WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its updated guidance on what methods should be used to determine the cellulosic converted fraction of corn kernel fiber in the production of cellulosic ethanol. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement in response:
“We’re pleased to see EPA update its guidance for cellulosic biofuel from kernel fiber, a move that provides additional flexibility for bioethanol producers and the potential to accelerate stalled registrations for cellulosic biofuels. Approval of these registrations is important to fulfilling the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard and to help further decarbonize the transportation sector. We look forward to further reviewing EPA’s guidance with our members.”
In its guidance, EPA proposes three potential ways companies might satisfy registration requirements for corn fiber, including:
- Adoption of the DOE/NREL method,
- Demonstration of reasonable accuracy by returning comparable cellulose values to the NIST reference materials using a non-voluntary consensus standards body (non-VCSB) method, or
- Use of advanced analytical techniques; e.g. mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), as identified by DOE/NREL in their analytical method and validation.
Read the full guidance from EPA here.