5 Technologies that are Helping the Military ‘Go Green’

April 25th, 2012

All branches of the US military are on the pursuit for energy-conscious technologies.

“Militaries that fail to innovate lose strategic advantage. Nations that fail to innovate lose economic edge. Clean energy innovation is an essential strategy for making the United States and its service men and women safer, stronger and more successful,” wrote the authors of the Pew report.

Below are 5 examples of technologies that are employed by the U.S. military that officials hope will turn out to be both environmentally sound and strategically advantageous in the long run.

  1. On-Base Electric Vehicles – The military is beginning to make use of small electric cars on base. They are made from recycled plastic and can reach speeds of 25 mph. The military will be slower in rolling out “green” combat vehicles, since performance is paramount to troops’ safety.
  2. Solar Power Shades – Solar shade helps to cool the tent that soldiers stay in while 72 panels absorb sunlight to produce two kilowatts of power a day.
  3. FED – A Greener Humvee – The Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator, or FED, would have the same capabilities as the M1114 Humvee but with about 70 percent greater fuel efficiency.
  4. Hybrid-Electric Ships – The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island is the only Navy ship with a hybrid-electric propulsion system, but the goal is to switch more of the fleet over to “green” engines.
  5. Biofuel-Powered Aircraft – The Navy and Air Force have already demonstrated that they can fly fighter jets on a 50/50 mix of biofuel and standard jet fuel. The Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet flew on a blend derived from camelina seeds.
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Production of Biofuels is Expected to Increase Significantly Over the Next Several Years

March 16th, 2012

The increased demand for innovative biofuels is prompting fuel producers to look for alternative sources of feedstock that are more sustainable.  For example, sugars and starches can be used for the production of ethanol while animal fats and vegetable oils can be used in the production of biodiesel.  Alternative feedstocks include bio-degradable wastes, aquatic biomass such as algae and seaweed, and biomass such as wood, bagasse, corn stover and grasses.

In response to increased demand for alternatives fuels, Albemarle has developed a line of catalyst that will facilitate the production of biofuels from biomass.  These catalysts make up our GoBioTM portfolio.

Among our GoBio products, Albemarle offers catalytic solutions for renewable diesel and biodiesel production using two primary processes. In the first process, vegetable oils and fats are reacted with methanol to produce fatty acid methyl-esters (FAME or biodiesel). This process utilizes our new  heterogeneous products, GoBio TS-15 or T300.

In the second process, vegetable oils and fats are converted into paraffin via a refinery-based hydrotreating process.  The process also utilizes a heterogeneous catalyst which leads to significant process improvements.   Albemarle’s heterogeneous catalysts have been successfully used in the NExBTL® process, a process developed by Finnish oil company Neste Oil.  The first commercial NExBTL units are now in operation and are producing high quality renewable diesel.

We also interact with a diverse group of companies to investigate their specific biomass conversion needs. In addition to oil companies, these organizations include technology providers and engineering firms.

For Albemarle’s portfolio of biofuel catalyst, click here.

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Posted in Albemarle, Biofuels, Chemistry, Eco-regulation, Energy, Green awards, OEM's, Recycling, Uncategorized

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City ‘Slow’ on Solar

February 10th, 2012

BY MICHAEL HOWARD SAUL

A widespread effort to install solar panels on city schools’ rooftops could save taxpayers millions of dollars in energy costs and create more than 5,000 green jobs, according to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and a report to be released by his office Thursday.

Mr. Stringer, who wants his office to be viewed as an incubator for creative policy proposals as he contemplates a mayoral bid in 2013, accused Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his administration of adopting a sluggish and narrow approach to solar power in the five boroughs.

To read more visit WSJ.com

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Posted in Albemarle, Biofuels, Company Information, Consumer eco-products, EPA, Sustainability

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Green Polymer Made From Biodiesel And Wine Products

January 18th, 2012

ScienceDaily — A team of undergraduate engineering students at Oregon State University has discovered that blending byproducts from biodiesel production and winemaking produces an environmentally friendly polymer that could one day replace polystyrene foam meat trays in supermarkets.

