EPA Looks to Streamline Review of Biofuels
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a new effort under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to streamline the review of new chemicals that could be used to displace current, higher greenhouse gas-emitting transportation fuels. EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention's (OCSPP) New Chemicals Division (NCD) has implemented a consistent and efficient process to assess the risk and apply mitigation measures, as appropriate, for substitutes to petroleum-based fuels and fuel additives that use biobased or waste-derived sources to produce biofuels.
This effort supports the goals under EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, which has Congressional mandates to replace or reduce quantity of petroleum-based transportation fuel, heat oil, or jet fuel with biofuels that are projected to have lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. This effort also supports EPA's 2021 Climate Adaptation Action Plan which describes steps the agency will take to address the impacts of climate change on communities across the country, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's actions to confront the climate crisis.
“Tackling our nation's climate crisis is a comprehensive and collaborative effort across all of EPA,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Using sound science to streamline the review of more environmentally friendly chemical substitutes will help advance the Agency's climate goals and protect human health and the environment.”
EPA has received over 30 biofuel premanufacture notices (PMNs) that collectively describe plans for close to 800 million gallons per year of production of advanced biofuels, that could contribute to annual volume mandates under the RFS program and help support the goals of energy security through increasing domestic production within the U.S.
NCD has formed a dedicated team to collaborate on the review of PMNs for biobased or waste-derived feedstocks used to make transportation fuel substitutes with the goals to use the best available science while creating a consistent and efficient review process. NCD has developed a standardized process for the way biofuel PMNs are reviewed. For example, the same dedicated team will be conducting reviews for all biofuels PMNs, which will help ensure the assessments and determinations are consistent and aligned with requirements. Further, NCD will generate one report for biofuels PMNs that combines the six different risk assessments typically conducted for PMNs, which will help provide a clearer summary explanation of how EPA conducted its assessment and made its determination.
For risk management actions, NCD will apply appropriate mitigation measures to address any potential for unreasonable risk identified in an efficient and consistent manner within TSCA consent orders and significant new use rules (SNURs).
OCSPP is also launching outreach and training for interested stakeholders in the biofuels sector to review TSCA requirements, outline the streamlined approaches for risk assessments and risk management actions, and provide information on how to navigate the new chemicals PMN process.
EPA Proposes Comprehensive Set of Biofuels Program Updates
EPA, on 7 December, proposed a package of actions setting biofuels volumes for years 2022, 2021, and 2020, and introducing regulatory changes intended to enhance the program's objectives. In addition, EPA is seeking public comment on a proposed decision to deny petitions to exempt small refineries from their obligations under the RFS on the grounds that petitioners failed to show that EPA has a basis under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and recent federal case law to approve them.
“Despite multiple challenging dynamics affecting the RFS program in recent years, EPA remains committed to the growth of biofuels in America as a critical strategy to secure a clean, zero-carbon energy future,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This package of actions will enable us to get the RFS program back in growth mode by setting ambitious levels for 2022, and by reinforcing the foundation of the program so that it's rooted in science and the law.”
For 2022, EPA is proposing the highest total volumes in history, putting the program on a stable trajectory that provides for significant growth. The proposed volumes for 2022 are over 3.5 billion gallons higher than the volume of renewable fuel used in 2020. The proposed volume of advanced biofuel for 2022 is over 1 billion gallons greater than the volume used in 2020. EPA is also proposing to add a 250-million-gallon “supplemental obligation” to the volumes proposed for 2022 and stating its intent to add another 250 million gallons in 2023. This would address the remand of the 2014-2016 annual rule by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals in Americans for Clean Energy v. EPA. Spreading this obligation over two years would provide the market time to respond to this supplemental obligation. The last Administration failed to act on the Agency's outstanding obligation to address the court's remand, EPA says.
EPA is proposing 2021 volumes at the level that it projects the market will use by the end of the year. EPA is proposing to revise the 2020 standards to account for challenges the program and the market faced that year, including from the COVID-19 pandemic.
