BioFuels Journal

BFJ.com Podcast With Senior ADM VP of Research Dr. Thomas Binder on ADM's Biofuels Research

Dr. Thomas Binder of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), headquartered in Decatur, IL, spoke about the research projects being conducted by the company during the Agricultural Research Services forum in Peoria, IL, July 18.

Podcast Highlights

Dr. Binder talked about three main research areas ADM is involved with as follows:

1) "Most of our research in ethanol is in dry mills and a joint research agreement with Purdue to develop yeast that will fermentable sugars in corn fiber."

2) "We're also developing new feed which can be a corn replacement in cattle diets."

3) "There is also in a joint-research with ConocoPhillips to develop a feedstock to a refinery. We will be making gasoline and diesel out of biomass. We're trying to see what nature has done in thousands of years ... trying to see if we can do it in hours."

On the trend of food and fuel plants in the future:

“You'll always look for the highest value products. Food will always be a high-value application for agricultural outputs. Food plants will take waste streams and instead of sending them to waste treatment plants they’ll find better uses for it.”

Biography

Thomas Binder Ph.D., is senior vice president of Archer Daniels Midlands’ (ADM) Research Division.

He joined ADM in 1986 as a research scientist and has held various management positions in process development and fermentation research.

Dr. Binder holds bachelor of science degrees in biology and chemistry from Fort Hays State University and a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from Iowa State University.

He also has post doctoral experience in medicinal chemistry from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Binder has carried out research in a variety of areas while at ADM and has developed processes for the manufacture of high purity dextrose, lysine and tocopherols.

He is the author or co-author of 11 patents and eight peer-reviewed publications.

He currently services on the federal Advisory Committee for Biomass Research.

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