First paper waste-based biofuel demonstrated by Novozymes

26 January 2010

Global bio-innovation company Novozymes and Maryland-based Fiberight have partnered to provide demonstration fuel made from government office wastepaper and waste cardboard that was tested in Washington DC.

‘The advanced biofuels showcased here today demonstrate that the enzyme technology is ready for market. What we need now is commercialisation and deployment of advanced biofuels in order to help meet our country’s most pressing energy and environment challenges,’ said Adam Monroe, president, Novozymes North America.

The blend of 85 per cent wastepaper-based biofuel and 15 per cent gasoline, is produced by Fiberight, after a sequence of pulping, pre-treatment and enzymes from Novozymes turn the paper and cardboard waste into sugars that are then fermented into biofuel.

Novozymes said its multi-year research and development efforts have resulted in an enzyme cocktail that can now be used to make advanced biofuel from agricultural residues, municipal waste and energy crops. The company previously received two contracts from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for its research efforts to bring down the cost of enzymes and improve their efficiency in converting cellulose to biofuels including a first $2.2m contract issued in 2002 and a second for $12.3m in 2008.

Novozymes said that as a result it has been able to achieve significant reductions in enzyme costs and highlighted a 50 per cent reduction in 2009. Most recently, the company received a $28.4m tax credit toward the construction of its enzyme manufacturing facility in Blair, Nebraska.

Listed on the Nordic Exchange Copenhagen, Novozymes has over 700 products used in 130 countries with over 5,000 biofuel patents.

Copyright © 2010 NewNet

Tags: biofuel

This story was published on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 7:01 pm and is filed under North America, biomass/biofuel, companies. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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