It may also be valuable in the manufacture of furniture, particle board, fire logs, insulation and even hair gel.

The process is so unique and potentially marketable that the students have applied for a patent to protect their intellectual property, said David Hackleman, the Linus Pauling Chair at the OSU College of Engineering.

“I’m delighted, but not totally surprised, that they can now add to their report the words ‘patent application pending,’” Hackleman said.

Christen Glarborg, Patrick O’Connor, Heather Paris and Alana Warner-Tuhy – all seniors studying chemical engineering – delved into combining glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, and tartaric acid, a byproduct of wine production.

“When put together, those ingredients can make a hard, bubbly polymer,” Paris said.

In the 1880s, the same material was used in the making of varnishes and paints.

“It biodegrades in water,” said O’Connor. “Dr. Hackleman suggested we try to mold it into a tray, like to replace the foam trays under meat in the supermarket.”

But their first experiments resulted in a rock-hard mess: Think of cooking taffy too long, so that it sticks so hard, you have to throw the pot away. The young researchers persevered until they produced a more manageable glue, which they decided to try mixing with other byproducts such as sawdust and woodchips.

Voila! A material that was moldable, though somewhat tacky. So they popped it into an oven to see if it would firm up. It seemed they were possibly onto a particleboard for “green” building.

“Then we found that at 600 degrees, our polymer vaporized,” Paris said. “So we thought, how about ash-free logs or pellets for heating?”

While the students continued exploring possibilities, Hackleman knew enough about entrepreneurship to realize they should begin the process of protecting their intellectual property. He steered them to OSU’s Office of Technology Transfer, where their invention disclosure was brought to the stage of “patent pending.”

The students are now focused on testing and refining the polymer for strength and biodegradability. While it is not yet clear whether or not the technology will make it to commercialization, “it’s certainly a boost for the students,” Hackleman said.

The team won “Best Chemical Engineering Project” and was runner-up for “People’s Choice Award” at OSU’s eighth annual Engineering Expo in May. The team members displayed their research among more than 100 student design projects and product prototypes.

“Producing biodiesel produces a lot of glycerin,” Hackleman said. “Now it seems that even the waste from green industries can be put to another good use – one that can help in the solution to a global problem.”

For more information on green polymer, click here.

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Posted in Albemarle, Biofuels, Eco-awards, Energy, Food products, Green Chemistry, Sustainability

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Environmental Health News Gets it Wrong About ACC and Underplays Benefits of Flame Retardant

December 1st, 2011

By Anne Kolton

The American Chemistry Council works to educate policymakers about how chemistry makes life better for people across the country and around the world. That’s why it’s discouraging to see reports, like the one that appeared today in Environmental Health News, that misrepresent ACC’s advocacy initiatives. Prominent among the inaccuracies was the implication that all expenditures from ACC in California were related to flame retardants – that is simply not true.

Regardless, the real story is that flame retardants save lives. For example, aviation experts cite improved flame-retardant technologies in cabin seats and furnishings among the critical engineering advancements that have increased passengers’ chances of surviving an airline accident.

Our member companies are at the forefront of innovating new flame retardants, which undergo extensive testing by manufacturers and the safety data are scrutinized by government agencies in the U.S. and abroad. And there is a great deal of information showing that flame retardants play a crucial role in protecting people from the devastation of fire.

Unfortunately, we’ve found time and again that these important facts do not receive the attention they deserve, while, in the age of social media, the most alarming stories take on a life of their own. That’s part of the reason why ACC has to commit so much time and effort educating policymakers and the public, and countering misinformation.

We hope you will share this information with your friends and encourage anyone with questions to visit www.americanchemistry.com.

