Mar 25 2010
The first demonstration plant in the world that converts plant sugars into gasoline blend components and gasoline instead of ethanol has commenced production. This was announced by Virent Energy Systems and Shell. This is the latest step since the announcement of a collaborative biogasoline research and development initiative in March 2008 by both the companies.
The demonstration plant, which is located in the facilities of Virent in Madison, Wisconsin, is capable of producing up to 38,000 liters per annum and will be utilized for engine and fleet testing. High concentrations of this new biofuel can be mixed with gasoline and can be utilized in standard gasoline engines. The biofuel dispenses with the need for engine modifications, blending equipment and specialized infrastructure that are required for the use of gasoline with over 10% ethanol content.
Virent’s BioForming platform technology, which is patented, utilizes catalysts to turn plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules similar to those manufactured at a petroleum refinery. The fuel molecules in the biogasoline from Virent have higher content of energy than ethanol and can provide better fuel economy. The biofuel can be blended with both conventional gasoline and gasoline with ethanol.
The sugars can be obtained from traditional biofuel feedstocks such as sugarcane, corn and wheat as well as from non-food feedstocks such as sugarcane pulp, wheat straw, and corn stover. Currently, beet sugar is being used at the demonstration plant.
Source: www.virent.com