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US funds three biorefineries
F O C U S USDA Plant Feedstock Genomics programme, in 2014. Some projects are concerning the potential of some plants, including sorghum, poplar, and switchgrass, along with cellulosic ethanol feedstock as sources of bioenergy. Ceres Inc is currently working to improve its commercial development with product lines and development programmes for high biomass sorghum, miscanthus, sweet sorghum, and switchgrass. Chemtex International Inc is now planning to utilize miscanthus, along with other energy grasses, as a feedstock at its 20-M gal/y biorefinery in Clinton, NC. Abengoa is aiming to use switchgrass as a feedstock at its 25-M gal/y biorefinery. Texas A&M University received $1.23 M for an initiative to improve two primary categories of traits that affect biomass output. Michigan State University has been awarded $1 M for the identification of traits associated with cold hardiness in switchgrass. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has been given $1.43 M for a project to determine divergent and convergent regulatory networks that control growth responses in poplar. The University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, is about to receive $1.5 M for a project to develop molecular markers associated with traits involved in the development of improved biomass cultivars of Miscanthus giganteus and related sugarcane and energy cane species. Meanwhile, Greenwood Resources Inc is supplying hybrid poplar trees to ZeaChem Inc’s 250,000-gal/y cellulosic biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon. Original Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Oct 2014, 20 (10), 28-33, (Website: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/) © BBI International 2014
EERE announces $13.4 M for advanced biofuels and bioproducts production The US Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced up to $13.4 M for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from biomass. The University of Wisconsin of Madison, WI, will receive up to $3.3 M to develop a process to produce high value chemicals from
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biomass, which can be used as plasticizers in the production of industrial chemicals and resins. American Process Inc of Atlanta, GA, will receive up to $3.1 M to develop and demonstrate processes to upgrade cellulosic sugars to solvents in their demonstration facility. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory of Golden, CO, will receive up to $2.5 M to develop a conversion process demonstrating the production of muconic acid from biogas. This acid can be converted into an array of bioproducts, including fuel, plasticizers, and lubricants. Natureworks LLC of Minnetonka, MN, will receive up to $2.5 M to develop a fermentation process, using biogas and bacteria, for the production of lactic acid. This process could be used for the commercialization of biomethane to fuels. Vertimass LLC of Irvine, CA, will receive up to $2 M to commercialize technology to convert ethanol into diesel fuel, gasoline, and jet fuel blend stocks compatible with the current transportation fuel infrastructure. Original Source: The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), 2014. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 10 Oct 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4coatings.com)
US funds three biorefineries As part of a three-year $510 M government initiative to improve biofuels availability, the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and the Navy have awarded contracts to Emerald Biofuels, Fulcrum BioEnergy, and Red Rock Biofuels for the construction of three private biorefineries. The three facilities have a combined capacity of over 100 M gal/y of military-grade transportation fuel and are set for start-up by 2017. Emerald uses UOP’s catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert animal fats to fuel. Fulcrum and Red Rock use Fischer-Tropsch technology to produce fuel from municipal solid waste and woody biomass. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Sep 2014, 92 (39), 17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2014
compared with the many global scale shale gas projects which account for millions of tonne/y of capacity scheduled to come on stream in 2017. Out of the many companies which pursued commercial production ethanol from biomass waste, only POET-DSM has been able to open a plant. The 20,000 gal/y plant is located in Iowa. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 8-14 Sep 2014, 286 (7), 5 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Biofuels: French CEA opens Syndièse platform On 6 Oct 2014 the French commissariat for atomic and renewable energy (CEA) opened the Syndièse-BtS technology platform in Bure-Saudron, France. This site is shared by the La Meuse and HauteMarne regions. The new biomass pretreatment platform is the first phase of the Syndièse programme which aims to build a pre-industrial demonstration unit for second generation biofuels made using Biomass to Liquid technology. The demonstration unit will have 10 tonne/y biomass treatment capacity. It will mainly use lignocellulose biomass feedstock (wood, straw and green waste). This material has the advantage of not being used in human foodstuffs. In order to develop a complete chain of processes and economic testing, CEA is beginning with a single project. This is the development of technology to convert biomass into synthetic gas: Biomass to Syngas (BtS). For this project, the CEA is working closely with Air Liquide. The technology platform will be accessible to other academic bodies and industrial companies involved in the development of equipment or biomass pre-treatment technologies. The initial Syndièse BtS project represents a €24 M investment. In total, the Syndièse programme is expected to cost €250 M. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2014, (692), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
