Biofuels That Look Like Gasoline

The offspring of Jay Keasling’s synthetic biology research and vision, Emeryville, CA-based Amyris Biotechnologies has made a double impact. First, the company, with more than $40 million of backing from the Bill Gates’ Institute for One World Health charity, developed a microbial route to the anti-malarial compound artemisinin. In and of itself this work was a stunningly successful scientific achievement, and the resulting process has been licensed to Sanofi-Aventis for low-cost manufacturing and distribution in the third world.

But how does that relate to biofuels? Well, producing the anti-malarial drug relied on the engineering of a metabolic pathway to produce a key intermediate that is in the class of chemicals called terpenes. Chemically, terpenes are hydrocarbons, similar to diesel or gasoline, and are therefore very good fuel compounds. Thus, the same basic science that led to artemisinin can be applied, with appropriate tweaking, to produce fuels based on terpenes. And according to the company, a desired fuel compound can be selected based on its properties (flash point, cloud point, boiling point, density, fuel value, etc), and then the pathway to produce it can be designed. Voila! You have a designer fuel. And being hydrocarbons with properties similar to gasoline, terpenes do not suffer from the limitations that alcohols (particularly ethanol) have as fuels. If you want to put something into your gas tank or jet engine, a designer hydrocarbon is likely to be superior to any alcohol. At least that is what Amyris argues.

Amyris has the backing of a well-heeled group of VCs: Kleiner Perkins, TPG Biotech, and DAG Ventures. In the area of bio-based production of gasoline-like fuels, Amyris is at the head of the class. Economics remain to be proven, but Amyris has formed a joint venture with the second largest Brazilian sugar producer, Crystalsev, to get access to inexpensive sugar feedstock, and the first demonstration plant is scheduled to be built right on the sugar plantation in Brazil by 2010. It will produce a biodiesel (with the interesting name of “No CompromiseTM”), currently being piloted at Amyris’ Emerville facility. Amyris promises that a bio-gasoline and a bio-aviation fuel are not far behind. If any company can make terpene-based fuels successfully, Amyris appears to be that company.

David Rozzell maintains a web site and blog dedicated to the latest developments and news in biofuels, biocatalysis, and industrial biotechnology. For informative, sometimes amusing, always opinionated analysis go to http://www.bio-catalyst.com He has 25 years of experience in biocatalysis and industrial biotechnology, and speaks frequently at international symposia. He is available for consulting projects. Contact him at david@bio-catalyst.com.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • blog traffic exchangeThinking Of Going Hybrid? Now Might Be The Time. If you have been contemplating purchasing a hybrid car, now might be the time, at least according to Edmunds.com.  While we are in the process of getting rid of one car altogether, with gas prices going up and tax incentives going down, if we were buying a car, we would......
  • hybridGlossary: Hybrid Car Technology Hybrid cars are gaining in popularity and this is leading people to want to know more about hybrid car technology. As a result, we have put together this brief glossary of hybrid car technology terms, the least you need to know. This will be a good foundation for you to......
  • hybridcarGlossary: What is a Hybrid Car? As hybrid cars gain in popularity, many people find themselves asking "What is a hybrid car?" To answer this question, we are supplying a mini lexicon of hybrid car terms and hybrid car technology terms. Let this be a foundation that you can build upon as you learn more about......
  • dodgeramIntroduction to the Hybrid Diesel Electric Car The hybrid diesel electric car has been under develop since as far back as early 1993 in the United States, but the only hybrid diesel electric vehicle to reach production so far has been the Dodge Ram. The Dodge Ram hybrid diesel electric car is build on the chassis for......
  • lexloungeHybrid Electric Car Auto Insurance This post is a guest blog written by Travis Overby. With skyrocketing gas prices and the increasing concerns about the impact of carbon emissions on the environment, Hybrid Electric Cars have been growing in popularity. A hybrid electric vehicle combines a fuel-efficient gas engine with an electric motor. The purpose......
Tags: Alternative Energy, Alternative Fuel, BioDiesel, BioFuels, BioMass, biomass fuels, electric hybrid cars, Ethanol, ethanol gasoline, fuel compounds, Hybrid Cars, hybrid electric vehicles, metabolic pathway

The Cost of Biomass

October 25, 2008 by admin  
Filed under BioMass

The skyrocketing price of fuels is posing a threat to the entire economy as well as the average consumer. In such situations, the use of Biomass energy can be a possible solution. Biomass is a biological or a natural material that can be used to produce energy. The sources of Biomass comprise a wide variety of materials such as dead trees, unused crops, forest and mill residues, animal wastes, aquatic plants and municipal and agricultural wastes.

When these materials are burned as fuel to produce energy, we get biomass energy. Other biomass materials such as ethanol, which is produced from corn and other leftover crops and biodiesel, which is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats can be used to create biomass energy that can even power transportation vehicles.

Today, biomass fuels are readily available. But biomass energy only accounts for about three per cent of energy used yearly in the United States. The main reason is the production cost of various bio energy fuels. The production cost does not match the production price of fossil fuels such as coal. This means the commercial production of Biomass is quite far-fetched at present. Hence there is an urgent need to cut down the production cost to make bio energy affordable. There should be an economic analysis of the commercialization of Biomass and concentration should be more on a wider commercial market. This will help to lower the production cost of biomass. According to Haq Z. in his book “Biomass for Electricity Generation” (2004) “By 2020, the United States is estimated to have a maximum of 7.1 quadrillion Btu of biomass available at prices of $5 per million Btu or lower.”

