Amyris to make biodiesel with Brazil sugarcane

23 April 2008 22:38  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US bioresearch firm Amyris plans to develop and produce biodiesel using Brazilian sugarcane as a feedstock, the company said on Wednesday.

Amyris said it has formed a partnership with Brazilian ethanol maker Crystalsev and its parent company, Santelisa Vale, which will provide about 2m tonnes of sugarcane for the project.

The companies plan to open a research centre outside of Sao Paulo in June.

The facility will house a pilot plant that is scheduled to be operational in 2009, Amyris said.

The product will meet or exceed the quality of existing petroleum fuels, the company said, adding that it will use sugar fermentation to create hydrocarbons.

Amyris expects its sugarcane-based biodiesel to be available to the market in 2010.

The company also plans to make sugarcane-based jet fuel and gasoline through its partnership with Crystalsev.

For more on ethanol visit ICIS chemical intelligence

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By: William Lemos
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