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PepsiCo’s Entry Into A Fully Renewable PET Bottle

March 21, 2011

Analysis of:PepsiCo finds key to making plastic bottle from plant waste | www.bellinghamherald.com

Last year Coke introduced a new polyester bottle which had a renewable component, ethylene glycol. PepsiCo has now announced the world’s first plastic bottle made entirely from agricultural waste. PepsiCo claims to have discovered how to make the second component of polyester, the terephthalate moiety out of plant waste. Combining these two feedstocks would yield a bottle from 100% renewables. Can this PET bottle really be economically competitive with traditional feedstocks?

Whiskey Waste To Biofuel –Too Much Hype

August 26, 2010

Analysis of:Waste from Whiskey Production Can Fuel Cars | www.chemweek.com

Although the use of whiskey by-products to produce a biofuel appears to be novel, the fuel produced, biobutanol, is by no means new. Nonetheless, as we have reported previously (5/12/08), biobutanol does have many advantages versus ethanol and any new feedstock that could lead to an economically viable process would be great. But as with other feedstock hype, this one is still too early to deem a commercial success.

Palm Oil – A Viable Biodiesel Feedstock Perhaps

May 21, 2010

Analysis of:Petrobras, Galp to Invest $530 Million in Biodiesel | www.businessweek.com

Brazilian state run energy company Petroleo Brasilero and Portugal’s Galp Energia signed off on the $530 million agreement announced earlier this month to formalize a biodiesel venture. The strategy is to produce palm oil in Brazil and ship to Portugal for transesterification into biodiesel. Palm oil is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its low cost and high productivity per unit of planted land. Fuel production is targeted at approximately 77,000,000 gallons per year.

The EPA Ethanol Decision

March 9, 2010

Analysis of:US EPA to Decide Late Summer on Ethanol Fuel Boost | uk.reuters.com

The EPA has indicated that it will decide by late summer on whether to allow higher levels of ethanol to be blended into gasoline. Three issues should be of concern. The first would be the fuel efficiency of ethanol, particularly versus biobutanol. The second would be the economic viability of these biofuels. And the third would be the impact on emissions at this higher level, especially the emission of acetaldehyde.

Jet Fuel From Biomass Sounds Costly

February 16, 2010

Analysis of:East London sustainable jet-fuel plant set to power BA flights by 2014 | greenwisebusiness.co.uk

The production of fuels from biomass is not really a unique process. Two general steps are required. The first is the conversion of biomass to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas) while the second step converts the synthesis gas to long chain hydrocarbons (Fischer-Tropsch process) which can be used as fuels. The major problem is the high capital cost of this multi-step process.

This "Plant Based Bottle" Defies Economic Logic

January 27, 2010

Analysis of:Coke's New Bottle Is Part Plant | online.wsj.com

The production of polyethylene terephthalate is based on the condensation of two monomers - purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene glycol (EG). The new Coke bottle uses as a feedstock PTA and EG that has been manufactured from sugar cane derived ethanol – this ethanol has to be converted into EG through a series of process steps that are not trivial and add cost to the monomer. This “plant-based bottle” cannot be economically competitive with traditional feedstocks prepared from oil.

100% Renewable – Eventually Yes, Now, No

December 16, 2009

Analysis of:Can we go 100% renewable? | news.bbc.co.uk

Simply by definition, some time in the far distant future, we will deplete all of the fossil fuel available to us. As that time approaches, renewables (and nuclear perhaps) will be the only option based on our knowledge today. Although the technology exists today to fully utilize renewables, the cost structure can not justify their replacing fossil fuel now.

Biofuels – Short Term Impact Low

November 24, 2009

Analysis of:Interest in Biofuels | online.wsj.com

At this point in time, as we have discussed in previous posts, the first generation biofuels such as bioethanol, biobutanol and biodiesel are not economically viable. Thus, even with the input of the major industry players in the gasoline and oil sector, second generation economically competitive fuels are still a long way from commercial fruition. And the quantities required are daunting.

Biofuels – Just One Component Of A Long Term Solution

October 31, 2009

Analysis of:Biofuels do harm, aren't they? | pellets-wood.com

Biofuels are fuels such as bioethanol, biobutanol or biodiesel made from plant or less commonly animal material or food waste. Bioethanol and biobutanol are typically used to reduce the amount of gasoline used while biodiesel is used to lower the amount of diesel fuel used. Although the first generation biofuels are not economically viable, second generation biofuels should be more economically attractive and thus part of a strategy to reduce long term our dependence on fossil fuel.

