ZEACHEM BIOREFINERY BEGINS PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL IN OREGON

Lakewood, Colorado based biorefinery developer, ZeaChem has begun production of commercial grade cellulosic chemicals and ethanol at its 250,000 gallons per year (946,000 litres per year) biorefinery in Boardman, Oregon

According to the company the facility is among the first operational cellulosic biorefineries in the world, and showcases the scalability of its process as well as serving as a key stepping stone toward large-scale commercial production.

Products and markets

ZeaChem explained that in a similar fashion to the way a petrochemical refinery that makes multiple fuels and chemicals, its demonstration facility is employing its C2 (two-carbon atom) platform to produce cellulose based ethanol and intermediate chemicals such as acetic acid and ethyl acetate.

The company added that the global commercial market potential for all C2 is $485 billion.

According to ZeaChem, through relatively simple processing adjustments, its platform technology can also create C3 chemicals (three-carbon structure) including propionic acid, ethyl propionate, propanol and propylene.

Together C2 and C3 products address a collection of end markets said to be worth over of $1 trillion annually.

Technology

Unlike conventional biorefineries, ZeaChem said that its technology can convert nearly any non-food biomass into fuels and chemicals, providing it with the opportunity to source low cost, local feedstock.

The demonstration facility receives its feedstock from nearby GreenWood Resources’ tree farms and other local agricultural residue processors.

Commercialisation

ZeaChem said that the development of its first commercial biorefinery is currently underway.

Backed by a conditional loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the company claimed that the facility will have capacity to produce 25 million gallons (95 million litres) per year or more of ethanol and chemicals from woody biomass and agricultural residues.

It will be located at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, Oregon, adjacent to the existing demonstration biorefinery.

The company said that its partnerships, and the support of the USDA loan guarantee, will help accelerate commercialisation of its C2 product platform in Boardman. Other partnerships, including Procter & Gamble, will drive development of its product platform beyond C2.

“ZeaChem is developing the first truly-integrated biorefineries for the production of a broad portfolio of economical and sustainable biofuels and bio-based chemicals,” said Jim Imbler, president and chief executive officer of ZeaChem.

“The demonstration plant is fully integrated and operating as we ramp up to full capacity," he added.