What is biomass energy conversion? Biomass is organic, meaning it comes from living organisms like plants and animals. In biomass energy conversion, the common biomass materials used for energy are plants, wood, and waste –…
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Glycerin as Anti-Freeze Agent for Coal
Glycerin as Anti-Freeze Agent for Coal? Anyone who has produced biodiesel knows that glycerin can set up like wax if the process is over-catalyzed and/or animal fats are used as feedstocks. More than one of…
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Scale-Up of Emerging Biofuel Technologies
ScaleUp of Emerging Biofuels Technologies? INTRODUCTION: The continued interest in advanced biofuels has produced numerous exciting technical advances on the laboratory, pilot and demonstration scales. However, attempts to translate these small scale successes into commercial…
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The Demand for Natural Rubber
The demand for natural rubber? In 2004, the History Channel broadcast a Modern Marvels Special on Natural Rubber. My favorite quote from that special is “Our four most important natural resources are air, water, petroleum,…
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Biodiesel Property Insurance- If you have it, do whatever you have to, to keep it!
Biodiesel Property Insurance? If you own a small biodiesel plant, 10 million gallons or smaller (not an exact science), you will find that insuring your plant and business income/extra expense exposure is critically difficult. Larger…
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Biofuels Project Funding
As a greener planet and sustainable future would appear to be something everyone should agree on, the question becomes why biofuels project funding is not a given. Why do many bioenergy projects, even very good…
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Cellulosic Hydrolysis Reactors
Cellulosic Hydrolysis Reactors? Cellulosic materials, such as corn stover, cane, switchgrass, timber waste, municipal solid waste, etc., can be processed into fuels and renewable chemicals. Broadly speaking, there are two main methods: pyrolysis and hydrolysis….
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Good Manufacturing Practices
“Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMPs) is a term describing a body of regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These are listed in the Code of Federal Regulations under part 21; they are numerous,…
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Bio-Coal Expert
What does a bio-coal (biocoal) expert or consultant do? Biocoal is another word for torrefied wood. Biocoal is a relatively new type of energy, produced via fast pyrolysis coupled with an atmospheric distillation process. The…
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The Business Plan as an Investor Sales Brochure
Business planning, and a business plan, is important for any business. Business planning provides managers the opportunity to systematically think through all aspects of their business: who their customers are, who their suppliers are, who their…
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