Audio: CSU Collaborates on Renewable Biofuel from Beetle-killed Pine
CSU Collaborates on Renewable Biofuel from Beetle-killed PineBy Erin O'Toole
Published: April 19, 2010
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FT. COLLINS, CO (KUNC) - Thursday marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Many of Colorado's universities are using the week as a backdrop to highlight breakthroughs in clean energy research and product development.
In April Colorado State University announced a collaboration with Cobalt Technologies, based in Mountain View, California. The company has developed a new process to develop biobutanol from lodgepole pine trees killed by bark beetles. Biobutanol is similar to ethanol, but with a much higher energy content.
Ken Reardon is a professor of chemical and biological engineering at CSU. He says the university will not only help Cobalt test and evaluate the conversion process, but will also help develop the commercial potential of biobutanol. Commercial success doesn't always go hand-in-hand with a scientific innovation - but Reardon, who is also the Director of the Sustainable Bio-Energy Development Center at CSU, says commercial viability will be a primary focus of the university's collaboration with Cobalt...