The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded US$35 million to 15 research projects through ARPA-E’s (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy) “Energy and Carbon Optimized Synthesis for the Bioeconomy” (ECOSynBio) program to decarbonize biorefining processes used across the energy, transportation, and agriculture sectors.
High conversion of syngas to gasoline-range liquid hydrocarbons via dual-bed catalyst [Full subscriber]
Researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have realized the highly efficient and selective conversion of syngas to gasoline-range liquid hydrocarbons over a dual-bed catalyst.
Monetizing brewers spent grain into proteins and biofuels [Registered]
Brewer’s spent grain (BSG) is the most abundant (85%) by-product generated from the beer-brewing process. Currently, BSG is predominantly used as cattle feed or buried in landfills, leading to substantial resource losses. Researchers at the Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech) have developed a novel process to extract the protein (14 ~ 30%) and fibre (~70%) contents from BSG and use it to create new types of protein sources, biofuels and more.
India – Sugar mills get orders to supply over 3 billion litres ethanol – 70% more than the previous year [Registered]
Sugar mills across the country have contracted orders to supply 3.023 billion litres of ethanol to oil marketing companies (OMCs). This is 70% more than the 1.78 billion litres supplied in the previous season, according to local press reports.
India – Praj to expand Godavari’s ethanol plant capacity by 50% to 600,000 litres/day [Full subscriber]
Praj Industries has secured an order from Godavari Biorefineries Ltd (GBL) to expand the capacity of its ethanol plant in Karnataka from 400,000 litres/day to 600,000 litres.
CAZymes from Parascedosporium putredinis paves way for reducing processing costs for cellulosic biofuels [Full subscriber]
Researchers – led by the University of York in collaboration with the US Dept of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the University of Wisconsin have discovered an enzyme in a fungus that can act as a catalyst to break down lignocellulose.
Brazil – Corn ethanol production forecast to rise 25% in 2021/22 [Full subscriber]
Brazilian production of ethanol from corn rose 58% in 2020/21 as dozens of recently built plants in the country’s grain heartland ramped up production. Analysts project a further increase of around 25% for 2021/22, reported Reuters.
Decrypting the mechanism of a key photoenzyme opens up new avenue for biofuels and chemicals production [Full subscriber]
Although many organisms capture and respond to sunlight, enzymes – proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions – are rarely driven by light. Scientists have identified only three types of natural photoenzymes so far. The newest one, discovered in 2017, is fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP). Derived from microscopic algae, it uses blue light to catalyze the conversion of fatty acids, found in fats and oils, into alkanes and alkenes.
USA – Strategic Biofuels plans to build 145 million litres lignocellulosic diesel plant in Louisiana [Full subscriber]
Strategic Biofuels LLC, a project development company, announced on 23rd April it plans to develop a renewable diesel plant in Louisiana that will produce up to 32 million gallons (145.5 million litres) per year of renewable fuel using wood waste.
USA – DOE to award US$61.4 million towards research on biofuel, bioenergy projects [Full subscriber]
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) announced on 8th April the availability of US$61.4 million to support the development and demonstration of a variety of bioenergy projects, including those related to marine and aviation fuels, cellulosic sugars, separations technologies, residential wood heating, and renewable natural gas (RNG).
Monthly Snapshot
Market Analysis Raw sugar futures on ICE closed more than 2% lower on 21st May as speculators liquidated part of their large long position amid a stronger dollar. July raw […]
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