USDA to Make Up to $800 Million Available to Provide Economic Relief to Biofuel Producers
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer Program authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Additionally, in the coming months, the Department will make $100 million available to increase significantly the sales and use of higher blends of bioethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to further growth of the biofuels industry, and the House-passed Build Back Better Act commits additional funding that will provide better market access for farmers and more affordable and cleaner fuels for consumers.
“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is providing direct relief to the people of rural America who are still reeling from the economic impacts of the pandemic,” Vilsack said. “As we continue to rebuild the nation's economy, USDA is targeting resources and investments to improve the strength and resiliency of America's sustainable fuel markets. The relief we're announcing today will pave the way to economic recovery for America's biofuel producers, stimulate a critical market for U.S. farmers and ranchers and move the country closer to President Biden's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
By making payments to biofuels producers, the program will help agricultural producers maintain and create more viable markets for products that supply biofuel production, such as corn, soybeans, or biomass. Payments will be based on the producer's market loss volume in 2020, which is calculated by the amount of fuel produced in 2020 in comparison to 2019.
Sofinnova Partners Raises €150 million for Its Third Industrial Biotech Fund
Sofinnova Partners, a European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London and Milan, says it has raised €150 million in capital for its early-stage environmental impact fund, bringing the firm's total assets under management to €2.5 billion across its platform of investment strategies. Sofinnova Industrial Biotech II is part of the venture capital firm's pioneering sustainability strategy initiated over a decade ago with the launch of the Sofinnova Green Seed Fund.
The fund will continue to finance early-stage companies harnessing biotechnology to develop sustainable solutions across the food, agriculture, chemical and materials sectors. The current portfolio includes companies developing biobased crop protection solutions (Biotalys, MicropepTechnologies), upcycling agricultural waste into chemicals, food or feed ingredients (Afyren, Comet Bio), using fermentation to develop food ingredients (DMC Biotechnologies, Protera, Biosyntia, Microphyt) or biologically producing new chemicals and materials (DNA Script, EnginZyme).
“The fundraise attests to the success of our strategy over the past decade and the growing understanding of how biotech can help to address global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, pollution, and food waste,” JoškoBobanović, Partner in the Sofinnova Industrial Biotech Fund, says. “We are grateful for the confidence demonstrated by our investors, a large majority of whom are returning and a significant number of new investors joining from across the globe, reflecting the growing importance and prioritization of this sector.”
Cargill to Acquire Most of Croda's Biobased Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals Business
Cargill plans to buy the majority of Croda International's largely biobased performance technologies and industrial chemicals (PTIC) businesses for an enterprise value of €915 million ($1 billion). Completion of the transaction is expected in summer 2022, subject to approvals. Cargill says the deal will “dramatically expand” its bio-industrial footprint.
The businesses to be divested represent 77% of PTIC's 2020 revenue. Assets include five production plants. They are at Gouda, Netherlands; Hull, UK; and Croda Sipo in China, a joint venture (JV) of which Croda owns 65%. It also includes laboratory facilities supporting key aspects of the divested business's activities in smart materials, energy technologies, and industrial chemicals, it says. The divested parts of the PTIC business employ about 1,000 people.The enterprise value of €915 million includes 100% of the Sipo JV. If the full sale of the JV cannot be realized, Sipo will be excluded from the transaction, resulting in the value falling by €140 million, Croda says.
Cargill says more than two-thirds of the raw materials used to manufacture PTIC's products are biobased.
EU Commission Consults on Biobased, Biodegradable, and Compostable Plastics
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics. The consultation will provide insight for preparing a new policy framework on these groups of plastics, the Commission says. The aim of the framework, a key deliverable of the European Green Deal and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, is to address emerging sustainability challenges related to the use of biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics and, by driving innovation, enhancing investment certainty and increasing environmental protection, it says.
“Biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics have the potential to bring advantages over traditional plastics,” says EU commissioner for the environment, oceans, and fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius. “However, we need to thoroughly assess if these plastics deliver on their promises, and under what conditions. We also need to bring clarity to the market so consumers and businesses can easily understand the differences between these plastics.”
Biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics currently make up 1% of the worldwide and European plastic market, with an overall expected growth of 5–8% between 2020 and 2025, according to the Commission. At present, these types of plastics are predominantly used for specific packaging and agricultural purposes, offering advantages such as biodegradability or compostability, it says.
The consultation follows publication of a roadmap covering three policy areas to be explored in the consultation. The policy areas are the sustainability of the biological feedstock used to produce biobased plastics; the effective biodegradation of biodegradable and compostable plastics and their role in a circular economy; and addressing “widespread confusion” over the many differences between these types of plastics, particularly when buying and disposing of them.
The Commission says it will take feedback into account when preparing the policy framework on biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics. It expects to adopt the framework in summer 2022.
Suntory Unveils 100% Plant-Based PET Bottle Prototypes
Suntory Group has unveiled a prototype polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle made from 100% plant-based materials.
The prototype has been produced for the company's Orangina brand in Europe along with its best-selling bottled mineral water brand in Japan, Suntory Tennensui. This announcement marks a breakthrough after a nearly decade-long partnership with the US-based sustainable technology company Anellotech, which provided biobased para-xylene for conversion into terephthalic acid, a precursor for PET. The company also used monoethylene glycol made from molasses, which Suntory has been using in its Suntory Tennensui brand in Japan since 2013.
The company has set a target of using only sustainable PET bottles globally by 2030 and eliminate all petroleum-based virgin plastic from its global PET supply.
Renewable Chemicals Briefs
Biosynthetic Technologies has acquired Innoleo
®, LLC, a privately held distributor of castor derivatives for grease, lubricants, metalworking fluids, coatings, and personal care applications. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal gives Biosynthetic Technologies a comprehensive line of castor and other oleo derivatives including castor oil, neutralized castor oil, pale pressed castor oil, USP-grade castor oil, hydrogenated castor oil, 12HSA 12-hydroxy stearic acid, stearic acid (70%) ethyl 12-hydroxy stearatel, n,n ethylene bis 12-hydroxy stearamide, sebacic acid, dimethyl sebacate, dibutyl sebacate, ricinoleic acid, sodium ricinoleate, and methyl ricinoleate.
Biosynthetic Technologies produces estolides, a new class of biobased synthetic oils used in a number of applications, including motor oil, industrial lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and personal care. Estolides are biobased, biodegradable, non bioaccumulative, and nontoxic.
Solvay and Trillium Renewable Chemicals have signed a letter of intent to develop the supply chain for biobased acrylonitrile (bio-ACN). Trillium will supply Solvay with bio-ACN from Trillium's planned commercial asset, and Solvay will evaluate bio-ACN for carbon fiber manufacturing as part of its long-term commitment to developing sustainable solutions from biobased or recycled sources. The aim of this partnership is to produce carbon fiber for use in various applications such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and consumer goods. Trillium's Bio-ACNTM process produces acrylonitrile from plant-based feedstocks like glycerol with a lower carbon footprint.
CropEnergies AG has entered into an engineering, license and technical services agreement for a plant to produce ethyl acetate from ethanol near Zeitz, Germany. Using Johnson Matthey technology, the renewable ethyl acetate produced by CropEnergies will reduce the fossil carbon footprint of a wide range of everyday products. The plant is expected to cost €80-€100 million. Johnson Matthey will prepare the process design package scheduled for completion mid-2022 after which CropEnergies will make the final investment decision. The plant will be designed to produce 50,000 tonnes per year. The plant will also generate renewable hydrogen as a coproduct that together with biogenic CO2 from the CropEnergies fermentation process, will be the basis for further conversion of renewable energy into PtX (power-to-X) downstream routes, to produce e.g., e-fuels.
