Biofuels and chemicals

Rising global demand for cleaner energy from biomass could drive more land acquisition in poorer nations where food security and land rights are weak, an International Institute for Environment and Development report said today.

"If left unchecked, the growing pressure on land access could undermine livelihoods and food security in some of the world's poorest countries," the London-based nonprofit research group said, calling for more public scrutiny into global biomass expansion plans.

Biomass energy makes up 77 percent of world renewable energy, and trees and woody plants account for 87 percent of that biomass, the report said. … Read more

Don't give up on the newspaper industry just yet--it could soon be powering your car. Researchers at Tulane University have discovered a strain of bacteria that can turn paper into butanol, a biofuel substitue for gasoline.

The bacteria, dubbed "TU-103," was found when the folks in David Mullin's lab in Tulane's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology were weeding through the contents of some animal droppings one day. It turned out to be some lucky scat--TU-103 is believed to be the first bacterial strain from nature that produces butanol directly from cellulose, an organic matter found in everything from paper to Caesar salads.

"Cellulose is found in all green plants, and is the most abundant organic material on earth, and converting it into butanol is the dream of many," said Harshad Velankar, a postdoctoral fellow in Mullin's lab, in a statement last week. "In the United States alone, at least 323 million tons of cellulosic materials that could be used to produce butanol are thrown out each year." … Read more

Genomatica, a company that makes chemicals from plants rather than oil, said today it plans to go public and raise $100 million.

The company today filed its S-1 document with the Securities and Exchange Commission and laid out its strategy and risks. Genomatica follows a handful of other green-tech companies that have filed to go public this year, despite the recent rocky ride of the stock markets.

San Diego-based Genomatica makes industrial chemicals used in the production of everyday products, such as plastics used in car interiors, pharmaceuticals, and apparel.

Instead of using oil or natural gas as a feedstock … Read more

Genomatica said today it has successfully produced butadiene, following the trend of many biofuel and biotech start-ups pushing into industrial chemicals.

The company said that it has made enough butadiene from renewable feedstocks, such as sugar cane, to demonstrate the viability of the process. Genomatica's first chemical process is converting sugar cane into a chemical called BDO, which is used to make automotive plastics, running shoes, and spandex fabric.

Butadiene is used as an ingredient in making latex and synthetic rubber for products such as tires. The prices of butadiene have risen over the past few months, which is … Read more

The alligator, an animal that's been around since the time of the dinosaurs, can help reduce our use of fossil fuels, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Louisiana yesterday published a paper that concluded alligator fat has good potential for biodiesel. Fifteen million pounds of alligator fat is disposed of in landfills annually from U.S. industry, which slaughters alligators for their skin and meat.

The focus of the research was to understand the characteristics of alligator oil and to see whether it could be easily converted into biodiesel. The researchers found that alligator oil … Read more

The federal government is using the weight of the military to counter years of disappointment with biofuels and commercialize drop-in replacements for diesel and jet fuel.

Three government agencies--the Departments of the Navy, Agriculture, and Energy--today announced a memorandum of understanding to spend $510 million over three years to scale up the industry for advanced biofuels.

The agencies will put out a request for proposals to build commercial-scale biorefineries, called "pioneer plants," able to make diesel and jet fuel from non-food sources at prices competitive with fossil fuels. The biorefineries will aim to be built in different locations … Read more

Chrysler and ZeaChem today announced a deal meant to promote cellulosic ethanol and spiff up the automaker's green credentials.

The two companies have a memorandum of understanding to accelerate development of ethanol made from non-food sources. Through a partnership, Chrysler intends to "strengthen the credibility" of cellulosic ethanol with regulators, according to a statement.

Automakers are expected to announce more stringent fuel economy standards with better engine efficiency, hybrids, and electric vehicles. But biofuels remain part of the country's efforts to reduce dependence on oil.

ZeaChem has a process that uses microbes to convert woody biomass … Read more

We've always been told that driving and alcohol don't mix, but there's now a distinct possibility we could all be driving around tanked up on tequila, according to the usually very sober Guardian.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have suggested that agave, the hardy plant from which the bitter liquor is distilled, is an ideal source from which to create the petrol substitute ethanol, as it has a far lower environmental and social impact than conventional ethanol-making crops.

This comes as no surprise to Crave. We've been aware of tequila's benefits for years, but writing a white paper on the subject the morning after an extensive bout of experimentation has usually taken a back seat to figuring out why our brains feel as if they've been used as a fat person's trampoline.

Read more of "Tequila mooted as eco-friendly biofuel for cars, salt and lemon optional" at Crave UK. … Read more

Leonardo DiCaprio is reported to be getting the first Fisker Karma, a luxury plug-in hybrid sports car. He can now get a hybrid trailer to match on his next film project.

King Kong Production Trailers (KKPT) announced today that it's making what it believes is the world's first solar hybrid production trailer.

The Helios will include solar panels, and both a solar generator and a biodiesel generator for on-site use.

The interior will also sport some sustainable touches with bamboo cabinetry, recycled rubber flooring, recycled glass countertops, and Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber.

What might be the most … Read more