Frequently Asked Questions & Definitions
BME FAQ
- What products does BME produce?
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BME offers a variety of biochemical and bioenergy products including esters, amides, anhydrous ammonia, and biogas. BME’s portfolio of biochemical products continually expands through new research and development. For a detailed list, or to purchase BME's products, please contact info@bluemarbleenergy.net.
- What feedstocks can be processed into biochemicals and energy?
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BME’s technology can process agricultural waste, organic industrial waste, municipal food/yard waste, and invasive/nuisance species like algae to create a broad range of valuable products.
- Is BME an algae energy company?
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BME is a biochemical and bioenergy company. Algae have received attention as a promising source of biomass due to their quick growth, widespread availability and bioremediation potential. BME’s AGATE platform is not limited to algae, however, and can convert a wide range of biomass sources into valuable energy and biochemical products.
- Does BME use Genetically Modified Organisms?
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BME does not use genetically modified organisms (GMOs). BME’s AGATE platform utilizes naturally occurring strains of bacteria, and non-GMO sources of biomass. By identifying and collecting diverse cultures of bacteria from around the world that have naturally evolved to breakdown specific forms of biomass, BME efficiently and safely converts a wide range of feedstocks into valuable resources. BME uses biomimicry to improve efficiency and productivity, lower operating costs, and mitigate environmental risks.
- Does BME make biodiesel?
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BME does not manufacture biodiesel. Many companies are focusing on extracting algal oils for biodiesel production. BME is focusing on producing high margin biochemical and biogas co-products.
BME Definitions
- Amides
Amides are a group of organic chemical compounds containing nitrogen. Amides are used in a variety of industrial and manufacturing applications. Short chain amides are plasticizers, and act like “glue” that holds polymer chains together to form plastics. Long chain amides act as surfactants, such as detergents, breaking loose and lifting away particles. BME's renewable amides directly replace petroleum-based amides in a wide variety of applications, allowing for the sustainable production of consumer goods.
- Anaerobic Fermentation
Anaerobic fermentation is a set of processes in which microorganisms break down carbohydrates into alcohols or acids without the presence of oxygen.
- Anhydrous Ammonia
Anhydrous ammonia (NH3) describes concentrated, commercial-grade ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is a building block for the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and cleaning agents. Currently all nitrogen-based products including fertilizer, window cleaner, and solvents are made from anhydrous ammonia, which is currently derived from fossil natural gas.
- Biochemicals
Biochemicals are compounds which mirror the structure of synthetic chemicals but have been produced from natural or organic sources.
- Bioenergy
Bioenergy is renewable energy generated from organic material. A common misunderstanding is that bioenergy refers only to liquid biofuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol. In its truest sense, bioenergy includes energy generated from any form of biomass.
- Biogas
Biogas is produced during the biological breakdown of organic matter and includes gases like methane, nitrogen, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide. Biogas is combustible, and can be directly injected into existing natural gas pipelines and infrastructure. BME’s biogas is a carbon-neutral fuel source that can be burned for the co-generation of heat and electricity or compressed into CNG or LNG to serve as a clean transportation fuel.
- Cellulose
Cellulose is a carbohydrate that plants generate through photosynthesis, and makes up 33 percent of all plant matter. While ruminants (like cows) and bacteria are able to digest it, humans are not. Cellulose is an abundant source of energy-rich biomass that does not compete with food crops.
- Climate Disruption
Climate disruption refers to any variation in the natural pattern of average weather and conditions in any given region, or on Earth as a whole. This disruption reflects changes in climate and the subsequent effects on other regions of the planet, such as rising sea levels, melting ice caps, and changing regional temperatures.
- CNG
CNG, or Compressed Natural Gas, is methane that has been compressed into portable tanks for use as a transportation fuel. CNG from either fossil-based natural gas or renewable biogas is a cleaner and safer transportation fuel than gasoline or diesel, and can be used in standard internal combustion engines with minimal conversion. BME’s renewably produced CNG is a carbon-neutral transportation fuel that can help reduce a vehicle’s carbon footprint and slow the decline of natural gas reserves.
- Co-Generation
Co-generation is the use of the “waste” heat from an engine or power station to simultaneously generate both useful heat and electricity.
- Esters
Esters are chemical compounds and are a critical building block in chemical manufacturing. Due to the high extraction cost of naturally occurring esters, nearly all commercial esters are produced synthetically from petroleum.
There are many different kinds of esters used in various manufacturing processes. In different chemical arrangements and concentrations, esters are used as flavorings and fragrances, as solvents and fuels, and as plastics and synthetic textiles such as polyester. BME's renewable esters can directly replace synthetically produced esters in a wide variety of manufacturing applications, allowing for the sustainable production of a myriad of consumer goods.
- Fossil Resources
Fossil resources range from natural gas, to liquid petroleum, all the way to almost pure carbonic material like anthracite coal. Fossil resources are non-renewable because they take millions of years to form. Due to dwindling supply and increasing demand, fossil resources are now estimated to peak in the next 30 years. Fossil resources have shaped human civilization since the Industrial Revolution, and shortages will greatly disrupt our way of life. It is critical that we find suitable, renewable replacements not only for fossil fuels, but for all fossil resources used in manufacturing, agricultural, and industrial applications.
- Genetically Modified Organisms
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic code has been altered through genetic engineering. While GMOs have the potential to revolutionize agriculture, medicine and energy, there are concerns that genetically modified organisms could have unintended impacts on fragile ecosystems if introduced into the wild.
- Invasive Species
An invasive species is a non-indigenous species of plant or animal that adversely affects indigenous habitats. Invasive species often have traits that allow them to overwhelm native species, leading to rapid population growth, ecosystem disruption, and negative economic impacts. Harvesting invasive species can help mitigate destructive environmental impacts, prevent disruptions to local economies, and protect endangered native species of plants and animals.
- LNG
LNG, or Liquid Natural Gas, is methane that has been temporarily converted to liquid form for storage or transport. LNG’s high energy density allows it to be economically transported over long distances in cryogenic tanks to areas where gas pipelines do not exist. Like CNG, LNG can be used as asafe and clean transportation fuel.
- Methane
Methane is the principal component of both fossil-based natural gas, and renewable biogas. As a greenhouse gas it is 23 times more potent than CO2. Methane enters the atmosphere as bacteria break down biomass in landfills and in the natural environment. Converting biomass into methane, and burning it for energy production prevents this powerful greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere and yields clean energy, water and CO2.
This process can significantly reduce GHG emissions, and offers a verifiable source of carbon offsets.
- Nitrogen
Nitrogen (N) is a chemical element that constitutes 78 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen can be found in many industrial compounds like anhydrous ammonia and nitric acid, and releases large amounts of energy when these compounds burn or decay back into nitrogen gas. Most U.S. farms depend on nitrogen-based fertilizers derived from petroleum.
- Nuisance Species
A nuisance species is a native or indigenous species of plant or animal that has over-colonized a particular area, often due to environmental changes. For example, many harmful algae blooms result from naturally occurring native algae species that have dominated their habitats after absorbing high concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and nutrient-loaded water pollution. Harvesting nuisance species can help restore aquatic ecosystems to their natural state and prevent the formation of oceanic dead zones.
- Polysaccharide
A polysaccharide is a class of carbohydrate structures, formed by repeating links of sugar molecules. Examples of polysaccharides are starch and glycogen. Glycogen can be found in animals, stored in the liver and muscles as an energy reserve. BME’s patented AGATE platform can utilize feedstocks like polysaccharides to produce valuable bioenergy and biochemicals.