Technology Review - Published By MIT
Advertisement

Insights, opinions, and our editors' analysis of the latest in emerging technologies.

Add RSS Feed XML

Betting on Biocrude

Biofuels that can be transported with existing pipelines could have an edge over ethanol.
Friday, November 02, 2007
By Kevin Bullis

A new startup called KiOR has a promising strategy for producing biofuels.

Ethanol, by far the most common biofuel today, has a number of drawbacks. It can't be transported in pipelines designed for gasoline and diesel, and it contains far less energy than gasoline, resulting in significantly decreased mileage.

A number of companies seem to be taking note, investing in the development of fuels that contain more energy than ethanol and that can use existing pipelines, making them much easier to distribute in large quantities. BP is interested in another alcohol, butanol. (See "BP's Bet on Butanol.") Other companies are developing organisms that can convert sugars into synthetic hydrocarbons. (See "Building Better Biofuels" and "Making Gasoline from Bacteria.")

Today's announcement highlights the latest effort in this direction. KiOR, which is being funded by Khosla Ventures, will make biocrude that can be refined at existing oil refineries. The startup will focus on producing biofuels from cellulosic sources, which are attractive because they are cheap, can be used to produce much more fuel per acre than corn grain can, and have less impact on the environment.

Comments

  • Biocrude problems
    RD on 11/05/2007 at 2:37 PM
    Posts:
    58
    Avg Rating:
    3/5
    Does propanol have the same problems as ethanol such as corrosivity to various metals, deterioration of some rubbers and plastics, absorption of water, deterioration of older fiberglass fuel tanks, conductivity, promotion of microbial growth, fuel system clogging, and a short 90-day shelf-life? How much more energy does it take to make propanol over ethanol? According to the International Institute for Environmental Development the US taxpayers will be subsidizing the biofuel industry about $92 billion from 2006-2012. With biofuel we are paying five-times: once at the pump, again through subsidies, and again with higher food prices, a fourth time in replacing all those gasoline powered equipment that break down when biofuels are used, and finally a fifth time with the decreased safety with leaking fuel lines, stranded boaters, and failing power equipment. Follow the money - who wins with biofuels? It isn't the taxpayer.
    Rate this comment: 12345
    • Re: Biocrude problems
      bkshilo on 11/05/2007 at 5:03 PM
      Posts:
      17
      Avg Rating:
      4/5
      You're right.  Just stick with horses.
      Rate this comment: 12345
      • Re: Biocrude problems
        RD on 11/08/2007 at 1:10 PM
        Posts:
        58
        Avg Rating:
        3/5
        Planning on it.  Now if I can only capture the methane.
        Rate this comment: 12345
    • Re: Biocrude problems
      chema on 11/17/2007 at 2:22 AM
      Posts:
      4
      Hi Kevin: once we all understand that dirtfuels and cleanfuels (from petro-crudes, biocrudes, carbons,  natgas, biogas, and even hidrogen) no matter what but all bunrs hot to overheat our atmosfere. please read following message and resend it all over,

      To: Presidente Calderon
      To: Senator Dianne
      To: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
      Cc: comments@whitehouse.gov
      Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 12:09 AM
      Subject: be aware of CLIMATE CHANGE TRUE FACTS

      GLOBAL WARMING DUE TO GREEN HOUSE EFFECT IS FALSE.

      - It is a tricky sentence from Petro-oriented-men that want us to believe in, TO CONFUSE EVERY BODY-  and you too.

      - IT IS A CRAISY IDEA to send satelite MIRRORS to BLIND AND REDUCE incoming solar energy to avoid climate change -due to a mitic green house effect-.... Sun has never been harmfull to Earth....... Sun Radiation is in a perfect Thermal Equilibrium with Earth ever since.... is`nt it so?............ we Humans are the danger to the planet.

      REAL CAUSES of global warming:

      Real causes are down here, where HUGE amounts of waisted heat from more than 6 billions tons of hot gases -per year- are generated while burning fuels -from our motor vehicles, water heaters, boilers, thermoelectric generators, driers, ranges, ovens, etc-. We dont have to be scientist to understand a math equation, which evidence that the problem results from the extra added heat -we humans put in to atmosphere-:

      IR sun energy + extra waisted heat from burning fuels = atmosphere overheating

      = more evaporation = denser clouds = flooding storms = polar deice = actual kaoz

      - Do you know what happens now that petroleum XX century is gone ......very simple.....the depleted AND EXPENSIVE petroleum will go down to 1 dollar per barrel and petroleum industry will crack....... once in XXI century we replace all fuels-WITH CLEAN NATURAL SOLAR ENERGY?- that is free, so peaple can save money to buy many thing else -as a an electric car -and so on----- politically impossible?....IT SEEM LIKE FICTION MOVIE….....but remember that sun is not a problem -it is the solution-

      TWO SOLUTIONS:

      1. Urge to replace all combustion devices, equipments and engines -WITH SOLAR AND ELECTRIC POWERED ONES-.

      2. As well as urgent is to reforest the world with billions of trees – they are magic factories that will clean air from CO2, by:

      Sucking CO2 + Absorbing solar UV and solar heat = to return us pure and fresh OXIGEN -instead-

      Trees never heat the air -so- the craisy green house effect does not happen -that's a lie-

      As PETRO-dependants, We are cooking our selve's in this global pot, due to a PETRO-effect.

      HOW YOU CAN HELP? :

      - I urge any body who has responsability of enviromental care and have funds -you must support any projects where products (vehicles or equipments) pursue this change over -to a new solar and electric eco-culture-.

      -I urge Presidents all -to issue compulsory regulations to stop using any apparatus, device or engines where combustion of fuels take place -of any hidrocarbons (liquid or gas) alcohols, biofuels, carbons or hidrogen too- because all react exothermicaly generating the hot gases that over-heat the air -depleting oxigen O2 and ozone O3 as well while they burn to CO2 -which excess is getting a letal concentration level, too-.

      - Now, I hope you understand it better -the real global warming problem- & communicate it to all your friends -what is going on- to become more that GREEN peaple -but co-responsible ECOLOGY ORIENTE PEAPLE- don't relay on heaven help, only. PLEASE STOP BURNIG FUELS.

      jose ma jimenez, Senior Chem. Eng, MS from UMass,

      Zapopan, jal. Mexico
      Rate this comment: 12345

Videos

Cleaning Up Shaky Home Video
Advertisement

Current Issue

Technology Review January/February 2009
Lifeline for Renewable Power
Without a radically expanded and smarter electrical grid, wind and solar will remain niche power sources.
•  Subscribe
Save 41%
•  Table of Contents
•  MIT News

Magazine Services

Career Resources

MIT Technology Insider

Stories and breaking news from inside MIT about the latest research, innovations, and startups--in a convenient monthly e-newsletter. Subscribe today
Advertisement

Follow us on Twitter

Twitter

Get Technology Review updates via the web, cellphone, or Instant Messager – Follow techreview on Twitter!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology