Q Microbe
SunEthanol’s bio-processing technology is based upon a remarkable proprietary microbial “catalyst” that is uniquely capable of efficiently converting a wide range of cellulosic biomass directly to ethanol. By simplifying and consolidating the costliest aspects of current biomass-to-ethanol technology, SunEthanol can reduce both process and plant capital costs, making large-scale ethanol production from cellulosic biomass cost-effective.
A more economical process
Converting cellulose to ethanol is currently a complex, multi-step process. Cellulosic biomass - plant matter - is an abundant, low-cost source of stored energy. However, unlocking that embodied energy has presented a challenge. Cellulosic biomass is composed of highly ordered sugar polymers, which are shielded from enzyme attack by a matrix of other complex polymers. This makes biomass very difficult to break down into its constituent sugars, in order to ferment these sugars into ethanol.
Typically, cellulosic biomass must go through an intensive pretreatment step, after which enzymes are used to break down the biomass into simple sugars suitable for fermentation by yeast into ethanol. Enzymes, along with the intensive pretreatment required for their use, are the largest single cost component of cellulosic ethanol production. SunEthanol’s technology eliminates the need for a separate enzymatic conversion step, and broadens pretreatment options.
Ethanol Plants in Central America
Gulf Ethanol Corporation (OTC:GFET) will meet this month with several Central American ethanol producers to negotiate the conversion of existing plants to cellulosic feedstocks. Demand for cellulosic ethanol is high in these countries. Gulf will provide the technology, engineering and installation of cellulosic technology to the plant owners and will share in the profits of each plant.
“The economics of cellulosic ethanol production are compelling,” noted JT Cloud, Gulf’s President. “As smaller nations seeking energy independence have abundant biomass that can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol will reduce fuel costs, support environmental concerns, and reduce energy dependence,” he concluded.
These ethanol plants were originally built to produce ethanol from food based feestocks such as corn and sugar cane. As a result, the price of feedstocks and of food have gone up, placing stress on the plants profitability. Companies such as Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE: ADM) and Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) have led in the development of traditional feed-stocks. Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) recently announced a joint venture with Weyerhaeuser Co. (NYSE: WY) to develop cellulosic feedstocks from wood products. “The industry has taken a sharp turn toward cellulosic feedstocks for ethanol,” stated Mr. Cloud. “We expect to be a leader in this sector,” he added.
Trash today, ethanol tomorrow
UMD invention promises major advance in biofuel production
University of Maryland research that started with bacteria from the Chesapeake Bay has led to a process that may be able to convert large volumes of all kinds of plant products, from leftover brewer’s mash to paper trash, into ethanol and other biofuel alternatives to gasoline.
That process, developed by University of Maryland professors Steve Hutcheson and Ron Weiner, is the foundation of their incubator company Zymetis, which was on view today in College Park for Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and state and university officials.
“The new Zymetis technology is a win for the State of Maryland, for the University and for the environment,” said University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr. “It makes affordable ethanol production a reality and makes it from waste materials, which benefits everyone and supports the green-friendly goal of carbon-neutrality.
“It also highlights the importance of transformational basic research and of technology incubators at the University. Partnership with the State enables University of Maryland faculty and students to commercialize new discoveries quickly.”
“Today, Marylanders are leading the nation in scientific discovery and technology innovation,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “We must continue to invest in Marylanders like Steve Hutcheson and in their revolutionary ideas to protect our environment, create jobs, and improve lives.”
75 Billion Gallons a Year
The Zymetis process can make ethanol and other biofuels from many different types of plants and plant waste called cellulosic sources. Cellulosic biofuels can be made from non- grain plant sources such as waste paper, brewing byproducts, leftover agriculture products, including straw, corncobs and husks, and energy crops such as switchgrass.
When fully operational, the Zymetis process could potentially lead to the production of 75 billion gallons a year of carbon-neutral ethanol.
The secret to the Zymetis process is a Chesapeake Bay marsh grass bacterium, S. degradans. Hutcheson found that the bacterium has an enzyme that could quickly break down plant materials into sugar, which can then be converted to biofuel.
The Zymetis researchers were unable to isolate the Bay bacterium again in nature, but they discovered how to produce the enzyme in their own laboratories. The result was Ethazyme, which degrades the tough cell walls of cellulosic materials and breaks down the entire plant material into bio-fuel ready sugars in one step, at a significantly lower cost and with fewer caustic chemicals than current methods.
Hutcheson projects a $5 billion enzyme market for biofuels. The energy bill passed by the U.S. Senate in December mandates oil companies to blend in 21 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol with their gasoline by 2022.
