Tobias Block’s Post

In a (future) defossilized World, sustainable Carbon and Carbon sources, could become one of the most thought after commodtities, since roughly 90% of the stuff, we use in our everday lives, is based on Carbon. Fuels are large part of that, but not all of it, since large parts of the Chemical Industry is based on Hydrocarbons. Where will the Carbon come from after 2050? https://lnkd.in/eTpUEDGE

𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐥 : 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: https://lnkd.in/d6rMZWyk In the ethanol landscape, powerful 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝s are emerging around the world: regions like Asia-Pacific are leading with aggressive ethanol blending policies, Brazil is growing its corn-based ethanol output to meet rising biofuel mandates, and India is scaling up domestic ethanol usage while expanding permissible feedstocks. Simultaneously, Western markets are facing headwinds—UK producers feel squeezed amid regulatory loopholes and trading shifts, while producers in Brazil are innovating with second-generation ethanol and expanding trade of by-products like animal feed Beneath these shifts, 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 are driven by policy incentives, energy security, and environmental goals: nations are raising ethanol blending mandates to reduce oil dependency and emissions; ethanol is increasingly used beyond fuel—including in medical, industrial, and aviation sectors; and regulatory credit systems are spurring investment in sustainable ethanol, including waste-derived and second-generation variants. Yet, challenges like feedstock competition, regulatory uncertainty, and global trade imbalances temper the growth story. Key players are at the heart of the transformation. Companies like ADM, POET, Valero, Green Plains Inc., and Bunge dominate global production, supported by major regional champions such as Raízen and Copersucar in Brazil—innovating with large-scale, sustainable ethanol production—and Valero raising the bar by integrating sustainable aviation fuel alongside ethanol. #Ethanol #Biofuel #Renewables #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #CleanFuel #GreenEnergy #Bioeconomy #CircularEconomy #Innovation

Emerging Catalysts and Techniques in Microalgae-Based Biodiesel Production Full access: https://lnkd.in/g9GCZQ6R By PARTHA PROTIM BORTHAKUR and Pranjal Sarmah From the 3rd International Electronic Conference on Catalysis Sciences Check more Proceedings: https://lnkd.in/gTb3_Xic The production of biodiesel from microalgae presents a sustainable and renewable solution to the growing global energy demands, with catalysts playing a critical role in optimizing the transesterification process. This study examines the emerging catalysts and innovative techniques utilized in converting microalgal lipids into fatty acid methyl esters, emphasizing their impact on reaction efficiency, yield, and environmental sustainability. Sulfuric acid demonstrates excellent performance in in situ transesterification, while NaOH/zeolite achieves high biodiesel yields using ultrasound- and microwave-assisted methods. Metal oxides such as CuO, NiO, and MgO supported on zeolite, as well as ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs), further enhance reaction performance through their high activity and stability. Enzymatic catalysts, particularly immobilized lipases, provide a more environmentally friendly option, offering high yields (>90%) and the ability to operate under mild conditions. However, their high cost and limited reusability pose significant challenges. Ionic liquid catalysts, such as tetrabutylphosphonium carboxylate, streamline the process by eliminating the need for drying and lipid extraction, achieving yields as high as 98% from wet biomass. The key novelty of this work lies in its detailed focus on the use of ionic liquids and nanocatalysts in microalgae-based biodiesel production, which are often underrepresented in previous reviews that primarily discuss homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. #Microalgae #GreenChemistry #RenewableEnergy

🚨 New project alert! The CBE JU-funded #SOLRESS project is developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. These greener alternatives will help industries reduce emissions and health risks without compromising performance. What SOLRESS will deliver: ▶️ Production of bio-based solvents from coffee grounds and wood waste ▶️ Conversion of CO₂ and biomass hydrolysates into lactic and acetic acids ▶️ Scale-up of bioethanol, biobutanol, and furfural for solvent synthesis ▶️ Demonstration of 400 litres of ester solvents and 50 litres of furfural solvents from 2 tonnes of biomass waste ▶️ Recycling of 100,000 tonnes of coffee and wood waste annually, producing up to 50,000 tonnes of solvents ▶️ More than €100 million in revenues and 300 new jobs in the EU bioeconomy The project is supported with €7.04 million in CBE JU funding and has 15 partners from 11 countries.

