Nanotechnology is a field of applied science and technology that plays its role in a plethora of areas. Now, by exploiting this same technology Victor Lin has invented a nanosphere-based catalyst that is sure to transform biodiesel production. Lin is an Iowa State University professor of chemistry; a program director for the U.S. dept. of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and has invented a nanosphere-based catalyst that produces biodiesel by reacting with vegetable oils and animal fats. Those are some impressive credentials.
Enough about the man, lets talk about the technology
To save our environment from the tribulations of regular diesel emissions and to boost biodiesel production, nanospheres are bundled with acidic and basic catalysts, and these convert vegetable oils or animal fats into fuel.
Lin’s invention replaces traditionally used methoxide, a toxic and corrosive catalyst to produce biodiesel and also eradicate numerous procedures that were used in the original reaction. Now, to make the innovation inexpensive and more environmentally friendly the nanospheres can be integrated into present biodiesel plants, which in turn will help to produce cheaper, faster, and less toxic fuel.
Business plans
Lin is working with Mohr Davidow Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, Calif., the Iowa State University Research Foundation and three other members of his research team and is looking ahead to set up a startup company that will aim to produce, develop and market the biodiesel technology that he invented at Iowa State.
That company – Catilin Inc. is on the verge of initiation in Ames. As of now, its employees have started their work in two labs and in a small office of the Roy J. Carver Co-Laboratory on the Iowa State campus. The best part is that the company is also aiming to build a biodiesel pilot plant at the Iowa Energy Center’s Biomass Energy Conversion Facility in Nevada.
According to Lin the next 18 months target of this company is to produce nanosphere catalysts in bulk and to boost biodiesel production of 300 gallons per day from a pilot-plant.
The secret of Lin’s success
Lin’s above-mentioned catalyst that was in the process of development for last four months was developed with the sustained support of heavy grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the state’s Grow Iowa Values Fund.
The new innovation might go some way in safeguarding our eco-system from increasing pollution. But the company is not resting. Already it is looking ahead to promote third generation version of catalyst that will be much inexpensive as compared to the earlier. Lin has asserted that company will decide it later whether it will stick to being a catalyst company or whether it will work with other firms to develop its own biodiesel.
To manage greenhouse gas emissions by humanizing fuel efficiency, energy technologies such as photovoltaics and electricity storage, and numerous other projects are in the pipeline. Amongst these, Lin’s innovation stands out for its sheer practicability.
Via: Whatsnextnetwork
