Cobalt signs CRADA with U.S. Navy
Biorefining
By Erin Voegele
Published: November 10, 2010
Mountain View, Calif.-based Cobalt Technologies Inc. has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the U.S. Navy to develop a technology to convert n-biobutanol into jet and diesel fuels.
Under the agreement, n-biobutanol produced by Cobalt will be converted into jet and diesel fuels using technology developed by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, Calif. The CRADA also allows Cobalt the option to obtain an exclusive license to commercialize the process improvements that result from the CRADA for the production of both military and civilian transportation fuels.
Cobalt’s technology involves the use of naturally occurring microorganisms to convert biomass into n-biobutanol via fermenation. "We found these microorganisms that take cellulosic sugars, [such as those from] decaying roots and plant matter, and convert it into butanol," said Cobalt President and CEO Rick Wilson. On a commercial basis, Cobalt is focused on the conversion of waste biomass, such as wood waste.