Drop-in projects move forward

May 21, 2010

Madison, Wis., is home to the world's first biogasoline demonstration facility. Created through a partnership between Virent Energy Systems Inc. and Royal Dutch Shell plc, the plant, called "Eagle," is capable of producing 10,000 gallons per year. Using sugars extracted from various biomass sources, the process to create the fuel is similar to a typical oil refinery, according to Randy Cortright, Virent founder and chief technical officer. By substituting a beet sugar feedstock into the fuel mixture, the Eagle plant can produce the same hydrocarbon mixtures used in standard transportation fuels. The goal is a fuel that can be added, or dropped-in to regular gasoline blends, including those containing ethanol.

The Pall Corp. is also working on a drop-in fuel project. To help the U.S.DOE-funded project, the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium picked Pall to provide a total fluid management evaluation on the filtration and separation processes needed to create a hydrocarbon fuel from a biomass feedstock. "Our experience in advanced hot gas and liquid hydro separations for both conventional and alternative energy applications will enable us to help ensure a marketable outcome of the consortium's work," said Greg Helibrunn, senior vice president of global marketing for Pall Energy.

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