GEVO, SAS
Date: 2021-02-26
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol, ethanol and SAF producer GEVO, Inc. and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) are reporting an amendment to their previously signed, October 2019 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sales agreement. With the amendment, SAS will increase its minimum purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to 5,000,000 gallons per year.

GEVO expects to begin supplying SAF from its Net-Zero Projects to SAS at the beginning of 2024. The Net-Zero Projects are being designed to produce liquid hydrocarbons in the form of SAF and renewable gasoline. Each Net-Zero Project is expected to produce approximately 45 million gpy of liquid hydrocarbons and at least 350,000,000 lbs/yr of high protein animal feed. (Source: GEVO, PR, Website, 24 Feb., 2021)Contact: GEVO Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  SAF,  Aviation Biofuel,  

EIA
Date: 2021-02-22
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its Annual Energy Outlook 2021 (AEO2021) on Feb. 3, predicting that the consumption of biofuels as a share of the domestic fuel mix will gradually increase through 2050.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected demand for all liquid fuels last year, the EIA notes that biofuel consumption has not decreased as much as petroleum-based fuels. AEO2021's reference case, which represents the EIA's best assessment of how energy markets will operate through 2050, predicts that biofuels consumption will return to 2019 levels in 2021, slightly faster than petroleum-based transportation fuels. As a result, biofuels will account for an increasing share of the domestic fuel mix.

The EIA attributes the quicker rebound in biofuels consumption primarily to regulatory support, such as the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

In the AEO2021 reference case, the EIA projects that the percentage of biofuels blended into the U.S. transportation fuel pool will increase and slowly grow through 2050. In the event of high oil prices, the EIA expects the share of biofuels consumed in the U.S. would rise to a greater percentage as higher prices for gasoline and diesel would make biofuels more competitive.

Biodiesel production is expected to grow slightly in the reference case, maintaining a steady level of supply through 2050. Renewable diesel production is expected to grow at a higher rate. Ethanol consumption is expected to return to pre-COVID levels in later years of the projection period, steadily growing through 2050 because of higher ethanol blends making their way into the on-road transportation fuel, according to the EIA.

Domestic production of other biomass-derived liquids, including pyrolysis oils, biomass-derived Fischer-Tropsch liquids, biobutanol and renewable feedstocks used for the on-site production of diesel and gasoline, is expected to grow by 3.5 percent, reaching 90,000 bpd by 2050. The AEO2020 reference case predicted a 5.3 percent increase, which would equate to 110,000 bpd in 2050. (Source: EIA, 3 Feb., 2021) Contact: EIA, www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo

More Low-Carbon Energy News EIA,  Biofuel,  Ethanol,  Biodiesel,  

GEVO
Date: 2021-01-22
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol and ethanol producer GEVO, Inc. reports it has entered into definitive agreements with institutional and accredited investors for the sale of an aggregate of 43,750,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $8.00 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules.

The offering is expected to gross $350 million, prior to placement fees and expenses. The net proceeds will be used to fund capital projects, working capital and for general corporate purposes.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. Citigroup is acting as capital markets advisor to GEVO. (Source: GEVO, Website PR, 20 Nov., 2020) Contact: GEVO Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  

GEVO,Gevo
Date: 2021-01-13
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol and ethanol producer GEVO Inc. is touting the concept of Net-Zero (carbon emissions) Projects for the production of energy dense liquid hydrocarbons using renewable energy and the company's proprietary technology.

A Net-Zero Project aims to convert renewable energy such as photosynthetic, wind, renewable natural gas (RNG), biogas, from various sources into energy dense liquid hydrocarbons that achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the fuel's whole lifecycle -- from the way carbon is captured from the atmosphere, and processed to make liquid transportation fuel products.

Net-Zero 1 to be constructed at Lake Preston, South Dakota is expected to have a capacity of 45 MMgy of hydrocarbons (for gasoline and jet fuel, based on current take-or-pay contracts) and to produce more than 350 million ppy per year of high protein feed products as well as produce sufficient renewable natural gas (RNG) to meet production process needs.

Net-Zero 1 is projected to come in at roughly $700 million including the hydrocarbon production and related renewable energy infrastructure which includes anaerobic digestion to produce biogas to run the plant and generate electricity on-site. (Source; GEVO, PR, 11 Jan., 2021.

In other GEVO news as of December 31, 2020, the company paid off the outstanding balance of $12.7 million in 12 pct convertible senior secured notes and reduced the group's general corporate secured debt balance to zero, according to a GEVO release.

