Province of Alberta Canada, PureVision Technology begin Biorefinery Research Program
January 29, 2007PureVision Technology, Inc., (PureVision) a Colorado-based research and development company, and the Province of Alberta, Canada have signed a research contract to undertake biomass utilization research. The program goal is to lay the groundwork for developing cellulosic biorefineries in Canada utilizing the PureVision biomass conversion technology.
The PureVision technology is a new approach to convert diverse cellulosic biomass into useful products. PureVision is a privately held Colorado corporation that was organized in 1992 and is headquartered in Fort Lupton, Colorado. PureVision’s patented biorefinery technology represents a novel and economical approach to pretreating cellulosic biomass for manufacturing ethanol, paper and other industrial products. PureVision is scaling up its biorefining technology and plans to commercialize it, first to convert agricultural residues such as triticale straw and corn stover into ethanol, and once commercially operational, to apply the technology to other cellulosic feedstocks and industrial bio-product applications.
The PureVision biorefining technology breakthrough is the result of more than a decade of private and U.S. government-supported research and development.
Alberta Agriculture and Food’s (AAF) Bio-Industrial Technology division has contracted with PureVision to investigate the conversion of straw into resources using PureVision’s novel biomass fractionation technology. This efficient conversion technology minimizes reagent and water use and accomplishes biomass fractionation in a relatively short time compared to traditional biomass pretreatment processes. AAF will ship approximately one ton of Alberta triticale straw to PureVision’s laboratory, located at the Hazen Research, Inc. facility in Golden, Colorado. The straw will be processed into sugars, fiber and lignin. Biomass conversion data and samples of the fractionated straw will then be delivered to AAF for review and further analyses.
Cellulosic biomass, including wood, cereal straws and grasses, is becoming a well-recognized alternative non-fossil fuel resource that can satisfy the growing worldwide demand for oil, gas and their chemical by-products. In the future, biorefineries, in contrast to oil refineries, will process abundant biomass instead of crude oil to produce industrial products including transportation fuels, bio-plastics and a myriad of industrial chemicals.
“A unique aspect of the program is the use of a relatively new biomass feedstock, triticale straw,” stated Connie Phillips, AAF Bio-Industrial Technology division branch manager. “AAF investigations are underway to determine triticale’s functional properties including identifying potential value-added components. These could include special proteins, starches, food emulsifying agents, sugars, and fiber”, stated Ms. Phillips.
Triticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye and is well suited for Alberta, Canada agriculture. While the triticale grain has potential as a feedstock for producing ethanol, animal and human feed, the PureVision research program is evaluating the triticale straw as a source for pulp to produce paper products and as a source of sugars and lignin to manufacture industrial products including ethanol and wood adhesives. Canadian spring and winter triticale varieties are suitable for use in the conversion process, offering high crop yields and potentially low prices compared to wheat. Triticale has been processed in some ethanol plants in Western Canada.
AAF is recognized nationally as a leader in conducting applied research applications in advanced industrial material ingredient development, biomass utilization and developing bio-digester technologies. Pilot work includes fiber and crop material grinding, material extrusion and forming of bio-composite materials. AAF focuses on the development of value-added industrial non-food products from the bench-scale laboratory to the pilot-scale process development.
The AAF Bio-Industrial Technologies Division's key role is to help develop the non-food processing industry in Alberta. The Division was also established to encourage the development of a wide range of biomaterials and associated products. The biomaterials program is designed to assist industry with the development of new products and processes and to capture additional value-added market opportunities. Current projects include utilization of waste streams; development of a fiber processing industry in Alberta and alternative uses for biomass materials in industry.
A consortium of Alberta-based and Canadian government programs is providing funding for the project. Funding organizations include the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF), which is a federal, provincial and territorial initiative addressing Canadian agricultural issues; the Advanced Education and Technology's Innovation Program through the Unleashing Innovation program, and Alberta Agriculture and Food’s (AAF) Bio-Industrial Technology division.
The PureVision research contract with AAF “ Triticale Straw Fractionation Using the PureVision Process for Subsequent Production of Ethanol and Coproducts,” will begin in January 2007. The overarching goal of the project will be to fractionate triticale straw into three distinct streams and to generate process performance data using PureVision’s continuous process development unit.
For more information on Alberta Agriculture and Food, visit the AAF site and the Bio-Industrial Technology division.
[1] http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app21/rtw/index.jsp
[2] http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/bt5013
Contact:
Carl Lehrburger, Executive Vice President, PureVision Technology, Inc. (303) 857-4530
Connie Phillips, Branch Head Bio-Industrial Technology Division, Alberta Agriculture and Food (780) 902-3639