DOE Loan Programs Office’s Post

Trillium to Build World's First Biobased Acrylonitrile Demonstration Plant Trillium Renewable Chemicals (Knoxville, Tennessee) has announced the selection of INEOS Nitriles' Green Lake facility in Port Lavaca, Texas, to establish the world's first demonstration plant converting plant-based glycerin into acrylonitrile. This project is named "Project Falcon." Trillium Renewable Chemicals has developed a groundbreaking technology for producing sustainable acrylonitrile, a critical raw material used in industries such as toys, automotive parts, aerospace components, medical supplies, and clothing. Corey Tyrie, CEO of Trillium Renewable Chemicals, stated, "We are thrilled that INEOS Nitriles' Green Lake facility, the largest acrylonitrile production plant in the U.S., will be the site for Project Falcon. This milestone is a significant step towards bringing our technology to market and producing sustainable bio-based acrylonitrile on a large scale." Following a $10.6 million Series A financing in December 2022 and a $2.5 million award from the Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office in June 2022, Trillium Renewable Chemicals built a pilot plant that successfully produced acrylonitrile from glycerin. Trillium's sustainable acrylonitrile boasts a lower carbon footprint compared to standard acrylonitrile produced via the Sohio propylene ammoxidation process. The company's innovative approach addresses the growing demand for more environmentally friendly bio-based raw materials. Trillium Renewable Chemicals continues to operate a pilot plant and has successfully provided samples to customers. Insights from the pilot operations have been invaluable for designing the new Project Falcon demonstration plant. Hans Casier, CEO of INEOS Nitriles, emphasized the importance of Trillium's decision: "INEOS Nitriles is excited to collaborate with Trillium Renewable Chemicals to advance the production of sustainable bio-based acrylonitrile. Our support for this project is part of our broader sustainability strategy and underscores our commitment, as the world's largest acrylonitrile producer, to reducing the industry's carbon footprint. We look forward to working closely with Trillium to achieve this goal." The operation of the Project Falcon demonstration plant will help validate the commercial-scale economics and product carbon footprint. The project is scheduled to start operations in early 2025 and continue through early 2026.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Visolis collaborate on production of #isoprene through upcycling of biobased materials. Isoprene is an important precursor for some types of synthetic #rubber and is typically generated as a by-product from refining crude #oil. Isoprene units are polymerized into long chains using a catalyst to produce #polyisoprene, which is used as a raw material in manufacturing #tires and other items. Supported by a Small Business Innovation Research (#SBIR) grant awarded to #Visolis earlier this year, the collaboration will leverage Visolis's technology to produce high-quality isoprene from lignocellulosic feedstocks– which are non-edible biomass and agricultural materials.   https://lnkd.in/eAxQpTMi

CNSL is a abundantly available, and renewable raw material with diverse industrial applications and biological activities. It is composed of four naturally occurring substituted phenols that have great potential to replace synthetic phenols in many applications with equivalent or better results. CNSL can be classified into two types: technical and natural. Natural CNSL contains anacardic acid (70%), cardol (18%), cardanol (5%) and traces of methyl cardol. It is best known for its diverse biological activities, with anacardic acid been linked to the observed physiological effects. Among them being antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal, termiticidal, antioxidant and enzymatic inhibition properties. Technical CNSL is obtained by heating natural CNSL at temperatures above 180–200 °C. During the heat process, the thermolabile anacardic acid decarboxylate and converts to cardanol, leading to high content of cardanol (60–65%) in technical CNSL. This form of CNSL has found wide industrial applications as raw material in friction linings, paints, varnishes, laminating, epoxy resins, foundry chemicals, plastic formulations and as antioxidant in biodiesel. The innumerable industrial applications of CNSL are based on the fact that it leads itself to polymerization by various means. Simple phenols from petrochemicals have restrictions hence, the range of products obtained from them are few. The current rise in the prices of petrochemical feedstocks as well as concerns of environmental pollution and depletion of natural reserves, puts CNSL at the center stage as the best sustainable alternative source of renewable energy. Its advantages surpass those of other competing renewable bioresources such as vegetable and corn oils. Cashew nut shell liquid is non-edible hence, it does not put pressure on the food supply chain, and the fact that it is sourced from waste raw materials, it does not compete for production land.