As reported on 8 Jan., GEVO Inc. has contracted with Koch Industries' Houston-headquartered subsidiary Koch Project Solutions, LLC to provide front-end engineering, design and project execution management services for the expansion projects that GEVO is in the process of financing with Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (Source: GEVO Inc., Jan, 2021) Contact: GEVO Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Gevo,  Net Zero Emissions,  RNG,  Alternative Fuel,  

GEVO
Date: 2020-08-21
Englewood, Colorado-based Gevo, Inc. reports it has entered into definitive agreements with institutional and accredited investors for the sale of an aggregate of 38,461,545 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $1.30 per share in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules. The offering is expected to close on or about August 25, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Offering proceeds are expected to be $50 million, before placement agent (H.C. Wainwright & Co.) fees and other offering expenses. GEVO intends to use the net proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness.

GEVO is commercializing the next generation of renewable premium gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel with the potential to achieve zero carbon emissions, addressing the market need of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with sustainable alternatives. Gevo uses low-carbon renewable resource-based carbohydrates as raw materials, and is in an advanced state of developing renewable electricity and renewable natural gas for use in production processes, resulting in low-carbon fuels with substantially reduced carbon intensity, according to the company. (Source: GEVO, PR, Website, 20 Aug., 2020) Contact: Gevo Inc., Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Ethanol,  Biobutanol,  Biofuel,  

National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research
Date: 2020-08-14
In Peoria, Illinois, a research team at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (ARS) is working to rekindle the production of butanol from Lesquerella (a.k.a. Fendler's bladderpod and Yellow Top), a member of the mustard family that's native to the U.S. Southwest. Other possible feedstocks include wheat straw, sweet sorghum bagasse, penntcress, corn stover and other food wastes and processing byproducts like dried distillers grains, solubles and "presscake" (the crushed remains of lesquerella seed whose oil has been extracted).

The ARS team's efforts are part of a broader umbrella effort to create new, value-added markets for agricultural commodities, especially those that serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based fuels.

In laboratory trials, the researchers produced 11-14 grams of butanol per liter of lesquerella presscake. The total chemical production (combined butanol, acetone and ethanol) was 19 to 29 grams per liter -- a nearly 67 pct increase over using corn and glucose sources to produce these three same chemicals. The research team plans on scaling-up their experiments using two-liter bioreactors and, if successful, even larger ones.

Keeping feedstock costs down is key to making butanol competitive with gasoline, he added. At $25 a ton or less, lesquerella presscake would command a selling price of $2.27 or less a gallon -- about a dollar less than from sweet sorghum, another promising feedstock source, according to the release. (Source: National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, PR, Aug., 2020) Contact: National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Nasib Qureshi, Chemical Engineer, www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/peoria-il/national-center-for-agricultural-utilization-research

More Low-Carbon Energy News National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research,  

GEVO
Date: 2020-05-04
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol producer GEVO Inc. reports it has temporarily suspended production at its Luverne, Minn. and laid off workers and cut wages and executive salaries due to the overall economic disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

Gevo expects to continue the production of renewable isooctane and sustainable aviation fuel from the plant in Silsbee, Tex. The company also intends to continue developing its hydrocarbon business, including the planned expansion of the Luverne facility, and will continue to move forward in securing the project funding needed to expand the Luverne facility. The expansion is designed to allow Gevo to produce large quantities of low carbon isobutanol, sustainable aviation fuel and renewable isooctane. (Source: Gevo, Cdn Biomass, 30 April, 2020) Contact: GEVO, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Ethanol,  Biobutanol,  Biofuel,  

Oregon State University
Date: 2020-05-01
In Corvallis, an international research collaboration led by Oregon State University (OSU) has taken an important step toward the commercially viable manufacture of biobutanol transportation fuel. The researchers claims a key breakthrough is the development of a new metal organic framework (MOF) that can efficiently separate biobutanol from the broth of fermented biomass needed for the fuel's production. The researchers are now looking to partner with industry to try to scale up the separation method using the new MOF.

Butanol, aka butyl alcohol, is more closely related to gasoline than ethanol and can be synthesized from petroleum or made from biomass. Bioethanol -- ethyl alcohol -- is a common biofuel additive but contains significantly less energy per gallon than gasoline and can also be harmful to engine components, according to the rlease.

The process of creating biobutanol is known as ABE fermentation -- acetone-butanol-ethanol. It yields a watery broth that maxes out at about 2 pct butanol by weight. Hence the need for a separation tool that can work well in an aqueous environment and also in the presence of organic solvents, in this case acetone, which is a key ingredient in products like nail polish remover and paint thinner, the release notes. The novel MOF based on copper ions and carborane-carboxylate ligands (mCB-MOF-1) can pull butanol from the fermentation broth, via adsorption, with greater efficiency than distillation or other existing method, according to the release.

