UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has launched Envergent Technologies, LLC, a joint venture with Ensyn Corp., to offer technology and equipment to convert second-generation biomass into pyrolysis oil for power generation, heating fuel and for conversion into transportation fuels.

The new company will offer Ensyn’s commercially proven Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP™) technology to convert second-generation biomass like forest and agricultural residuals to pyrolysis oil for use in power and heating applications. The joint venture will also accelerate research and development efforts to commercialize next-generation technology to refine the pyrolysis oil into transport fuels such as green gasoline, green diesel and green jet fuel.

Honeywell and Ensyn announced their intention to form the joint venture in September 2008. Mark Reno has been named managing director of Envergent Technologies. Reno previously served as the director of service and sales support for UOP’s Catalysts, Adsorbents and Specialties business. He has 35 years of experience in the refining and petrochemicals industries in research and development, technical services and customer support.

“We offer proven technology today that converts wastes and residuals with little to no value into high-value, high-quality energy,” Reno said. “This is an important step in reducing our carbon footprint and diversifying our sources of energy to address the growing demand for energy around the world.”

RTP is a rapid thermal process in which biomass such as wood chips or straw is rapidly heated at ambient pressure to generate high yields of a pourable, liquid pyrolysis oil, which can then be burned for energy in industrial burners and furnaces or converted to green electricity. Honeywell and Ensyn are working together on technology to further refine the pyrolysis oil into transportation fuels.

UOP, a recognized leader in refining process technologies, has been active in renewable fuel technology, forming a separate Renewable Energy & Chemicals business in late 2006. Since then, UOP has commercialized the UOP/Eni Ecofining™ process to produce green diesel fuel from biological feedstocks and has also developed process technology to produce renewable jet fuel under a contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). UOP has ongoing research efforts in biofuels, with specific focus on second-generation feedstocks working with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service Eastern Regional Research Center (ARS-ERRC).

Ensyn has more than 20 years of commercial experience with its RTP technology producing pyrolysis oil for various natural chemical and fuel products. Ensyn’s technology is currently utilized in seven commercial biomass processing plants in the US and Canada.

Vaperma’s patented polymer membrane technology allows the separation of water vapor from other vapor compounds in a gas mixture. Energy savings are realized because the technology replaces multiple units traditionally used in the production process to achieve the same outcome. “As fuel demand and concern over climate change continue to rise, biofuels production must be profitable and sustainable, with a reduced energy footprint to make a true impact,” said Amar Anumakonda, manager of business development for UOP Renewable Energy and Chemicals. “The Vaperma solution helps to maintain the viability of ethanol and butanol from first-generation feedstock sources as well as second-generation cellulosic sources, such as corn stalks, switchgrass or other plant wastes that do not compete with the food supply.”

UOP collaborated with Air New Zealand, Boeing and Rolls-Royce to produce and test renewable jet fuel made from the oil of jatropha plants. The flight, slated for Dec. 3 in Auckland, New Zealand, will be the first ever of a commercial airliner powered by sustainable, second-generation renewable resources. The green jet fuel will be mixed 50/50 with Jet A1 and will power one of the Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400′s Rolls-Royce engines RB211 engines.

Jatropha, an inedible plant can grow in conditions where other food crops cannot, is considered a sustainable, second-generation resource because its cultivation and harvesting do not tax valuable food, land or water resources, and can provide socioeconomic benefit to the regions where it is grown.

 ”We must diversify our fuel supply to meet the rapid growth in energy demand while effectively balancing social and environmental needs,” said Jennifer Holmgren, general manager of UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit. “This team has stepped up to do something about the rapidly evolving energy landscape, and as a result, we could see viable commercial-scale production and usage of biofuels in the aviation industry in a matter of just a few years.”

For more information, visit http://www.uop.com/.

Biomass pyrolysis oil is made from second-generation feedstocks. The oil can be combusted in industrial burners and furnaces for power and heating or further refined into transportation fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. However, the oil is corrosive and unstable, making it difficult to store and transport.

UOP and its partners, using funding from the DOE’s National Biofuels Action Plan, will work to modify the composition of biomass pyrolysis oil to solve those issues.

“The development of second-generation biofeedstock conversion technology is critical for biofuels to support our growing energy needs,” said Jennifer Holmgren, general manager for UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business. “Finding a cost-effective solution will ensure that pyrolysis oil is a viable renewable source for power and transportation fuels.”