By Erin Voegele/A researcher at the University of Arkansas has created the first methane-producing microorganism that can metabolize complex carbon structures. The project could lead to the development of a microbial process to recycle waste products, such as glycerin from biodiesel plants, into a renewable form of natural gas.

According to David Lessner, an assistant professor of biological sciences who is leading the research, the project focused on methanogens, which are methane-producing anaerobic microorganisms. “These are microorganism that grow only in anaerobic—or oxygen free—environments, but they are found in very diverse environments,” he said. “They grow by producing methane gas as an end product.” Leer más »

Ireland-based Ceimici Novel Ltd. recently announced it has developed an innovative catalyst for use in new and existing biodiesel plants. According to the company, use of its unique catalyst can reduce production costs, increase profitability and results in ‘greener’ biodiesel production.

The catalytic material SCRO-80, which has been titled “Smart Catalyst,” facilitates the transesterification process in minutes rather than hours, said Ben Engelen, Ceimici Novel’s market developer. While Engelen was unable to disclose any information regarding the chemical structure or composition of SCRO-80, he did note that that the catalytic material “will not suffer from obsolescence.” Leer más »

15 September 2010. In an effort to reduce carbon emissions and further renewable energy solutions, the Canadian government is to invest up to CA$18.79 million (€14 million) in Biocardel Quebec, a biofuels plant producing biodiesel and glycerol located in Richmond, Quebec, through its ecoENERGY for biofuels programme. Leer más »

The 100 Mgy Imperium Renewables  facility in Grays Harbor, Washington.

Back in 2008 the death watch began on Imperium Renewables.

Though its 100 Mgy multi-feedstock plant in Grays Harbor was, at the time, the largest and most modern biodiesel facility in the US, the company lost its CEO, withdrew a planned IPO, and was forced to cancel a potentially lucrative Hawaiian development project that would have supplied biodiesel to Hawaiian Electric (HECO). Leer más »

Kyung Wook Hur, Vice Minister, Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea; and Luis Alberto Moreno, President, IDB, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote programs and projects that foster cooperation between them and, in particular, activities related to green growth, sustainable energy and climate change.

Photo: Árlette Pedraglio

The Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will sign a an agreement to co-finance public and private sector projects worth as much as $2 billion in the next three years in Latin America and the Caribbean. Leer más »

A detailed study of the direct costs, of commercialization, harvests and tributary clearifies the numbers of the agriculture.

Of each $10 that a soya producer wins in Santa Fe, the State takes away $7.9. And of each $10 that a wheat producer wins in Santa Fe, the government takes away $6.9. Keeping up to 80% of the earnings, the government is already today the wholesale partner of the producer.

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Decreto 109/2007 – Actividades alcanzadas por los términos de la Ley 26.093 ( Descargar PDF )