Inventors of the Year
Hutcheson and Weiner won the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization Inventor of the Year Award in 2007 in the Life Science category for their enzyme system invention.
Founded in 2006, Zymetis entered the university’s MTECH VentureAccelerator Program, which provides hands-on business assistance to faculty and students interested in forming companies around university-created technologies. “MTECH VentureAccelerator helped us validate our market,” says Hutcheson. “They found space for our company. They helped us with licensing our technology, forming financial and business plans, and establishing trademarks.”
Zymetis also sought expertise from MTECH’s Bioprocess Scale-Up Facility (BSF) staff to determine how to mass-produce S. degradans. The BSF is part of the MTECH Biotechnology Research and Education Program, an initiative dedicated to research, education and the development of biotechnology products and processes for Maryland companies.
USDA LEADS EFFORTS TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLE FUELS
| WASHINGTON, D.C. March , 2008 – Responding to President Bush’s call for governments around the world to accelerate the development of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced USDA’s wide-ranging initiative at the Washington International Energy Conference.
“Renewable energy presents a promising opportunity for the farm economy,” said Schafer. “Coupled with a strong commitment from USDA, our goal sets renewable fuels on the pathway as a regular and reliable source in the energy mix,” Schafer said. The pledges announced today by Secretary Schafer will:
“From farms and forests, biofuels and biobased energy are at home in an expansive landscape with room for wind, geothermal, and utility-scale solar generation,” said Schafer. “In rural America, USDA remains at the center of the national commitment to expand the use of renewable energy and reduce our dependence on imported oil.” The USDA pledges include commitments from three USDA Mission Areas – USDA Rural Development, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service – as well as USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. The USDA initiatives are part of a government-wide pledge announced by President Bush at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008). More than 100 nations are attending WIREC 2008, adding their own pledges to the worldwide effort. For additional information about WIREC 2008 and a complete listing of pledges received, please visit www.wirec2008.gov. For a complete listing of USDA’s energy related programs and initiatives, please visit the USDA “Energy Matrix” at http://www.usda.gov/rus/index2/0208/EnergyPrograms.htm |
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Cellulosic ethanol in Canda
GreenField Ethanol, Canada’s largest ethanol producer, and Enerkem, a leading gasification and catalysis technology company, have signed a Binding Term Sheet outlining their plan to produce cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale.
“We are excited to work with Enerkem to make cellulosic ethanol a commercial reality in Canada,” said Bob Gallant, President and CEO of GreenField Ethanol. “Canadian consumers are looking for a greener, affordable alternative to fossil fuels and GreenField is delivering by expanding its corn ethanol business to include new bio-based fuels,” added Frank Dottori, Managing Director of the company’s Cellulosic Ethanol division.
The companies agreed to terms that will see them collaborate 50/50 on joint projects to design, build and operate commercial cellulosic ethanol plants using Enerkem technology in specified geographic areas. The first plant location has been secured within Canada and will be announced in the coming weeks. A second plant is also in development.
Enerkem’s technology converts biomass such as sorted municipal solid waste and urban wood residues into cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. It eliminates more than two tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) per tonne of residues used as feedstock. The company’s founders have been active in gasification for many years. Enerkem’s pilot plant, which has run more than 3,000 hours since 2003, produces syngas, methanol and cellulosic ethanol. The company is currently building a commercial scale cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant in Westbury, Quebec.
“This partnership is an important milestone in achieving Enerkem’s goal to commercialize cellulosic ethanol”, said Mr. Vincent Chornet, Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem. “By joining forces with GreenField Ethanol, we are poised to become the Canadian leaders in the production and distribution of new generation biofuels. GreenField’s experience in building and operating industrial plants will be key to scaling up our production.”
Colorado Cellulosic Ethanol
Fort Lupton-based PureVision Technology is looking to build the state’s first cellulosic ethanol plant in Yuma.
The company has received about $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy over the past three years and plans to build a $5 million prototype next year.
The proposed plant in Yuma would be its first commercial project. The plant would complement Yuma’s corn-to-ethanol plants, one under construction and the other on the drawing board.
Farmers and ranchers, along with Yuma County commissioners, have met with PureVision to discuss the plant.
An ongoing $50,000 study by PureVision will be completed in April, and that will be followed by a comprehensive analysis to determine details such as location of the plant, its capacity and the availability of feedstock from local farmers.
“It seems the community in Yuma is forward-thinking, and they believe a cellulosic ethanol plant would complement their corn-to- ethanol plant,” said Ed Lehrburger, co-founder of PureVision. “But we’d have to raise more money before that.”
