BASF invests in new alcoholates plant in Ludwigshafen

Advanced production facilities to support growing life science market as well as the biodiesel industry

20-Feb-2025 - BASF is investing a mid-double-digit million-euro amount in a new alcoholates plant at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The plant will produce sodium methylate and potassium methylate, two important chemicals used for the production of biodiesel and for pharmaceutical and agricultural ...

New catalyst developed for sustainable propylene production from biomass

Propylene production harnesses biodiesel waste byproduct

01-Oct-2024 - Achieving carbon neutrality requires the effective use of renewable biomass. In the production of biodiesel, for instance, glycerol is generated as a major byproduct. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new catalyst that efficiently converts a derivative of glycerol into ...

Evonik expands sodium methylate production in Argentina to meet growing demand for biofuels

Annual production capacity increased by 50% to 90,000 tons

16-Jul-2024 - Evonik has announced the expansion of its sodium methylate production capacity at its Rosario plant, located in the Sante Fé Province in Argentina. With this expansion, the company strengthens its position as a leader in the biofuels industry, driving innovation and sustainability across South ...

From waste to value: The right electrolytes can enhance glycerol oxidation

"Our research could help to convert biomass by-products into valuable chemicals more efficiently"

03-Jul-2024 - When biomass is converted into biodiesel, huge amounts of glycerol are produced as a by-product. So far, however, this by-product has been little utilised, even though it could be processed into more valuable chemicals through oxidation in photoelectrochemical reactors. The reason for this: low ...

Sustainable raw materials for a green chemical industry

Launch of the BEFuel project: From exhaust gases and wastewater to e-fuels and high-quality chemicals

29-Jan-2024 - How can e-fuels and biosurfactants for industry be produced from exhaust gases and wastewater? An interdisciplinary consortium coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT is addressing this question in the newly launched BEFuel project. The focus is on coupled bioelectrochemical production – i.e. the ...

Microalgae-based conversion of carbon dioxide to biofuels

Scientists explore a genetic sensor of blue light to double oil productivity in industrial microalgae

01-Apr-2022 - Microalgae, algae that cannot be seen by the naked eye, absorb carbon dioxide and produce oils that can be used as biofuels. These biofuels, which can be carbon negative, offer promise as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, the biological processes that allow these microalgae to ...

Biodiesel made from discarded cardboard boxes

Development of a microorganism that doubles the yield of biodiesel precursor production using genetic scissors and based on the principles of evolution

02-Dec-2020 - Automobile exhaust emitted by fossil-fuel-based vehicles, especially those operating on diesel, is known to be a major source of fine dust and greenhouse gases. Using biodiesel instead of diesel is an effective way of coping with climate change caused by greenhouse gases while reducing fine dust ...

Making biodiesel from dirty old cooking oil just got way easier

New ultra-efficient catalyst can recycle old cooking oil into biodiesel and turn food scraps into high-value complex molecules

28-Oct-2020 - Researchers have developed a powerful, low-cost method for recycling used cooking oil and agricultural waste into biodiesel, and turning food scraps and plastic rubbish into high-value products. The method harnesses a new type of ultra-efficient catalyst that can make low-carbon biodiesel and ...

Evonik to expand sodium methylate capacity in Argentina

04-Dec-2019 - Evonik plans to increase its capacity for sodium methylate at its Rosario/Santa Fe facility from 60,000 metric tons up to 90,000 metric tons until 2021. The expansion is driven by growing demand for biodiesel in South America, mainly Argentina and Brazil. Sodium methylate is an important catalyst ...

Efficiently producing fatty acids and biofuels from glucose

24-Jun-2019 - Researchers have presented a new strategy for efficiently producing fatty acids and biofuels that can transform glucose and oleaginous microorganisms into microbial diesel fuel, with one-step direct fermentative production. The newly developed strain, created by Professor Sang Yup Lee and his ...