Biofuelbox

About Biofuelbox

BioFuelBox Inc. was a waste remediation company that developed a process for converting fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from wastewater into biodiesel. The company was founded around 2006 and was based in San Jose, California. Steven Perricone served as the company's CEO and was also a co-founder. He emphasized that passion for a company's mission is crucial for entrepreneurial success.

The company's core technology was a patented process called NovoStream™. This system was designed to handle watery waste greases, such as trap grease and wastewater scum, which were previously considered uneconomical for biofuel production. The technology involved mechanical systems to dewater the waste, followed by a high-heat, high-pressure process, partly based on supercritical fluid extraction technology, to convert the remaining material into biodiesel. The resulting fuel was ASTM-compliant, meaning it met specific quality standards for on-road use. The process also produced de-greased water, which was easier for wastewater treatment plants to manage.

BioFuelBox operated on a business model where it would finance, own, and operate its modular, skid-mounted refinery systems at the site of a waste generator, such as a wastewater treatment plant. The company would take the waste for free under long-term contracts (10-20 years) and then sell the produced biodiesel. Its target clients included municipalities dealing with sewer system maintenance, where grease clogs are a significant cost, and industrial food processors. For instance, it had an agreement to sell fuel to the Flying J truck stop chain.

The company gained some traction, launching its first fully scaled plant in Idaho in 2009. It raised a Series A funding round of $9.5 million in 2007 from investors including Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Element Partners, followed by an additional $5.2 million in 2009 as part of a planned second round. BioFuelBox was also recognized as a 2010 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.