Covestro and Genomatica say they have successfully produced significant volumes of a plant-based version of hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), a key precursor for nylon-6,6. Coatings and adhesives can be produced more sustainably using biobased HMDA. Areas of application include automotive, construction, furniture, textiles and fibers. The global market for HMDA is 2 million metric tons per year. The companies expect to produce ton quantities of material over the course of multiple production campaigns.
Both partners are already processing and testing material from their initial production campaigns, and the resulting bio-HMDA is of high purity and quality. The companies plan to advance the program to full commercial scale, and Covestro has secured an option from Genomatica to license the resulting integrated GENO™ HMD process technology for commercial production. Covestro has also established an R&D Competence Center for biotechnology to further strengthen its know-how in this field. Biobased raw materials and biotechnology have been identified as one of five focus areas at Covestro´s Venture Capital (COVeC) approach.
Toray Industries, Inc., has developed a nylon 510 (N510) fiber that incorporates 100% biobased synthetic polymer content as defined under section 3.1.5 of ISO 16620-1: 2015, the international standard for the biobased content of plastics. Ecodear™ N510, will be the first 100% plant-based nylon fiber in Toray's Ecodear lineup. While primarily for sports and outdoor fabrics, applications extend to lightweights, cut-and-sew fabrics through innerwear lace materials. Toray plans to begin Ecodear N510 textiles sales for fall/winter 2023. Initial production volume to be 200,000 meters by the end of March 2023 and growing to 600,000 meters by March 2026. Ecodear N510 fiber sales are targeted for fall/winter 2024 with an expectation of a monthly supply of 3 metric tons monthly in the year ending March 2024.
NatureWorks plans to open a new headquarters and advanced biopolymer research facility in Plymouth, MN. Expanded laboratory capabilities will support research into the full circular lifecycle of Ingeo™ biopolymers from next generation fermentation technology to new applications, to increased functionality. The expanded R&D capabilities will also support the construction and operation of NatureWorks's new fully integrated Ingeo polylactic acid manufacturing complex located in Thailand. With an expected opening in 2024, the facility will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades.
DMC Biotechnologies has completed the first close of its Series B fundraising, raising $34 million with investment from Cibus Enterprise, Capricorn Partners, Sofinnova Partners, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, SCG, Boulder Ventures, Solvay Ventures and Michelin.DMC is commercial with its first product, a biobased chemical intermediate with primary applications in home care and human nutrition. The company has a deep pipeline of predictable, scalable, cost-competitive products, addressing sustainability challenges across a wide range of industries, including animal nutrition, human nutrition, personal and home care, and a broad range of chemical intermediates.
Summit Cosmetics Corporation, a Sumitomo Corporation Group Company, has executed a global distribution agreement with NXTLEVVEL, a commercial scale manufacturer of biobased solvents based on levulinic acid, for the distribution of its NXT SOLV product line to the Beauty and Personal Care industry. The agreement is for a five-year term and grants sales rights to SCC and its sister cosmetic companies, all of which are Sumitomo Corporation Group Companies.
Vikas Ecotech Limited plans to invest in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) technology and finalize a technology joint venture with Aurapha Private Ltd to produce biodegradable plastics. The JV will construct a pilot plant “with further investments, scaled up in various well-organized phases.” Vikas Ecotech is also actively exploring various proposals for the acquisition of necessary technology to produce polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) for environmentally friendly carry bags.
Asahi Kasei's wholly owned subsidiary Tongsuh Petrochemical Corp., Ltd. has acquired international certification ISCC PLUS1 for its acrylonitrile (AN) as a sustainable product, and production of AN using biomass-based propylene is scheduled to begin in February 2022. AN is used as a raw material to make ABS resin, acrylamide, acrylic fiber, and various other chemical products. Recent demand growth has been particularly robust in the applications of carbon fiber as a material to reduce the weight of wind turbine blades, etc., and nitrile rubber for medical gloves whose use is expanding due to heightened awareness for hygiene.
