The Executive Order will create a national bioenergy initiative to accelerate the use of bioenergy technologies in power generation, manufacturing and transportation. The initiative will build on existing efforts to create new and economically viable options for farmers, foresters, fuels producers, chemical manufacturers, wood products companies, electricity producers, and consumers to use and profit from biobased commodities, products and services. Cargill will focus on development of a more efficient and direct process to convert corn to an industrial chemical. This newly developed enzymatic catalyst will reduce energy consumption compared to current methods. NCGA and its partners the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, and Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI will focus on the development of new processes for the conversion of corn to value-added chemicals.
Soy based oils have a reduced environmental impact on sensitive aquatic environments.
The Institute will develop a process to increase stem growth rates of loblolly pine and will initiate fundamental studies into the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell divisions. This work will support the development of a sustained supply of low-cost, high quality raw materials that is essential for the future success of the U.S. forest products industry. Georgia Tech and its partner, the Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Atlanta, GA, will develop catalysts for use in eliminating tars from the fuel gas produced in the gasification processes. For successful commercialization of the gasification process, tars must be eliminated from the fuel gas. Guided acoustic waves have been used effectively in the nuclear, chemical and petroleum industries to inspect long lengths of piping from a single access point.