September 14, 2010
BY Bryan Sims
Global specialty chemicals and materials supplier W.R. Grace & Co. has been awarded a $3.3 million grant from U.S. DOE for the evaluation and enhancement of advanced biofuel technologies. The funding is a component of the DOE’s strategy to accelerate the development of sustainable biofuels and is coordinated by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program.
Specifically, the grant will allow W.R. Grace to conduct collaborative work alongside Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to optimize the production of bio-oils via a thermochemical process called pyrolysis, which can break down any biomass with the use of extreme heat. Pyrolysis bio-oils can be further refined into biofuels such as biogasoline, jet fuel, renewable diesel and biochemicals like naphtha. Additional organizations joining the effort include VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, which will be providing pyrolysis oils, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which will be tasked to study corrosion.
"We are excited to be selected for this funding and look forward to collaborating with PNNL," said Susan Ehrlich, business director for Grace Renewable Technologies. "Our understanding of catalysts, combined with their pyrolysis and process development expertise, will position us to accelerate the commercialization of this new technology and production process."
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This isn’t W.R. Grace’s first entry into the biofuels sector. In 2006, Grace expanded its work in the biofuels industry with the introduction of a renewable product line that provides technologies for purification, drying and biomass feedstock conversion. Current products applicable to the biofuels industry include the company’s EnSieve desiccants for ethanol dehydration and EnPure absorbents for biodiesel production.
"Pursuing and receiving this grant is validation of Grace’s strategy to grow the renewable business, explore open innovation with high-caliber researchers and become a global supplier to the biofuels industry," Ehrlich said.
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