US cellulosic reality may fall short
Palladium price climbs to a 13-year high
In the US, the state of cellulosic ethanol projects is much poorer
With the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine intensifying again, NOVEMBER 2014
EERE announces $13.4 M for advanced biofuels and bioproducts production The US Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced up to $13.4 M for five projects to develop advanced biofuels and bioproducts that will help drive down the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from biomass. The University of Wisconsin of Madison, WI, will receive up to $3.3 M to develop a process to produce high value chemicals from
2
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C ATA LY S T S
biomass, which can be used as plasticizers in the production of industrial chemicals and resins. American Process Inc of Atlanta, GA, will receive up to $3.1 M to develop and demonstrate processes to upgrade cellulosic sugars to solvents in their demonstration facility. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory of Golden, CO, will receive up to $2.5 M to develop a conversion process demonstrating the production of muconic acid from biogas. This acid can be converted into an array of bioproducts, including fuel, plasticizers, and lubricants. Natureworks LLC of Minnetonka, MN, will receive up to $2.5 M to develop a fermentation process, using biogas and bacteria, for the production of lactic acid. This process could be used for the commercialization of biomethane to fuels. Vertimass LLC of Irvine, CA, will receive up to $2 M to commercialize technology to convert ethanol into diesel fuel, gasoline, and jet fuel blend stocks compatible with the current transportation fuel infrastructure. Original Source: The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), 2014. Found on SpecialChem Coatings and Inks Formulation, 10 Oct 2014, (Website: http://www.specialchem4coatings.com)
US funds three biorefineries As part of a three-year $510 M government initiative to improve biofuels availability, the Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and the Navy have awarded contracts to Emerald Biofuels, Fulcrum BioEnergy, and Red Rock Biofuels for the construction of three private biorefineries. The three facilities have a combined capacity of over 100 M gal/y of military-grade transportation fuel and are set for start-up by 2017. Emerald uses UOP’s catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert animal fats to fuel. Fulcrum and Red Rock use Fischer-Tropsch technology to produce fuel from municipal solid waste and woody biomass. Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 29 Sep 2014, 92 (39), 17 (Website: http://www.cenonline.org) © American Chemical Society 2014
compared with the many global scale shale gas projects which account for millions of tonne/y of capacity scheduled to come on stream in 2017. Out of the many companies which pursued commercial production ethanol from biomass waste, only POET-DSM has been able to open a plant. The 20,000 gal/y plant is located in Iowa. Original Source: ICIS Chemical Business, 8-14 Sep 2014, 286 (7), 5 (Website: http://www.icis.com) © Reed Business Information Limited 2014
Biofuels: French CEA opens Syndièse platform On 6 Oct 2014 the French commissariat for atomic and renewable energy (CEA) opened the Syndièse-BtS technology platform in Bure-Saudron, France. This site is shared by the La Meuse and HauteMarne regions. The new biomass pretreatment platform is the first phase of the Syndièse programme which aims to build a pre-industrial demonstration unit for second generation biofuels made using Biomass to Liquid technology. The demonstration unit will have 10 tonne/y biomass treatment capacity. It will mainly use lignocellulose biomass feedstock (wood, straw and green waste). This material has the advantage of not being used in human foodstuffs. In order to develop a complete chain of processes and economic testing, CEA is beginning with a single project. This is the development of technology to convert biomass into synthetic gas: Biomass to Syngas (BtS). For this project, the CEA is working closely with Air Liquide. The technology platform will be accessible to other academic bodies and industrial companies involved in the development of equipment or biomass pre-treatment technologies. The initial Syndièse BtS project represents a €24 M investment. In total, the Syndièse programme is expected to cost €250 M. Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 13 Oct 2014, (692), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie/) (in French) © ETAI Information 2014
US cellulosic reality may fall short
Palladium price climbs to a 13-year high
In the US, the state of cellulosic ethanol projects is much poorer
With the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine intensifying again, NOVEMBER 2014