Abstract
This session will specialize in discussions of new fuels and chemicals emerging in the research community. Approaches include development of bio-gasoline, mixed alcohols, merging of thermochemical processes with biological conversion, as well as new targets for biomass-derived chemicals. While ethanol and biodiesel receive the most attention in the media, researchers continue to make progress in developing new fuels and chemicals from renewable sources and via some very interesting approaches. The presentations in session 4 reflected some of the large body of work that is ongoing. Greg Keenan (Virent Energy Systems) presented an overview of the aqueous-phase reforming process for the conversion of sugars to hydrocarbons. This chemical catalytic process is an alternative to bio-based approaches for conversion. The extent to which the catalytic process can be applied to sugar mixtures derived from biomass will determine the versatility of this process for the generation of liquid fuels such as gasoline and other hydrocarbon-based liquid fuels. Selection of different catalysts and conditions allows conversion of sugars to different hydrocarbons and fuels. This process is currently being scaled up by Virent. Andy Aden of National Renewable Energy Laboratory presented a paper titled “Comparison of Rigorous Process and Economic Data for Biochemical and Thermochemical Ethanol Production Technologies.” A comparison of the biochemical approach (sugar platform) with the thermochemical approach for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels was made. Such a comparison will allow for a determination of the advantages/disadvantages of each approach. Capital and operating costs of each approach (thermochemical and biochemical) were compared. The results of this comparison suggested that the technology option of choice will be determined by the feedstock availability. There does not appear to be a clear technology winner when comparing these two options. Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2009) 154:180–181 DOI 10.1007/s12010-009-8611-2
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