Jul
17
Visualizing the Cellulose Change to Sugar
July 17, 2009 | 5 Comments
Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), a US Department of Energy Bioenergy Research Center led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a visualization technique, based on the natural auto-fluorescence of plant cell walls. The technique enables researchers for the first time to visualize dynamically the solubilization (dissolving) during an ionic liquid pretreatment […]
Jul
16
New Commercial Effort for Biomass Pyrolysis to Gasoline
July 16, 2009 | 10 Comments
George Huber the professor leading the research at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst estimates that once perfected, his new technique would be able to produce the equivalent of three barrels of oil for between $30 and $100. That’s a very bold shot from an estimate, making top dollar oil at or less than $35.00. […]
Jul
15
Vegetable Oil to BioDiesel Just Got Much Simpler
July 15, 2009 | 20 Comments
Catilin Inc. anticipates that the promise of lower operating costs, ease of use and safety will overcome the challenges of introducing its T300 solid catalyst that sidesteps the need for a fixed bed to the biodiesel industry. In the difficult economy coming up with investment capital is a serious matter. But look at what is […]
Jul
14
Exxon Commits $600 Million to Algae
July 14, 2009 | 7 Comments
Business Wire and the Wall Street Journal are reporting and commenting on Exxon committing $600 million to Craig Ventor’s Synthetic Genomics to brew fuel from algae. Its a watershed mark for alternative fuels and could mark a coming of age for alternative fuels. Exxon is known in the industry as the top engineering skilled company […]
Jul
14
A CO2 to Gasoline Process From Poland
July 14, 2009 | 11 Comments
Researchers from University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska (UMCS) in Poland are teaming up with Wrotkow Power of Lublin to test their method of converting CO2 emissions from the power plant into low-cost, high-octane fuel. The head of the research team, Professor Dobieslaw Nazimek at (UMCS) says they’re using a chemical process that resembles part of the […]