| Articles & Reports |
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| A New Test for Business and Biofuel |
August 2009 article in the National section of the New York Times describes the partnership that has been created to form Solix Biofuels on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in Colorado. Abstract "With the twin goals of making fuel from algae and reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases, a start-up company co-founded by a Colorado State University professor recently introduced a strain of algae that loves carbon dioxide into a water tank next to a natural gas processing plant. The water is already green-tinged with life." |
| Fly Larvae to Biofuel |
March 2009 article from Greentech Media discussing a novel biofuel feedstock in maggot oil. New York-based company EcoSystem Corp. is seeking Department of Energy funding for their biofuel production scheme. |
| Air Algae: US Biofuels Flight Relies on Weeds and Pond Scum |
January 2009 article in Scientific American shows mainstream attention algae may begin to receive. Introduction: "
Continental jet 516—a two-engine Boeing 737-800—completed a two hour test flight out of Houston today with one engine powered by a 50-50 blend of regular petroleum-based jet fuel and a synthetic alternative made from Jatropha and algae.
"The properties of the fuel are fabulous, in fact, the bio part of the blend has a lower freeze point than Jet A," says Billy Glover, managing director of environmental strategy at Boeing, which is helping organize similar test flights throughout the world." |
Bioenergy (book) |
Released in 2008 by ASM Press, Summary: "Given the limited supply of fossil fuels and the devastating effects of ever-increasing greenhouse gases, researchers have been committed to finding alternative fuel sources. Perhaps one of the least explored areas is bioenergy from microbes. In this landmark volume, world-renowned experts explore the possible contributions of microbes to the next generation of fuels." |
| Co-production of fumaric acid and chitin from a nitrogen-rich lignocellulosic material – dairy manure – using a pelletized filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 20344 |
Article to be published in the September 2008 issue of Bioresource Technology, which can be purchased through this link. Abstract:
This study investigated the possibility of producing both fumaric acid and chitin via R. oryzae fermentation of dairy manure. Co-production of valuable bio-based chemicals such as fumaric acid and chitin could make the utilization of manure more efficient and more profitable. A three step fermentation process was developed which effectively utilized the nitrogen as well as the carbohydrate sources within the manure. These steps were: the culturing of pellet seed; biomass cultivation on liquid manure to produce both biomass and chitin; and fumaric acid production on the hydrolysate from the manure fiber. Under the identified optimal conditions, the fermentation system had a fumaric acid yield of 31%, and a biomass concentration of 11.5 g/L that contained 0.21 g chitin/g biomass. |
| Mineral composition and ash content of six major energy crops |
March 2008 issue of Biomass and Bioenergy,
Abstract: "The chemical composition of biofuels has not received adequate attention given that it is an important aspect in the introduction of energy crops. In this study, the ash content and mineral composition (C, N, Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Si) of stems, leaves and reproductive organs of some promising energy crops were determined and compared with the respective recommended thresholds reported in literature. Generally, leaves resulted in a significant deterioration of biofuel quality when compared with stems and flower heads. Therefore, agricultural strategies aimed at reducing the leaf component (e.g. by delaying the harvest) may considerably improve the suitability of biofuels for current combustion plants."
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| The fuel of the future? Say 'cheese' |
November 2007 - The Grand Meadow Energy LLC near Stratford
roduces both ethanol and bio-diesel
from waste trucked in from surrounding cheese plants and raw canola oil from a nearby farm. |
| Algae’s Stock Rises in Alternative Fuel Investment |
Oct 30, 2007 press article - "Interest in algae as a source of FAME (fatty acid methyl ester, or biodiesel) appears to be increasing as concerns grow about the practical large scale availability of food crop and biomass biofuels feedstocks." |
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