📢 We are proud to share that last week, GALACTIC and the 16 other European actors participating in the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), called Solress, held their first kick-off meeting in Spain, led by the project coordinator, AIMPLAS · Technological Institute of Plastics. Our two project managers, Pieter Van der Weeën and Carlos Antonio López Fletes, represented Galactic, which plays a key role in the success of this European project. Our efforts will focus on developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. Discover more about the project in the carousel below 👇 or via the website: https://lnkd.in/enUY8mjF And if you're interested in the project and want to know more, don't hesitate to contact us!

2G Ethanol production space, transforming biomass into sustainable biofuel! This isn't just about energy; it's about empowering rural economies, reducing carbon footprints, and driving India towards a greener, more self-reliant future. #2GEthanol #SecondGenerationEthanol #Biofuel #BiomassToBiofuel #LignocellulosicEthanol

Lloyd’s Register’s latest Fuel Insight report highlights how improved testing and other practices support shipowners as they adapt to cleaner blends.  https://lnkd.in/g9h932wZ #biofuels #marinebiofuel #biodiesel #FAME #renewablediesel #HVO #B30 #biobaseddiesel Lloyd's Register

Platform chemicals are versatile chemical intermediates that act as foundational building blocks for a wide variety of industrial and consumer products. Key examples include petroleum-based chemicals, such as ethylene, propylene, and benzene, as well as bio-based alternatives, including succinic acid and lactic acid. Platform chemicals are key to sustainable industrial chemistry, increasingly made from renewable biomass. #pcma #chemicalindustry #platformchemicals #industrialgrowth #sustainablechemicals #chemicalproduction #globalmarket #chemicalinnovation #plastics #textiles #fuels #fertilizers #industryinsights #chemicalengineering ##pcma #chemicalindustry #platformchemicals #industrialgrowth #sustainablechemicals #chemicalproduction #globalmarket #chemicalinnovation #plastics #textiles #fuels #fertilizers #industryinsights #chemicalengineering ##buildingblocksbuildingblocks

🧪 Sumitomo Chemical Scales Up Ethanol-to-Propylene Technology Sumitomo Chemical has launched a pilot facility at its Chiba Works (Sodegaura, Japan) to demonstrate its new process for directly converting ethanol into propylene, an innovation aimed at reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstocks in the petrochemical industry. 🔬 What’s new? – The process produces propylene directly from ethanol without passing through ethylene – Hydrogen is generated as a valuable by-product – Supported by NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund, the project accelerates Japan’s raw material conversion roadmap 🌱 Sustainability edge: Ethanol can be derived from biomass (sugarcane, corn, pulp) and even combustible waste, offering a promising alternative to naphtha-based propylene. 💡 Commercialization Outlook: Sumitomo aims to bring the process to market by the early 2030s, including plans to license the technology and market polypropylene derived from bio-propylene. 🏗️ The initiative is part of Sumitomo Chemical’s broader shift toward low-impact, value-generating technologies, including its long-term vision for a “GX Solutions Business” model to help customers monetize their CO₂ reduction contributions. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gD4hF8Ye SUMITOMO CHEMICAL ASIA PTE LTD | Sumitomo Chemical Latin America #PUdaily #SumitomoChemical #Propylene #EthanolToPropylene #BioPropylene #GreenInnovation #GXSolutions #SustainableChemistry

🔹 Sodium Methoxide (CH₃ONa) An essential homogeneous base catalyst in the transesterification process for biodiesel production. ✅ Facilitates the conversion of triglycerides and methanol into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and glycerol ✅ Ensures high reaction efficiency and yield ✅ Widely used in industrial-scale renewable fuel manufacturing 🌱 A key component driving sustainable energy solutions. #Biodiesel#Biofuel#green-energy#energy#sodiummethoxide