A partnership between a biofuels company and Procter & Gamble (P&G) could lead to more sustainable chemicals and the most effective refining process for cellulosic ethanol to date.
ZeaChem, which is developing a process to make biofuels, signed a multi-year joint development agreement with Procter & Gamble, which wants to replace petroleum-based ingredients with bio-chemicals to make its products.
Colorado-based ZeaChem is working on a process that could produce the highest yields and lowest carbon emissions of any known biorefining technology. The process turns renewable feedstocks such as poplar trees and agricultural residues into fuel.
The new biorefining process builds on ZeaChem’s earlier "C2" process for cellulosic ethanol, which the company scaled up for DOE-supported demonstration in Oregon.
The process will allow ZeaChem to produce a range of biofuels and chemicals that can replace petroleum-based chemicals in P&G products.
ZeaChem uses naturally occring bacteria, called an acetogen, to process sugars. Acetogens are highly robust and, unlike yeast, produce no carbon dioxide during the fermentation process.
P&G is following the example of major competitor Unilever (NYSE: UN), which invested in algae-to-biofuel company Solazyme for the purpose of developing renewably-sourced oils and chemicals.
The companies will use ZeaChem’s existing lab in Menlo Park, CA, pilot facility at Hazen Research in Golden, CO, and demonstration-scale biorefinery in Boardman, OR.
Valero Energy Corp (NYSE: VLO), the largest petroleum refiner in the US, is among ZeaChem’s investors.
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I am sick and tired of Taxpayer money being thrown down this Endless pit called Cellulosic. I have been disappointed by this company, ZeaChem for too long. It’s time we pull the plug on the Cellulosic Bank Robbery and start incentivizing the production of Advanced Ethanol from Sugarcane, Sweet Sorghum, Sugar Beets, and Cellulosic whenever they decide to join the Party. I suggest starting with $1/Gallon for Advanced Ethanol at the AE85 pump only combined with making all new cars E85 FFV’s. Get rid of the 50 Cents/Gallon credit for Dirty Corn Ethanol and go back to E5 for Regular Gasoline until the cars have been modified to handle E10. Instead of the stupidity of Cash for Destroying Clunkers, how about Cash for E25 Modification Kits for older vehicles to allow us to raise the Ethanol in the Gasoline in the Country’s Most Polluted Cities. It’s time for ZeaChem to put up or Shut Up and not take any more Taxpayer dollars.