New, high-potential algae strain discovered in Colorado snowfields. Should algae’s future nabobs and magnates be out there traversing the slopes? Those whose family chronicles make reference to the Great Irish Potato Famine of 1845-49 and the subsequent starvation of more than 1 million and the emigration of at least another million — may take some […]
Oil’s #1 and Craig Venter re-up on algae fuels R&D effort In California, Synthetic Genomics announced a new co-funded research agreement with ExxonMobil to develop algae biofuels. The new agreement is a basic science research program that focuses on developing algal strains with significantly improved production characteristics by employing synthetic genomic science and technology. Financial […]
You can sum it up in 10 words: Studebaker, Maxwell, Hudson, Checker, DeSoto, Duesenberg, LaSalle, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Tucker. The names of beloved auto brands that went by the wayside — great in their day, but unable to adapt to modern times. The passing of a great brand is a sad thing, but it doesn’t mean […]
#1 chemco acquires Henkel’s detergents enzyme technology; licenses Dyadic’s C1 platform; inks R&D pact with Direvo. In Germany, BASF has strengthened its technology footprint in industrial enzymes, one of BASF’s identified growth fields, with three separate transactions. Er, who is BASF again? BASF is the world’s leading chemical company, ranked by sales. Its portfolio ranges […]
By Barry Cohen, Executive Director, National Algae Association The DoE has spent $2.5 billion on algae research but to date nothing has been commercialized. Why? Because their mission is to develop technologies. It’s not their problem or concern what happens to them – they just continue to develop them! We need your help! We need […]
Speciality chems giant opts for the OPX Biotechnologies’ EDGE technology to slash development timelines and costs, and boost ROI. Making biobased work on price and performance. In Germany and Colorado, Evonik and OPX Biotechnologies have entered into an agreement to jointly develop a list of (undisclosed) bio-based specialty chemicals. Evonik is one of the world […]
Also, next-gen waste-to-biofuels biofuels pioneer expects to reach commissioning stage by summer at first commercial plant In Canada, Enerkem announced that the Canadian government will contribute $1.1 million to a project developing new catalytic processes for the conversion of waste into “drop-in” biofuels. These “drop-in” biofuels are fully interchangeable with hydrocarbon fuels, such as conventional […]
One thing to remember about Shell – it’s not your Dad’s oil company. In an exclusive Digest interview, Shell’s VP for Alternative Energy, Matthew Tipper, reveals the company’s thinking about RFS2, their increasing re-focus on North America and the EU. Plus, Shell’s ambition to “build, own and operate” a global biofuels business “to complement what […]
World’s #1 chemical company to produce renewable Butanediol using Genomatica’s process. The Digest has a one-on-one with Genomatica CEO Christophe Schilling to explore the deal in-depth. In Germany, BASF announced that it plans to begin production of 1,4-butanediol based on renewable feedstock (renewable BDO) using Genomatica’s patented process. The one-step fermentation process is based on […]
Biofuels’s Montagues and Capulets were at it again last week — with a flurry of press releases about court decisions and commercial timelines regarding their respective isbutanol technologies. At the heart of it — a dispute over the significance of last week’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Gevo against Butamax for patent infringement. Here’s […]
