About Us
Welcome to the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit. Part of the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, we were established by the United States Department of Energy to help ramp up the bioeconomy.
Bio-Innovation
We enable early stage advanced biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals product and process technologies to successfully scale from the lab to commercial relevance.
Partnership
With experienced know-how, rigorous process optimization, and relentless monitoring of yield versus cost, we partner with you to lower your capex, opex, and risk.
Collaborations
DOE/EERE/BETO Programs Support
ABPDU provides a critical resource and direct support for several DOE/EERE/BETO programs and consortia
Spotlight
Dr. Todd Pray, ABPDU Program Director, Receives Berkeley Lab’s Director’s Achievement Award
Todd Pray, ABPDU's Program Director receives Berkeley Lab's prestigious Director's Achievement Award for 2018 Technology Transfer Berkeley Lab's Director’s Awards program recognizes significant achievements of Lab employees. Each year, these awards are given for...
read moreRhodosporidium Toruloides: A New Platform Organism for Biorefineries
R. toruloides sets a new standard for biotechnological applications
read moreWhat We Offer
Bio-derived Product Diversity
Whatever your novel or drop-in advanced bioproduct molecule is, we are ready. We have the infrastructure and the expertise to optimize, scale-up, and demonstrate your bioproduct processes. Learn More.
Feedstock And Biomass Flexibility
Next-generation biomass-based inputs present limitless choices and new challenges. We’ll help you navigate the complexity and cost-effectively obtain the best outputs. Learn More.
Bio-concept Development & Validation
We’re completely impartial. When we provide third party validation of the commercial feasibility on your bio-concept, your stakeholders know you’re on the right track. Learn More.
Bio-process Prototyping & Optimization
Mitigating your risk during scale up and accelerating technology readiness levels is top of mind for us. With our flexible, customizable equipment and experienced team we’re able to quickly prototype and adjust your bio-processes. Learn More.
Scale-up Integration & Demonstration
There are many steps to successfully move advanced bioproducts from the bench or lab to commercial scale deployment. We leverage capital project and industry best practices to design robust integrated pilot processes. Learn More.
Funding & Grant Proposals Support
The right data, access to networks, and an experienced team are a winning combination to help you raise funding and take your bio-innovation to market. Learn More.
Our Team
With decades of industry and related experience in diverse areas of energy, materials, nanotechnology, molecular biology, biofuels, and biochemical process development and manufacturing, we are proud to have a talented, multi-disciplinary team that pools their significant expertise to forge new ground in bio-innovation.
Leadership
Dr. Todd Pray, Ph.D., MBA
Program Head
Akash Narani
Bio-Process/Facilities Engineer
Dr. Deepti Tanjore, Ph.D.
Research Scientist – Fermentation and Recovery
Dr. Ning Sun, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Dr. Eric Sundstrom, Ph.D.
Senior Process Engineer
Newsroom
Press Releases
Dr. Todd Pray, ABPDU Program Director, Receives Berkeley Lab’s Director’s Achievement Award
Todd Pray, ABPDU's Program Director receives Berkeley Lab's prestigious Director's Achievement Award for 2018 Technology Transfer Berkeley Lab's Director’s Awards program recognizes significant achievements of Lab employees. Each year, these awards are given for...
Direct Funding Opportunity Announcement by Bioprocessing Separations Consortium
The submission deadline is July 6, 2018.
Beyond Biofuels: Berkeley Lab Facility a Catalyst for Broader Bio-based Economy
Five years in, the ABPDU has established more than 30 diverse partnerships
Events
Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology 2019
May 13-14, 2019 Los Angeles, CA Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology is a workshop where industrial biotech thought leaders – in particular, those who have been through it all – will share their experiences and their views on current challenges. The outcome is a...
World Bio Markets 2019
April 1-3, 2019
The Almond Conference
December 4-6, 2018
Publications
Rhodosporidium Toruloides: A New Platform Organism for Biorefineries
R. toruloides sets a new standard for biotechnological applications
read moreUpgrading of Post-Consumer Absorbent Hygiene Products for Bioethanol Production
Assessing the technical feasibility and identifying the key unit operations for converting cellulose component from post-consumer AHPs into biofuel
read moreProcess Development and Scale Up of Thermophilic Fungus Thermoascus Aurantiacus
Combining the cellulase induction by xylose-rich hydrolysate with the high temperature saccharification of dilute acid-pretreated biomass provides a new model for onsite enzyme production at a biorefinery that uses acid pretreatment.
read more