Strong Performance Positive Image

October 17, 2009

Analysis of:INEOS Nitriles breakthough secures global supply of Acetonitrile | www.yourpetrochemicalnews.com

Meeting customer requirements for the INEOS Nitriles business has a positive history dating back to the commercialization of acrylonitrile by SOHIO in 1960. This increase in acetonitrile production should only enhance their image as a preferred supplier, which would acrylonitrile.

Salicornia Bigelovii - Oil Du Jour

October 11, 2009

Analysis of:Boeing, Honeywell's UOP, Masdar Institute and Industry Team Launch Study of Jet Fuel Made from Saltwater Plants | www.yourdefencenews.com

We have seen this time and time again – a new oil that can be transesterified to a biodiesel fuel. But as we have discussed several times previously, cost is critical, specifically the feedstock cost. So this study will simply tell us again, a defined cost structure that will be challenged to beat fossil fuel short term, if the economics see the light of day.

Cost Is Critical

September 14, 2009

Analysis of:Biodegradable waste bags "more damaging" than PE | www.europeanplasticsnews.com

Cost is usually the driver for usage of plastic products. The price performance curve is more than likely more important for customer purchases than an apparent less competitive greenness versus high volume commodity polymers such as polyethylene.

The Time Is Right

July 21, 2009

Analysis of:Sasol to establish GTL plant in Uzbekistan | www.ogj.com

The gas to liquids (GTL) process may be an attractive technology to monetize remote, stranded gas reserves which cannot economically be moved by pipeline or converted into liquefied natural gas. A partnership between Sasol, Petronas and the Uzbekistan oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz is very positive.

Basic Business Principles

July 18, 2009

Analysis of:In Strategy Shift, Exxon Plans $600 Million Biofuels Venture | online.wsj.com

The use of algae oil as a feedstock for biofuels, in the future, may be one component of a multifaceted strategy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. Exxon brings substantial commercial experience to the team but its strength in energy research and development and capital investments for economic manufacturing facilities will only be useful if Synthetic Genomics can identify algae strains that can meet commercial requirements.

Too Early For This Hype

July 1, 2009

Analysis of:BP and Synthetic Genomics Develop Bacteria that Convert Coal to Methane | www.chemweek.com

Conversion of coal to methane using bugs sounds great but the lack of data and information suggests that this process has a long way to go prior to any viable, economic commercialization.

The Economy Will Be The Driver On Polyester Production And Use

March 27, 2009

Analysis of:How Big Is That Widening Gyre of Floating Plastic? | online.wsj.com

Although reduction can be an important step in lowering plastic utilization, the 20% reduction in weight for PepsiCo’s Aquafina water bottle is a drop in the bucket compared to overall polyester bottle resin production and usage.  Pollution, caused by humans, is typically not a driver for lowering the use of plastics although almost two decades ago McDonalds stopped using Styrofoam clamshells because of public pressure.

What Is The Cost Driver For Biodiesel Production?

March 17, 2009

Analysis of:New biodiesel from mustard and camelina developed in Chile | www.autobloggreen.com

These are neither new ideas nor are they new feedstocks for biodiesel production.  For the production of biodiesel from any oil, a novel idea would be an economical process.

Does This Make Economic Sense?

February 23, 2009

Analysis of:BP jumps into next-generation biofuels with plans to build Florida refinery | online.wsj.com

I understand that BP has devoted substantial investments for research, development and demonstration projects associated with technology to produce today and tomorrow’s advanced biofuels.  But commercialization of a capital project to produce 36,000,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol for a cost upwards of $300 million stretches economic sense. 

Economics Is Still The Critical Component

January 28, 2009

Analysis of: New Biomass-to-Energy Plant to Create Green Jobs around Milltown, Indiana - The Green Jobs Report | gather.com

The critical issue facing biomass to energy will be economics.  As was pointed out in this article, fuel costs will be kept low by sizing and locating the plant properly.  But for how long will the low cost fuel be available once the suppliers understand and appreciate that their low cost waste will be used more profitably somewhere else; in other words, there is more value to their waste than they anticipated.

Algae Oil As A Feedstock - Economics Will Be The Driver

October 13, 2008

Analysis of:Petro Algae Sees Pond Scrum As Fuel | www.miamiherald.com

The use of algae oil as a feedstock for biodiesel, in the future, may be one component of a multifaceted strategy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel.  But its use will be contingent upon the economic viability of the overall process to produce the oil, transesterify to a biodiesel meeting ASTM requirements and selling or disposing of the waste side products.

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