The holy grail of producing cellulosic biofuels cost effectively is the efficient breakdown of cellulosic feedstock into sugars. Researchers at the Graz University of Technology have found that hydrolytic enzymes are effective at breaking down cellulose than previously perceived, paving the way to competitive biofuels.
Gevo to supply jet fuel to Virgin Australia [Registered]
The biotech start-up Gevo recently announced that it expects to supply its renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) to the Virgin Australia Group. The Group will be responsible for coordinating the purchase, supply and blending of the ATJ into the fuel supply system at Brisbane Airport in Queensland, Australia.
Canada – Enerkem’s municipal waste to ethanol facility commences operations [Registered]
Biofuels and renewable chemicals producer Enerkem Inc. has started the commercial production of ethanol at its plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Cellulase enzyme from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii found to be effective for hydrolysing cellulosic feedstock [Registered]
Discovery of a cellulase enzyme from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has been found to be effective in breaking down cellulosic feedstocks to release sugars for subsequent fermentation to biofuels.
Vertimass’ ethanol to drop-in fuel technology validated by US DOE [Registered]
Vertimass recently announced the completion of intermediate technology validation from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technology Office (BETO) of its bolt-on technology to produce drop-in fuel from ethanol.
Ethiopia – Construction for the new US$51 mln ethanol plant at Wonjo Shoa Sugar factory begins in October [Full subscriber]
Ethiopia has joined hands with Germany’s Eugen Schmitt Company to build an ethanol plant at the Wonjo Shoa Sugar Factory. The plant is expected to cost US$51 million, according to local press reports.
New enzymes from Novozymes increases ethanol yield [Registered]
Novozymes has launched two new enzymes which it claims could reduce the amount of residual sugars in ethanol production by up to 70%
Brazil slaps 20% tax on ethanol imports from USA [Registered]
The Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi announced on 23 August that CAMEX, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade, has approved a recommendation to impose a 20% tariff on U.S. ethanol imports after a 600 million litre tariff rate quota.
Researchers convert CO2 into multi-carbon fuels [Registered]
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology discovered a new way to produce carbon-based liquid fuels from CO2.
Brown rot fungi reveals non-enzymatic deconstruction of lignocellulosic feedstock [Registered]
Working with brown rot fungi, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found, that the microbe Basidiomycota uses a non-enzymatic, chelator-mediated biocatalysis method that is very different than that used by any other microorganism studied, as it does not involve enzymes.
Monthly Snapshot
Market Overview In its latest quarterly report, Abares, the official Australian commodities bureau has forecast the average price of spot New York raw sugar futures in 2017-18, on an October-to-September basis to hover at 13ȼ/lb. This will be driven by […]
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