BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Irish  Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine  has announced a €3 million investment in an integrated anaerobic digestion and green biorefining demonstration initiative. Press release: " Ministers McConalogue and Heydon announce €3 million for integrated anaerobic digestion and green biorefining demonstration initiative ", 14/02/2023. The funding has been jointly awarded to University College Dublin (UCD) and Munster Technological University (MTU) for the further development of climate neutral farming as part of the Farm Zero Carbon research project currently being undertaken on the Shinagh Estates Demonstration Farm in West Cork. The Farm Zero C project which will oversee the initiative was the winner of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Zero Emissions Challenge in 2021. The project co-led by BiOrbic, Ireland's national bioeconomy research centre, and the Carbery Group, a cooperative based in West Cork, aims to create an economical...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Eni Sustainable Mobility and PBF Energy have announced they have entered into definitive agreements to partner in a 50-50 joint venture, St. Bernard Renewables LLC (SBR), for the biorefinery currently under construction co-located with PBF’s Chalmette Refinery in Louisiana (US). Upon consummation of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, Eni Sustainable Mobility will contribute capital totaling $835 million plus up to additional $50 million that is subject to the achievement of eventual project milestones and will provide expertise in biorefining operations, supply and marketing. PBF brings its strong industrial know-how in the United States and, as the contributor of the biorefinery, will continue to manage project execution and serve as the operator once construction is complete. The St. Bernard Renewables biorefinery startup is scheduled in the first half of 2023 and the facility is currently ta...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LanzaTech and the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company ("Tadweer”, entity responsible for the development of waste management services in Abu Dhabi and a main key player that supports the adoption of the Emirate’s circular economy) have announced a collaboration to explore business opportunities to develop a large-scale conversion plant for transforming MSW into renewable fuel. Press release: " LanzaTech and Tadweer to explore collaboration on conversion of waste to alternative fuels ", 16/02/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Avantium and Origin Materials have announced a partnership to accelerate the mass production of FDCA and PEF for use in advanced chemicals and plastics.  Press release: " Avantium and Origin Materials to Accelerate the Mass Production of FDCA and PEF for Advanced Chemicals and Plastics ", 21/02/2023. Related posts: - " Green light to the construction of the first FDCA plant of Avantium ", 13/12/2021. - " Origin Materials announces mechanical completion of its first commercial manufacturing plant ", 10/02/2023. The partnership aims to bring the technology platforms of both companies together in order to produce FDCA from sustainable wood residues on an industrial scale. FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) is the key building block for the biopolymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) – a 100% plant-based, fully recyclable plastic material, with superior functionality and a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional pla...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Celanese has announced the availability of more sustainable versions of multiple Acetyl Chain materials with mass balance bio-content. These offerings will be designated as ECO-B, consistent with the innovative biobased offerings introduced for Engineered Materials customers in previous years.  Press release: " Celanese Expanding Portfolio of Sustainable Products Across Acetyl Chain ", 08/02/2023. Celanese will also offer ECO-B versions of other acetyl chain intermediate chemicals including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, amines, acetate esters and anhydrides, all designed to help support customers in developing more sustainable product offerings for their downstream markets. Celanese chemicals are essential to the end production of a wide range of products, with applications like pharmaceutical solvents, crop protection, photovoltaics, cleaning products, inks, lubricants, and engineered foams potentially seeing the most immediate benefit from...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Croda has agreed to acquire Solus, a company specialized in biotechnology-derived beauty actives, from Solus Advanced Materials . Press release: " Acquisition of Solus Biotech expands fast growth Beauty Actives business in Asia ", 06/02/2023. The acquisition provides access to Solus’ existing biotech-derived ceramide and phospholipid technologies, and its emerging capabilities in natural retinol. This acquisition will significantly strengthen Croda’s Beauty Actives portfolio and increases its exposure to targeted prestige segments. Located in South Korea, Solus expands Croda’s Asian manufacturing capability and will create a new biotechnology R&D hub in the region. Solus is a leading supplier of naturally derived powder ceramides, a high-growth global market with further potential to extend into formulated ceramides. The number of new personal care products containing ceramides has doubled over the last five years, principally for skin care b...