The research, which was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, was supported by Oregon State University, MINECO, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the UE Feder Program. (Source: Oregon State University, Website, 29 April, 2020) Contact: Oregon State University College of Science, Kyriakos Stylianou, Lead Researcher, 541-737-9400, Kyriakos.Stylianou@oregonstate.edu, www.oregonstste.edu

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biobutanol,  Alternative Fuel,  

GEVO,Citigroup Global Markets
Date: 2020-04-03
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol producer GEVO Inc reports it has engaged Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. to assist in exploring financing for its operations.

Gevo is looking for financing to expand its production capabilities to supply its renewable jet fuel and isooctane pursuant to Gevo's "take or pay" contracts with Delta Air Lines, Inc. and HCS Group GmbH.. (Source: GEVO, PR, 2 April, 2020)Contact: Citigroup Global Markets Inc., www.citibank.com/mss/solutions/citi-futures/global-markets-inc; GEVO, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Gevo,  GEVO,  Jet Fuel,  Aviation Biofuel,  SAF,  

Gevo,Viva Energy Australia
Date: 2020-03-09
Following up on our 28th Feb. coverage, Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol producer GEVO Inc. reports it has inked an agreement with Australian fuel supplier and refiner Viva Energy Australia, exclusive supplier of Shell fuels and lubricants in Australia, to collaborate on a project to convert regionally sourced biomass into sustainable jet fuel (SAF) and renewable gasoline (RNG).

Under their agreement, the two companies will "develop and enhance commercial and advocacy relationships to further foster the use of renewable hydrocarbons, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in Queensland and, more broadly, the country of Australia." The project is supported by the Queensland government Waste to Biofuels funding initiative. (Source: Gevo Inc., 5 Mar., 2020)Contact: GEVO, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com; Viva Energy Australia, Scott Wyatt, CEO, www.vivaenergy.com.au

More Low-Carbon Energy News SAF,  RNG,  Biomass,  Gevo,  Viva Energy Australia,  

Gevo
Date: 2020-02-28
Englewood, Colorado-based biobutanol producer GEVO Inc. reports receipt of part of The Queensland Waste to Biofutures (W2B) Fund to support the development of waste to biofutures projects in Queensland, Australia.

The W2B fund provides targeted funding for pilot, demonstration or commercially scalable biorefinery projects in Queensland that use conventional waste streams or biomass to produce bioenergy, biofuels and high-value bioproducts.

For this project, Gevo is evaluating the most likely 2G biomass to carbohydrate conversion process to use in conjunction with its proven carbohydrate to low carbon biofuel process. (Source: GEVO Website, PR, 27 Feb.,2020) Contact: GEVO, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com; Queensland Waste to Biofutures Fund, www.qtic.grantguru.com.au/grant/queensland-waste-to-biofutures-fund-w2b-fund-/

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Biobutanol,  Biomass,  Biofuel Feedstock,  

White Dog Labs, Central Minnesota Renewables
Date: 2020-02-07
New Castle, Delaware-headquartered White Dog Labs (WDL) is reporting plans to purchase Central Minnesota Renewables' shuttered former ethanol -- biobutanol plant in Little Falls, Minnesota, and to upgrade the facility to produce ProTyton, a corn-based aquaculture feed product. The upgraded plant will managed by Midwest Renewable Energy, which operates a corn ethanol plant near Sutherland, Nebraska.

The facility was originally constructed as the 21 MMgy Central MN Ethanol Co-op corn ethanol plant. Green Biologics Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based biotechnology and renewable chemical company Green Biologics Ltd., purchased the facility in December 2014 through its Central MN Renewables LLC affiliate. The facility was retrofitted to produce biobased butanol and acetone and resumed operations in 2016. In mid-2019, Green Biologics announced it could not secure funding to continue operations and would close the plant.

According to the WDL website, White Dog Labs was established in 2012 on the foundation of harnessing natural microorganism diversity to address global challenges in food sustainability, climate change and general human and animal nutrition. The company goes beyond discovery to also design and scale bioprocesses with end product application in mind.

