Dow Chemical and DoE to develop biomass process

16 July 2008 18:32  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--Dow Chemical has agreed with the US Department of Energy's (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to jointly develop and evaluate a process to convert biomass to ethanol and other chemical building blocks, the US chemicals major said on Wednesday.

 

A Dow mixed alcohol catalyst was seen as a key in developing a process to convert non-food biomass such as the leaves from corn plant or wood wastes into synthesis gas, Dow said.

 

Dow's technology would help turn the gas into a mixture of alcohols, including ethanol, which could be used as transportation fuels or chemical building blocks, it said.

 

"NREL is interested in reducing the cost of biofuels in support of the nation's energy goals," said NREL director Dan Arvizu. 

 

"Dow's catalyst technology and expertise in catalyst development and testing will be extremely helpful as we evaluate the viability of this approach on a larger scale."

 

Juan Luciano, Dow's business president of hydrocarbons and energy, added: “By using ethanol derived from biomass as an alternative raw material or feedstock, Dow is exploring new ways to reduce the cost and volatility of its inputs to produce chemicals and plastics that are essential to a wide range of consumer products."

 

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
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