Avantium N.V. (Amsterdam) says its shareholders have approved construction of the world's first furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) plant. FDCA is the main building block of 100% plant-based, recyclable plastic polyethylene furanoate (PEF). Approval was also granted for the authorization to the Management Board to issue 2.84 million warrants to a consortium of banks as part of a €90 million Debt Financing Package, as well the authorization to the Management Board to issue €45 million in ordinary shares. Construction of the FDCA plant is expected to start after financial close in the first quarter of 2022 and to be completed by the end of 2023. Avantium's shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels (symbol: AVTX).
Evonik Industries is planning to build the world's first industrial-scale plant for rhamnolipids, which are used as biosurfactants in shower gels and detergents. The “three-digit-million euro” investment at SlovenskáĽupča, Slovakia supports a strategic partnership between Evonik and Unilever that was announced in 2019. Unilever has set a target to remove fossil fuel-based ingredients from cleaning products by 2030.
Wisconsinstartup Xylome is pursuing an alternative route to palm oil. Founded in 2007 by Tom Jeffries and Tom Kelleher, Xylome is feeding corn sugar to genetically engineered yeasts, which in turn produce microbial oils similar to palm oil that Xylome calls “Yoil”.
Hexion Inc has said it will expand production of biobased epichlorohydrin to meet growing demand in epoxies. The planned expansion will add 25,000 metric tons of annual capacity at Pernis, Netherlands using renewable glycerin as feedstock. The investment will also support the reduction in overall energy intensity of epichlorohydrin production at Pernis. The additional capacity is expected to come online in late 2024. Cost was not disclosed.
LG Chem and GS Caltex have signed a joint development deal for a fermentation-based production process for hydroxypropionic acid (3HP). The goal is to accelerate 3HP development by combining LG Chem's fermentation know-how with GS Caltex's process facility technologies. The 3HP will be produced using glucose or glycerol. The two companies hope to launch products based on 3HP into the biodegradable materials and bioplastics markets in 2023.
Dow has entered into an exclusive agreement with Locus Performance Ingredients (Locus PI; Solon, Ohio) to sell Locus PI's sophorolipid biosurfactants in the global home care and personal care markets. Dow says the ingredients offer a substantial reduction in carbon footprint relative to conventional surfactants, and the deal enables Dow to strengthen its position in the biosurfactants market, addressing growing consumer demand for sustainable, biobased, and biodegradable ingredients.
TerraVerdaeBioworks has signed a binding letter of intent to acquire PolyFerm Canada. Financial terms were not disclosed.PolyFerm's portfolio of biobased and biodegradable elastomeric polymers known as medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs) complements TerraVerdae's polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics and will enhance its ability to produce biopolymers and resins for a wider range of applications, including for films, coatings, and adhesives.
Pyran, Inc. and Nagase Specialty Materials (NSM) have partnered to convert Pyran's biobased 1,5-pentanediol (PDO) to renewable 1,5-pentanediol diacrylate (PDDA) and other acrylate and methacrylate derivatives.NSMwill produce PDDA and other derivatives in the US and will market them in North America and Europe under an exclusive agreement. NSM will be the first to derivatize Pyran's sustainable PDO for use in UV-cured formulations from coatings to 3D printing.
LG Chem says that it shipped its first exports of neopentyl glycol (NPG) from its site at Yeosu, South Korea, to Novaresine (Italy). The product is manufactured from biomaterials such as waste cooking oil and palm by-products. The company adds that the product has obtained International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus certification.
Origin Materials and Mitsui have formed a partnership to expand access to Origin's biobased materials in Japan and international markets. The deal includes a multiyear capacity reservation agreement for Mitsui to purchase materials from Origin, which has developed the production of chloromethylfurfural from forest biomass.
Sabic has launched a new family of biobased polycarbonate (PC) copolymer resins aimed at helping the consumer electronics sector achieve its net-zero carbon emission goals.The Elcrin brand resin is formulated with over 50% biobased content from waste materials.