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Bioweg and Ginkgo Bioworks have  announced a collaboration to optimize the production of bacterial cellulose and to produce novel variants of cellulose with improved performance to serve a variety of end markets. Press release: " Bioweg and Ginkgo Bioworks Announce Partnership to Develop Cost Effective and Efficacious Bio-Based Materials to Reduce the Use of Microplastic Pollutants ", 06/02/2023. Bioweg's current products based on biodegradable bacterial cellulose have already been tested and implemented by companies as an effective substitute for widely used synthetic polymers such as acrylates, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Synthetic polymers often appear as microbeads (micropowders) and texturants (Rheology modifiers) in products throughout the cosmetics, homecare, personal care, agricultural coatings and other industries, which contribute to microplastic pollution in surface waters worldwide. It is estimated that an average person could b...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. United Airlines, Tallgrass and Green Plains have announced a new joint venture (Blue Blade Energy) to develop and then commercialize a novel SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock. If the technology is successful, Blue Blade is expected to proceed with the construction of a pilot facility in 2024, followed by a full-scale facility that could begin commercial operations by 2028. Press release: " United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains Form Joint Venture to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology Using Ethanol ", 31/01/2023. Figure 1. United Airlines, Tallgrass and Green Plains to develop and commercialize SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock (taken from the press release) Blue Blade's new SAF technology was developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a leading center for technological innovation in sustainable energy. SAF, which uses non-petroleum fe...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. TotalEnergies and Intraplás are collaborating to bring sustainable solutions to the packaging market, without compromising on performance and food safety. Intraplás is launching commercial products using TotalEnergies RE:newable polymer (a range of the RE:clic portfolio) coming from renewable sourcing. Press release: " TotalEnergies and Intraplás celebrate their collaboration on the commercialization of drop-in packaging solutions from renewable sources, using TotalEnergies RE:clic range ", 26/01/2023. Figure 1. Intraplás launches commercial products using TotalEnergies RE:newable polymer (taken from the press release) TotalEnergies’ world-class biorefinery in La Mède (France) allows to leverage a direct access to renewable feedstock for its drop-in RE:newable polymer range. The resulting polymer is warranted under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) scheme, which uses a mass balance approach. As a result, the RE:...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Velocys has announced the execution of a master relationship agreement (“MRA”) with Bechtel. The MRA sets out a route map for the parties to collaborate with each other with the objective of developing an EPC execution model for the Company’s sustainable fuels projects. Press release: " Velocys and Bechtel collaborate on SAF project delivery solution for global markets ", 25/01/2023. This collaboration will initially focus on Velocys’ two main reference projects (Altalto Project in Immingham, UK and Bayou Fuels Project in the US) and the recently announced e-Alto power-to-liquids project in the UK, all subject to the terms of future contracts. However, the MRA also covers other third-party projects that may be introduced by either Bechtel or Velocys. Under a separate continuing technical services agreement, Bechtel is providing front end project engineering and other technical services to support the development of Velocys’ SAF project portfolio. ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Origin Materials  has announced the mechanical completion of Origin 1, its first commercial manufacturing plant, in-line with the previously disclosed timeline. Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2023 with start-up beginning shortly thereafter. Press release: " Origin Materials Announces Mechanical Completion of Origin 1 Manufacturing Plant ", 27/01/2023. As part of mechanical completion, the plant's critical mechanical systems have been successfully installed and commissioning has begun. Work onsite will continue, including electrical work, adding new equipment, and further refining technology. Work at the plant continues following this key achievement, with plant commissioning to support start-up anticipated to be complete around the end of Q1 2023 and start-up beginning shortly thereafter. Origin 1 is expected to start to address growing customer demand for its renewable materials and allow customers to qualify produ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. U PM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie GmbH  have announced a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the automotive market and reduce fossil resource consumption.  Both companies have agreed to form a strategic partnership to produce a new range of carbon neutral engine and battery coolants that will help automotive manufacturers reduce their CO2 footprint. Press release: " UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie GmbH announce strategic partnership to develop new sustainable coolants ", 09,02/2023. Figure 1. UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL will jointly launch a new range of carbon-neutral engine and battery coolants that will help automakers reduce their carbon footprint (taken from the press release) UPM is investing 750 M€ to build the world’s first industry scale biorefinery in Leuna (Germany) to convert sustainably sourced, certified woody biomass into next generation bioch...