Core to WDL discovery is its proprietary Protocol B™ process coupled with additional high-throughput selection techniques for the isolation and cultivation of microbiome-derived anaerobic microorganisms. WDL's approaches result in large, diverse and novel strain libraries informed through emerging applications in microbiome science, and yield promising solutions for animal nutrition and health. WDL also invented a novel class of fermentation technology called MixoFerm™ that allows cultivation of previously "unculturable" bacteria while also improving the carbon efficiency of fermentation processes by 50 to 100 pct, according to the WDL website.(Source: White Dog Labs, PR, Ethanol Producer, 4 Feb., 2020) Contact: White Dog Labs., Bryan Tracy, (302) 220-4763, btracy@whitedoglabs.com, www.WhiteDogLabs.com; Central Minnesota Renewables, 320-632-1614, www.centralmnrenewables.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News White Dog Labs ,  Central Minnesota Renewables,  

Biobutanol
Date: 2020-01-22
Biobutanol Market Pegged for Robust Expansion by 2024 With the increase in population our demand for energy is also increasing day by day, hence we are always looking for some alternate source of energy that can fulfill our energy demands.

Biobutanol can be used as a substitute of gasoline as a cleaner fuel. Europe and North America are two major markets for Biobutanol. Key players in the market that are producing Biobutanol includes: Arbor Biofuels, Butalco GmBH, Bioenergy International, Butamax advanced Biofuels LLC (DuPont/British Petroleum), Cobalt Biofuels, Gevo, GreenBiologics and others, according to the report.

Report details and PDF brochure is available HERE. (Source: Transparency Market Research, PR, 21 Jan., 2020) Contact: Transparency Market Research, 866-552-3453 - (US-Canada Toll Free), rohit@transparencymarketresearch.com, www. transparencymarketresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Biobutanol,  

Algae Biofuel
Date: 2019-10-23
Algae Biofuel Market by Type -- Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 - 2024, a new report from Zion Market Research provides a comprehensive glance of algae biofuel market on the global and regional level. The study gives historical data from 2015 to 2017 along with the forecast from 2018 to 2024 based on both revenue and volume. The study includes major driving forces and restraints for the algae biofuel market along with the impact they have on the demand within the forecast period. Additionally, the study also provides the major growth opportunities of global algae biofuel market.

The global algae biofuel market study also comprises the detailed value chain analysis for providing a comprehensive view of the market. Moreover, the study also includes Porter's Five Forces model for algae biofuel, to understand the competitive landscape of the global market. The study includes a market attractiveness analysis of all the segments related to the market.

Algae Biofuel Market by Type (Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Methane, Jet Fuel, Biobutanol, Biogasoline, Green Diesel, and Others) and for Application (Transportation, Aerospace, and Other Applications): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 -2024 report details HERE. (Source: Zion Market Research, Oct. 2019) Contact: Zion Market Research, 386-310-3803, www.zionmarketresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Algae Biofuel,  Zion ,  

Zion Market Research
Date: 2019-09-23
Zion Market Research is touting its recently published Algae Biofuel Market by Type (Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Methane, Jet Fuel, Biobutanol, Biogasoline, Green Diesel, and Others) and for Application (Transportation, Aerospace, and Other Applications): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 -- 2024 report.

The report covers crucial data associated with worldwide Algae Biofuel Market, highlights the newest technological developments and new launches, and other related developements that impact the algae biofuel market. According to the report the Algae Biofuel Market will will be valued at $9.88 billion by 2024.

Report details are HERE. Request sample copy of Algae Biofuel Market Research Report HERE. (Source: Zion Market Research, Sept., 2019) Contact: Zion Market Research, +49-322 210 92714, USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651, sales@zionmarketresearch.com, www.zionmarketresearch.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Zion Market Research ,  Algae,  Algae Biofuel,  

GEVO,International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
Date: 2019-08-12
Englewood, Colorado-headquartered isobutanol producer GEVO Inc. is reporting receipt of International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the ISCC PLUS scheme for food, feed, industrial applications, energy, and biofuels outside Europe. In obtaining ISCC certification, Gevo continues to prove its dedication to meeting the highest industry standards by demonstrating the sustainable cultivation of field corn, which Gevo then converts into renewable, sustainable isobutanol (biobutanol).

ISCC PLUS certification validates the responsible nature of GEVO's liquid transportation fuels and highlights the traceability of its biofuel, qualifying that such fuels produced in a sustainable manner. By completing ISCC certification, Gevo has verified that the feedstock, in this case field corn, is being grown in a socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible manner.

ISCC PLUS is a sustainability certification scheme for biobased applications like chemicals, food and feed products and applications in the bioenergy sector. (Source: GEVO, PR, 7 Aug., 2019) Contact: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, www.sustainabilityxchange.info/en/institutions/iscc-international-sustainability-carbon-certification; GEVO, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Biobutanol,  Corn Ethanol,  International Sustainability and Carbon Certification,  

GEVO,International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
Date: 2019-08-05
Englewood, Colorado-headquartered renewable fuels and chemicals manufacturer GEVO Inc. reports it has achieved International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) under the ISCC Plus scheme for food, feed, industrial applications, energy and biofuels outside Europe.

