Algae company AlgoDyne invests in miscanthus
At the Biopact we give algae companies the benefit of the doubt, even though we remain skeptical about the feasibility and efficiency of large-scale biofuel production from micro-organisms (earlier post). AlgoDyne is not the first company to silently invest in ordinary energy crops as it discreetly phases out the algae venture.
Again, the company says it made a 'discovery', this time that by applying certain aspects of its proprietary enzyme technology gained from its micro-algae research to grain crops and especially to miscanthus, the EROI (Energy Return on Investment) of ethanol from land grown biomass can be increased significantly to a sustainable economic level. There is no patent or any published information backing up this 'discovery' of enzymatic cellulose conversion.
AlgoDyne will establish its own biomass distribution network to supply the ever increasing demand for biomass for ethanol production:
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: miscanthus :: cellulose :: ethanol :: algae ::
AlgoDyne says its main focus still lies on the development of micro-algae as the primary source of biomass for ethanol production. The Company has gained strong evidence (never published or demonstrated) for the "vast superiority of micro-algae regarding the YPE (yield per effort) / EROI compared to land grown biomass". The company is determined to exploit the boom in grain crops "to expand research on its disruptive technology to produce ethanol from micro-algae."
Miscanthus is a genus of about 15 species of perennial grasses. Miscanthus giganteus has been trialed as a biofuel in Europe since the early 1980s. It can grow to heights of more than 3.5m in one growth season. Its dry weight annual yield can reach 25t/ha (10t/acre). The rapid growth, low mineral content and high biomass yield of Miscanthus make it a favorite choice as a biofuel. After harvest, it can be burned to produce heat and power turbines. The resulting CO2 emissions are equal to the amount of CO2 that the plant used up from the atmosphere during its growing phase, and thus the process is greenhouse gas-neutral.
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Saturday, March 24, 2007
Researchers develop bioplastic that breaks down into biodiesel after use
The new plastic is made from plant oils and has remarkable properties, such as being tougher and more durable than petroleum-based polyethylenes. Additionally, the bioplastic can be placed in a simple container where it is safely broken down to liquid fuel, ready for use in cars. The concept thus shortcuts a costly waste-management process and simplifies fuel logistics. The innovation clearly illustrates the cyclical nature of the bioeconomy: the 'waste'-stream of one bioproduct becomes the feedstock for another bioproduct. In such a circular, cradle-to-cradle concept, there is no real 'waste'.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded the researchers US$2.34 million to advance this innovative technology. The military is very interested because, when on campaign, army units produce vast waste-streams that are not treated and pollute the environment, whereas fuel logistics are often problematic. With the new plastic, both problems are solved at once.
The commercialization of the technology will also lead to a new source of green energy for households worldwide.
Professor Richard Gross, director of Polytechnic University's National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing of Macromolecules (CBBM) developed the new bioplastic using vegetable oils. He also partnered with DNA 2.0, a biotechnology company specializing in gene synthesis, to develop enzymes that can both synthesize and break the fuel-latent plastic down into biodiesel after its use:
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: bioplastic :: biodiesel :: plant oils :: biodegradable ::
"Polytechnic University has a long history of innovation, and we are confident Professor Gross' research will revolutionize how we produce and consume biofuels," noted Jerry M. Hultin, president of Polytechnic University. "Gassing up at the pump could be part of the past thanks to the possibility of this research."
The process of converting biogengineered fuel-latent plastics into biodiesel is of interest to DARPA since the U.S. military can use this technology on the frontline.
"Military units generate substantial quantities of packaging waste when engaging in stationary field operations. If we can turn this waste into fuel, we will see a double benefit - we will reduce the amount of waste that we have to remove, and we will reduce the amount of new fuel that we must deliver to the units," explained Khine Latt, program manager for DARPA's Mobile Integrated Sustainable Energy Recovery program.
The next phase of the research will entail developing a more efficient low-cost process for both manufacturing the bioplastic and converting it into biodiesel. The personal generation of biodiesel is an important step in developing green technologies and reducing waste.
Bioplastics are most often associated with sugar and starchy feedtocks, from which polylactic acid is obtained, the building block for a particular kind of biodegradable plastic (earlier post). But more and more, plant oils are being used as well (an example).
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posted by Biopact team at 1:50 PM 1 comments links to this post