +45 4527 2999. Website: http://www.haldortopsoe.com (10 Oct 2008)
Mascoma announces $49.5 M in DOE and State of Michigan funding for cellulosic fuel facility Mascoma Corp, with the US Department of Energy (DOE), Michigan Governor Jennifer M Granholm, members of the Michigan Congressional delegation and the Michigan Economic Development Corp, announced that Mascoma has received a total of $26 M in funding from the DOE and an overall contribution of $23.5 M from the State of Michigan. The funds will be applied toward the development of a cellulosic fuel production plant that uses nonfood biomass to convert woodchips into fuel. The facility will be located in Chippewa County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the town of Kinross. The funding provided by DOE and the State of Michigan will accelerate Mascoma’s construction of the plant and the scale-up of its technology process while also paving the pathway to commercial lowcarbon and sustainable fuel production in Michigan. Press release from: Mascoma Corp, 1380 Soldiers Field Road, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02135, USA. Tel: +1 617 234 0099. Fax: +1 617 868 0408. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.mascoma.com (7 Oct 2008)
Novozymes awarded $12.3 M contract from DOE Novozymes has been awarded a $12.3 M contract from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to improve the enzymes necessary to produce cellulosic ethanol. Novozymes’ project DECREASE (Development of a CommercialReady Enzyme Application System for Ethanol) aims to improve the performance of Novozymes’ most advanced enzyme system, to further reduce the cost of cellulosic ethanol production. Under the terms of the 2.5-year contract, Novozymes has committed to increase the efficiency of the enzymes used in the conversion of cellulosic biomass to ethanol by two-fold. In combination with internally funded R&D to reduce enzyme production costs, this work will enable Novozymes to supply new and even more cost-efficient commercial cellulases in pilot, demonstration, and commercial plants by 2012. Novozymes will match the
DECEMBER 2008