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Avantium Steps Ahead With its Biofuels Program
AMSTERDAM, October 22 /PRNewswire/ --
- Engine Test Demonstrates Potential of "Furanics"
Avantium announced today breakthrough results of the first engine tests of its novel biofuel. The technology company is developing next generation biofuel with superior economics and properties in comparison to current biofuels.
By applying its advanced high-throughput R&D technology Avantium develops since a number of years a next generation biofuels, called "Furanics", which can be derived from sugars and other carbohydrates. Avantium Furanics have advantegeous qualities over current biofuels, such as bioethanol and biodiesel.
The company succesfully completed an engine test to demonstrate the potential of its novel biofuel. The test was carried out by Intertek, in Geleen, The Netherlands, an independent test center. Using a Citroën Berlingo with a regular diesel engine, Avantium tested a wide range of blends of Furanics with regular diesel. The test yielded positive results for all blends tested. The engine ran smoothly for several hours. Exhaust analysis uncovered a significant reduction of soot (fine particulates). On top of this, Furanics do not contain any sulphur, a significant environmental benefit compared to oil-based fuels.
Tom van Aken, Chief Executive Officer of Avantium said: "The excellent results of the engine test support the proof of principle of our next generation biofuel, and is an essential milestone for our biofuels development program. The significant reduction of soot in the car exhaust is encouraging, as soot emmissions are considered a major disadvantage of using diesel today, because of its adverse environmental and health effects. We are developing a next generation biofuel that has superior fuel properties and process economics compared to existing biofuels. The production process of Furanics has an excellent fit with existing chemical process technology and infrastructure. Ultimately our ambition is to develop biofuels that are competitive with fossil based fuels."
The company plans to undertake an additional, comprehensive engine tests in 2008 to study engine performance and long terms effects of Furanics.
Avantium also announced the filing of over a dozen patent applications on the production and use of Furanics as part of the Co. s strategy to build an extensive patent portfolio for its biofuels program. In September 2007, the first two key patents were published, that claim amongst others the use of furanics as a biofuel and its production routes from sugars.
The company recently appointed Dr. Ed de Jong, a well-known and highly respected biomass expert. Previously, he worked at Wageningen University & Research Centre.
About Furanics
Avantium is developing next generation biofuels called "Furanics". Avantium Furanics are products derived from carbohydrates such as sugars. Carbohydrates are globally the most abundantly available biomass feedstock. The company is developing chemical, catalytic routes to produce Furanics. Next to their application as a biofuel, Avantium Furanics can also be used for the production of bio-based plastics, and bulk and specialty chemicals
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