Status of Biofuels ISOCONVERSION Process Technology

CH ReactorPilot Scale

ARA has demonstrated the Biofuels ISOCONVERSION Process in bench-scale and pilot-scale reactor systems. Our 25 gallon-per-day bench-scale system has been in operation since 2008. The 3 barrel-per-day pilot-scale system, commissioned in 2010, includes heat recovery to demonstrate energy efficiency. The pilot system designs also allow for the recovery of valuable byproducts.

ARA and CLG have processed multiple 2,000 gallon samples of renewable oils into “drop-in” jet and diesel fuels.  Process operating conditions can be controlled to produce drop-in fuels with optimal aromatic and cycloparaffin contents.

 

Licenses

ARA and CLG licensed the Biofuels ISOCONVERSION process technology on a non-exclusive basis for commercial scale production to Aemetis, Inc. in August 2012.

Historic Flight

October 29th 2012 will go down in history as the first time a civilian jet was powered by 100 percent renewable biofuelthat meets petroleum specifications without blending. Applied Research Associates (ARA) and Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) partnered with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. to flight test ReadiJet® drop-in jet fuel in Ottawa. The ReadiJet® was produced by ARA, under contract to AFRL, from Agrisoma’s Resonance™ feedstock crop using CLG’s and ARA’s breakthrough Biofuel ISOCONVERSION process. Popular Science Magazine recently recognized the flight as one of 2012's 25 most important scientific events.

On December 31, 2012, Biofuels Digest named ARA/CLG’s fuels as the “Best New Fuel for 2012”.

Demonstration System

Construction on a 100 BBL/day demonstration system is scheduled to begin in January 2013. This system will produce large quantities of jet and diesel fuel for certification testing.

 

NRC FlightReadiJet® Test Activities

  • Specification Testing – Air Force, Navy, Rolls-Royce, NRC-Canada
  • Initiated Fit-For-Purpose Testing
    • Carinata, Camelina, Waste Vegetable Oil, Canola
  • Generating Larger Samples for Certification Testing
    • Rolls-Royce/FAA CLEEN program on ReadiJet® from Carinata
      - Compatibility, component, and rig testing
    • National Research Council Canada, Institute for Aerospace Research
      - Air worthiness ground testing on ReadiJet® from Carinata
    • Flight test on Falcon 20 (GE engine) View test results here PDF >
    • Pratt & Whittney/FAA CLEEN Program Engine Test
      - PW615F turbofan on ReadiJet from Canola

Frequently Asked Questions on the Biofuels ISOCONVERSION Process >

For licensing information contact Mr. Chuck Red at: cred@ara.com