NC State Names Director of Office of Technology Transfer

July 6, 2007 -- NC State named Mr. Billy Houghteling Director of the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) effective July 1, 2007. In this capacity, Mr. Houghteling will oversee the patenting and licensing of all NC State inventions, promote the dissemination of intellectual property and university research, and foster local economic development. Mr. Houghteling joined the OTT in 2002 as Technology Development Associate and has served as Interim Director since October 1, 2006.

Mr. Houghteling brings ten years of multi-disciplined experience in academic and industry research, contract development and negotiation, and general business management to the OTT. Previously, he served as a Research Scientist, also supporting business development and technology commercialization, for Biolex, Inc. a local NC State biotech startup company. Houghteling earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Siena Heights University and a master’s degree in Plant Molecular Biology from Ball State University.

"We are pleased that Mr. Houghteling has assumed this leadership role in the OTT at a critical time for technology transfer, as more and more of our basic science discoveries are translated into real-world solutions and products that improve the human condition," said Dr. John Gilligan, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at NC State.

In accepting this position, Mr. Houghteling will direct one of the most successful technology transfer programs in the country. During the past 20 years, NC State’s OTT has executed more than 700 licenses to inventions made by its faculty, staff, and students resulting in more than 90 products now available to the consumer. More than 65 startup companies have their roots associated with NC State technology and have raised over $250 million in venture capital and employ more than 1,500 workers in North Carolina.

NC State’s patent portfolio was ranked 9th in the nation in a report by IEEE based on patent impact, applicability, originality, and patent activity growth. In a study conducted by the Milken Institute, NC State’s Technology Transfer activities in biotechnology ranked 20th internationally (#1 among all state and private universities in NC). These rankings underscore the momentum of the OTT and the concentration of leading research professionals at NC State.

NC State Commercialization Partner, Diversified Energy Corporation, Announces Biogasoline Technology

June 19, 2007 -- Raleigh, N.C. and Gilbert, Arizona –- NC State University has filed a provisional patent describing a cost-effective, "green" method to produce biogasoline, in partnership with Diversified Energy Corporation (DEC), an Arizona-based company specializing in the development of advanced alternative and renewable energy technologies.

DEC will continue to develop and commercialize the method, based on a platform technology previously licensed from NC State that converts lipid-based renewable resources into a variety of transportation biofuels.

Existing transportation fuel infrastructures and gasoline engines would be able to use DEC’s biogasoline without modification since the biofuel has equivalent chemical, physical, and combustion characteristics to traditional petroleum-derived gasoline. DEC expects fuel consumption, engine output, and other aspects of performance to be unaffected. Because the fuel is derived from renewable resources, net implications to greenhouse gases and other emissions are reduced as compared to traditional gasoline production.

Earlier this year, DEC officially partnered with NC State's College of Engineering with the goal of taking their biofuels research to the next level. DEC has trademarked the process Centia™, a "green" method of turning virtually any fat source – animal fats, waste greases, agriculture oils, etc. – into fuel.

A team of NC State researchers have worked in close partnership to develop the platform technology: Dr. Bill Roberts, professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Dr. Henry Lamb, professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Dr. Larry Stikeleather professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering; and Tim Turner, a graduate student in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

While the initial collaboration focused on demonstrating successful implementation of the Centia™ technology, with target outputs of biojet fuel and a 2nd generation biodiesel, DEC is now confirming that the production of biogasoline output is also possible. While the energy company prepares to scale-up the Centia™ process, they will simultaneously consider biogasoline production possibilities.

DEC has established strategic partnerships with BASF and Lauren Engineers and Constructors to support commercialization of the technology. BASF will provide catalyst expertise and Lauren Engineers and Constructors will offer engineering design and construction experience for large-scale Centia™ plants.

Unlike ethanol – currently the most popular biofuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines – the biogasoline produced by this derivative Centia™ process is virtually indistinguishable from petroleum gasoline.

The process consists of a first stage hydrolysis reaction, where fats and oils are converted into free fatty acids. In a second stage, a carbon dioxide molecule is removed from these free fatty acids, yielding a long, straight chain hydrocarbon. These long straight chain molecules are then isomerized, cracked, and/or aromatized, yielding a wide range of molecular sizes and structures. The final recipe of iso-alkanes, aromatics, and cycloalkanes can be adjusted to yield the desired octane number. These fuels are consumable in any conventional gasoline engine without modification.

“In addition to biojet fuel and a 2nd generation biodiesel, we view the possibility of creating a biogasoline as the true Holy Grail. If we can prove our projections for economics and efficiencies, this will offer a more attractive alternative than ethanol and biodiesel fuels. It will provide a true ‘green’ substitute for gasoline,” states Jeff Hassannia, VP of Business Development at DEC.

“Our technology possesses several unique, key factors that give it the potential to be a best-in-class process. It's 100% green; it utilizes glycerol as part of the process, rather than producing it as a by-product; and the cost-efficiency is monumental. This technology gives us the ability to use hugely diverse and economical resources."

DEC worked with NC State's Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) to coordinate the official partnership with the University. Mr. Billy Houghteling, Interim Director of OTT, sees this collaboration as a milestone not only for University research, but also the consumer:

"By combining our University's long-standing strengths in biotechnology and engineering with DEC's global scale and expertise in this field, we can maximize the potential benefits of this technology for the greater public good. This collaboration supports our strategy to bring real-world solutions to the public in order to improve lives."

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