Afyren has signed two contracts for its AfyrenNeoxy range in the nutrition and health markets.One contract is with a manufacturer of high-quality food ingredients, particularly for the confectionery, meat, chocolate, and dairy markets. The other contract is with a manufacturer of animal health and nutrition products.Afyren's first production facility—a 16,000-metric tons/year joint venture with the Bpifrance SPI Fund—is set to come online at Carling Saint-Avold, France, in early 2022. The site will produce carboxylic acids—C2 to C6—with applications in food and feed, flavor and perfume, fine chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. About 60% of the site's production is now under contract.
BioAccelergy Ventures and ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company have entered into a joint development agreement for commercial-scale development of seed and vegetable oils for production of base stocks for lubricants.BioAccelergy will provide its expertise in biobased feed supply, genetic research, and catalytic process development. ExxonMobil is one of the world's largest producers of base stocks and will contribute its expertise in project management, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing base stocks.
Mitsui Chemicals has started introducing biomass naphtha as a feedstock at its steam cracker in Osaka, Japan.The company received a delivery of 3,000 metric tons of biomass naphtha from Neste, which produces the naphtha using biobased waste and residue oils.
Trinseo has begun offering polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, and styrene-acrylonitrile resins with renewable content allocated by ISCC mass-balance accounting.
Arkema will increase capacity for its Oleris oleochemicals by 50% globally. The additional capacity is expected to start up by mid-2022 and will include C7, C11, and C18 materials, comprising n-heptanoic acid, n-heptaldehyde, undecylenic acid and Esterol A. This new production capacity will be part of Arkema's previously announced biobased chemicals facility currently under construction at Jurong Island, Singapore.C7, C11, and C18 oleochemicals are used extensively in the cosmetics, fragrances and flavors, lubricants, construction, and pharmaceutical markets. Arkema uses castor seed oil as feedstock.
Cabot Corp. and IFF have signed an agreement for the development and commercialization of biobased reinforcing additives for rubber products leveraging IFF's Nuvolve engineered polysaccharides.Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), Cabot will use Nuvolve to create low-carbon reinforcing carbons for rubber applications with equivalent performance and safety. IFF Health and Biosciences produces the engineered polysaccharides through enzymatic polymerization of sugar beets.
Startup Låkril Technologies has licensed a catalyst technology from the University of Minnesota that converts corn-derived lactic acid to biobased acrylics.
Botanical Solution Inc. has raised $6.1 million in a Series A round led by venture capitalfirm, Otter Capital. The funding will be used to expand its current botanical-based products and develop a new product pipeline derived from its proprietary biotech platform. For agricultural markets, this includes BotriStop® and its recently announced global brand Quillibrium®, which are based on a tissue cultured tree native to Chile, the Quillajasaponaria.
Danimer Scientific and Hyundai Oilbank have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop new market opportunities and applications for bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).The companies will first collaborate to market PHA and PHA-based compounds produced by Danimer to customers in South Korea and other Asian markets in single-use packaging and other applications. Over time, the companies aim to “drive global growth opportunities” for PHA manufacturing.
Novo Holdings has invested €86 million in 21st.BIO, a new bioindustrial scale-up company leveraging select Novozymes's technologies. The company's upscaling efforts are particularly centered on proteins and peptides that can be utilized for the food, materials, and agricultural industries.
Syngenta Crop Protection AG, part of the Syngenta Group, says it has acquired two bioinsecticides from Bionema Ltd. Syngenta is acquiring the patents and trademarks for both NemaTrident and UniSpore, the UniSpore registration dossier, and will have full global development and commercialization rights for the assets, the company says. UniSpore is based on a naturally occurring microorganism—insect pathogenic fungus. NemaTrident is a patented insect pathogenic nematode.
Technip Energies plans to commercialize technology for ethylene glycol that it has acquired from the Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB). Technip Energies acquired the patents, technology, and rights for the process technology through an asset purchase agreement with the ICPB. The ICPB has been developing the technology since 2013.
