Shell and Virent announce collaboration to develop biogasoline | Checkbiotech

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	View Edit Domain: BioEnergy Title: * Body: Shell and Virent Energy Systems, Inc., (Virent (TM)) of Madison, Wisconsin USA, today announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol.<p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">The collaboration could herald the availability of new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>This could potentially eliminate the need for specialized infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.<o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">Virent`s BioForming(TM) platform technology uses catalysts to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules like those produced at a petroleum refinery.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>Traditionally, sugars have been fermented into ethanol and distilled.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>These new `biogasoline` molecules have higher energy content than ethanol (or butanol) and deliver better fuel efficiency.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol.<o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">The sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">The companies have so far collaborated for one year on the research.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>The BioForming(TM) technology has advanced rapidly, exceeding milestones for yield, product composition, and cost.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>Future efforts will focus on further improving the technology and scaling it up for larger volume commercial production.<o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">"The technical properties of today`s biofuels pose some challenges to widespread adoption," Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell Executive Vice President Future Fuels and C02 said.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>"Fuel distribution infrastructure and vehicle engines are being modified to cope but new fuels on the horizon, such as Virent`s, with characteristics similar or even superior to gasoline and diesel, are very exciting." <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE">Dr. Randy Cortright, Virent CTO, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President said, "Virent has proven that sugars can be converted into the same hydrocarbon mixtures of today`s gasoline blends.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>Our products match petroleum gasoline in functionality and performance. Virent`s unique catalytic process uses a variety of biomass-derived feedstocks to generate biogasoline at competitive costs.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>Our results to date fully justify accelerating commercialization of this technology."<o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <span lang="DE"> <span style=""> </span> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="DE"> <b>About Royal Dutch Shell</b> <br />Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 130 countries, with businesses including: oil and gas exploration; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals; and renewable energy projects including wind, solar and biofuels.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span><a target="_blank" href="htpp://www.shell.com/aboutshell">www.shell.com/aboutshell</a><o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span lang="DE"> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <b>About Virent</b> <br />Virent is a biofuels company commercializing an advanced biofuel technology to power today`s vehicles in place of fossil fuels. Virent`s patented BioForming(TM) process converts biomass-derived feedstocks into conventional hydrocarbon fuels and products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>The process delivers more net energy and offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional biofuel production routes. </span> <span lang="DE">Virent has 68 employees located in a state-of-the-art catalytic biorefining development facility in Madison, Wisconsin.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>The technology is based on the Aqueous Phase Reforming process, which Virent has exclusively licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>To learn more, visit: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.virent.com">www.virent.com</a> - opens in new window.<br /><br /><b>Contact </b></span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <br />Shell International Media Office<o:p></o:p></span> <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <br />London</span> </st1:city> <span style="" lang="EN-GB">, <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></span> </st1:place> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <br />Media line:<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>+44 (0)207 934 3505<o:p></o:p></span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <br />Martin von Arronet:<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>+31 (0)70 377 6240 <o:p></o:p></span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <o:p>Ã‚Â </o:p> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="" lang="EN-GB">Shell Media Office <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span> <br /> <st1:place w:st="on"> <st1:city w:st="on"> <span style="" lang="EN-GB">Houston</span> </st1:city> <span style="" lang="EN-GB">, <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></span> </st1:place> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <o:p> </o:p> <br />Media line<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>+1 (713) 241-4544 <o:p></o:p><br />Shaun Wiggins<span style="">Ã‚Â </span>+1 (713) 241-3264<o:p></o:p><br />Marnie Funk<span style="">Ã‚Â Ã‚Â </span>+1 202 466 1422 (Washington)<o:p></o:p></span> </p> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <o:p> </o:p> </span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB">Virent Energy Systems<o:p></o:p></span> <span style="" lang="EN-GB"> <br />Madison, Wisconsin, US<o:p></o:p></span> <span lang="DE"> <br />Mary Blanchard +1 (608) 237-8615<o:p></o:p></span> <br /> <span lang="DE"> <br /> </span> Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles Algae Commercialization is Coming to Texas Top BioEnergy Articles

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