The ISCC certification demonstrates the company's sustainable cultivation of corn, which is then converted into renewable isobutanol, ethanol or biobutanol.

With ISCC Plus certification, Gevo validates the responsible nature of its isobutanol and biobutanol liquid transportation fuels and the traceability of its biofuel. (Source: GEVO, PR, Aug., 2019) Contact: International Sustainability and Carbon Certification, www.iscc-system.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  ISCC,  Biobutanol,  Ethanol,  Biofuel,  Isobutanol,  

GEVO
Date: 2019-08-02
Englewood, Colorago-headquartered biobutanol and biofuels specialist GEVO Inc. is reporting a partnership with Locus Agricultural Solutions® (LocusAG) to trial a new technology to improve the capture of soil carbon, reduce applied nitrogen fertilizer needs and improve crop yields.

LocusAG's Rhizolizer® line of fresh, non-GMO soil probiotic treatments have been used to treat 40,000 commercial agriculture acres across several crops, with positive results in improving crop productivity, crop quality, vigor and sustainability. Treatments are now being tested on Gevo's 30-acre farm co-located at its Luverne, MN ethanol facility.

According to LocusAG, the treatments have the potential to amplify crop soil carbon sequestration by up to an additional 3 to 6 metric tpy of CO2 equivalents per acre while increasing crop yields and grower profits. (Source: GEVO, PR, Newswire, 31 July, 2019) Contact: LocusAG, Paul Zorner, CEO, www.LocusAG.com; Gevo, Patrick Gruber, CEO, 303-858-8358, pgruber@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Soil Carbon,  Carbon Sequestration,  

Green Biologics
Date: 2019-07-12
UK-headquartered biochemicals producer Green Biologics reports it is shuttering its Little Falls, Minnesota plant due to cash flow problems. The modified Little Falls ethanol plant produces acetone and 1-butanol via fermentation. Approximately 50 employees will be affected by the shutdown, the company said.

The company raised roughly $100 million from investors in 2015. (Source: Green Biologics, Chemical & Engineering News, 12 July, 2019) Contact: Green Biologics, 320-632-1614, www. greenbiologics.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Biologics news,  Biobutanol news,  Biofuel news,  

GEVO
Date: 2019-04-03
Englewood, Colorado-based Gevo, Inc. is reporting that due to its improved balance sheet, the "going concern" qualification in the audit report of Gevo's independent registered public accounting firm has been removed from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. For the past several years, the audit reports to Gevo's consolidated financial statements have included a "going concern" qualification. Gevo's consolidated audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 were included as part of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 that was filed on March 28, 2019 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

This announcement does not represent any change or amendment to Gevo's consolidated, audited financial statements or to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. (Source: Gevo, PR, Nasdaq, 1 April, 2019) Contact: Gevo, Dr. Patrick Gruber, CEO, (303) 858-3358, info@gevo.com, www.gevo.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News GEVO,  Biofuel,  Biobutanol,  Ethanol,  

University of Singapore
Date: 2018-04-09
On April 6, National University of Singapore (NUS) announced that its team of engineers has recently discovered a greener and cheaper technique for biofuel production, using a natural bacterium isolated from mushroom crop residue.

Among various types of biofuels, biobutanol offers a great promise as petrol substitute because of its high energy density and superior properties. Biobutanol can directly replace gasoline in car engines without any modification. However, commercial production of biobutanol has been hampered by the lack of potent microbes capable of converting cellulosic biomass into biofuels. The current technique is costly and also requires complicated chemical pre-treatment. The novel technique developed by the NUS team could potentially be a game-changing technology for cost effective and sustainable biofuel production.

The NUS team discovered that a naturally-occurring bacterium Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum (TG57) isolated from waste generated after harvesting mushrooms, is capable of converting cellulose to biobutanol directly. The team then went on to culture the strain to examine its properties. The microorganisms in the mushroom farming waste are left to evolve naturally for more than two years to obtain the unique TG57 strain.

The research team plans optimize the performance of the TG57 strain and further engineer it to enhance biobutanol ratio and yield using molecular genetic tools.

The team published the findings of the study in the scientific journal Science Advances on 23 March 2018. HERE. (Source: National University of Singapore, Sciences Advances, April, 2018) Contact: University of Singapore, Associate Professor He Jianzhong, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, www.nus.edu.sg

More Low-Carbon Energy News University of Singapore,  Biofuelk,