Biofuels Briefs
Blue Biofuels, Inc. and the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) are collaborating on optimizing the yields of Pennisetum hybridum, commonly known as king grass, a perennial grass biomass crop, that Blue Biofuels is using as feedstock for its patented cellulose to sugar process.
The USDA ARS and Blue Biofuels are cooperating to develop production methods that can be used to increase the productivity of land in Florida formerly used for orange production prior to the devastation of the industry by citrus greening. The growth of a perennial grass biomass crop can add additional profit opportunities for Florida and to other parts of the US with climates suitable for tropical biomass production. This agreement will study the ability to minimize inputs using nitrogen fixing cover crops, or other production practices, while maintaining or increasing biomass yields.
Separately, Blue Biofuels expanded its previous license agreement with Vertimass to allow Blue Biofuels to convert additional volumes of ethanol into renewable jet fuel and other bio-hydrocarbons using Vertimass technology. Blue Biofuels believes this expanded license agreement has the potential to assist the company in supplying the world with more renewable fuels and chemicals and thereby combat climate change. “Many countries are beginning to mandate that a percentage of jet fuel used by commercial airlines comes from renewable sources. The Vertimass technology will enable Blue Biofuels to produce sustainable aviation fuel to help achieve that mandate. We aim to expand further into the supply chain with complementary technologies and become a total supplier of bio-fuels, bioplastics and bio-chemicals,” says Ben Slager, CEO of Blue Biofuels.
Ecostrat says Total-Western has joined as a BDO Zone Strategic Alliance Partner in the Technology Group. BDO Zone Strategic Alliance Partners are companies that help de-risk biobased project development in BDO Zones. “A BDO Zone rating signals that a region has undergone rigorous and extensive due diligence using over 100 standardized, transparent, and validated risk indicators based on the BSCR Standards for biobased investment,” says Jordan Solomon, President of Ecostrat. “'A' and 'AA' BDO Zone Ratings identify areas in the country best positioned for low-risk bioeconomy project development.”
The BDO Zone Initiative can help the U.S. realize this potential by supporting new market development for American bioenergy, advanced biofuels, biobased heat and power, bio-materials, and clean hydrogen. Total-Western provides comprehensive design/build construction, fabrication, operations, and maintenance services to customers throughout the United States. The company was founded in 1972 and has six regional locations throughout California, Nevada, and Washington. Total-Western has been involved with World Energy in Paramount, CA for more than 30 years, including the last nine years since converting to a biodiesel plant. In addition, Total-Western is currently working on a renewable fuels project, UrbanX, in Bakersfield, CA, where they are responsible for the construction of the project. The UrbanX project will be the first facility in California dedicated to producing low-carbon renewable diesel. The facility is expected to refine 5,300 barrels per day and generate over 75 million gallons/year of renewable diesel.
Viridos Inc., previously Synthetic Genomics, has signed a joint development agreement with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company to bring Viridos' low-carbon intensity biofuels toward commercial levels.
ExxonMobil has acquired a 49.9% stake in Biojet AS, a Norwegian biofuels company that plans to convert forestry and wood-based construction waste into lower-emissions biofuels and biofuel components.
Gevo, Inc. and Kolmar Americas Inc. have entered into a financeable fuel supply agreement for 45 million gallons per year (on a neat basis) of renewable, energy-dense liquid hydrocarbons that are expected to be produced from Gevo's second net-zero production facility, Net-Zero 2. Kolmar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kolmar Group AG that is a privately held service provider, manufacturer, and marketer of renewable fuels headquartered in Zug, Switzerland. Gevo expects to supply 45 million gallons per year of renewable fuels to Kolmar. Separately, Gevo signed a memorandum of understanding with Sweetwater Energy for the supply lignocellulosic feedstocks for production of cellulosic alcohols and sustainable aviation fuel.
Wolf Carbon Solutions US LLC and ADM have signed a Letter of Intent to further decarbonize of ADM's footprint via construction of a pipeline—developed, owned and operated by Wolf Carbon Solutions—which, together with a commercial agreement, will allow for the capture, compression and transportation of carbon dioxide produced at ADM's Clinton and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ethanol facilities.