At LEC, we’ve been helping clients navigate the bioeconomy for over 25 years, and each week, it is our pleasure to spotlight one of our world-class experts. David F. Peterson, Project Director David has 40+ years of diverse bio-economy experience evaluating and deploying technical solutions. He was the founder and CEO of a company that produced novel bioactive chemicals from sustainable biomaterials. As CTO, he led the scale-up of an innovative pyrolysis/syngas-based technology, and, as an owner’s representative, he analyzed pilot plant and engineering design data for a second-generation cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. David was the site executive and co-developer for a wood-to-fuel biorefinery and served as the technical director for a top-rated, world-class pulp and paper biorefinery. Having served in leadership and technical roles for Potlatch Corporation, David has in-depth operational experience in papermaking, coating technology, pulping (kraft sulfate), woody biomass handling/forestry, bleaching, industrial landfill, and wastewater treatment. His experience also includes active pharmaceutical ingredients, pellet plant operations, natural product extraction/derivatization, artificial skin, skincare, nutraceuticals, and agricultural chemicals/bioactives. To complement these achievements, David has IP strategy, trade secret, and patent (17+ issued) portfolio management experience. With wide-ranging experience in complex, multi-product biorefinery operations, he understands how to develop successful bio/circular/green technologies. He led multi-organizational teams to negotiate complex agreements (joint development, industrial property leasehold/purchase, contract services/research, foreign contract manufacturing, EPC, and technology licensing). As a regulatory compliance officer, David has developed/executed environmental permits. He completed detailed engineering (FEL1-FEL3) and R&D projects, established facility-wide QC/QA/training programs, and led a myriad of multi-stakeholder product and process development projects. David authored a study on the sustainability of Northeastern Minnesota’s bioeconomy and was selected for a Canadian-USA International Joint Commission (IJC) task force to represent the pulp and paper industry where he was elected to be a co-chair for the biorefinery and zero-discharge subcommittees. He authored articles on the pulp and paper industry and biomass processing. David has an MBA from Purdue University (Krannert School of Management) and a BS in Forest Products, Pulp & Paper Engineering, from the University of Minnesota. https://lnkd.in/gbWsKYR #pulpandpaper #forestry #biomass #biofuels #consulting

Bio-based aniline – A revolution? 🎉 A milestone on the way to sustainable raw material production has been reached! Just think about the A in BASF Covestro is breaking new ground in chemical production and has now commissioned a pilot plant for bio-based aniline. https://lnkd.in/d3eqq9nx The plant in Leverkusen uses a unique technology to produce aniline from plant biomass instead of crude oil. This step not only helps to reduce the CO2 footprint, but also supports the circular economy. 🌍 Aniline is a crucial raw material for the production of MDI, which in turn is used in insulating foams to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions. Together with Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer of Covestro, NRW's Deputy Minister President Mona Neubaur and Professor Walter Leitner from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr discussed the importance of bio-based raw materials for a sustainable chemical industry of the future. 👉🏼 The world's first pilot plant for bio-based aniline is an impressive example of how Germany is developing into an important biobased chemicals location. The project also demonstrates the potential of industrial biotechnology for plastics production: In a new process, a special microorganism converts sugar from plants into an intermediate product via fermentation, which is then converted into aniline with 100% plant-based carbon using chemical catalysis. I love projects and innovations like this and find them super exciting! 😍 Contact me via Sanomol GmbH to discuss news in the industry. I would love to know: What role do you think bio-based raw materials and circularity will play in the future of the chemical industry?

The R5 Lab Solution Renewable materials are the obvious choice to replace petroleum based plastics due to the fact plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Leveraging this technology to eliminate supply chain steps and upcycle byproduct waste materials into a valuable commodity are only the start of the solution. The ultimate paradigm shift involves deploying a non toxic system to convert plant material into bioplastic resin building blocks. This carbon negative, food-free, toxin-free, microplastic-free alternative to existing production methods is a catalyst that drives sustainability deep into all future plant based plastic production solutions. The R5 Lab solution is comprised of three distinct advantages:  1. Utilize Waste streams of existing agricultural processing industries to obtain byproducts residues 2. Leverage our proprietary Non-toxic technology platform to dissolve these renewable plant materials 3. Focus on Key building block ingredients extracted with this process. This can eliminate the continued reliance on petroleum chemical molecules currently used in the commercial production of polymers.

