The National Alliance for Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), which received a $44 million stimulus grant in January (see this BrighterEnergy.org story), produced the biodiesel from algae that meets specifications set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Algal oil for the project was provided by New Mexico-based Eldorado Biofuel, one of the 13 industry members of the NAABB consortium. The oil was then converted to biodiesel by another industry partner, Catilin, Inc., of Ames, Iowa, working with Iowa State University’s Center for Catalysis.

Jose Olivares, executive director of the NAABB consortium, said: “This step represents a major success and illustrates the high level of interaction between members which is a good sign that we are starting to reap the benefits of the consortium concept.”

The consortium, which is led by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Missouri, said its researchers had verified that algal-based biofuel could be produced “more efficiently and economically” through Catilin’s process than conventional conversion methods.

Process

The process uses Catilin’s first commercially-available solid catalyst, T300, rather than the highly caustic sodium hydroxide used in conventional algal oil conversion methods.

Catilin noted that its process also offers a useful by-product in the form of glycerin, which can be sold to the food and pharmaceutical industries.

David Sams, vice president, business development, Catilin Inc., said: “Not only are the conversion costs reduced relative to the conventional process but the quality byproducts produced in the process will open additional markets.”

The next step in the project will see the algae-based biodiesel analyzed and tested by NAABB consortium members, including engine emission tests.

Catilin, which is backed by venture capitalists Mohr Davidow Ventures and Leader Ventures, is currently setting up its 300,000 gallon-per-year pilot plant so it can operate the algal oil extraction process, using nanoparticle technology.

 source: brigtherenergy

Growing imports of cheap Argentine biodiesel into Europe are replacing U.S. imports hit by European Union anti-dumping duties in March, Swiss-German biodiesel producer Biopetrol said on Thursday.

“Increasing amounts of indirectly-subsidized biodiesel have been coming to Europe from Argentina since the second quarter,” Biopetrol said in a statement in a statement on its first half 2009 results.

“The EU and the German government are once again called upon to act quickly to give European biodiesel producers the same protection against subsidized imports as in the case of B99 (biodiesel) from the U.S.”

In March, the EU said it would impose punitive duties on imports of biodiesel from the U.S. while an investigation is held into allegations the U.S. green fuel is sold cheaply in Europe with the help of subsidies.

“Biodiesel prices continued to be under heavy pressure, because large inventories of highly subsidized American B99 that had been established in Europe were still being sold on the market,” Biopetrol said.

The company, which in April underwent major financial restructuring, on Thursday posted a dramatic fall in first half 2009 turnover of about 50 percent to 69.7 million euros from 139.8 million euros in the first half of 2008.

Losses before interest and tax (Ebit) rose to 13.7 million euros from a loss of 3.1 million euros in the same time in 2008.

Increased taxes on biodiesel imposed by the German government had brought a “collapse” in petrol station sales of the green fuel in the first half, Biopetrol said.

This could not even be remotely compensated for by Germany increasing maximum-permitted blending of biodiesel in conventional diesel from five percent biofuel content to seven percent, it said.

Germany’s biofuels industry association said on Monday the country’s biodiesel industry is only working at 20 percent of capacity largely because of high taxes.

But Biopetrol said it was “well positioned for the future” after its financial restructuring in April.

(Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by Peter Blackburn)

Source: Reuters