CTec3 breakthrough for biofuel industry

Biofuels company Novozymes has launched a new enzyme called CTec3 which has been claimed to be five times more efficient than current technologies.

The enzyme converts waste biomass into ethanol, and could bring second-generation biofuels into cost-parity with corn ethanol and gasoline. Cellulosic feedstocks, such as wheat straw, corn stalks, agricultural residue or household waste are been produced into bio-ethanol at a rate that is 50 per cent more effective than the companies previous product, Cellic CTec2.

Commercial biofuel production is set to start in the US and Italy later this year, with prices ranging from $2 to $2.50 per gallon, according to figures reported by BusinessGreen. This is a competitive price compared to corn ethanol, that has suffered from inflation due to the increase in corn prices.

Peder Holk Nielsen, executive vice president of the Danish company, told BusinessGreen: "With the progression of the technology… and the huge forwards steps we are making with the enzymes, cellulosic ethanol is now becoming competitive to corn ethanol, but also gasoline."

Posted by Lauren Steadman