GREENVALUE AND THE BIOREFINERY
GreenValue initially developed its technology as a complement to the production of cellulose fibers. Recent work has demonstrated the potential for integration of GreenValue’s processes with various Second Generation biorefinery schemes under development for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuel ethanol.
Ethanol production from corn and other grain competes with the production of feed and food, has an inflationary impact on such vital commodities, and is limited by the availability of suitable land. To meet sustainable fuel targets it will be necessary to shift to Second generation process, that rely on biomass (grown on marginal lands and with little fertilizer input) as the feedstock. As much as 75 billion liters of Second Generation ethanol may be generated the US by 2030 to meet such renewable fuel targets. Each billion liters of ethanol obtained from biomass could potentially generate more than half a million tons of lignin and other polyphenolic materials.
GreenValue is well positioned to tap into such a huge emerging resource. We have already shown our capability to extract high-purity, value-added fractions from intermediate biorefinery streams as well as from the residues left after ethanol production. We have demonstrated the utility of such products in the markets we already participate in.
Our believe is that value-added utilization of the biomass components that do not go into ethanol production could dramatically improve the economics of second generation biofuels.
