Biogas from Landfills? A permanent fixture in today’s world, landfills typically have been open pit repositories for local waste, and in some cases, retired, and covered. However, the biological reactions in these landfills create a marketable biogas that can be useful to the owner. However, the consideration of taking a raw biogas from landfills and…
A stage gate approach (also known as a phase-gate or waterfall approach) is a common project management technique in which a project is divided into phases or stages that are separated by decision making points known as gates). At each “gate” the decision is made as to whether to stop, move forward with the existing scope, schedule,…
The world of renewable diesel feedstocks is key to the emerging markets for hydrotreated oil and fats. The world runs on about 240 million mt per year (tpy) of fats and oils. There is some 10% or double counting as virgin oils and fats that used in cooking often return to the world market at…
Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel? The vast majority of biodiesel today is manufactured using chemical catalysts and methanol. A few problems are associated with this type of processing. These include 1) the need to remove free fatty acids (FFA) from the oil feedstock prior to reaction, 2) the need to remove phospholipids from the oil feedstock,…
Renewable Jet Fuel? Having flown the “heavy iron” for more than thirty (30) years, I can state with full confidence that there are only three (3) very important questions pilots have about Jet Fuel: #1. Is it good quality fuel? #2. Do we have enough? #3. How much does it weigh? Everything else is more…
In the bioeconomy, the role of project consultant in the bioeconomy is somewhat the same as in any industry, and somewhat unique. It requires first and foremost, a clear understanding of everyone’s duties and limitations. When an investor or developer hires a project consultant, what are they right to expect? Someone who can lead and…
Is butanol a versatile renewable? Despite the common myth, biomass upgrading is a challenging science. Not only do the practitioners have to break down the complex biomass mixtures efficiently, but they must also contend with numerous other equally (and often times more) important considerations such as low oil prices (per barrel), process safety, waste streams,…
Isobutanol: A New Product from Revamped Ethanol Plants? (The following article was written in 2016. Since the publication date BP and DuPont joint venture, Butamax, has started to produce Isobutanol from the Nesika Energy, LLC ethanol plant in Kansas. At 500,000 gallons per year the plant adds to the renewable butanol production from Gevo (rated…