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Posted in Biofuels, EPA, Energy, Flame Retardants, Green Chemistry, Uncategorized

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Albemarle Wins ‘Biodiesel Corporation of the Year’ Award at the Biofuels 2011 Conference

November 16th, 2011

AMSTERDAM, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –

Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) was named “Biodiesel Corporation of the Year” by the World Refining Association during the Biofuels 2011 Annual Meeting in Amsterdam on October 12. This prestigious award, which was presented to representatives from Albemarle’s Alternative Fuel Technologies (AFT) division, recognizes industry leaders that have made substantial contributions in the field of renewable fuels.

“We are honored to be recognized by the WRA for our extensive efforts in the biofuels arena,” said Edgar Steenwinkel, Global Business Director of Albemarle’s AFT division. “Our goal in the AFT division is to develop processes and technologies that can be used to generate viable sources of energy while preserving precious resources for future generations. Thanks to the efforts of our team, our partners, and our customers, we are making significant strides towards that goal.”

Albemarle received the award for its successes in the development and commercialization of highly engineered basic transesterification catalysts for the production of fatty acid methyl-ester (FAME) biodiesel.

Albemarle launched its AFT division in 2007 by leveraging its extensive resources in catalyst technology. Since then, Albemarle has grown into the world’s largest supplier of heterogeneous catalysts to the biofuels market. Collectively, these catalysts make up the company’s GoBio(TM) portfolio.

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Scientists Aboard the Odyssey Make Stop in Baton Rouge to Meet Albemarle Corporation

July 24th, 2011

Albemarle Corporation, Ocean Alliance and the University of Southern Maine are working together to study the impacts of recent oil spills, natural disasters and collecting tissue samples from whales in the Gulf of Mexico.

The ten-person team aboard a 93-foot Odyssey sailboat is taking a short mid summer break from their 14-week scientific voyage and visiting Baton Rouge where Albemarle Corporation, the expedition’s primary sponsor, is located.

The sailboat is docked in the city to give Albemarle Corporation and the Odyssey crew a chance to meet on Friday and on Saturday, members of the crew were at the city docks downtown from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. discussing their work with the public.

When the crew spots a whale, a sample is taken and used for genetic testing and to grow cell lines. “The Gulf is kind of a microcosm of the larger marine ecosystem,” said Iain Kerr, CEO of Ocean Alliance. The goal is to perform sampling for five years to get an overall picture of the impacts last year’s oil leak had on whales — the top of the food chain — and the ecosystem of the deep water Gulf, he said.

Although it is too early to reach a conclusion, their initial results are showing some cell death and DNA damage cultured from the whales that are exposed to oil or dispersant.

For more information of this voyage and to learn more about Albemarle and their commitment to sustainability, Ocean Alliance and The Wise Laboratory at the University of Southern Maine, click here.

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Posted in Albemarle, Biofuels, Chemistry, Company Information, Conferences, Energy, Flame Retardants, Global Business, Green Chemistry, Meet the Earthwise Team, Recycling, Sustainability, Transportation

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What Are the True Impacts of Recent Oil Spill and Other Natural Disasters in the Gulf of Mexico?

June 10th, 2011

14-week Scientific Voyage to Study Important Ocean Habits and Ecosystem.

Albemarle Corporation, Ocean Alliance and the University of Southern Maine are coming together to study the impacts of recent oil spills and natural disasters in the Gulf of Mexico. The study will last 14-weeks and is expected to start from Key West, FL with a ten person team using a 93 foot floating laboratory called Odyssey. The team will collect samples from fish, squid, krill, sperm and Brydes whales, and the water from depths of up to 3,000 feet to try to monitor and gauge the health of the Gulf ecosystem. The start of this expedition was set to begin on June 8th.

For more information of this voyage and to learn more about Albemarle, Ocean Alliance and The Wise Laboratory at the University of Southern Maine, click here.

Do you know of other studies around this important environmental topic?

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As California Goes, Does the Nation Follow? – Part 2

September 25th, 2010

The prospect of new regulations from the California Department of Toxic Substance Control has re-kindled concerns among consumer goods manufacturers, chemical companies and other businesses, as the January 1, 2011 deadline for implementation approaches.

