Biomass-based Gasoline, Clean Diesel and Jet Fuel for Cars and Planes

industry.bnet.com
By Jim Motavalli | July 13th, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

Until now, most biofuel discussions have focused on ethanol and biodiesel. Both those technologies show promise in freeing North America from foreign oil dependence, but both have hit some heavy obstacles—mostly arising from a lack of places to fill up.

But what if we could make utterly conventional motor fuels—gasoline, diesel and jet fuel—from wood chips, grass clippings or fast-growing cellulosic crops? That’s the premise behind Los Angeles-based Rentech (Renewable Energy Technologies), which has been trying to do just that for nearly 30 years. The field is now becoming more crowded, as a variety of companies vie for effective processes that could achieve commercialization.

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