The society needs to be more open to the use of biomass as an energy resource. The trash that goes into our landfills can be readily used to produce Biomass. There will be no dependency on fossil fuels. This, in turn, will help the world economy as well as the environment.

About Author: Pauline Go is a professional writer for many websites. She also writes other great articles like Crude Oil Usage In USA, Do Fuel Savers Work?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go
 

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • blog traffic exchangeOmen Questions and Answers Do we hurt it if we ignore or deny an omen? We can, especially if you are deeply connected to the event matrix. The omens are in part a manifestation of your very personal energy. It meshes with other energies, and if you resist a heavily weighted event it can......
  • stretchReducing Your Grocery and Utility Bill As the cost of everything on the planet increases, people are finding it difficult to stay afloat financially. Saving money has become increasingly important in most households. Here are some easy methods that you can use to reduce your grocery bill and your utility bill. Saving Money at the Grocery......
  • money-017Average Cost of Home Maintenance Per Year The average cost in home maintenance each year is around $750-$1500. This figure can vary from year to year depending on what maintenance items you’d like to address. Below is a breakdown of typical costs homeowners will incur to properly maintain their home. Furnace Filters $80/year: These cost around......
  • kitchencabEstablishing Remodel Cost: Home Remodeling Critical First Step Nothing ruins a fantastic remodel more quickly than exceeding the project budget.  Why is this phenomenon so common in residential remodeling?  Simple:  Many homeowners struggle to establish a detailed budget at the appropriate time in the course of the project. Why is establishing remodel cost one of your most important......
  • heatpumpHow Efficient Are Heat Pumps Heat pumps come in three varieties: geothermal, electric, and a duel source system. These systems utilize various sources to move heat from various sources into and out of your house. Air source electric heating systems are more energy efficient than the traditional electric heating system. They come in sizes suitable......
Tags: bioenergy, BioMass, biomass energy, biomass fuels, renewable energy

What is Biofuel?

October 25, 2008 by admin  
Filed under BioFuels

What is Biofuel? (also called agrofue) It can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass. The definition used here is narrower: biofuel is defined as liquid or gas transportation fuel derived from biomass. Biomass can also be used directly for heating or power: this is commonly called biomass fuel: see biomass heating systems. Biofuel is considered a means of reducing[2] greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security by providing an alternative to fossil fuels.

That is why biofuels are used globally: biofuel industries are expanding in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The most common use for biofuels is in automotive transport (for example E10 fuel). Biofuel can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished rapidly e.g. plants. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacture.

Humans have used biomass fuels for heating and cooking since the discovery of fire. Following the discovery of electricity, it became possible to use biofuels to generate electrical power as well. However, the discovery and use of fossil fuels: coal, gas and oil, have dramatically reduced the amount of biomass fuel used in the developed world for transport, heat and power.

Liquid biofuels have been used since the early days of the car industry. Nikolaus August Otto, the German inventor of the internal combustion engine, conceived his invention to run on ethanol. Rudolf Diesel, the German inventor of the Diesel engine, designed it to run on peanut oil. Henry Ford originally designed the Ford Model T, a car produced from 1903 to 1926, to run completely on ethanol. However, when crude oil became cheaply available (thanks to oil reserves discovered in Pennsylvania and Texas), cars began using fuels derived from mineral oil: petroleum or diesel.

Chuck is a college student and is studying biology. He is studying addition methods of new alternatives in energy and you will read some of his articles and research in these areas. To find out more about biofuels go to http://new-biofuel.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_R_Mitchell

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Bio FuelsBio Fuels: A Sustainable Solution? As people have started looking towards alternative energy sources, bio-fuels have often come up as a solution.  So what exactly are bio-fuels? How do they differ from fossil fuels? How are they produced? And are they a sustainable solution to the world's energy crisis? As the name implies, bio-fuels are......
  • global warmingGlobal Warming And Tax Shifting by sanbeiji Global Warming And Tax Shifting We are on the doorstep of environmental and energy crises. In 2003, the fourth hottest year since 1880, thirty-five thousand Europeans died in a heat wave. Today we watch as glaciers recede and ice shelves break off into the sea. In the......
  • cleanSaving Fuel with Hybrid Electric Cars Hybrids are made to operate in all of the same conditions and temperatures that standard automobiles are, while being powered by multiple fuel technology. The use of a rechargeable energy cell system supplements the gasoline engine for propulsion. The basic principals are not hard to understand: hybrid automobiles use the......
  • blog traffic exchangeSave on Gas and Energy Costs in Orlando Fuel experts now expect the charge of oil along with gas to continue to rise year on year, with conservative estimates at an increase of 60% in 6 years. The price savings on wood fuel pellets can pay for the Breckwell stove within a few years. The supply of oil......
  • imiev.jpgThe Future Fuel For The Automobile Is The Sun. Forget petroleum, biodiesel, hydrogen or any other fuel that people have been working on getting to market lately. As much as I really like the thought of using biodiesel (and I hope to one day), the only way we are going to become both fully independent of foreign countries AND......
Tags: Alternative Fuel, Alternative To Fossil Fuels, Automotive Transport, BioDiesel, biofuel, BioFuels, BioMass, Carbon Source, Coal Gas, Diesel Engine, Discovery Of Electricity, e85, Ethanol, ethanol fuel, Ford Model T, Fossil Fuels Coal, German Inventor, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, internal combustion engine, Inventor Of The Diesel Engine, Inventor Of The Internal Combustion Engine, Liquid Biofuels, Nikolaus August Otto, Power Liquid, Rudolf Diesel, Texas Cars, Transport Heat