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When Life Gives You Lemons…make ethyl acetate

When Life Gives You Lemons…make ethyl acetate

[ 0 ] June 30, 2010 |

In Washington, BIO’s World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing is underway, and by the time you are reading this, it may well be over. More than 700 industry professionals gathered this week to confer, argue, commiserate, brag, beg, spy, kvetch and inspire. Usually a few days at BIO feels like a stretch at Top […]

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With a Little Kelp from my Friends: Macroalgae projects, concepts bloom

With a Little Kelp from my Friends: Macroalgae projects, concepts bloom

[ 1 ] June 23, 2010 |

Of all the results in the recent Transformative Technologies reader poll, the most surprising by far is the support for seaweed-based biofuels technologies. The sector placed third among all transformative technology platforms, with 8.63 percent of the votes. It could be simply that “macroalgae” attracts votes in the way that “jatrophalgae” or “cornalgae” might have, […]

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The Song That Never Ends: the financing of Cellulosic Ethanol

The Song That Never Ends: the financing of Cellulosic Ethanol

June 22, 2010 |

“This is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friends, some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they continued singing it forever just because this is the song that never ends, it goes on and on my friends…” It was the day upon which the secret of […]

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Portrait of a Transformative Technology: Qteros and its Q Microbe

Portrait of a Transformative Technology: Qteros and its Q Microbe

June 18, 2010 |

In Massachusetts, Qteros has been gaining heavy support in the Transformative Technologies poll – far more than you get from marshaling all the friends, Romans and countrymen associated with  a 50-person, early-stage company in the business of consolidated bioprocessing. In fact, I remarked to Qteros CEO John McCarthy that, had the company been renamed QAlgae, […]

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Shell takes stake in Virent; re-ups with Iogen through 2012; Shell and its Biofuels Babies in review

Shell takes stake in Virent; re-ups with Iogen through 2012; Shell and its Biofuels Babies in review

June 8, 2010 |

It was about a year ago that Shell jettisoned all of its wind, solar and geothermal desires and focused its renewable energy development strategy around biofuels. The second tangible fruit of that decision appeared this week with the news that it will re-invest in Iogen Energy, and has made a “significant incremental commitment” to fund […]

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Ethanol Risk reduction, Part III: a Special Digest Report

Ethanol Risk reduction, Part III: a Special Digest Report

[ 0 ] June 4, 2010 |

Ethanol production and transport presents unique safety risks.  Many plants and the public are not prepared for these risks.  Ashly Insco and Evan Nyer of ARCADIS, in a three part series, will provide an overview of the safety issues with the Ethanol and alternative fuel industry.  The series includes Plant Safety, Public Safety and Transportation […]

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Ethanol Risk Reduction: Part II, Public Safety

Ethanol Risk Reduction: Part II, Public Safety

[ 0 ] June 3, 2010 |

Ethanol production and transport presents unique safety risks.  Many plants and the public are not prepared for these risks.  Ashly Insco and Evan Nyer of ARCADIS, in a three part series, will provide an overview of the safety issues with the Ethanol and alternative fuel industry.  The series will include Plant Safety, Public Safety and […]

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KiOR raises $90 million; at the forefront of new generation pyrolysis

KiOR raises $90 million; at the forefront of new generation pyrolysis

[ 0 ] May 26, 2010 |

In Texas, Earth2Tech profiled the early-stage pyrolysis venture KiOR, which is producing 15 barrels per day of biocrude using its fast pyrolysis technology and a proprietary catalyst which produces fuel with 92 percent lower carbon emissions fossil-based crude oil. The company raised a total of $90 million in a Series B funding round, and is […]

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90 US scientists demand revision of biofuels carbon accounting

90 US scientists demand revision of biofuels carbon accounting

[ 0 ] May 25, 2010 |

In Washington, 90 US scientists wrote to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid to fix accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions associated with bioenergy projects. The scientists said they wanted to correct a perception that “that all biofuels and bioenergy are equally good for the environment and are all […]

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Methanol: Biofuel to love or hate?

Methanol: Biofuel to love or hate?

[ 0 ] May 24, 2010 |

Biofuels developments typically involve “two, four or more” carbon approaches (ethanol, biobutanol, or longer chain hydrocarbons in the gasoline or diesel range). Though used in biodiesel production or as an intermediate in other biofuel production processes, the one-carbon methanol is not commonly targeted as a biofuel. Methanol has its haters, and its passionate fans. Who’s […]

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