Canadian Biomass Magazine

Ensyn receives key regulatory approval for cellulosic gasoline

November 25, 2015
By Pulp & Paper Canada

November 25, 2015 - Canadian biofuels developer Ensyn has been granted a key regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its renewable gasoline product, RFGasoline. This approval, pursuant to Title 40 CFR Part 79 promulgated under the Clean Air Act, is required for the sale of RFGasoline into U.S. commerce.

This approval follows the recently announced Part 79 approval of Ensyn’s renewable diesel product, RFDiesel.

RFGasoline, a drop-in gasoline transportation fuel, is created by processing Ensyn’s renewable crude (RFO), a liquid cellulosic feedstock for refiners, with customary petroleum feedstocks in conventional petroleum refineries (RFO coprocessing). Ensyn is developing and commercializing RFO coprocessing in a strategic alliance with Honeywell UOP, a leader in technology solutions for the refining industry.

Ensyn’s RFO is produced by processing non-food solid biomass, including wood residues, with Ensyn’s RTP™ technology. Technology licensing, engineering services and supply of equipment is being provided to RTP projects by Honeywell UOP through Envergent Technologies, a joint venture between Honeywell UOP and Ensyn.

Veronica May, vice president and general manager of UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business, said, “With Part 79 regulatory approvals now in hand for both RFDiesel and RFGasoline, Ensyn and Honeywell UOP can accelerate the commercial introduction of RFO coprocessing, an attractive solution for refiners wishing to easily integrate cellulosic feedstocks into their operations in a cost-effective manner.”

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“This approval is another key step in the commercialization of our refinery coprocessing business,” stated Dr. Robert Graham, chairman of Ensyn. “Refiners can now proceed with commercial deployment of RFO coprocessing and sell both key products, renewable gasoline and renewable diesel, into US commerce. Ensyn and Honeywell UOP can now expedite offtake negotiations with refiners while Ensyn and its project partners proceed with expansion of RFO production capacity in order to meet demand.”

RFO Coprocessing is an innovative and game-changing approach for the production of renewable gasoline and diesel. Conventional biofuel solutions are based on producing blend fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, that are blended with finished fuels post-refining. In contrast, Ensyn’s coprocessing solution provides refiners with a renewable feedstock and the result is ASTM specification transportation fuel, not a blend. In addition, the RFO Coprocessing solution is based on conversion of non-food, cellulosic feedstocks to fuels, avoiding competition with food markets.

Ensyn is a producer of cellulosic liquid biofuels produced from wood residues and other non-food biomass.


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