Month: July 2022

TITAN next generation ethanol and the decarbonisation of our skies

Revised: Steve Walker 16.10.2023

Ethanol is poised to be a pivotal player in our future energy landscape, especially in the effort to decarbonize current transportation. This significance is underscored by EU directives mandating increased ethanol blending with petrol and diesel at fuel stations. Simultaneously, global directives emphasize the pivotal role of second-generation ethanol (2G EtOH) in reducing aviation emissions. Following the EU’s inclusion of preferential subsidies to second-generation ethanol production and utilisation in 2021, 2022, and again in 2023, highlighting the imperative to hasten the shift to sustainable fuels, the role of platforms like TITAN in converting forest waste into 2G EtOH gains added importance. This commitment aligns seamlessly with the worldwide emphasis on diminishing carbon emissions and fostering cleaner alternatives.

In April 2023, the European Union approved the ReFuelEU Aviation proposal which imposes blending mandates on synthetic fuels for aviation, increasing from 0.7% in 2030 to 28% in 2050.

TITAN, an innovative platform converting forest waste into 2G EtOH, distinguishes itself with its commitment to sourcing renewable, non-food chain materials. This guarantees that the energy used in the production process is entirely divorced from coal or oil, presenting substantial environmental advantages. As the 2G EtOH market matures, TITAN’s platform technology not only converts waste carbon into advanced fuels, chemicals, and materials but also exemplifies a sustainable and circular approach.

The Hydrogen Producer Gas to Microbial Fermentation process employed by TITAN is transformative, safely and cleanly replacing conventional oil and gas products. With an impressively minimal carbon footprint and almost negligible refinery carbon emissions, TITAN’s 2G EtOH is crafted from 100% renewable local forest waste, conventionally destined for landfills.

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ASMARA Hydrogen Producers Gas to Microbial Fermentation the key to upcycling thermoplastics

Warsaw 7 July 2022

The SOLIDEA Groups ASMARA platform converts all waste plastics [except PVC] into new biodegradable plastics. So-called PHA-derived plastics have the same characteristics as oil-derived thermo-plastics however as well as being 100% biodegradable PHA’s are biocompatible. To date, these plastics have been critical in the development of many medical procedures though traditionally expensive to produce.

The ASMARA platform marries two technologies a waste-to-energy plant and a bio-refinery at scale into one cookie-cutter project. The technology at the front of the process is Microbial Fermentation where a carbon-rich Hydrogen Producer Gas is forced into a tank of billions of microbes. This Microbial Fermentation process multiplies, fattens and then terminates the life of the microbes so they can be harvested to recreate a range of chemicals, fuels and materials that we use every day.

The waste-to-energy technology at the back end of the process converts solid waste streams into a Hydrogen producer’s Gas. A well demonstrated tried and tested thermo-chemical process which turns solids into gas in the absence of oxygen. There is no smoke because no burning occurs [because there is no oxygen] which is just as well because there is no smokestack or chimney for such emissions.

Hydrogen Producers Gas is created in a slightly negative pressure environment it is rich in hydrogen [H2] and carbon monoxide [CO] and these elements are suspended in nitrogen [N] together with lesser amounts of carbon dioxide [CO2] and a little methane [CH4].

The ASMARA Hydrogen Producers Gas to PHA process 

ASMARA like its cousin TITAN are platforms on which to convert abundant and or problematic organic waste into Hydrogen Producer Gas. Since we are converting waste into new materials the process is recycling however since we are producing far superior added-value materials we believe we are upcycling.

ASMARA converts problematic sorted Municipal Solid Waste [MSW] such as plastic together with household waste whilst TITAN convert abundant forest floor residues. Both platforms support different outcomes including [i] Combined Heat and Power [CHP] [ii] Gas to Liquid [GTL] tanking fuels via the fermentation of Polyhydroxyalkanoates [PHA] which produce ethanol or [iii] Bioplastics “nature-like” polymers which can be rolled to make films, extruded to make bottles and profiles or moulded to make components just like typical fossil fuel sourced thermo-plastics.

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