Articles tagged with "biofuel"
Scientists unlock 36x bio-jet fuel yields with AI, microbial 'bad habit'
Scientists at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have developed two innovative methods that dramatically accelerate the engineering of microbes for bio-jet fuel production, cutting development times from years to weeks. One approach combines artificial intelligence (AI) with lab automation to rapidly design and test hundreds of genetic variants of Pseudomonas putida, achieving a five-fold increase in isoprenol production. The second method uses a genetic biosensor that exploits the microbe’s natural tendency to consume its own fuel product, enabling selection of strains with a 36-fold increase in fuel titers by linking fuel production to microbial survival. Together, these methods enable testing genetic designs 10 to 100 times faster than traditional manual techniques. The primary focus is on producing isoprenol, which can be converted into DMCO, a synthetic jet fuel with higher energy density than petroleum-based fuels, critical for aviation where battery energy density remains insufficient. The AI-driven approach uses robotics and machine learning to optimize gene combinations via
energybiofuelartificial-intelligencemicrobial-engineeringlab-automationsynthetic-biologymetabolic-engineeringScientists turn tomato waste into climate-friendly jet fuel to cut aviation emissions
European scientists, coordinated by Austria’s Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), have initiated the ToFuel project to convert tomato processing waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of efforts to reduce aviation carbon emissions. Supported by the EU with a budget of approximately USD 4.1 million, this four-year initiative aims to develop a climate-neutral biorefinery that transforms tomato residues—such as leaves, stems, peels, seeds, and spoiled fruit—into jet fuel while producing valuable by-products like fertilizer, animal feed, and nutritional oil. Tomato pomace could potentially supply about 3% of Europe’s SAF demand by 2030, leveraging the large volumes of residual biomass generated from the EU’s annual production of 17 megatons of tomatoes. The project explores two advanced processing methods: extrusion, which breaks down biomass for fermentation into lipid-rich oils, and hydrothermal liquefaction, which converts wet biomass into bio-oil and biochar. These intermediate products are purified
energysustainable-aviation-fuelbiofuelbiomass-conversionclimate-neutralwaste-to-energybio-oilThe Coming Slow Fade of America’s Corn Ethanol Industry - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica outlines the rise and anticipated decline of the U.S. corn ethanol industry, which expanded rapidly under policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard and subsidies such as the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit. Corn ethanol became a major economic driver in the Midwest, supporting farmers and rural communities by creating steady demand for corn used in fuel blending. By the late 2000s, ethanol production had grown to over 16 billion gallons annually, with ethanol blended into nearly all gasoline sold nationwide at about a 10% ratio. The industry’s stability was largely maintained by mandates and a large fleet of internal combustion engine vehicles. However, structural changes in transportation and energy are challenging this stability. Gasoline demand has plateaued and begun a slow decline due to improved vehicle efficiency, increased hybrid adoption, work-from-home trends, and the growing presence of electric vehicles (EVs), which replace entire household gasoline consumption. Attempts to increase ethanol blend levels beyond 10-15% face significant
energyethanolbiofuelrenewable-energytransportation-fuelcorn-ethanol-industryfuel-demandWorld’s first jet fuel from ethanol produced at new US plant
LanzaJet, a US-based fuel producer, has achieved a global first by producing jet fuel from ethanol at its Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Soperton, Georgia. This commercial-scale production marks a significant breakthrough as the first non-petroleum renewable jet fuel compatible with existing aircraft. The accomplishment is the result of 15 years of research and development, validating LanzaJet’s proprietary Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology. This technology converts ethanol into Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK), a type of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), through a continuous catalytic process involving dehydration, oligomerization, and hydrogenation. The ATJ process can utilize diverse sustainable feedstocks such as agricultural residues, energy crops, municipal solid waste, and captured carbon, offering a scalable alternative to the limited feedstocks used in current SAF production methods like Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA). The Freedom Pines Fuels facility, a First-of-a-Kind integrated plant with
energyrenewable-energybiofuelethanoljet-fuelsustainable-aviation-fueldecarbonizationIllinois lab cooks food waste into jet fuel in aviation breakthrough
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a novel thermochemical conversion process that transforms food waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) meeting all industry standards without blending with fossil fuels. The two-step process begins with hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which uses high heat and pressure to convert wet biomass into biocrude oil. This biocrude is then purified by removing impurities and refined through catalytic hydrotreating using cobalt molybdenum catalysts to eliminate nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, resulting in pure hydrocarbons suitable for jet fuel. The produced SAF passed rigorous ASTM and FAA tests, clearing Tier Alpha and Beta prescreening without additives. This breakthrough addresses two critical issues: the environmental impact of aviation emissions and the global problem of food waste, which accounts for over 30% of food produced and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions when decomposed in landfills. The technology’s versatility extends beyond food waste, capable of processing other biowastes like sewage sludge,
energysustainable-aviation-fuelbiofuelrenewable-energycarbon-emissions-reductionhydrothermal-liquefactioncatalytic-hydrotreatingBacteria from food leftovers turn waste into renewable natural gas
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a previously unknown methane-producing bacterium from the Natronincolaceae family that can convert food waste into renewable natural gas (RNG), even in high-ammonia environments where most methane-producing microbes fail. This discovery was made at the Surrey Biofuel Facility in Canada, which processes about 115,000 tons of food waste annually using anaerobic digestion. The facility relies on microbial communities to break down organic waste into simpler compounds like acetic acid, which are then converted into methane and refined into RNG. Using protein stable isotope probing (protein-SIP), the team tracked carbon-labeled nutrients to pinpoint the key microbes responsible for methane production, revealing the new bacterium’s significant role. This ammonia-tolerant microbe explains why some digesters maintain methane production under challenging conditions, preventing costly interruptions caused by acetic acid buildup. The findings suggest that high-ammonia environments may actually support these microbes, offering potential for improved biofuel facility designs and
energyrenewable-natural-gasbiofuelmethane-productionanaerobic-digestionmicrobial-energyorganic-waste-conversionThe Plan to Turn the Caribbean’s Glut of Sargassum Into Biofuel
The Caribbean, particularly Mexican coastal areas like Cancun and Quintana Roo, is facing an unprecedented influx of sargassum seaweed, with forecasts predicting up to 400,000 tons washing ashore this summer. This seaweed not only mars the region’s beaches and tourism appeal but also releases harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide, methane, and carbon dioxide as it decomposes, negatively impacting local economies by an estimated 11.6% GDP drop in affected areas. The causes of these massive algal blooms remain uncertain, with potential factors including warmer ocean temperatures, increased agricultural runoff, and shifting ocean currents. To address this environmental and economic challenge, experts propose converting the sargassum into biofuel and construction materials. Engineer Miguel Ángel Aké Madera highlights that processing 500 tons of sargassum daily could produce 20,000 cubic meters of biogas, roughly equivalent to the daily fuel demand of an average Mexican gas station. This approach is favored over creating consumer products due
energybiofuelbiomasssargassumrenewable-energybiogascarbon-creditsScientists turn carbon dioxide into clean green fuel with 96% purity
Scientists at the Norwegian Institute of BIOeconomy Research (NIBIO) have developed a biofilm-based process to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) gases into biomethane with 96% purity, offering a green and sustainable alternative to natural gas. Biofilms—communities of microorganisms embedded in a slimy matrix—enable efficient gas processing by increasing the surface area for reactions. Unlike traditional biogas plants that rely on matter decomposition, these biofilm reactors can handle various gas streams and produce higher-purity methane. The team used Anaerobic Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (AnMBBR) to overcome challenges posed by impurities like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia, common in industrial gas streams, achieving stable methane production even at high H2S levels. Beyond methane, the researchers explored biofilm applications in producing syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) from unconventional substrates such as woody biomass and plastic waste, which are typically resistant
energybiofuelbiomethanecarbon-dioxide-conversionbiofilm-technologysustainable-energyanaerobic-reactorsUK Startup IDs A New Hope For Algae Biofuel: Carbon-Negative Production
energybiofuelcarbon-capturerenewable-energymicroalgaeclean-technologygreenhouse-gas-emissions