Advertisement

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Business

Aemetis plans California cellulosic ethanol plant

by Melody M. Bomgardner
March 19, 2018 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 96, Issue 12

California biofuels and biobased chemicals firm Aemetis says it will move forward with a 45 million-L-per-year cellulosic ethanol facility outside Modesto. The company plans to use waste from local agricultural operations, including walnut and almond orchards, as feedstock. First the waste wood and hulls will be gasified using technology licensed from EnTech. The resulting synthesis gas will then be fed to gas-fermenting microbes using technology from LanzaTech. In addition to ethanol, the plant will produce proteins for aquaculture. The company says an outside engineering firm has verified that a demonstration unit using the technologies produced over 290 L of ethanol per ton of feedstock. Aemetis hopes to succeed where others have failed. Two of three cellulosic ethanol facilities that began operations in the Midwest have been shuttered. In California, however, oil refiners and fuel distributors are required to lower the carbon intensity of their fuels by 10% by 2020; the rule provides a significant price boost for ethanol made from waste.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

0 /1 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.