>Lignol Energy Corp., a technology developer in the cellulosic ethanol and biorefining sector, has realigned the company’s senior management responsibilities. Raymond Ma, a Lignol employee for three years, has been promoted to senior vice president of engineering and process development. Chris Moser, formerly a consultant for the company, has been named the vice president of process development. David Turner, with the company for five years, has resumed his role as chief financial officer.

>First United Ethanol LLC recognized Mike Harrell, president, CEO and majority stakeholder of Southwest Georgia Oil Company Inc. An original board member at FUEL since 2005, Harrell was recognized by the ethanol producer based on his expertise in the oil industry. Harrell also provided the first corn that was ground in October 2008 and purchased the first ethanol that was produced. Tommy Dollar of FUEL presented Harrell with a plaque recognizing his accomplishments.

>Murex NA Ltd., Dallas-based company specializing in gasoline blendstock, distillates and alcohol marketing, has added J.C. Caudell as the director of new business development. Caudell will be responsible for Murex’s ethanol portfolio of 12 ethanol plants. Formerly with Eco-Energy, a Tennessee-based ethanol marketing company, Caudell will also tailor specific marketing solutions for customers.

>Synthetic Genomics Inc., an advanced biofuels developer, appointed James Flatt as chief technology officer. Flatt will be responsible for managing and coordinating the science programs at SGI and report to Craig Venter, founder and CEO. Formerly executive vice president of research development and operations with Mascoma Corp., Flatt holds a doctorate degree in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California.

>Patriot Renewable Fuel LLC, a 100 MMgy ethanol plant in Annawan, Ill., has announced the plant’s achievement of zero liquid discharge. President and CEO Gene Griffith said the voluntary conversion makes a clear statement about Patriot’s commitment to progressive research and efficiency. Griffith also noted that the Illinois plant is also one of the nation’s first ethanol plants to make the advancement. Charlie Kroeger, a consultant from U.S. Water Services who helped with the project, stated water usage was at 2.9 gallons per gallon of ethanol before the zero liquid discharge project and has now been reduced to 2.25 gallons per gallon of ethanol.

>Abengoa Bioenergy, an 88 MMgy corn ethanol plant in the Tri-City Port District in Madison, Ill., received an Edie Award. Passed out yearly by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Development Council, the Economic Development in Illinois Award (Edie) is given annually to recognize development projects finished in the past year. “Even in times of economic turmoil, companies are out there investing in our state and creating jobs,” said Doug Whitley, president and CEO of the state chamber.

>Tri-Mer Corp., which specializes in advanced technologies for the control of fine particulate and pollutant gases, has introduced UltraTemp Filtration—a new hot gas filtration system for capturing fine, submicron and ultrafine particulate, and for scrubbing acid gases and controlling nitrogen oxides (NOx). A company product bulletin also discusses a new technology for low-density ceramic filter tubes, part of the UltraTemp system. Typical results are up to 95 percent removal in the efficient scrubbing of NOx. UltraTemp operates up to 1650 degrees Fahrenheit.

>The U.S. DOE recognized Corn Plus LLLP, a 49 MMgy ethanol plant near Winnebago, Minn., for the plant’s outstanding energy efficiency. One of 56 industrial companies across the nation to be given the Energy Champion award for achieving more than 250,000 Btu energy savings, Corn Plus was the only ethanol plant given the award. For achieving 75 million Btu energy savings or more than 75 percent, 95 plants were named Energy Savers. To win the awards, the DOE said the companies reduced both energy bills and carbon emissions.

Corn Plus will also license and acquire Arisdyne’s patented cavitation system. It will enable the plant to increase ethanol production by 4 percent or more over the yield produced previously on the same volume of corn consumed. The cavitation technology boosts ethanol yield from a bushel of corn without consuming large amounts of power or degrading process capacities, and at a modest investment level. Arisdyne and Corn Plus have been working together to install a retrofit system at the plant, which conducted a test at full capacity over a period of two months without interruption.

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