As discussed in a prior blog post, this is not an issue of simply local concern. Laws and regulation in California that address environmental and safety issues often are precursors to similar legislation in states across the nation.

According to a recent article in the North Bay Business Journal, some believe the language of the initial law is so loosely worded that virtually any consumer product would be subject to review in the Green Chemistry Program. In addition, manufacturers of industrial products that use chemicals deemed toxic will be required to seek “safer alternatives.”

As the deadline nears, this issue will heat up further, so look for updates here.

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Posted in Air and water, Alternative Fuel Technologies Group, Biofuels, California, Chemistry, Eco-nomics, Eco-regulation, Flame Retardants, Government, Green Chemistry, Recycling, Sustainability

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Albemarle partners with Louisiana State University students as key sponsor of LSU’s biodiesel Tiger Truck

June 15th, 2010

Albemarle Corporation, a leader in providing innovative and sustainable chemistry solutions to its customers and communities, partners with LSU students to become a key sponsor of LSU mechanical and biological engineering students’ 2010 senior project, the biodiesel Tiger Truck.

Green chemistry and eco-friendly news and information from Earthwise- Albemarle partners with Louisiana State University students on LSU’s biodiesel Tiger Truck

LSU Tiger Truck Senior Project Team

The Tiger Truck is on a mission to demonstrate the process of creating biodiesel from Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) and how to utilize alternative fuels to operate an entire mobile platform. The Tiger Truck team redesigned a fire truck to function as a mobile chemical plant, converting leftover cooking oil from food prepared on the truck to diesel-electric power that propels the vehicle. In addition to providing entertainment through food and refreshments, the team demonstrates the conversion process to children and adults by incorporating step-by-step visuals and hands-on mechanisms for display.

Albemarle’s Alternative Fuel Technologies (AFT) group is focused on the development and commercialization of new breakthrough catalysts and technologies for the conversion of biomass into clean, sustainable transportation fuels. ”This project fits very well with our objectives as a Corporation,” said Edgar Steenwinkel, Global Business Director AFT. “Working together with a group of motivated students and helping them with the design, construction and safe operation of their project is very rewarding,” added Hardin Wells, Senior Advisor of the Mechanical Tech Service Group at Albemarle.

The Tiger Truck Team proudly concludes: “Our main objective is to not only improve the environment we live in, but also to share the knowledge by educating the public of a cleaner and safer method to obtain energy.”

Because of the Tiger Truck’s mobility, the team plans to showcase the truck at fairs and school events to further its exposure in the community of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area.

About Tiger Truck
The Tiger Truck project is part of LSU’s Capstone Design process, which is divided into two major categories: Bio-Diesel Process and Engine Dynamics, The team is composed of Mechanical and Biological Engineers. Each engineering discipline was assigned an advisor for this senior project. Advisor Dr. Michael Murphy is a Mechanical Engineering Professor at LSU and also the head professor for the 2009-2010 senior Capstone Design course. His knowledge involving machine design, instrumentation and controls is perfect for the team. Advisor, Dr. Dorin Boldor, is the Biological Engineering Senior Design Advisor, specializing in the fields of microwave heating, bio-processing and bio-energy.

About Albemarle
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of highly-engineered specialty chemicals for consumer electronics, petroleum refining, utilities, packaging, construction, automotive/transportation, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, food-safety and custom chemistry services. The Company is committed to global sustainability and is advancing its eco-practices and solutions in its three business segments, Polymer Solutions, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals. Corporate Responsibility Magazine recently selected Albemarle to its prestigious “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list for 2010.  Albemarle employs approximately 4,000 people and serves customers in approximately 100 countries.

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Posted in Alternative Fuel Technologies Group, Alternative fuels, Bio-Diesel, Biofuels, Chemistry, Sustainability, Sustainable transportation fuels

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