A major Brazilian energy corporation, Petrobras, is set to join the University of Limerick-led biofuel research group, Development of Integrated Biomass Approaches Network (DIBANET).

DIBANET focuses on the development of novel and integrated biorefinery and gasification technologies to produce sustainable diesel-miscible biofuels (DMBs) from the wastes and residues of Europe and Latin America. Project partners represent a diverse mix of specialists in second-generation-biofuels that also include the Argentinian petroleum company YPF, and representatives of the Brazilian sugarcane sector.

DIBANET project leader Professor Michael Hayes, University of Limerick, welcomed the announcement; "The addition of Petrobras to the DIBANET consortium is a significant event and a great reflection of the progress that has been achieved. Petrobras will help in evaluating the commercial potential of the state of the art technologies developed in the project. These include a patented pre-treatment process that allows for the highly efficient separation and recovery of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose from biomass, as well as advanced methods of hydrolysis that allow for high yields of the platform chemicals levulinic acid, furfural, and co-products to be obtained from lignocellulosic feedstocks.”

Petrobras, has shown increasing interest in recent years in the production of sustainable biofuels. The company, has previously collaborated with DIBANET partner, Professor Victor Teixeira da Silva, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).