Glad to share a technical article on 'Biomanufacturing: Pioneering Sustainability Through Biotransformation' authored by Dr. Pramod Kumbhar and Mr. Sampannakumar Kharbade published in the Chemical Industry Digest, one of the leading trade magazine in the chemical and engineering domain. The article jointly authored by Dr. Kumbhar and Mr. Kharbade sheds light on the transformation of the ethanol industry towards sustainability through biotransformation, biomanufacturing, and renewable chemicals, highlighting the role of biorefineries in shaping a greener future. Here the entire article here: https://lnkd.in/dWhCEbjk #FuelTheChange #Innovation #Sustainability #Bioeconomy #LowCarbonBioFuels #BioMobility #DecarbonizeMobility #RenewableChemicals #RenewableMaterials #BioManufacturing #BioRefinery #AcceleratingEnergyTransition #SustainableClimateAction

🚀 A New Era in Chemical Production 🌿 🔬 Covestro Launches Revolutionary Pilot Plant I'm thrilled to share a groundbreaking step forward in the world of sustainable chemistry - right from the heart of Leverkusen. Covestro, a champion in the plastics industry, has officially started up a pioneering pilot plant dedicated to producing aniline from plant biomass. This is a world-first! We're so used to the idea that petroleum is at the core of vital chemicals, but times are changing. Aniline is no exception. Covestro is showing that it's possible to stray from fossil fuels, embracing sustainable sources without sacrificing efficiency or quality. At the facility, we can expect the generation of sizeable amounts of bio-based aniline, setting the stage to upscale the technology. Think about it - this innovation could dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of materials like MDI, crucial in producing insulating foam. It's a game-changer for energy conservation and CO2 emission reduction in buildings. #Covestro #SustainableChemistry #Innovation

💡 Patent "𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐞" This discovery concerns a treatment of wastewater containing biodegradable organic substances with black soldier fly larvae, with the recovery of resources from the larval biomass produced. The invention overcomes the high mortality typical of their use in a liquid environment, ensuring optimal environmental conditions for growth thus increasing treatment efficiency. 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - Treatment of wastewater with a high organic load, e.g. discharges from the food industry (wineries, juices production, etc.); - Circular economy - from organic waste to use of larvae as animal feed; - Protein extraction from larval biomass; - Extraction of lipids from larval biomass for biodiesel or lubricants. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 - Recovery of both material and energy resources from the larval biomass produced; - Absence of aeration systems; - Minimisation of solid waste typical of purification processes (sludge, digestate); - Targeted treatment of the liquid substrate, minimising process residues; - Survival rate of larvae comparable to that of treatment with solid matrices. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝟒 First batch and continuous prototypes were validated and tested in laboratory, demonstrating the invention's technical feasibility. Currently, the research team is building a pilot plant to optimise the entire process operating conditions. 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 Valentina Grossule Raffaello Cossu We are looking for companies currently active in industrial and food waste water treatment, interested in integrating a circular economy model in their processes. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dyXjnRCi #circulareconomy #wastewatertreatment Stefania De Zanche ICEA Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Edile e Ambientale - Università di Padova Bühler Group AgriProtein Bioflytech Air Liquide

Did you know that today, only 9% of plastics are recycled and 12% incinerated? The remaining 79% has either accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environments or are disposed of in a landfill generating environmental problems. A promising biodegradable plastic is P(3HB), which has comparable physical and mechanical properties to some petroleum-based plastics, degrades completely after two weeks, and can be obtained by microbial fermentation. In our most recent paper, we reported P(3HB) production from sorghum stover for the first time. How close are we to reinventing plastic? I am don't have an answer for that. However, our study could pave the way for the production of the environmentally-friendly bioplastic P(3HB) from sorghum waste by microbial fermentation, while adding value to the lignocellulosic waste. Check the article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/exznU4pe #BlackScientists #WomenEngineers #LatinxsinSTEM #RepresentationMatters