Transforming Waste Biomass into Renewable Transportation Fuels

The conversion of waste biomass into renewable, EPA-approved transportation fuels represents a groundbreaking advancement in sustainable energy systems. Our pioneering research focuses on the production of high-value alcohols, including ethanol and 1-propanol, from food production waste and agricultural residues such as wheat straw, corn stover, sugar cane waste, and sugar beet pulp. This innovation offers a scalable solution to decarbonize transportation while leveraging the economic potential of renewable resources.

Technological Innovation Using Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Our patented hydrothermal process represents a critical technological leap using water at high temperatures to depolymerize biomass. This quickly converts complex biomass components, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, sugars, and starches, into high-purity, versatile products. No fermentation, no biocrude. This approach eliminates inefficiencies associated with traditional thermal conversion methods, ensuring maximal yield and minimal environmental trade-offs. The ability to produce structured, multi-carbon compounds opens new avenues for industrial applications, further enhancing the economic and ecological resilience of this technology.

Economic Viability and Competitive Advantage
The economic feasibility of using wet or dry biomass is underscored by their robust value proposition. Fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass have a compelling price advantage that includes the fuel value, a federal D3 RIN subsidy and state incentives such as the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) incentives. Also, wet feed can be used as is, with no drying required.

Environmental Impact: A Carbon-Negative Revolution
Central to our research is the development of a carbon-negative process that redefines the environmental footprint of biofuel production. By harnessing the abundant oxygen content of biomass, our patented hydrothermal liquefaction technology efficiently removes the excess oxygen as a clean CO₂ stream, enabling easy capture and sequestration. This process ensures that half of the carbon input is sequestered, while the remaining carbon is valorized into marketable products such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acetic acid. For every gallon of renewable fuel produced, a similar amount of carbon is sequestered, establishing a net-negative emissions pathway that aligns with global climate objectives.