Maverick Biofuels has been awarded three U.S. patents for producing a mixed-alcohol fuel from synthesis gas (syngas) via a methanol intermediate. These inventions broaden Maverick Biofuels' technology platform for producing petroleum-free fuels and chemicals from low-value feedstocks and waste streams.

Founded in 2008, Maverick Biofuels develops and commercializes technology for producing renewable clean transportation fuels and bio-based chemicals. Maverick uses unique combinations of proven technologies to produce high-value products by manufacturing saleable and transportable chemical intermediates.

Maverick's Olefinity process involves converting feedstocks, such as landfill waste, biomass, natural gas, and the like, into syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases. Syngas is converted to an olefin intermediate, either directly, or by initially producing methanol and converting the methanol to olefins.

Olefins are the building blocks of a number of useful products, including mixed-alcohol fuels, diesel fuel, and polymers.

Methanol is a transportable intermediate, which allows Maverick to work with feedstock suppliers in relatively remote locations. Maverick can produce methanol using a number of relatively small "spoke" refineries located at or near the feedstock supply.

The methanol is transported to a larger central "hub" facility where it is converted into final products. Co-locating production with the feedstock supply drives down the cost of the feedstock, while converting methanol at a central hub provides economy of scale.

Maverick's hub-and-spoke distributed production model represents a paradigm shift in the biofuels and bio-chemical industries, by converting pockets of low-cost feedstock that would normally go to waste into high-value products at market price.

"The increasing concern over foreign energy supplies, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste has driven national interest in using local waste streams, as well as sustainable biomass production, as feedstocks for bio-based products," said Sam Yenne, CEO of Maverick Biofuels.

"Our new patents open up a wide range of chemical processing and product options that help convert waste into petroleum-free fuels and chemicals. This allows Maverick to access low-value waste streams and create additional value for the waste producers."

Previously, Maverick was awarded a patent in South Africa for producing an alcohol blend usable in flexible fuel vehicles via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Additional patents on related process steps and technology are pending in the U.S., Brazil, India, Europe, and the Philippines.

Maverick is pursuing a business model that includes licensing its technology to strategic partners, along with building and operating production refineries with strategic partners. Maverick currently operates demonstration plants in Florida and Colorado, and a research and development laboratory based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.