Designed as the backbone infrastructure needed to support the region's lower carbon transition, the 350-mile steel trunk line will be capable of transporting 12 million tons of CO2 per year. The pipeline will offer dedicated capacity to transport CO2 from ADM's ethanol and cogeneration facilities in Clinton and Cedar Rapids to be stored permanently underground at ADM's fully permitted and already-operational sequestration site in Decatur, Illinois. The pipeline would have significant spare capacity to serve other third-party customers looking to decarbonize across the Midwest and Ohio River Valley.
KBR has been awarded an engineering contract by Biojet AS for a concept study for its renewable energy facility in Ringerike, Norway. Under the terms of the contract, KBR will perform technology evaluations, early engineering and project development for Biojet's project to convert forestry residues to renewable and sustainable green fuels.
Cultivated Foods Briefs
Israeli cultivated steak producer MeaTech 3D announced that it has successfully 3-D-printed a 3.67-ounce cut of beef without adding any soy or pea protein. To produce the steak—which the company believes is the largest created to date—MeaTech 3D isolated and grew bovine stem cells from tissue samples. Once sufficient numbers were achieved, the cells were formulated into bio-inks compatible with MeaTech's 3D bioprinters. The steak was then printed according to a digital rendering of steak structure, and left to mature in an incubator and differentiate into fat and muscle tissues.
Singapore regulators have approved Eat Just's cultivated chicken breast for human consumption—just the second such approval globally after the nation gave Eat Just's cultivated chicken nuggets the green light last year.
Future Meat has raised $347 million in a Series B funding, which it will use to build a production facility in the US and bring lab-grown meat to US market in 2022. Several sources say the fund raise is the largest for a cultivated meat producer to date. The investment was co-led by ADM Ventures and an unnamed global tech investor, Future Meat founder and CEO Yaakov Nahmias, tells Bloomberg. Existing investor Tyson Foods, a major meat processing company, also participated. The company's products include chicken, lamb, and beef. Future Meat can produce 500 kilograms of meat at its Rehovot production facility daily.
South Korea's CellMEAT says it has created several prototypes of cultivated Dokdo shrimp using serum-free culture medium. The company will now work to scale up production and lower costs. Currently, CellMEAT can produce about 5 kilograms of cultivated meat a day. CellMEAT also plans to add different seafood species to its portfolio, particularly those that have not successfully been farmed such as lobster and king crab.
Leading meat processor JBS is taking a majority stake in cultured meat startup BioTech Foods. The deal, which marks JBS's entry into to the lab-grown meat market, is part of a $100 million investment in the sector. Just over $40 million of the funds will be used to construct a 1,000 tons/year cultivated meat plant in Spain, and there are also plans for an R&D center in Brazil. JBS reports about $50 billion annually from processing beef, chicken, pork, and byproducts.
Brand Briefs
Cosmetics brand Maybelline has vowed to make 95% of its formulas either biobased or derived from minerals or circular sources by 2030…. Philips Domestic Appliances has launched a line of home appliances made out of bioplastic. The Eco-Conscious Edition, which includes a toaster, kettle, and coffee maker, is composed of polypropylene manufactured from used plant-based cooking oil. Yoga mat producer Yoloha is using biobased thermoplastic elastomers produced by Swedish plastics compounder Hexpol. The customized material has 55% biobased content, high melt strength, and the cushioning needed for both long asanas and intense sun salutations…. A new electronic concept car from Mercedes features multiple biobased materials, including seat cushions made from mushrooms and a leather alternative made from cactus. Dubbed EQXX, other renewable elements include bamboo fiber carpets… Chanel is launching its first eco-friendly skincare and makeup line. No. 1 de Chanel products are made from up to 97% natural ingredients, including a new extract from the red “Czar” Camellia flower variety that has shown anti-aging benefits for skin.
