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ISU study finds large potential for biobased materials in auto industry, but with challenges

Green Car Congress

A study by researchers at Iowa State University has determined that the automotive industry has a very large potential to utilize biobased materials. However, they noted, there are also many challenges associated with the use of biobased parts in the auto industry. Cost to manufacture is one of the main considerations.

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Ford Increasing Use of Renewable and Recyclable Materials in Vehicles

Green Car Congress

Ford is increasing the use of renewable and recyclable materials such as the soy and bio-based seat cushions and seatbacks on the 2010 Ford Taurus. Ford Mustang, F-150, Focus, Flex, Escape, Expedition and Econoline as well as Mercury Mariner, Lincoln MKS and Navigator also use the sustainable material. Click to enlarge. million pounds.

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Blue Marble Energy and Bionavitas Announce Partnership to Produce Industrial Biochemicals from Microalgae

Green Car Congress

It also generates renewable natural gas as a product. Light Immersion Technology can be used to grow algae to remediate selenium, zinc, lead, cadmium, boron, mercury, and other undesirable elements and compounds from industrial waste streams. Blue Marble can then process the generated algae biomass into specialty biochemicals.

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Gulf MARINE fuel with isobutanol meets new biofuel recommendations from National Marine Manufacturers Association

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The new recommendations come after five years of extensive marine industry testing of fuel containing isobutanol. Isobutanol is a registered fuel additive with blends of up to 12.5% allowed for on-road gasoline.

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Glycos Biotechnologies Closes Series A Round of $5M; High-value Chemicals from Renewable Sources

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million Series A round of financing led by venture capital firms Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) and DFJ Mercury, both leading investors in early-stage clean technology companies. GlycosBio’s technologies will bolster economics of the ethanol and biodiesel industries by upgrading glycerin-rich co-products to a variety of chemical intermediates.

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Ford and Ontario Bio-Car Initiative Develop Wheat Straw-Reinforced Plastic; First Application in 2010 Flex

Green Car Congress

Ford works closely with the Ontario government-funded project, which is seeking to advance the use of more plant-based materials in the auto and agricultural industries. Without Ford’s driving force and contribution, we would have never been able to move from academia to industry in such lightning speed.

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Ford Researchers Develop Formula for Using Soy Oil in Rubber Automotive Parts

Green Car Congress

Ford Motor Company’s biomaterial researchers have engineered a patent-pending formula to use renewable soy oil to improve rubber car parts. By using renewable soy oil as a 25% replacement for petroleum oil, Ford researchers more than doubled rubber’s stretchability and reduced its environmental impact.

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