Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Bergius Process, a Cheap Process to Make Ethanol

A startup based in Tel Aviv, Israel, called HCL-Cleantech has reinvented a century-old process called the Bergius process as a much cheaper method to produce ethanol from biomass. The process uses concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCL) to breakdown biomass into sugars but has been too expensive for commercial use. The company, however, says that it has developed a way to recycle 42 percent of the HCL, pumping it back into the system and significantly reducing the cost of making ethanol. Read more here

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posted by Geetha @ 12:59 AM 0 Comments

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Ethanol are more Efficient and Generate Less Greenhouse-gas Emissions

Ethanol made in plants that also generate power from waste biomass are more efficient and generate less greenhouse-gas emissions than making petroleum-based gasoline, a new study says. Mark it as another salvo in the ongoing debate over the biofuel's environmental benefits. Read

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posted by Geetha @ 9:35 PM 0 Comments

Production of Cellulosic Ethanol is on the Rise in Iowa

The production of cellulosic ethanol is on the rise in Iowa, New York and South Dakota according to the Department of Energy.

The DOE says that while 2009 is starting out as a difficult year for the ethanol fuel industry, so far it's been a landmark year for cellulosic ethanol.

Produced from non-food plants and agricultural residues, cellulosic ethanol is expected to yield significant benefits in terms of energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions. So far this year, Poet and Mascoma Corporation have started up pilot plants in South Dakota and New York, while Poet is already planning ahead for its construction of a commercial facility in Iowa. Read more from this

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posted by Geetha @ 9:32 PM 0 Comments

The Economic Downturn that has Slowed the Ethanol Industry

Making ethanol from plant cellulose - such as crop residue and wood chips - could help reduce the nation's use of gasoline.

Refiners are required by law next year to start using at least 100 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol. But industry officials acknowledge they will not come close to providing enough of the fuel to meet that target or the targets for subsequent years.

Companies that are trying to commercialize cellulosic ethanol are struggling to find investors and lenders. Read this

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posted by Geetha @ 9:26 PM 0 Comments

Cellulosic Ethanol Provides 54 Percent more Energy than Corn-based Ethanol

The ethanol industry is taking a beating from the bad economy, with big producers like VeraSun shuttering factories and filing for bankruptcy. Those left standing are pleading with the feds to increase the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline, arguing it will boost demand, produce thousands of jobs and hasten the arrival of viable cellulosic ethanol. Read more

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posted by Geetha @ 9:22 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Honda Hits the Gas on Cellulosic Ethanol R&D

Honda Motor Co. has been toiling away at ethanol research since before hybrids moved in from the fringe of autoshows and well before deriving the stuff from corn ignited a heated debate over food vs. fuel. The company said it will build a large-scale plant to test the viability of its cellulosic ethanol production technology in “practical applications” — something it’s had in the works for more than two years. Read.

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posted by Geetha @ 12:35 AM 0 Comments

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Cellulosic Ethanol from Wood Chips

The Boston-based startup is making test quantities of cellulosic ethanol from wood chips at a plant in Rome, N.Y. It hopes to raise money for a $200 million, 40 million gallon-per-year commercial scale plant in Michigan. Read more

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posted by Geetha @ 8:51 PM 0 Comments