US firm Cleanfuels Technology has confirmed that it plans to commercialise a type of diesel technology which involves ruthenium catalysts.

The company received $23 million from the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Department of Energy's recent decision to award renewable fuels and chemicals grants.

It is now expected to produce renewable diesel and jet fuel from woody biomass at its facility in Commerce City, Colorado, and must provide its own funding of $13.4 million.

As a result, the company has enlisted the support of Rentech, which has pioneered the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, which converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbons.

Ruthenium can be used in the chemical reaction, with iron, cobalt and nickel also effective as the basis for the necessary catalysts, The Market Financial reports.

"Rentech already has a demonstration unit at its Commerce City site that is capable of producing 420 gallons of synthetic fuels and chemicals using the FT process," noted the news provider.

"With the scientific viability of the FT process well established, Clearfuel plans to [join Shell and Sasol on] that list of commercial successes."

Ruthenium was discovered in 1844 by Russian scientist Karl Klaus.

Source:

Betting on Diesel Technology (04/05/10)

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