Neol patents microorganism for waste-to-oil production
January 30, 2014
BY Ron Kotrba
Neol Biosolutions, a 50/50 joint venture between the Neuron Bio Group and Repsol, has patented the microorganism Neoleum, which the company says is able to produce oils from waste at a faster rate than oil-bearing seeds such as palm, rape or sunflower.
The trademarked Neoleum culture in a one-cubic-meter bioreactor produces the same quantity of oil in a year than an extension of one hectare of oil palm in the same period of time, according to Neol.
The oils obtained are highly versatile, the company says, and their composition makes them ideal raw material for the production of biofuels such as biodiesel and biokerosene, or for other industrial applications such as biolubricants or surfactants.
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Neol is working to scale up the process in order to manufacture enough oil to supply the biodiesel market with additional feedstock.
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