Technology Overview

Blue Biofuels Technology

As a cleantech company, we envision a future where the worldwide demand for biofuels is met with a sustainable solution.

Fueled by a combustible blend of innovation and passion, we’ve done more than just dream. We founded Blue Biofuels, and built our business around three key pillars: our process, our feedstocks, and our products — the biofuels.

Our innovative cellulose-to-sugar (CTS) process has the potential to change the future of fuel on a global scale.

Better for people and the planet, it’s a climate-friendly option that keeps cars on the road and planes in the sky while keeping trees green and the air clean.

Technology Overview

THREE PILLARS

Patented Process

To create biofuel, the cellulose-to-sugar (CTS) process starts with a renewable plant-based material — your feedstock — which will then be converted from its raw form into soluble sugars and then into ethanol and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

And that patented technology differentiates us from our competitors.

Using inexpensive plant materials and recyclable catalysts, our process produces low greenhouse gas emissions and creates a low-carbon, climate-friendly footprint.

Our CTS process truly is a green option to meet rising biofuel demands — quickly, cost-effectively and with the environment in mind.

How It Works

Virtually any biomass, including grasses and agricultural wastes, are first shredded to reduce its size — and then combined with a Blue Biofuel low-cost, recyclable catalyst. From there, the product runs through our CTS Reactor, where the cellulose is chemically and mechanically broken down. Further processing leads to sugars that can be fermented into ethanol. This leaves behind a high purity lignin as a byproduct.

Fermented into ethanol Sugars dissolved into water Output: Sugar, Lignin, Catalyst CTS Reactor System Feedstock + Catalyst

Feedstock Availability

Feedstocks are the raw plant materials needed to supply our Cellulose-to-Sugar process.

Biomass is Nature’s Battery. Uniquely, Blue Biofuels uses our CTS process to convert virtually any cellulosic material — or biomass — into soluble sugars, providing the flexibility to continue operating regardless of season, location or even the fluctuations in feedstock prices. This allows us to source feedstocks that are significantly less expensive than traditional sources, such as corn.

We know Nature’s Battery does not have an infinite shelf-life. If we don’t use biomass, it will naturally decompose. It’s estimated that 5 billion tons of biomass can be sustainably harvested each year, and converted into 500 billion gallons of ethanol.

Using our patented CTS process,  we have successfully converted hardwoods, grasses, specialty plants, residential yard clippings, and agricultural and commercial wastes into biofuel without retooling or alternating catalysts.

BIOFUELS BY FEEDSTOCK:

First generation biofuels: First-generation biofuels are produced from biomass often used for food, such as corn and soy. As well-established technology, corn-based ethanol is the most common in the United States — for now.
Second-generation biofuels: Second-generation biofuels come from non-food biomass, such as perennial grass, crop byproducts, agricultural wastes and more. Blue Biofuels’ CTS process simplifies the conversion from cellulose to sugar, requiring inexpensive catalysts to turn biomass into soluble sugars. Unlike first generation biofuels, cellulosic feedstocks can be grown on marginal cropland, and produce more energy than the amount required to grow and harvest.

A Biofuel Revolution

As fossil fuels increase in cost and climate change concerns continue, biofuels offer a solution. They burn cleaner than fossil fuels — and can be produced from renewable, abundant resources. More importantly for the United States, homegrown crops can help the country reduce dependence on foreign fuels.

We’re revolutionizing the biofuel industry with our patented, innovative CTS process to create biofuel faster and at a cost expected to be less expensive than our competitors.

That revolution all starts with shaking up our feedstock sources and reimagining how we can create enough biofuel to meet the increasing demand — a demand that continues to grow as the U.S. places more emphasis on the Renewable Fuel Standard, a policy requiring transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel each year.

This program initially required 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2006. It is scheduled to grow to 21 billion gallons this year.

What does the Renewable Fuel Standard mean for Blue Biofuels?

Congress created the Renewable Fuel Standard and implemented environmental credits, called Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs).

RINs provide proof of compliance for regulated oil companies to ensure they are meeting the blending requirements established by the Renewable Fuel Standard.

For Blue Biofuels, RINs hold a value similar to currency.

Renewable fuels fall into four categories:

  • Cellulosic biofuel (D3): Produced from cellulose, and must meet a 60% lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction. This is where Blue Biofuels focuses.
  • Advanced biofuel (D5): Produced from non-corn starch, renewable biomass
  • Biodiesel (D4): Biomass-based diesel
  • Corn-based ethanol (D6): Ethanol produced by corn, and must meet a 20% lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction.