With the price for crude oil at less than $50 a barrel, Iowa State University’s National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centre for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) is proposing a new model for creating, applying and commercialising chemicals made from corn stalks, wood chips and other sources of biomass. The researcher’s new model, based on nine years... [Read More]

The US National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has formally called for higher volumes of advanced biofuels and biomass based diesel in the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard RFS for 2018 and 2019. “NBB is extremely concerned with the proposed rule’s unprecedented cut to the advanced biofuel volume and freeze in the... [Read More]

Following successful pilot testing of its corn fibre-to-ethanol process, D3MAX is ready to move to the next stage of commercial development: the design of a full-scale plant at Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin. Ace Ethanol set specific performance goals for the D3MAX pilot testing. “The D3MAX pilot process was able to meet or exceed our performance goals,”... [Read More]

The benefits of biodiesel are even better than previous models have suggested, according to new scientific research. New modelling from Purdue University suggests the advantage of using biodiesel has been underestimated by 10%. “This latest research verifies biodiesel is an ideal option to support American-made energy and renewable fuels,” said Don Scott, National... [Read More]

The first half of 2017 saw China Agri-Industries, a subsidiary of China grains trader COFCO, return to profit. According to Reuters, this change in fortunes was aided by a big jump in the profitability in the company’s ethanol and oil seeds segments. China Agri-Industries processes grains including soybeans, corn, rice and wheat. Reuters reports that the company’s... [Read More]

Norway-based secondary fuels specialist Geminor has secured a major contract with UK-based Hull City Council. The agreement, which is for an initial seven-year term (with extensions for a further three and two-year period), will see Geminor implement an integrated waste processing solution to divert more than 80% of the northeast England-based region’s municipal... [Read More]

A new catalyst made from palladium metal and bacteria could make the production of biofuels cleaner and greener, according to researchers from the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute. Biofuels are costly to produce because the precursor product, bio-oil, must be processed before it is sent to the refinery to be turned into liquid fuel. To try and improve... [Read More]

Passenger planes in the UK could be powered by biofuels made from waste under a scheme to cut emissions, according to the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT). In an announcement, the DfT said that it was keen to cut carbon emissions, which contribute to climate change. Aircraft and lorries powered by waste fuels could use up to 90% less carbon than with fossil fuels. Trials... [Read More]

A new report from the European Commission highlights several benefits of higher ethanol blends in petrol, including reduced emissions of dangerous pollutants and improvements in car engine performance. Carried out by the ICF for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate, the study looked at the impact of higher levels of bio-components in transport... [Read More]

US based HelioBioSys has patented a group of three single celled, algae like organisms that, when grown together, produce high quantities of sugar just right for making biofuels. Sandia National Laboratories is now working with HelioBioSys to determine whether farming the organisms on a large scale would be successful. HelioBioSys works with organisms called cyanobacteria,... [Read More]

US soyoil prices rose by 1.8%, while biomass-based diesel fuel credits also gained, following Washington’s decision to impose duties on Argentine and Indonesia biodiesel imports, according to Reuters. The gains come as investors and industry expect an increased demand for domestic supplies following the issuing of the duties, Reuters explains. Washington’s... [Read More]

California based Vertimass has announced completion of the intermediate technology validation from the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO). The BETO validation verified performance against negotiated milestones, provided progress on scale-up, and reviewed Vertimass’ estimated cost for their transformative catalytic technology. Developing... [Read More]

Leading US advocates for advanced liquid and gasified biofuels have united to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stand behind President Trump’s commitment to driving investment in the next generation of ‘homegrown’ fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Leaders of the American Biogas Council, Advanced Biofuels Business Council,... [Read More]

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Fair Trade Coalition won a preliminary countervailing duty determination from the Commerce Department regarding subsidised biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. The Commerce Department found that Argentina and Indonesia provide subsidies to their biodiesel producers in violation of international trade rules. In addition,... [Read More]

Scientists in India have investigated ways in which toxic algal bloom can be used for cultivating Chlorella pyrenoidosa, a freshwater algae increasingly considered a candidate for biodiesel production. Although algae are naturally occurring, excessive amounts of nutrients in a body of water can lead to rapid multiplication and the formation of algal blooms covering the... [Read More]

US production of biodiesel was 136 million gallons in May 2017, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Monthly Biodiesel Production Report. The newly published figures reveal that biodiesel production was 9 million gallons higher in May than in April 2017. Year on year, the figures for April showed significant improvement on 2015 and 2016 (108... [Read More]